Links: Cincinnati Men's Conference; fragmenting Trumpism; airport design award

Links: Cincinnati Men's Conference; fragmenting Trumpism; airport design award 

The Men's Conference simply proves P.T. Barnum's point.

The story of Protestantism likely led Mary Douglass to call egalitarianism sectarianism too. The radical fringe on the vaccine shows P.T. Barnum also owns the Internet. And the GOP.

The passage of the ACA was about exploiting the rules. Passing the CTC reforms needs to be both bipartisan and pro-life. We need Jesus, not Rahm Immanuel. Are Biden and Harris capable of thinking that far outside the box? So far, not yet.

National Airport also connects Terminal C to Metro. Also Tyson's Corner Mall. It's all about the walkways. Thank you, Minneapolis! 

Thanks to the Internet, we can all get Connecticut cheese. It is not just for crazy Republicans.

In 2021, it became obvious the US bishops and the pope are singing from different hymnals

In 2021, it became obvious the US bishops and the pope are singing from different hymnals 

The current majority at the USCCB (which includes retirees), learned Latin as altar boys and identified Ronald Reagan, St. John Paul, anti-communism, anti-sexual revolution and devotion to Our Lady as their essential creed. They likely believed arms for hostages was OK. Their major donors reflect their views. They are faced with an ECLAM pope who might even support Liberation Theology and is open to ordaining women as deacons. What could go wrong? 

Links: Puerto Rico's energy grid; loss of Desmond Tutu; rising number of clergy quitting

Links: Puerto Rico's energy grid; loss of Desmond Tutu; rising number of clergy quitting 

What people pay depends on how well their local electric monopoly is regulated. Also, the whole grid needs to be modernized, especially (but not only) in Texas.

May Tutu rest in blessed peace (as if there is any doubt).

Elaine is wrong. The majority of the items in the bill will require reconciliation to pass. The biggest piece, the child tax credit (along with childcare and the ACA reform), need to be paid for with a more broad based tax - preferable on employers rather than employees and passed as pro-life legislation. Biden will not do either. More's the pity.

It is not up to the Post to discuss theological implications. For that, you must do your own data analyses. The article is mainly about Protestant clergy (many of whom are not technically in the clerical state). Many are quitting (or at least taking a sabbatical) from medicine as well. They will be back.

The sad thing is that the Latin Mass boosters are turning the sacred into a Creative Anachronism.

At Midnight Mass, I sang along to Adeste, Fidelis in Latin for the first verse in memory of my father. 

In 2021, Biden's decency couldn't save democracy. The real test will come in 2022.

In 2021, Biden's decency couldn't save democracy. The real test will come in 2022. 

Biden saved us from tyranny by breathing. The Freedom Caucus is likely shivering in its booth. They may still think Trump can protect them, but the Select Committee is making it clear that this will not happen. Holding the treason caucus accountable will save democracy. 

As for the economy, that will take some luck and some time. Biden is making his own luck by the rumor of a tax increase. This is causing an asset sell-off, which decreases the chances of an economic downturn. If he waits a bit, supply chain issues will right themselves and prices will decline. The GOP won back the seats that went to Democrats because of Trump. Without Trump, we went back to a 50% nation. Until one side offers a vision, we will stay there. 

On abortion, Biden can let the Supreme Court defend Roe against state government power. Moving the line from viability to assisted viability or fetal nervous system development (the ability to react to  pain) won't do much either way. What will lead to less abortion is Build Back Better as a pro-life matter. 

Biden needs to risk a backlash by women by calling out the pro-life movement for not supporting the child tax credit on a bipartisan basis. (hint, there won't be one, feminists like measures that protect family economies). If conservatives resist, he can then explain why people think the pro-life movement is about sex - and he would be right. THAT would help democracy.

Links: Evil in conservativism; unions are good for all; parody of wokeism

Links: Evil in conservativism; unions are good for all; parody of wokeism 

The election will be won by letting inflation run its course and by the natural result of the Trump criminal enterprise being held to account. All pork is local.

The Left did not start the culture wars. They are as old as 1630 and the enslavement of John Punch and later the Salem witch trial. Also the Mexican War and sodomy laws. All of these things have protecting capitalism in common by conservatives finding an enemy to hate. To be woke is to call the right wing out on their bad behavior. As for young Mr. Rittenhouse, its complicated and its wrong to make him an icon. It does not help him to identify with conservative snake oil salesmen.

Hopefully the new retirees have good portfolios that are not based on Crypto. Their are lots of exit events, both the Great Recession and the Great Sequestration of 2011 led to retirement - the latter for me. The bright spot is that many people probably went back to school this year. Let's see what the enrollment numbers say.

Unions are essential, although they need to involve to facilitate worker ownership and their decision making. This was the goal of Leo, who did not approve of the right to strike. People forget that part. Also on the topic....teachers unions and the Church.

For Biden to go beyond the old politics, he needs to focus his attention on the family support portions of Build Back Better as an abortion issue and dare the conservative bishops to oppose him. Childcare and paid leave are important too. On climate change, Americans wait for consequences before acting. Until Florida starts to disappear, don't expect much.

The vast majority of people don't care about fundraising gimmicks from the woke. Again, fighting wokeness is as offensive as anything the woke do. In the Magnificat, Mary stands with the people who object to those who are woke and with the marginalized. What she preached remains radical, even to this day. The Church's turning her into an icon of sexual purity is another attempt to marginal her message. 

US bishops should help Latin Massgoers understand purpose of Francis' new restrictions

US bishops should help Latin Massgoers understand purpose of Francis' new restrictions 

January 6th demonstrates that the spirit of the civil rights movement does not live in certain hearts. The same can be said for Vatican II, especially among "John Paul priests." It is up to the Spirit to change hearts. If we wish to help, we need to show love, not firmness. That is the lesson we all need (including from those who do not like the reforms). 

Before we try to educate the people in the pews on Vatican II, let's start with clergy, especially the bishops. They also need training in gender theory, aka, queer theory. There is much they can learn about their own asexual orientation and why it should not be imposed on others. Dignitatis Humanae and its implications for the abortion debate must be added to the curriculum. 

On the Mass, offer the current Roman Missal in its Latin form, preferably at the early morning Mass on Sundays (but with readings in English). We might even do the offertory prayer in the original Hebrew. It is not so different.   Maybe the Mass could be too - and celebrated in households in the same way.  The consecration could be added for home worship. Wouldn't that be something. 

Links: Expanding the Supreme Court; the 'Four Freedoms'; vaccine mandates

Links: Expanding the Supreme Court; the 'Four Freedoms'; vaccine mandates 

All justices respect the law, which has a capitalist bias. Most of what the Court does has nothing to do with cultural issues and most of these are unanimous. McConnell obstruction on justices, however, makes catering to Manchin a necessity - not for preserving abortion rights - which will not get another case and the current one has been heard. 

Racial issues may be harder, but that is because the law does not make good sense - and won't until random selection is the solution. Also, Thomas is old, so the balance will again shift from 4-5 to 5-4. In reality, the balance is 3-3-3 - with Gorsuch, Roberts and Alito in the center - or it could be Kavanaugh.

The Insurrectionists don't like FDR and many think Nixon was railroaded. A To Do list will not change their minds.  Some Republicans also don't believe the Insurrection happened - so getting a mention in the Register is a good thing. Democracy is not in danger. The courts will strike down election interference when asked by the government. More importantly, the career leaders in the courts, the military and the civilian government are committed to the rule in law. Trump could never have succeeded. The authors are correct that the bad guys will get caught and prosecuted - especially those in Congress.

LULAC is correct, but ignores the fact that Latinx was always meant to describe the gender fluid. Those who want to use it widely (or think it was meant to) are intellectually lazy.

People with religious objections have forgotten their ethics classes - both in terms of remoteness and the double effect. Unless the fetus was aborted specifically as a source of genetic material, it is not unethical to use that tissue for a good act. I can see medical personnel not wanting to be vaccinated because they have already been sick and know that they won't die of a breakthrough infection. The vax helps against Delta and may prevent getting sick from Omicron - but Omicron is not severe unless you take immunosuppressive drugs or you fall out of bed reaching for a tissue and hit your head on the table. The Court will be in a quandary on free exercise when it does not differentiate between Churchmen attempting to use religious power under the label of religious freedom. Until they do that, wrong answers are inevitable on such questions as not firing gay marrieds from Catholic schools.

The best comedy is subtle. I love my Lucy.