Will Mitch McConnell make the Democrats win?

Will Mitch McConnell make the Democrats win? 

Mitch plays the short game: checkers rather than chess. Either that, or he is a fifth columnist. 

It is no surprise that almost a third of the electorate is conservative on social issues. Survey research consistently shows that many Americans lack a decent respect for the rights of their fellow Americans. This is why questions of rights are determined by the the judiciary, not the legislature. Riling these people up is a tool of capitalists to split the working class. It always has been.

MSW's myopia on this linkage does not help things. It is not the Democrats who must change.

The left cannot force the conservative working class into wokeness. Instead of demanding that they adopt inclusiveness, we must include them. This is much harder work, since they consider giving out cash and prizes to be socialism (until they get them). Making their employees want to give better benefits is probably the way to go. In the end, the capitalists themselves need to want to pay more. That is where economists and political scientists are more necessary than theologians.

Links: A popular pope, Garry Wills on abortion and the 'barstool' party

Links: A popular pope, Garry Wills on abortion and the 'barstool' party 

That Cardinal Sean is not retiring is telling. Popes, especially this one, do not watch the polls.

The question of whether politicians are candidates or campaigners is important. My guess is that some bishops want to condemn the latter. Thank you Albany!

Garry is right about conception, but ignores that a materialistic soul is needed for gastrulation (and that an immortal soul's assignment cannot be known). More importantly, he ignores the constitutional law flaws in the bishop's position regarding the power of the state in regulating abortion (or lack thereof). The need to use economic, rather than police, power is the key to settling this argument inside of doctrine, in law and in politics.

By the time we know what the economy is doing, it will be done going down the current path. Getting people back to work with a higher minimum wage is good. Keeping them idle with higher public sector payments is not so good, even if emotionally satisfying.

If the fairness doctrine had not been repealed, the Internet would have killed it.

Unless the federal government wants to make solar panels free, it needs to fund rebuilding the current sources. The impact of PR on downstream air simply does not exist. PR needs charging stations for electric cars and the power plants to feed them.

I have fond memories of joining my father and friends at the Sirloin and Brew where they discussed the latest bloviations of Rush. That was years ago. I never warmed up to Limbaugh and his fans are mostly no longer with us. The GOP was fast becoming the GQP, but Q has not been heard from since the Insurrection. Either he had an attack of conscience or he is on bond or in jail awaiting trial. My bet is option C.

The zealots demand the US bishops name names in Communion document

The zealots demand the US bishops name names in Communion document 

The usual suspects are saying the usual things. They are best ignored. The point that everyone is still missing is that the policy is not directed at Biden, it is directed at pro-choice voters in the 2022 election. This is why the bishops wanted to move quickly when the Vatican counseled serene discernment. This is the point where the President needs to actually lead and explain the pro-choice position to the bishops, whose misunderstanding of the constitutional law on abortion and their thinly veiled Republicanism is obvious.  What the bishops should consider is whether their statements on Communion are driving gay Catholics away from the Church. Such a discussion is far more important than whether either Joe Biden or voters like me should receive. (We will anyway).

Grace abounds at Association of US Catholic Priests' meeting

Grace abounds at Association of US Catholic Priests' meeting 

I am glad the spirit of Vatican II priests are still around. Hopefully they can advise the young conservatives on how to cope with celibacy as a fulfillment of the asexuality that attracts so many priests, even if they are not outed to themselves just yet. If only these priests had a pope like Francis when they were the age to become bishops.

Links: Bishops, Communion and culture wars; getting tired of Twitter

Links: Bishops, Communion and culture wars; getting tired of Twitter 

The new. document is aimed at 2022 pro-choice voters, not Biden. Until you accept that fact, you are lost in the actors and missing the play. Neither the Visitor nor the Hill will give that fact away, for obvious reasons. 

Most industrialized nations have liberalized abortion laws based on popular will, not as an inherent right. Only in America is legal abortion anti-majoritarian and anti-authoritarian. The bishops cannot stand that last bit. Trump was a caricature of the authoritarianism some bishops remember fondly (although their idea of a golden age is twisted).  

Twitter thrives on soundbites. It is the ultimate tool for ideology on both sides. Movie titles are the ultimate sound bite.

Links: Declericalizing seminary formation; petition for those who hate billionaires

Links: Declericalizing seminary formation; petition for those who hate billionaires 

When Catholic schools become a closed shop (regardless of Union member politics), I will believe the Church is walking the talk on unions.

Oakland County, Michigan is why the GOP will not survive with Trumpism as its core.

Until seminarians are taught both cultural theory (to understand the Church) and gender theory (to understand themselves as gay or asexual), their formation is woefully incomplete.

Sometimes, inspiring rebellion is the best thing a parent can do, especially if they drink too much. As for COVID, did any of the students die? I suspect not.

The collapse of the US bishops' conference

The collapse of the US bishops' conference 

Leo was correct. Americanism was a danger to the Church of the day. John Courtney-Murray discerned that American ideals of freedom of thought and religion should not be considered heresy.  Rather, they were what the Church should grow into. Vatican II examined this and with discernment, agreed with Murray. St. John Paul disagreed, both during the Council and as pope and appointed bishops who shared his views. Last week was a rejection of the work of the Council.

Discernment is not about unanimity. It is about listening to the Spirit and finding the truth.  This will not be some abstract truth defending the doctrines of the past, but a realistic assessment of what the Church is doing now. The reality is that the pro-choice position is correct in American constitutional law. Roe will not be changed and women will not be subjected to state power to investigate the end of their pregnancies to confirm they were not infanticide (with all that implies with criminal culpability).

The reason for hurrying up this process is that, should it extend past this November, it will not be promulgated by the 2022 election. Joe Biden is not the target of the letter. It is pro-choice voters. What the bishops need to discern is that the best pro-life position is not to condemn Biden but to support his economic agenda, both the minimum wage increase and making the expanded refundable child tax credit permanent and that supporting this should be required as a pro-life position. If the bishops did this, Republican Catholics would not be so quick to weaponize the Body of Christ.