Thursday, October 30, 2003
A little friendly humor
On a tour of Florida, the Pope took a couple of days off to visit the coast for some
sightseeing. He was cruising along the beach in the Pope mobile when there was a
frantic commotion just off shore. A helpless man, wearing a New York Yankee's
jersey, was struggling frantically to free himself from the jaws of a 25-foot shark.
As the Pope watched, horrified, a speedboat came racing up with three men wearing
Boston Red Sox jerseys aboard. One quickly fired a harpoon into the shark's side.
The other two reached out and pulled the bleeding, semi-conscious Yankee fan from
the water. Then using (autographed Nomar) baseball bats, the three heroes in red beat
the shark to death and hauled it into the boat also.
Immediately the Pope shouted and summoned them to the beach. "I give you my blessing
for your brave actions," he told them. "I heard that there was some bitter hatred between
Red Sox and Yankee fans, but now I have seen with my own eyes that this is not the truth."
As the Pope drove off, the harpooner asked his buddies, "Who was that?" "It was the
Pope," one replied. "He is in direct contact with God and has access to all of God's wisdom."
"Well," the harpooner said, "he may have access to God's wisdom, but he doesn't know sh*t
about shark fishing- how's the bait holding up?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
On a tour of Florida, the Pope took a couple of days off to visit the coast for some
sightseeing. He was cruising along the beach in the Pope mobile when there was a
frantic commotion just off shore. A helpless man, wearing a New York Yankee's
jersey, was struggling frantically to free himself from the jaws of a 25-foot shark.
As the Pope watched, horrified, a speedboat came racing up with three men wearing
Boston Red Sox jerseys aboard. One quickly fired a harpoon into the shark's side.
The other two reached out and pulled the bleeding, semi-conscious Yankee fan from
the water. Then using (autographed Nomar) baseball bats, the three heroes in red beat
the shark to death and hauled it into the boat also.
Immediately the Pope shouted and summoned them to the beach. "I give you my blessing
for your brave actions," he told them. "I heard that there was some bitter hatred between
Red Sox and Yankee fans, but now I have seen with my own eyes that this is not the truth."
As the Pope drove off, the harpooner asked his buddies, "Who was that?" "It was the
Pope," one replied. "He is in direct contact with God and has access to all of God's wisdom."
"Well," the harpooner said, "he may have access to God's wisdom, but he doesn't know sh*t
about shark fishing- how's the bait holding up?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Run for your lives! It's Dennis Kozlowski!
How freaking funny are these Halloween masks from Forbes.com which I found courtesy of Relapsed Catholic.
My dad and I, being Granite Staters and having lived on a farm that was once the home of a deceased Tyco CEO (we had our own heliport, thanks Tyco!), are going to wear the Dennis Kozlowski masks. But they're all great.
Scare the children as inside traders and corrupt CEOs! Much scarier than Dracula or Frankenstein.
How freaking funny are these Halloween masks from Forbes.com which I found courtesy of Relapsed Catholic.
My dad and I, being Granite Staters and having lived on a farm that was once the home of a deceased Tyco CEO (we had our own heliport, thanks Tyco!), are going to wear the Dennis Kozlowski masks. But they're all great.
Scare the children as inside traders and corrupt CEOs! Much scarier than Dracula or Frankenstein.
Wednesday, October 29, 2003
First stop on my Kim Jong Il tour . . .
. . . is Fox news. Hwang Jang Yop, the former Minister of Propaganda for Great Leader and his Daffy Duck-loving totalitarian son, is making a long-overdue trip to the US.
This guy knows all the ins-and-outs of the Pyongyang machine. The Gulags, the starvation, the crackdowns, the "missing" Japanese workers, the whole shooting match. Well, I hope he does, anyway. And I hope he spills it all on prime time TV. I hope State let's him have a sit-down with the networks. John Stossel would be good. He has an air of righteous indignation that would be great in the voiceovers.
More coverage. More exposure. Anything to focus the world's attention on this last, great stronghold of Stalinist terror.
And on the ridiculous but shrewd little man who holds the fate of millions of innocent people in the palm of his psychotic hand.
May the Blessed Virgin and St. Andrew Kim Taegon pray for the people of North Korea.
. . . is Fox news. Hwang Jang Yop, the former Minister of Propaganda for Great Leader and his Daffy Duck-loving totalitarian son, is making a long-overdue trip to the US.
This guy knows all the ins-and-outs of the Pyongyang machine. The Gulags, the starvation, the crackdowns, the "missing" Japanese workers, the whole shooting match. Well, I hope he does, anyway. And I hope he spills it all on prime time TV. I hope State let's him have a sit-down with the networks. John Stossel would be good. He has an air of righteous indignation that would be great in the voiceovers.
More coverage. More exposure. Anything to focus the world's attention on this last, great stronghold of Stalinist terror.
And on the ridiculous but shrewd little man who holds the fate of millions of innocent people in the palm of his psychotic hand.
May the Blessed Virgin and St. Andrew Kim Taegon pray for the people of North Korea.
Tuesday, October 28, 2003
Next on Inside Judea, an expose of the supposed "Messiah" Jesus of Nazareth
Hard-hitting, objective reporting on the legacy of a movement celebrating it's 33rd anniversary
Great stuff from Mark Shea. Put it side-by-side with any of the pieces on JPII's anniversary and see if you can tell the difference. The only thing he should have added was a quote by noted theologian Richard Ben Brien.
Hard-hitting, objective reporting on the legacy of a movement celebrating it's 33rd anniversary
Great stuff from Mark Shea. Put it side-by-side with any of the pieces on JPII's anniversary and see if you can tell the difference. The only thing he should have added was a quote by noted theologian Richard Ben Brien.
Sunday, October 26, 2003
Parents of the World, Unite!
Eric Johnson over at Catholic Light provides us all with a call to arms against the most pernicious evil of our time:
Daylight savings time
I say Huzzah! Get the torches and pitchforks! We'll go storm the . . .
Where exactly do we strom? Was this a Congressional thing? Who proposed it?
I smell a judeo-Masonic plot! Get CAI on the hotline!!!
Eric Johnson over at Catholic Light provides us all with a call to arms against the most pernicious evil of our time:
Daylight savings time
I say Huzzah! Get the torches and pitchforks! We'll go storm the . . .
Where exactly do we strom? Was this a Congressional thing? Who proposed it?
I smell a judeo-Masonic plot! Get CAI on the hotline!!!
Thursday, October 23, 2003
Aww, isn't that sweet. A bonding moment
OK, the headline of this article is Courtney Love tried to make overdose fun for daughter
Are you kidding me? I'm all for making the best out of a bad situation, but I think the girl might be better off with Grandma for the time being.
You can make up your own rant on this one. General topics: modern parenting, selfishness, egocentrism of modern man, drugs and their negative effects on kids when used by parents, and prima donnas who have kids.
Bonus points if you include the term "Gold Digger".
OK, the headline of this article is Courtney Love tried to make overdose fun for daughter
Are you kidding me? I'm all for making the best out of a bad situation, but I think the girl might be better off with Grandma for the time being.
You can make up your own rant on this one. General topics: modern parenting, selfishness, egocentrism of modern man, drugs and their negative effects on kids when used by parents, and prima donnas who have kids.
Bonus points if you include the term "Gold Digger".
A Commonplace, Nonchalant Evil
Amy W directs us to this article in Slate
I am flummoxed, as I always am when reading these sorts of things. How does a man do this, day after day?
How can one be so inured to this kind of bald-faced evil?
Up is down, and down is up. The best of the West is in decline, and the lesser angels of our nature are in ascendance. The shabby, ordinary, commonplace evil of modernity makes the flamboyant sins of our fathers look like heroic deeds. C.S. Lewis was more right than he knew when he made the hell of Screwtape a dull bureaucracy.
May God have mercy on me for all I have not done to fight this evil, and may He give me strength to fight harder.
Amy W directs us to this article in Slate
I am flummoxed, as I always am when reading these sorts of things. How does a man do this, day after day?
How can one be so inured to this kind of bald-faced evil?
Up is down, and down is up. The best of the West is in decline, and the lesser angels of our nature are in ascendance. The shabby, ordinary, commonplace evil of modernity makes the flamboyant sins of our fathers look like heroic deeds. C.S. Lewis was more right than he knew when he made the hell of Screwtape a dull bureaucracy.
May God have mercy on me for all I have not done to fight this evil, and may He give me strength to fight harder.
Wednesday, October 22, 2003
MCJ goes to town on Vicky Gene
Christopher Johnson of Midwest Conservative Journal cracks me up. His gallows humor in the face of the current crack-up of the Anglican Communion is priceless, if somewhat heart-breaking.
Here he is on V Gene's Favorite Disney World Ride: The Scripture-Twister of Death .
And here is a reflection on His Lightness' gab sessions with the Almighty on how great it is that Gene is staying the course.
I hope Mr. Johnson decides to swim the Tiber in his effort to escape the dissolution of the HMS Anglican. If nothing else, I'd love to hear his take on OUR bishops, particularly in MS. From the frying pan into the fire.
Christopher Johnson of Midwest Conservative Journal cracks me up. His gallows humor in the face of the current crack-up of the Anglican Communion is priceless, if somewhat heart-breaking.
Here he is on V Gene's Favorite Disney World Ride: The Scripture-Twister of Death .
And here is a reflection on His Lightness' gab sessions with the Almighty on how great it is that Gene is staying the course.
I hope Mr. Johnson decides to swim the Tiber in his effort to escape the dissolution of the HMS Anglican. If nothing else, I'd love to hear his take on OUR bishops, particularly in MS. From the frying pan into the fire.
Kim Jong Illin'
Kim Jong Il is, by far, the most fruitfully lampooned dictator in the world today. And no one does it better than Cox & Forkum, my favorite objectivists.
Try this one too.
This is one of my all-time favorite cartoons as it also takes a swing at another of my least favorite people, Jimeh Cahta.
Of course, the Glorious Leader also has a Live Journal worth checking out.
But on the serious side, North Korea has got to be the most evildoerest place on the planet. Kim Jong Il makes Stalin and the Gulag Archipelago look like Mr. Rogers and his Neighborhood. And now we want to sign another bi-lateral treaty-that's not worth-the-paper-it's-printed-on with Kim?
Negotiating with this cat is, to quote Crash Davis, " . . . like a Martian talking to a fungo."
Unfortunately, we blew our Bush Doctrine wad on Afghanistan and Iraq, so attacking NK is out of the question. There are days when I miss the Cold War. You could be indignant about the evils of Stalinism without actually having to attack anyone.
PS - Another great C&F "Jimmy Carter is an Idiot" cartoon is this one featuring Fidel Castro.
Kim Jong Il is, by far, the most fruitfully lampooned dictator in the world today. And no one does it better than Cox & Forkum, my favorite objectivists.
Try this one too.
This is one of my all-time favorite cartoons as it also takes a swing at another of my least favorite people, Jimeh Cahta.
Of course, the Glorious Leader also has a Live Journal worth checking out.
But on the serious side, North Korea has got to be the most evildoerest place on the planet. Kim Jong Il makes Stalin and the Gulag Archipelago look like Mr. Rogers and his Neighborhood. And now we want to sign another bi-lateral treaty-that's not worth-the-paper-it's-printed-on with Kim?
Negotiating with this cat is, to quote Crash Davis, " . . . like a Martian talking to a fungo."
Unfortunately, we blew our Bush Doctrine wad on Afghanistan and Iraq, so attacking NK is out of the question. There are days when I miss the Cold War. You could be indignant about the evils of Stalinism without actually having to attack anyone.
PS - Another great C&F "Jimmy Carter is an Idiot" cartoon is this one featuring Fidel Castro.
Priest on Nightline
Lizzie and I caught the last minute of Nightline last night. The subject was, apparently, Terri Schiavo.
The pro-Terri person was a nicely dressed Senator of some kind. I'm assuming that he was a Florida State guy as I didn't recognize him.
The Anti-Terri guy was, of course, a priest.
Did anyone see Nightline last night, and can you identify the very nice servant-of-evil-in-a-Roman-collar who was warning us all that this case is very "convoluted" and that maybe Terri should be starved to death? Or, if he was not advocating for her death, can someone tell me what he said so that I can have a better opinion of the man?
Lizzie and I caught the last minute of Nightline last night. The subject was, apparently, Terri Schiavo.
The pro-Terri person was a nicely dressed Senator of some kind. I'm assuming that he was a Florida State guy as I didn't recognize him.
The Anti-Terri guy was, of course, a priest.
Did anyone see Nightline last night, and can you identify the very nice servant-of-evil-in-a-Roman-collar who was warning us all that this case is very "convoluted" and that maybe Terri should be starved to death? Or, if he was not advocating for her death, can someone tell me what he said so that I can have a better opinion of the man?
Tuesday, October 21, 2003
Na Na Na Na, Hey Hey, Goodbye!
I like nothing better than a good gloat. Makes one feel refreshed after a day of being punched in the groin by work/life.
So imagine my glee upon reading this little article about the sh*t-canning by the YWCA of everybody's favorite shrill, smug and annoying Death-on-Demand advocate, Patricia "This is a(n) historic/tragic day for womyn's rights" Ireland.
No caveats or "of course I hate it when someone looses their job." I am ecstatic. There is no way any organization with the term Christian in its name, even one as changed from its original mission as the YWCA, should have someone like Ireland up front as its leader. It's like putting Jack Kervorkian in charge of UNICEF (although, considering some of UNICEF's policies, it's not that much of a reach). Or like making Ted Nugent the head of PETA. Doesn't work.
Well, the Y has learned its lesson. If you take a radical ideologue as your CEO, you should not be surprised when said CEO starts advocating radical ideologies.
I hope she takes a job that will give her fewer opportunities to appear on Hardball. I'm not holding my breath, but one can always hope.
I like nothing better than a good gloat. Makes one feel refreshed after a day of being punched in the groin by work/life.
So imagine my glee upon reading this little article about the sh*t-canning by the YWCA of everybody's favorite shrill, smug and annoying Death-on-Demand advocate, Patricia "This is a(n) historic/tragic day for womyn's rights" Ireland.
No caveats or "of course I hate it when someone looses their job." I am ecstatic. There is no way any organization with the term Christian in its name, even one as changed from its original mission as the YWCA, should have someone like Ireland up front as its leader. It's like putting Jack Kervorkian in charge of UNICEF (although, considering some of UNICEF's policies, it's not that much of a reach). Or like making Ted Nugent the head of PETA. Doesn't work.
Well, the Y has learned its lesson. If you take a radical ideologue as your CEO, you should not be surprised when said CEO starts advocating radical ideologies.
I hope she takes a job that will give her fewer opportunities to appear on Hardball. I'm not holding my breath, but one can always hope.
Monday, October 20, 2003
YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!
OK, I'm back from my Red Sox-induced funk, only to fall into a "world is going to hell"-induced funk.
This article about Terri Schiavo being denied viaticum makes me want to scream
This jumped out at me:
Police officers told the family the Communion would violate a doctor's order that nothing be placed in her mouth, to prevent choking and aspiration.
Right. We can't have her choke while we're starving her. This highlights the absolute evil of the whole process. We don't want to have to intervene in the nice, clean death process we have begun. Not for anything as trivial as the Last Rites of the Church.
I would like 10 minutes alone in an alley with Michael Schiavo.
OK, I'm back from my Red Sox-induced funk, only to fall into a "world is going to hell"-induced funk.
This article about Terri Schiavo being denied viaticum makes me want to scream
This jumped out at me:
Police officers told the family the Communion would violate a doctor's order that nothing be placed in her mouth, to prevent choking and aspiration.
Right. We can't have her choke while we're starving her. This highlights the absolute evil of the whole process. We don't want to have to intervene in the nice, clean death process we have begun. Not for anything as trivial as the Last Rites of the Church.
I would like 10 minutes alone in an alley with Michael Schiavo.
Friday, October 17, 2003
Aaron Boone, Bucky Dent. Same thing, different day
Blogging will be light as I will be out hanging myself.
Blogging will be light as I will be out hanging myself.
Thursday, October 16, 2003
This one is for all the marbles
Here it is, folks, Red Sox/Yankees Game 7.
No buildup necessary. No hyperbole.
Of course, if the Yankees win, then all hope will have faded for the future betterment of mankind. The moon will fall into the ocean. The rivers will run red with blood. Cats and dogs, living together. Total anarchy. If the evil mercenary hordes of Steinbrenner triumph, then we are all lost.
Let us pray:
O Baseball-loving God,
May your warriors not loose faith
as they walk amongst the servants of Evil
in the valley of sorrows.
St. Yaz, ora pro nobis
May your rash servant, Pedro,
find calm and clear purpose
amid his jeering enemies.
St. Tiant, the Forerunner, ora pro nobis
May the lineup be clutch, and
swift of swing. May they hit many doubles and dingers,
which are so pleasing to you.
Sts. Pudge and Carbo and Dewey, ora pro nobis
And may Grady Little, so obviously in
his decisions a sign of your Holy Favor and Protection,
make only those managerial errors which you have
ordained as savant-like.
All Holy Fielders and Batters, ora pro nobis
May all the world be filled with your Holy Refrain, O Lord:
Cowboy Up!
Bring on the Pin Striped ones. Their day is at hand. Amen
Let's get it on.
Here it is, folks, Red Sox/Yankees Game 7.
No buildup necessary. No hyperbole.
Of course, if the Yankees win, then all hope will have faded for the future betterment of mankind. The moon will fall into the ocean. The rivers will run red with blood. Cats and dogs, living together. Total anarchy. If the evil mercenary hordes of Steinbrenner triumph, then we are all lost.
Let us pray:
O Baseball-loving God,
May your warriors not loose faith
as they walk amongst the servants of Evil
in the valley of sorrows.
St. Yaz, ora pro nobis
May your rash servant, Pedro,
find calm and clear purpose
amid his jeering enemies.
St. Tiant, the Forerunner, ora pro nobis
May the lineup be clutch, and
swift of swing. May they hit many doubles and dingers,
which are so pleasing to you.
Sts. Pudge and Carbo and Dewey, ora pro nobis
And may Grady Little, so obviously in
his decisions a sign of your Holy Favor and Protection,
make only those managerial errors which you have
ordained as savant-like.
All Holy Fielders and Batters, ora pro nobis
May all the world be filled with your Holy Refrain, O Lord:
Cowboy Up!
Bring on the Pin Striped ones. Their day is at hand. Amen
Let's get it on.
By the way . . .
Never, ever go to this site! You will never get anything done.
A procrastinator's dream.
Never, ever go to this site! You will never get anything done.
A procrastinator's dream.
UPI doesn't pay him enough
Uwe Siemon-Netto on the Ecumenical ministry of John Paul II
I just started reading his stuff a couple of months ago. HE IS THE BEST RELIGION COMMENTATOR IN THE PRESS, HANDS DOWN.
Sorry for shouting, but he is great. Great great great. Did I mention he is great. I would excerpt, but that would mean reprinting the whole article. I love his bit about married priests and the new seminarians, though.
Read. Read now.
Now leapfrogs my friends Anna and Cody as my favorite Lutherans. Sorry guys.
Well, they're all my favorite behind Davey from "Davey and Goliath". Can't beat Davey.
Uwe Siemon-Netto on the Ecumenical ministry of John Paul II
I just started reading his stuff a couple of months ago. HE IS THE BEST RELIGION COMMENTATOR IN THE PRESS, HANDS DOWN.
Sorry for shouting, but he is great. Great great great. Did I mention he is great. I would excerpt, but that would mean reprinting the whole article. I love his bit about married priests and the new seminarians, though.
Read. Read now.
Now leapfrogs my friends Anna and Cody as my favorite Lutherans. Sorry guys.
Well, they're all my favorite behind Davey from "Davey and Goliath". Can't beat Davey.
Tuesday, October 14, 2003
Not that there's anything wrong with that
Well maybe there is.
Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, if it gets too uncomfortable, we may bail. But for now, we feel we do more good by staying."
Now, I'm not for people staying in the Church for the sole purpose of destabilizing Her moral teaching. I think it is somewhat dishonest and shows an incredible lack of understanding in re: ecclesiology and doctrine (no, not ecclesiology and doctrine! You fascist, Kenny!). What bugs me is that this attitude is so prevalent. The Church is my birthright, and I'm gonna change it to fit all my categories. But, since my view of the Church is mostly natural and experiential, I may have to drop it if things go bad. Like a hobby that is taking up too much of my time.
Oy, somebody get me some aspirin, I feel a stroke coming on.
Now, being the good child of the 70's and 80's that I am, and having done much of my formative work in good 'ol Massachusetts, I always have an instinctive reaction to these articles. How can I be so narrow-minded? How can I deprive these men and women of their "rights". It's like breathing, it just pops into my head.
And I wonder how much is my attitude reflecting this same sentiment (the first thing they teach you in the People's Republic of Massachusetts is to look for hypocrisy in the devout and attack, attack, attack!)? I mean, don't I want to change the current American Church as much as these people? What makes my way better?
Well, it's a good question. And while the motivation is a Pavlovian relativist streak that I have been trained in, I think it is worth asking.
I think the answer lies somewhere in humility and priority. Now, humility (not a virtue I posses in great quantities) allows one to differ to the living Tradition. Priority, in this case, is putting the good of the Church ahead of your own good. If you submit to the living teaching Tradition of the Church, and put the good of the Church ahead of your own wants and itches, then you're on the right track. You may still be a sanctimonious jerk (cf Me), but the road leads to good places.
Put yourself in the lead and view the teaching authority of the Church as one of many "power structures", and you're on a road that seems so very friendly and commodious, but which leads right into a blind curve ending in a brick wall. No brakes, CRASH!
I want this woman in the Church. I want her to do good. I want her and her partner to love each other. But that doesn't mean I want them loving each other AS partner and all the attendant moral and ideological baggage that goes along with it.
I don't want her run out of the Church. But I don't want her soft-peddling what's going on. She is part of a communion that believes the world is a way, and that that way is revealed to us in the Teachings of the Church. That our good is made better, not worse, by what the Church teaches.
Hell, I might even be good with her and her partner raising the kid. Not my first option, but the world is lumpy sometimes, you know? But only if they raise him in such a way that he or she seeks God's will first, and his own second. If they, by their example, try to live lives that glorify God and His wisdom as it is enunciated by the Magisterium of His Church. And I have a sneaking suspicion that this is not on the program.
Of course, this makes me a sanctimonious prig, a hypocrite because of my own failings, and a hater. So be it. I'd rather be a hater in Massachusetts than a prevaricator in Texas. (I was actually going to say "Hell", but how loaded is that comment?)
Well maybe there is.
Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also wish to go away?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, if it gets too uncomfortable, we may bail. But for now, we feel we do more good by staying."
Now, I'm not for people staying in the Church for the sole purpose of destabilizing Her moral teaching. I think it is somewhat dishonest and shows an incredible lack of understanding in re: ecclesiology and doctrine (no, not ecclesiology and doctrine! You fascist, Kenny!). What bugs me is that this attitude is so prevalent. The Church is my birthright, and I'm gonna change it to fit all my categories. But, since my view of the Church is mostly natural and experiential, I may have to drop it if things go bad. Like a hobby that is taking up too much of my time.
Oy, somebody get me some aspirin, I feel a stroke coming on.
Now, being the good child of the 70's and 80's that I am, and having done much of my formative work in good 'ol Massachusetts, I always have an instinctive reaction to these articles. How can I be so narrow-minded? How can I deprive these men and women of their "rights". It's like breathing, it just pops into my head.
And I wonder how much is my attitude reflecting this same sentiment (the first thing they teach you in the People's Republic of Massachusetts is to look for hypocrisy in the devout and attack, attack, attack!)? I mean, don't I want to change the current American Church as much as these people? What makes my way better?
Well, it's a good question. And while the motivation is a Pavlovian relativist streak that I have been trained in, I think it is worth asking.
I think the answer lies somewhere in humility and priority. Now, humility (not a virtue I posses in great quantities) allows one to differ to the living Tradition. Priority, in this case, is putting the good of the Church ahead of your own good. If you submit to the living teaching Tradition of the Church, and put the good of the Church ahead of your own wants and itches, then you're on the right track. You may still be a sanctimonious jerk (cf Me), but the road leads to good places.
Put yourself in the lead and view the teaching authority of the Church as one of many "power structures", and you're on a road that seems so very friendly and commodious, but which leads right into a blind curve ending in a brick wall. No brakes, CRASH!
I want this woman in the Church. I want her to do good. I want her and her partner to love each other. But that doesn't mean I want them loving each other AS partner and all the attendant moral and ideological baggage that goes along with it.
I don't want her run out of the Church. But I don't want her soft-peddling what's going on. She is part of a communion that believes the world is a way, and that that way is revealed to us in the Teachings of the Church. That our good is made better, not worse, by what the Church teaches.
Hell, I might even be good with her and her partner raising the kid. Not my first option, but the world is lumpy sometimes, you know? But only if they raise him in such a way that he or she seeks God's will first, and his own second. If they, by their example, try to live lives that glorify God and His wisdom as it is enunciated by the Magisterium of His Church. And I have a sneaking suspicion that this is not on the program.
Of course, this makes me a sanctimonious prig, a hypocrite because of my own failings, and a hater. So be it. I'd rather be a hater in Massachusetts than a prevaricator in Texas. (I was actually going to say "Hell", but how loaded is that comment?)
Series Tied 2-2, No decision on the Nelson/Groundskeeper Undercard
Well, without any violence whatsoever, the Red Sox cowboyed up and beat the mercenary hordes of the Evil Empire last night, 3-2.
Wakefield, despite a couple of rocky innings, pitched super. That knuckler is a killer.
The offence continued to be able to score runs with the long ball, and also continued to be unable to do anything in the way of strategic contact hitting. If Mueller was any more ineffective he'd be a Detroit Tiger.
And Mark the Irish Elk has reminded me that there were approved apparitions of two of the Saints at the game last night
Let us give thanks:
O Merciful, Baseball-loving God!
Thank you for the gift of excellence given to
Trot and Walker in this postseason.
May the longball not leave them,
Nor the tough defense at 1st leave Millar,
or surely our enemies will surround us and
crush our bones .
St. Yaz, ora pro nobis
May all Your Protection and Favor,
through the intercession of Your Saints,
Come to the aid of Mueller, and Ortiz, and Nomah
so that they might once again hit doubles and dingers
which are pleasing in Your sight.
St. Ted, ora pro nobis
And may Johnny Damon continue, O Lord, to get clutch hits
and to make great plays in the outfield, all
the time looking like the Unfrozen Caveman
Outfielder!
St. Freddie, ora pro nobis
Look not with disfavor on
the antics of Pedro and Manny, for
they are your servants, and
rash bravado and imprudent fisticuffs
are an old Sox tradition.
St. Spaceman, ora pro nobis
And may the rotation be strong,
that they might go 7+ innings per game,
and so leave only Timlin and
Williamson to come out of the bullpen.
St Tiant, the Forerunner, ora pro nobis
Let's go BoSox! The rainout was a major blessing, as we can now go with Lowe tonight. If we're lucky, we'll never need to use Burkett.
Cowboy Up! It's going to be a bumpy ride!
BTW, Grady Little is not the most astute manager in the majors, but he's a genius at wacky, "I'll-do-anything-to-get-my-guys-in-the-mood" psyche tactics. Bill Cosby?! Hey, it worked. Maybe he can get Dennis Leary out there for one of of the NY games (hopefully only one).
More Grady, from the "Major League" school of management:
Why did Little gamble with Varitek, with the numbers so skewed in Mussina's favor?
"I was thinking that he was due," drawled Little . . .
I would actually pay to hear Grady answer the bullpen phone and say, "I'll have to get back to you, I got a guy on the other line about some whitewalls."
And from the Department of Special PsyOps Warfare:
. . . in the eighth inning [Little] drew a roar from the crowd when he asked the umpires to check the glove and belt buckle of Yankees reliever Jeff Nelson, the pitcher accused by Boston police of launching an unprovoked attack on a Sox grounds crew employee.
It was pure gamesmanship by Little, responding to the Game 1 search of Timlin requested by Yankees manager Joe Torre.
I don't think I've ever liked/disliked a manager more than Grady Little. That's why he is the perfect manager for the Red Sox.
Well, without any violence whatsoever, the Red Sox cowboyed up and beat the mercenary hordes of the Evil Empire last night, 3-2.
Wakefield, despite a couple of rocky innings, pitched super. That knuckler is a killer.
The offence continued to be able to score runs with the long ball, and also continued to be unable to do anything in the way of strategic contact hitting. If Mueller was any more ineffective he'd be a Detroit Tiger.
And Mark the Irish Elk has reminded me that there were approved apparitions of two of the Saints at the game last night
Let us give thanks:
O Merciful, Baseball-loving God!
Thank you for the gift of excellence given to
Trot and Walker in this postseason.
May the longball not leave them,
Nor the tough defense at 1st leave Millar,
or surely our enemies will surround us and
crush our bones .
St. Yaz, ora pro nobis
May all Your Protection and Favor,
through the intercession of Your Saints,
Come to the aid of Mueller, and Ortiz, and Nomah
so that they might once again hit doubles and dingers
which are pleasing in Your sight.
St. Ted, ora pro nobis
And may Johnny Damon continue, O Lord, to get clutch hits
and to make great plays in the outfield, all
the time looking like the Unfrozen Caveman
Outfielder!
St. Freddie, ora pro nobis
Look not with disfavor on
the antics of Pedro and Manny, for
they are your servants, and
rash bravado and imprudent fisticuffs
are an old Sox tradition.
St. Spaceman, ora pro nobis
And may the rotation be strong,
that they might go 7+ innings per game,
and so leave only Timlin and
Williamson to come out of the bullpen.
St Tiant, the Forerunner, ora pro nobis
Let's go BoSox! The rainout was a major blessing, as we can now go with Lowe tonight. If we're lucky, we'll never need to use Burkett.
Cowboy Up! It's going to be a bumpy ride!
BTW, Grady Little is not the most astute manager in the majors, but he's a genius at wacky, "I'll-do-anything-to-get-my-guys-in-the-mood" psyche tactics. Bill Cosby?! Hey, it worked. Maybe he can get Dennis Leary out there for one of of the NY games (hopefully only one).
More Grady, from the "Major League" school of management:
Why did Little gamble with Varitek, with the numbers so skewed in Mussina's favor?
"I was thinking that he was due," drawled Little . . .
I would actually pay to hear Grady answer the bullpen phone and say, "I'll have to get back to you, I got a guy on the other line about some whitewalls."
And from the Department of Special PsyOps Warfare:
. . . in the eighth inning [Little] drew a roar from the crowd when he asked the umpires to check the glove and belt buckle of Yankees reliever Jeff Nelson, the pitcher accused by Boston police of launching an unprovoked attack on a Sox grounds crew employee.
It was pure gamesmanship by Little, responding to the Game 1 search of Timlin requested by Yankees manager Joe Torre.
I don't think I've ever liked/disliked a manager more than Grady Little. That's why he is the perfect manager for the Red Sox.
Friday, October 10, 2003
Death, Inc. Opens Illinois Branch Office
The Culture of Death has won a stunning victory in an Illinois Appeals Court (link via Mark Shea).
I would rant, but I am far too sad.
This little girl was born on August 21, 1990.
My 18th birthday.
Requiescat in Pacem
The Culture of Death has won a stunning victory in an Illinois Appeals Court (link via Mark Shea).
I would rant, but I am far too sad.
This little girl was born on August 21, 1990.
My 18th birthday.
Requiescat in Pacem
No Comment
Except to say that Grady Little has the worst baseball instincts of any manager that has ever lived. I'm not bitter or anything.
Except to say that Grady Little has the worst baseball instincts of any manager that has ever lived. I'm not bitter or anything.
Rod and the Parti Quebecois
Rod Dreher waxes humorous about the letter from Cardinal Ratzinger to the Episcopal meeting in Dallas
Too bad he's completely off the mark. His analogy is as loose and unstable as Mariah Carey after a couple of Sour Apple Martinis.
The Catholic view of the current situation in the Christian Church is this: Imagine a group of concentric circles. The Church of Rome is the largest circle, describing the fullness of the Faith. Next is the Orthodox Church. It's circle is very, very close to ours, perhaps millimeters inside. There is a dot in the center which is, oh I don't know, the Unitarians or someone. Somewhere between that dot and the Orthodox circle is the Anglican circle. And there are, by the Vatican's thinking, several Anglican circles. Griswold closer to the middle, then Rowan Williams, and the people in Dallas larger than both and closer to the Roman, largest circle. OK, this analogy is getting unwieldy. I'm going to have to start doing trigonometry soon to extricate myself.
My point is this. The Church of Rome is the guardian of the fullness of the faith. As such, we have care for all of those separated brethren who have a piece of what we have. So it is less like a foreign power talking to a separatist group than a father talking to his son. As such, it is perfectly proper for Ratzinger to give support to these people. It is his duty as a pastor and representative of the Vicar of Christ, really.
And many of the Anglo-Catholics I know, including some who were in Dallas, absolutely LOVE JPII and Ratzinger. They have a murky understanding that these guys represent the Tradition in the West, even if they turn somersaults to include the "Via Media" in with that Tradition. Support from Ratzinger and JPII means more to them than the terse statements delivered to Rowan the other day will mean to him, I think.
Sorry Rod, but you're analogy, while less cumbersome than my circle analogy above, is not a very good description of what was going on in Dallas. From the Anglo-Catholic perspective, at any rate. What the Evangelicals thought about it is completely outside my ken.
Rod Dreher waxes humorous about the letter from Cardinal Ratzinger to the Episcopal meeting in Dallas
Too bad he's completely off the mark. His analogy is as loose and unstable as Mariah Carey after a couple of Sour Apple Martinis.
The Catholic view of the current situation in the Christian Church is this: Imagine a group of concentric circles. The Church of Rome is the largest circle, describing the fullness of the Faith. Next is the Orthodox Church. It's circle is very, very close to ours, perhaps millimeters inside. There is a dot in the center which is, oh I don't know, the Unitarians or someone. Somewhere between that dot and the Orthodox circle is the Anglican circle. And there are, by the Vatican's thinking, several Anglican circles. Griswold closer to the middle, then Rowan Williams, and the people in Dallas larger than both and closer to the Roman, largest circle. OK, this analogy is getting unwieldy. I'm going to have to start doing trigonometry soon to extricate myself.
My point is this. The Church of Rome is the guardian of the fullness of the faith. As such, we have care for all of those separated brethren who have a piece of what we have. So it is less like a foreign power talking to a separatist group than a father talking to his son. As such, it is perfectly proper for Ratzinger to give support to these people. It is his duty as a pastor and representative of the Vicar of Christ, really.
And many of the Anglo-Catholics I know, including some who were in Dallas, absolutely LOVE JPII and Ratzinger. They have a murky understanding that these guys represent the Tradition in the West, even if they turn somersaults to include the "Via Media" in with that Tradition. Support from Ratzinger and JPII means more to them than the terse statements delivered to Rowan the other day will mean to him, I think.
Sorry Rod, but you're analogy, while less cumbersome than my circle analogy above, is not a very good description of what was going on in Dallas. From the Anglo-Catholic perspective, at any rate. What the Evangelicals thought about it is completely outside my ken.
Okay, how funny is this?
This is the funniest thing I've read in days
Princeton student thwarts multi-million dollar security protocol by holding down shift key
If this is true, this company deserves to loose 10 million of it's value. Are you kidding me? What is this, 1985? How can you possibly sell a technology to BMG, roll it out, and then not have someone know about and fix this?
And suing the kid is ridiculous. It only makes them look petulant, on top of looking completely incompetent.
This is the funniest thing I've read in days
Princeton student thwarts multi-million dollar security protocol by holding down shift key
If this is true, this company deserves to loose 10 million of it's value. Are you kidding me? What is this, 1985? How can you possibly sell a technology to BMG, roll it out, and then not have someone know about and fix this?
And suing the kid is ridiculous. It only makes them look petulant, on top of looking completely incompetent.
Wednesday, October 08, 2003
Possible World Exclusive!
It seems my association with the Anglo-Catholic set is going to finally pay off.
My friend Tony Clark read the Ratzinger letter to the Anglican Assembly in Dallas. As soon as I can get a hold of him, I'll see if he is willing to grant an interview.
I hope I can beat out CNN!
Apparently, the letter went over well. I was quite heartened by the UPI piece written today by the incomparable Uwe Siemon-Netto. The Church, for the best of reasons, has been doing the Reconciliation two-step with the Anglican Church for the better part of the 20th Century. Contraception, divorce/remarriage, women priests, women bishops, one issue after another the Anglican Communion has caved in and we have been there to hold out our hand. I hope the time has come to finally stop pretending the officialdom of the C of E is going to turn the ship around. There are many good, faithful Christians who love the Lord, and who love Christ in the Eucharist, in the Anglican Communion. These are the people we should be dealing with.
Particularly since we declared their orders invalid 100+ years ago. It always seemed illogical that we should treat with bishops who we say do not have valid orders AS bishops. Nice thing to do, of course, but it's time to face the reality of the situation: the unity of the Anglican Church and the Church of Rome is going to be brought about one parish and one person at a time. I think that's the only way it could happen and be done right.
P.S. - Full text of Cardinal Ratzinger's letter on CWN blog
It seems my association with the Anglo-Catholic set is going to finally pay off.
My friend Tony Clark read the Ratzinger letter to the Anglican Assembly in Dallas. As soon as I can get a hold of him, I'll see if he is willing to grant an interview.
I hope I can beat out CNN!
Apparently, the letter went over well. I was quite heartened by the UPI piece written today by the incomparable Uwe Siemon-Netto. The Church, for the best of reasons, has been doing the Reconciliation two-step with the Anglican Church for the better part of the 20th Century. Contraception, divorce/remarriage, women priests, women bishops, one issue after another the Anglican Communion has caved in and we have been there to hold out our hand. I hope the time has come to finally stop pretending the officialdom of the C of E is going to turn the ship around. There are many good, faithful Christians who love the Lord, and who love Christ in the Eucharist, in the Anglican Communion. These are the people we should be dealing with.
Particularly since we declared their orders invalid 100+ years ago. It always seemed illogical that we should treat with bishops who we say do not have valid orders AS bishops. Nice thing to do, of course, but it's time to face the reality of the situation: the unity of the Anglican Church and the Church of Rome is going to be brought about one parish and one person at a time. I think that's the only way it could happen and be done right.
P.S. - Full text of Cardinal Ratzinger's letter on CWN blog
Lowry and Shorty and kids who should live
Rich Lowry has a nice piece on NRO about the movie Shorty.
It underscores something that has happened to my wife and I three times now.
First time was in 1999. We were pregnant with our first son, Mac. Our doctor at the time asked us if we wanted to do a tri-screen. I didn't know what it was, my wife did somewhat, so we went with the doctor's advice so that we could "know if anything was wrong." The thing came back with a very high percentage that Mac would have spina bifida. We were told we had to go see the genetic counselor.
Now, if they didn't have genetic counselors in Fahrenheit 451 or any of the other dystopian sci-fi classics, they should have. The job itself seems easy. They just ask you about your family's medical history (which is spotty for me b/c my mom was adopted) and tell you about the risks. But, why does one need this advise? DO they give you relevant literature or names of organizations who help the parents of children with the conditions they detect? No. Really, the whole thing is, "Let's see if the threshold is high enough for you to abort your child."
They couch it in nice ways "just want you to have all the information", but the idea is clear. Why bring this child into the world. It will be nothing but expense and pain. Save yourself the heartache.
The counselor was very nice. But I got the distinct feeling she thought we were a little too cavalier about the whole process. I mean, didn't we know how serious this was?
And the answer to that question was yes, and we understood it more than she did. That's why we listened to the bare minimum of what she had to say and fled the office at highest possible speed. And we have since skipped the tri-screen twice (once just yesterday).
I'm sure the screeners and aborters think they are doing the right thing. This is a much more difficult case than an abortion of convenience because it lets you do it for a noble (if supremely twisted) reason. You're protecting your child from a life of pain and/or hardship. Insidious, isn't it? Relocate the value of a thing and you can do with it whatever you want.
Now, I feel very sorry for these people. It kills me when I hear about someone who I know has aborted a child b/c of Downs syndrome or Spina Bifida or whatever. I understand why they did it, and can even empathize with them. But for the grace of God, I would have given in to that fear with Mac.
But here's a cautionary tale:
Mac, the kid that tested high for Spina Bifida, didn't have it. But what he does have is a small dimple on his lower back (we call it his "crooked crack"). It is where Spina Bifida usually occurs (and it is not Spina Bifida Occulta, which is a similar looking condition, we've had him checked). We prayed like mad for that little boy, had students at CSTM praying before the Blessed Sacrament for him (several even walked out in the middle of an exam, with permission, to go to the chapel to pray when I called to say Lizzie was in labor). And to this day you will NOT convince me that that little crooked crack is not the sign of a miracle. Not a fuzzy "isn't life a miracle" miracle, but a full-blown, intercession of the saints, prayin'-to-Mary-Mother-of-Mercy, Jesus-came-down-and-healed-my-child true blue miracle.
We cannot see all ends, or know why some things happen or others don't. All we can do is live. I am so thankful that we let Mac have a chance to live despite the risks, and to let him be a crooked image of the mercy of God.
Rich Lowry has a nice piece on NRO about the movie Shorty.
It underscores something that has happened to my wife and I three times now.
First time was in 1999. We were pregnant with our first son, Mac. Our doctor at the time asked us if we wanted to do a tri-screen. I didn't know what it was, my wife did somewhat, so we went with the doctor's advice so that we could "know if anything was wrong." The thing came back with a very high percentage that Mac would have spina bifida. We were told we had to go see the genetic counselor.
Now, if they didn't have genetic counselors in Fahrenheit 451 or any of the other dystopian sci-fi classics, they should have. The job itself seems easy. They just ask you about your family's medical history (which is spotty for me b/c my mom was adopted) and tell you about the risks. But, why does one need this advise? DO they give you relevant literature or names of organizations who help the parents of children with the conditions they detect? No. Really, the whole thing is, "Let's see if the threshold is high enough for you to abort your child."
They couch it in nice ways "just want you to have all the information", but the idea is clear. Why bring this child into the world. It will be nothing but expense and pain. Save yourself the heartache.
The counselor was very nice. But I got the distinct feeling she thought we were a little too cavalier about the whole process. I mean, didn't we know how serious this was?
And the answer to that question was yes, and we understood it more than she did. That's why we listened to the bare minimum of what she had to say and fled the office at highest possible speed. And we have since skipped the tri-screen twice (once just yesterday).
I'm sure the screeners and aborters think they are doing the right thing. This is a much more difficult case than an abortion of convenience because it lets you do it for a noble (if supremely twisted) reason. You're protecting your child from a life of pain and/or hardship. Insidious, isn't it? Relocate the value of a thing and you can do with it whatever you want.
Now, I feel very sorry for these people. It kills me when I hear about someone who I know has aborted a child b/c of Downs syndrome or Spina Bifida or whatever. I understand why they did it, and can even empathize with them. But for the grace of God, I would have given in to that fear with Mac.
But here's a cautionary tale:
Mac, the kid that tested high for Spina Bifida, didn't have it. But what he does have is a small dimple on his lower back (we call it his "crooked crack"). It is where Spina Bifida usually occurs (and it is not Spina Bifida Occulta, which is a similar looking condition, we've had him checked). We prayed like mad for that little boy, had students at CSTM praying before the Blessed Sacrament for him (several even walked out in the middle of an exam, with permission, to go to the chapel to pray when I called to say Lizzie was in labor). And to this day you will NOT convince me that that little crooked crack is not the sign of a miracle. Not a fuzzy "isn't life a miracle" miracle, but a full-blown, intercession of the saints, prayin'-to-Mary-Mother-of-Mercy, Jesus-came-down-and-healed-my-child true blue miracle.
We cannot see all ends, or know why some things happen or others don't. All we can do is live. I am so thankful that we let Mac have a chance to live despite the risks, and to let him be a crooked image of the mercy of God.
Funny Little Bit of Boston Flavor
The St. Paddy's Day parade is one of the last bastions of old-time Irish curmudgeon-ness in Boston.
This article, provided by the ever-watchful Pops Scagel, cracks me up.
You don't have to go any farther than the second paragraph. The name of the organizer that is quoted is classic.
The St. Paddy's Day parade is one of the last bastions of old-time Irish curmudgeon-ness in Boston.
This article, provided by the ever-watchful Pops Scagel, cracks me up.
You don't have to go any farther than the second paragraph. The name of the organizer that is quoted is classic.
Cahllyvornia Dreamin', on zuch a vinter's day, and all that sort of thing
So, Der Arnold has won the recall. I'd link to an article, but I'm sure you've been encountering them all day. It's all Arnold, all the time out there in cyberspace.
I await Mr. Weinkopf's reaction. I'm sure it is happy/sad. Happy that Davis is gone, sad that a RINO like Arnold is in his place.
I think that this map is telling. Remind anyone of any other maps we've seen lately?
I wonder if Bishop Weigand will say anything. I sure hope he does. There can be no equivocation on this one. A new pro-abortion Catholic is coming to town, and I hope the Bishop calls him to task just as he did Davis. And he could roll a couple of the other issues as well, particularly gay marriage.
Well, let's pray for Schwartzy and the Bishop. Only thing that will do any good, no?
BTW, I saw this about the Diocese of Sacramento and what they use instead of the ridiculous "Talking About Touching":
A program preferred by some dioceses, but not listed by the national office, is "Kid Wise" – the choice of Bishop Weigand of Sacramento, Ca., whose schools switch to the Boy Scout Program for junior and senior high schools.
I'm Googling now, and will post anything I find. But does anyone out there have any info on this program?
So, Der Arnold has won the recall. I'd link to an article, but I'm sure you've been encountering them all day. It's all Arnold, all the time out there in cyberspace.
I await Mr. Weinkopf's reaction. I'm sure it is happy/sad. Happy that Davis is gone, sad that a RINO like Arnold is in his place.
I think that this map is telling. Remind anyone of any other maps we've seen lately?
I wonder if Bishop Weigand will say anything. I sure hope he does. There can be no equivocation on this one. A new pro-abortion Catholic is coming to town, and I hope the Bishop calls him to task just as he did Davis. And he could roll a couple of the other issues as well, particularly gay marriage.
Well, let's pray for Schwartzy and the Bishop. Only thing that will do any good, no?
BTW, I saw this about the Diocese of Sacramento and what they use instead of the ridiculous "Talking About Touching":
A program preferred by some dioceses, but not listed by the national office, is "Kid Wise" – the choice of Bishop Weigand of Sacramento, Ca., whose schools switch to the Boy Scout Program for junior and senior high schools.
I'm Googling now, and will post anything I find. But does anyone out there have any info on this program?
Tuesday, October 07, 2003
Pope on death's door!
Or not, as the case may be.
My son Mac shares his birthday with the Holy Father. I suspect that they will BOTH see their next birthday.
Or not, as the case may be.
My son Mac shares his birthday with the Holy Father. I suspect that they will BOTH see their next birthday.
The must-buy item of the day
OK, the mania is setting in. I need to buy this.
I mean, my wife just bought maternity clothes yesterday. This has got to be on the same level.
Right?
OK, the mania is setting in. I need to buy this.
I mean, my wife just bought maternity clothes yesterday. This has got to be on the same level.
Right?
Almost wet my pants
The 9th inning of last night's Red Sox-A's Game 5 was almost the undoing of me.
First there was 5 innings of the Zito Curve. I'm down and anxious, trying to Cowboy Up but failing as the superstitious instincts of any good BoSox fan sensed a little of the "1975 Game 7" juju coming on. Zito looked too solid, bar fight or no bar fight. Much nail biting.
But Pedro was matching Zito inning for inning, looking like the Pedro that hurls the Thunderbolt and can do no wrong (as he has looked so often of late. I think Ortiz gives him mystical pep talks before his starts).
Then the unloading of the bats in the 6th, with Manny smashing a laser of a dinger
Next stop: Ulcertown!
OY. Each run the A's scored made my insides roil like sea off of Hampton Beach during a Nor'Easter. Every at-bat was a lesson in pain.
The Collision in the Seventh: Made me shake to my core. That's a juju sign if there ever was one. Johnny Damon, the Returning Hero, goes down hard. We're sunk, I thought. But then there was something in his little hand raise, another sign of hope in amongst the curse. OK, I'm maintaining my calm (of course, I was at my in-laws' house, yelling at my boys to get in the car, I had to get home for the 9th. Mac looks at me as I'm frantically loading him into the car and says, "It's OK, Daddy, the Red Sox won! Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!" Now, was that just a 4 y.o.'s enthusiasm for his dad's favorite team, or was it an augery worthy of Delphi? I choose to believe the more metaphysical explanation).
The 9th was like slow death. Williamson's walks seemed to have a Calvinist quality, predestined to take all joy from The Nation. He had been so great in EVERY game of this series. He was killing me. Every A's at-bat had that "Oh Sh*t" quality that all Red Sox devotees know so well.
Lowe's work was masterful, but another walk seemed to have the Hand of God behind it. It was not until I saw that ump call strike three on that nasty little sliding piece of junk that Lowe throws better than anybody did my intestines unwind and my joy come out in full force.
Wow, almost a classic Sports Guy "Stomach Punch Game". But not with this group. There is a relentless optimism, exemplified by the great and unintelligible David Ortiz, that gives one hope for this group of Red Sox. Of course, do not trust in hope, too often it has forsaken these lands.
But, for now, I can forget the past and move on to New York. That is the great lesson of being a Red Sox fan. You are a hard-boiled cynic out of protective habit, but in the end you are just another sucker, believing in the smallest signs and wonders. THIS IS THE YEAR! O what fools these mortals be.
As a closer worthy of Derek Lowe, I leave you with the writing of one of the High Priests of The Nation, Dan Shaughnessy
The 9th inning of last night's Red Sox-A's Game 5 was almost the undoing of me.
First there was 5 innings of the Zito Curve. I'm down and anxious, trying to Cowboy Up but failing as the superstitious instincts of any good BoSox fan sensed a little of the "1975 Game 7" juju coming on. Zito looked too solid, bar fight or no bar fight. Much nail biting.
But Pedro was matching Zito inning for inning, looking like the Pedro that hurls the Thunderbolt and can do no wrong (as he has looked so often of late. I think Ortiz gives him mystical pep talks before his starts).
Then the unloading of the bats in the 6th, with Manny smashing a laser of a dinger
Next stop: Ulcertown!
OY. Each run the A's scored made my insides roil like sea off of Hampton Beach during a Nor'Easter. Every at-bat was a lesson in pain.
The Collision in the Seventh: Made me shake to my core. That's a juju sign if there ever was one. Johnny Damon, the Returning Hero, goes down hard. We're sunk, I thought. But then there was something in his little hand raise, another sign of hope in amongst the curse. OK, I'm maintaining my calm (of course, I was at my in-laws' house, yelling at my boys to get in the car, I had to get home for the 9th. Mac looks at me as I'm frantically loading him into the car and says, "It's OK, Daddy, the Red Sox won! Yeah, Yeah, Yeah!" Now, was that just a 4 y.o.'s enthusiasm for his dad's favorite team, or was it an augery worthy of Delphi? I choose to believe the more metaphysical explanation).
The 9th was like slow death. Williamson's walks seemed to have a Calvinist quality, predestined to take all joy from The Nation. He had been so great in EVERY game of this series. He was killing me. Every A's at-bat had that "Oh Sh*t" quality that all Red Sox devotees know so well.
Lowe's work was masterful, but another walk seemed to have the Hand of God behind it. It was not until I saw that ump call strike three on that nasty little sliding piece of junk that Lowe throws better than anybody did my intestines unwind and my joy come out in full force.
Wow, almost a classic Sports Guy "Stomach Punch Game". But not with this group. There is a relentless optimism, exemplified by the great and unintelligible David Ortiz, that gives one hope for this group of Red Sox. Of course, do not trust in hope, too often it has forsaken these lands.
But, for now, I can forget the past and move on to New York. That is the great lesson of being a Red Sox fan. You are a hard-boiled cynic out of protective habit, but in the end you are just another sucker, believing in the smallest signs and wonders. THIS IS THE YEAR! O what fools these mortals be.
As a closer worthy of Derek Lowe, I leave you with the writing of one of the High Priests of The Nation, Dan Shaughnessy
Monday, October 06, 2003
It's time to Cowboy Up, folks
7 PM Central, Oakland, CA
To quote Double-Down Trent: It's so on!
Say the Litany of the Tragic Heroes, and pray that God might see fit to grant the boys another day in which to fight evil
7 PM Central, Oakland, CA
To quote Double-Down Trent: It's so on!
Say the Litany of the Tragic Heroes, and pray that God might see fit to grant the boys another day in which to fight evil
Smockmomma Confidential
Very interesting posts by Smockmomma of the fabulous Summa Mamas.
I often kid my wife that she is a closet feminist, but there ain't no closet for the Smockmeister!
Link is to Part One, Part Two follows above, if you catch my drift.
Very interesting posts by Smockmomma of the fabulous Summa Mamas.
I often kid my wife that she is a closet feminist, but there ain't no closet for the Smockmeister!
Link is to Part One, Part Two follows above, if you catch my drift.
Vicky Gene makes the rounds
My father keeps me updated on all things New England. Even though he lives here in Fort Worth now, he is a master of the online newspapers.
So he sent me this little piece from Foster's Daily Democrat (one of my local growing-up papers).
Bishop-elect V. Gene the Magnificent visits local parish
Now, you can insert your own usual thoughts about the depth of understanding of all of the nuanced issues here. Most puddles are deeper. This section really caught my eye:
During the service, however, it was all about the gospel. The subject of this week's teachings was marriage and divorce, but there was no mention of homosexuality.
Robinson himself, when giving his sermon, talked about how the institution of marriage has changed over the years, and how couples are freer to divorce today than they used to be.
While he did not discuss his lifestyle, or same-sex marriage or civil unions, Robinson pointed out that even the most faithful have become "considerably uncomfortable" with many of the strict rules on marriage and relationships.
"God cares more about hearts than about rules," he said.
Robinson pointed out that this realization has made for a kinder church.
For example, he said, women who leave a marriage are no longer stoned.
Wow! This passage zips and zooms right along, doesn't it?
First, it's all about the gospel, people! None of that awful, extra-biblical claptrap about him leaving his wife and moving in with a guy to experience "sacramental" sexual encounters of the homoerotic kind.
Next, a very deep reflection on the state of modern marriage. What do we find? All those rules concerning marriage and divorce make people uncomfortable! What an insight! Rules make people uncomfortable, Huh. Never thought of that. I mean, my experience is that people have just a jim dandy time conforming to rules. Who knew that fallen men (sorry, men and women . . . no, people . . . no, persons . . . wait, no, entities) have a difficult time ignoring or sublimating their various itches? I always thought that thing about virtues being tough was just a little self-congratulation to make people feel important. How narrow my experience has been!
But, if it's making people uncomfortable, it can't be good. And not just uncomfortable, but "considerably uncomfortable". It's worse than I thought.
Well, but Vick, what can I do about this? There's all these rules about not cheating on my wife and being faithful and living UP to my vows and not ditching when things get tough. Some obviously backward people tell me these rules are the concrete expression of the teaching of the Gospels, that they are there to help me and keep me on the path to being better than I am today. How do I answer these common-sense arguments?
Answer: God is a big encounter facilitator who only cares that you are being true to your own heart, silly. How you behave has nothing to do with it! Take that old idea that heart and action are to be amended and sanctified as part of a single process and abstract it out of existence. God is love, and we all know love is just a feeling that makes one all warm and fuzzy. So just make sure you're feeling warm and fuzzy. Voila!
Now you can stop going out and stoning divorced women because you will no longer be a rules-obsessed Neanderthal. See how that works. God is a fuzzy, lovey-dovey sweetie and we love everybody, or your life has meaning and virtue is important and you have to stone people. Seems like an easy choice to me.
But Gene, what about all that business that Love is a theological virtue called caritas and it is transformative not just of subjective qualities but of action as well? That caritas is given to love God with all your being, and therefore your actions are part of that package? That what you do is not unrelated to who you are and God wants us to be holy in our entirety?
Gene . . . Gene . . . are you there? Where'd he go?
My father keeps me updated on all things New England. Even though he lives here in Fort Worth now, he is a master of the online newspapers.
So he sent me this little piece from Foster's Daily Democrat (one of my local growing-up papers).
Bishop-elect V. Gene the Magnificent visits local parish
Now, you can insert your own usual thoughts about the depth of understanding of all of the nuanced issues here. Most puddles are deeper. This section really caught my eye:
During the service, however, it was all about the gospel. The subject of this week's teachings was marriage and divorce, but there was no mention of homosexuality.
Robinson himself, when giving his sermon, talked about how the institution of marriage has changed over the years, and how couples are freer to divorce today than they used to be.
While he did not discuss his lifestyle, or same-sex marriage or civil unions, Robinson pointed out that even the most faithful have become "considerably uncomfortable" with many of the strict rules on marriage and relationships.
"God cares more about hearts than about rules," he said.
Robinson pointed out that this realization has made for a kinder church.
For example, he said, women who leave a marriage are no longer stoned.
Wow! This passage zips and zooms right along, doesn't it?
First, it's all about the gospel, people! None of that awful, extra-biblical claptrap about him leaving his wife and moving in with a guy to experience "sacramental" sexual encounters of the homoerotic kind.
Next, a very deep reflection on the state of modern marriage. What do we find? All those rules concerning marriage and divorce make people uncomfortable! What an insight! Rules make people uncomfortable, Huh. Never thought of that. I mean, my experience is that people have just a jim dandy time conforming to rules. Who knew that fallen men (sorry, men and women . . . no, people . . . no, persons . . . wait, no, entities) have a difficult time ignoring or sublimating their various itches? I always thought that thing about virtues being tough was just a little self-congratulation to make people feel important. How narrow my experience has been!
But, if it's making people uncomfortable, it can't be good. And not just uncomfortable, but "considerably uncomfortable". It's worse than I thought.
Well, but Vick, what can I do about this? There's all these rules about not cheating on my wife and being faithful and living UP to my vows and not ditching when things get tough. Some obviously backward people tell me these rules are the concrete expression of the teaching of the Gospels, that they are there to help me and keep me on the path to being better than I am today. How do I answer these common-sense arguments?
Answer: God is a big encounter facilitator who only cares that you are being true to your own heart, silly. How you behave has nothing to do with it! Take that old idea that heart and action are to be amended and sanctified as part of a single process and abstract it out of existence. God is love, and we all know love is just a feeling that makes one all warm and fuzzy. So just make sure you're feeling warm and fuzzy. Voila!
Now you can stop going out and stoning divorced women because you will no longer be a rules-obsessed Neanderthal. See how that works. God is a fuzzy, lovey-dovey sweetie and we love everybody, or your life has meaning and virtue is important and you have to stone people. Seems like an easy choice to me.
But Gene, what about all that business that Love is a theological virtue called caritas and it is transformative not just of subjective qualities but of action as well? That caritas is given to love God with all your being, and therefore your actions are part of that package? That what you do is not unrelated to who you are and God wants us to be holy in our entirety?
Gene . . . Gene . . . are you there? Where'd he go?
Sunday, October 05, 2003
The Great Awakening
OK, I am in the grip of a religious fervor right now. It is a very private thing, and full of superstitions which prevent me from speaking too openly about it. There is only one thing I CAN say:
ORTIZ DRIVES IN NOMAH AND MANNY!!!!!!!!!
I will pray for the intercession of all of the Fenway Saints.
St Ted, ora pro nobis
St Dom D, ora pro nobis
St Yaz, ora pro nobis
St Pudge, ora pro nobis
St Spaceman, ora pro nobis
St Dewey, ora pro nobis
St Tony C, ora pro nobis
St Tiant, the Forerunner, ora pro nobis
St Freddie, ora pro nobis
May the fallen Roger be sent to the outer Bronx darkness, and the Streets of Causeway be joyous in celebration.
OK, I am in the grip of a religious fervor right now. It is a very private thing, and full of superstitions which prevent me from speaking too openly about it. There is only one thing I CAN say:
ORTIZ DRIVES IN NOMAH AND MANNY!!!!!!!!!
I will pray for the intercession of all of the Fenway Saints.
St Ted, ora pro nobis
St Dom D, ora pro nobis
St Yaz, ora pro nobis
St Pudge, ora pro nobis
St Spaceman, ora pro nobis
St Dewey, ora pro nobis
St Tony C, ora pro nobis
St Tiant, the Forerunner, ora pro nobis
St Freddie, ora pro nobis
May the fallen Roger be sent to the outer Bronx darkness, and the Streets of Causeway be joyous in celebration.
Friday, October 03, 2003
Okay, so I have some remedial issues
As my wife and my mother have both pointed out (although my wife decided to post a comment for all to see. thanks, hon) I have no idea of the difference between right and left. I keep saying "look left" for links, when they are actually on the right.
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa
Ask me about the difference between Hegel and Kant, and I've got you covered. Ask me for directions, and I'll have you pulling a Louie when you should be hanging a Richard.
As my wife and my mother have both pointed out (although my wife decided to post a comment for all to see. thanks, hon) I have no idea of the difference between right and left. I keep saying "look left" for links, when they are actually on the right.
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa
Ask me about the difference between Hegel and Kant, and I've got you covered. Ask me for directions, and I'll have you pulling a Louie when you should be hanging a Richard.
Supplications and Penance
O! Great Mother, I have transgressed, and shall never be righteous again in your site!
Look left, Amy Welborn has been added to the links. This should appease her awful wrath.
O! Great Mother, I have transgressed, and shall never be righteous again in your site!
Look left, Amy Welborn has been added to the links. This should appease her awful wrath.
John Allen and Preconceived Notions
Now, let me preface this by saying I love the "Word from Rome". Allen is tres cool, and he won me over forever when he wrote a great little blurb about George Pell dispelling the myths that Pell is a neaderthalic conservative who eats babies for breakfast and executes any who disagree with him. He set the record straight that Pell is both faithful to the Tradition AND a good guy (gasp!)
So, I was surprised by a small turn of phrase that appeared in his current Word from Rome. In discussing the newly-minted Cardinal Herranz of Spain (Opus Dei) he makes this statement:
"He has earned a reputation as humble, approachable, and intelligent, if also staunchly traditional."
Why the "if also"? Wouldn't "and" have been more appropriate?
Am I nitpicking? You better believe it. But I think that small turn of phrase is telling.
You see, there is a notion that those who are staunchly traditional are not humble, approachable, or intelligent. If you believe that the Tradition is true, and that it is something that should inform your life and your thinking, then you are de facto removed from participating in any of the virtues that people generally described as "being on the left" value most. I don't think this is a conscious determination. I just think it is an underlying presupposition that rarely gets examined.
And it is a presupposition that might come as a surprise to Robert Bellarmine, or Philip Neri, or Thomas Aquinas, or Francis de Sales, or . . . .
Interesting.
By the way, this in no way effects my standing edict that all EotP readers are required to read the Word from Rome every Friday. That still maintains full juridical force.
Now, let me preface this by saying I love the "Word from Rome". Allen is tres cool, and he won me over forever when he wrote a great little blurb about George Pell dispelling the myths that Pell is a neaderthalic conservative who eats babies for breakfast and executes any who disagree with him. He set the record straight that Pell is both faithful to the Tradition AND a good guy (gasp!)
So, I was surprised by a small turn of phrase that appeared in his current Word from Rome. In discussing the newly-minted Cardinal Herranz of Spain (Opus Dei) he makes this statement:
"He has earned a reputation as humble, approachable, and intelligent, if also staunchly traditional."
Why the "if also"? Wouldn't "and" have been more appropriate?
Am I nitpicking? You better believe it. But I think that small turn of phrase is telling.
You see, there is a notion that those who are staunchly traditional are not humble, approachable, or intelligent. If you believe that the Tradition is true, and that it is something that should inform your life and your thinking, then you are de facto removed from participating in any of the virtues that people generally described as "being on the left" value most. I don't think this is a conscious determination. I just think it is an underlying presupposition that rarely gets examined.
And it is a presupposition that might come as a surprise to Robert Bellarmine, or Philip Neri, or Thomas Aquinas, or Francis de Sales, or . . . .
Interesting.
By the way, this in no way effects my standing edict that all EotP readers are required to read the Word from Rome every Friday. That still maintains full juridical force.
The Mouse that Roared
Raymond Arroyo is getting to be quite the media maven
I think it is super that a guy who has single handedly made the EWTN News deptartment a going concern is getting wider coverage (and that's an assumtion on my part, I'm assuming he was the motive force, speaking purely within the natural realm of course).
EWTN has great coverage of Catholic events like the Bishop's meetings and the like. And not just good for Catholic coverage. Good coverage. Period.
If there is anyone reading this blog who does not already watch EWTN during the Bishop's meeting and, I'm afraid sooner rather than later, the next conclave, you need to rexamine that policy of non-watching. It's great stuff.
Of course, the above statement assumes that anyone is reading at all.
P.S. - Blogger's spell check is down. You'll have to live with my retarded spelling ability for a while.
Raymond Arroyo is getting to be quite the media maven
I think it is super that a guy who has single handedly made the EWTN News deptartment a going concern is getting wider coverage (and that's an assumtion on my part, I'm assuming he was the motive force, speaking purely within the natural realm of course).
EWTN has great coverage of Catholic events like the Bishop's meetings and the like. And not just good for Catholic coverage. Good coverage. Period.
If there is anyone reading this blog who does not already watch EWTN during the Bishop's meeting and, I'm afraid sooner rather than later, the next conclave, you need to rexamine that policy of non-watching. It's great stuff.
Of course, the above statement assumes that anyone is reading at all.
P.S. - Blogger's spell check is down. You'll have to live with my retarded spelling ability for a while.
O'Malley and the Same-Sex Marriage Thing
Couple of different articles on the speech Arch O'Malley gave in Wayland yesterday in re: same-sex "marriage":
One from Metro West news (is that a Herald publication, or a regional edition of the Herald?)
One from the Globe
Interesting that he couched the whole thing in mostly philosophical terms. Appealed to everybody, straight or gay, to see same sex marriage as an attack on the common good. Stanley Kurtz in a miter, if you will.
I think that has to be the right way to handle this. With Catholics, we can use exclusively religious arguments. Of course, those who support gay marriage stridently are likely to be the sorts of people who are unfazed by appeals to Catholic Tradition.
If you are going to convince the general, post-modern public, you have to show them empty hands, as it were. "We're not trying to hurt you. See, there's no sword of righteousness in my hand. We don't want gay people stoned in the market square." Otherwise, they'll stop listening after your first sentence.
Examining my own mind on this, I find some strange and contradictory thoughts. I find I am always uncomfortable with the stuff from the Catechism on this. I know intellectually that, yes, of course, you don't treat people with SSA with contempt or hatred. But the battle we are in pits us against enemies who will NOT take the time to examine the niceties of philosophically correct language. They wouldn't know how to be that kind of critical. They'll either ignore what you say, chalking it up to a duplicitous attempt at subterfuge, or they will quote it back, deconstructing it to mean whatever they want it to mean, and scream that you are being inconsistent with your own principles (cf. anyone who has ever been quoted from DignityUSA). And since people don't have critical faculties anymore, they'll buy it.
We need a clear and unambiguous rhetoric on the issue, because rhetoric is important. Rhetoric is not just what most modern people (left and right) use it for, i.e. verbal gymnastics to score debating points. That's sophistry. Rhetoric is the use of language in persuasion in service to the truth. To make the truth luminous. A man named Bryan Smith taught me that, and I'm sure he got it from Cicero (even if he didn't, he should have).
We are in a battle of ideas. Just as deadly as a physical battle. Only the casualties are not those living today, but the casualties are the moral and intellectual lives of our children and grandchildren. And while the language of the CCC is good per se, it seems to me that there is a squishiness to it that doesn't capture the reality of the battle we are in. It just makes me nervous when applied without discrimination to the current controversies.
Now, I realize the CCC is a foundational doc with principles that need to be made concrete in particular circumstance. And to make the CCC a political tract de praescriptione haereticorum hodierni doesn't give it much in the way of lasting value. And how does this square with my above statement that we need to be able to reach modern men without them tuning us out? I have no idea.
I'm willing to believe we are in a Catch-22 here. We can do the right thing and be unambiguous and have people tune us out. Or we can do the right thing by being subtle and have people either think us duplicitous or misinterpret our rhetoric and think us more squishy than we are. Both ways have pitfalls. I am at a loss.
In this case, however, I think O'Malley walked that line well. He said what needed to be said in as tactful a way as possible, with plenty of room so that he is not making a militant call (real or imagined) for discrimination or violence vs. gay people.
We live in a knee-jerk age. Reflection is just about dead as an intellectual practice. We may walk the line and make the argument and still be both vilified and misunderstood. My real concern is that my kids will grow up in a culture that is, for all intents and purposes, dying. And if that is so, how much can we afford to make nice with the culture so they'll listen to us and have some of our principles pulled down with the ship.
And yet, how can we not go down fighting as part of the battle?
Note to self: read City of God again.
I welcome comments to help me sort out this dilemma.
Couple of different articles on the speech Arch O'Malley gave in Wayland yesterday in re: same-sex "marriage":
One from Metro West news (is that a Herald publication, or a regional edition of the Herald?)
One from the Globe
Interesting that he couched the whole thing in mostly philosophical terms. Appealed to everybody, straight or gay, to see same sex marriage as an attack on the common good. Stanley Kurtz in a miter, if you will.
I think that has to be the right way to handle this. With Catholics, we can use exclusively religious arguments. Of course, those who support gay marriage stridently are likely to be the sorts of people who are unfazed by appeals to Catholic Tradition.
If you are going to convince the general, post-modern public, you have to show them empty hands, as it were. "We're not trying to hurt you. See, there's no sword of righteousness in my hand. We don't want gay people stoned in the market square." Otherwise, they'll stop listening after your first sentence.
Examining my own mind on this, I find some strange and contradictory thoughts. I find I am always uncomfortable with the stuff from the Catechism on this. I know intellectually that, yes, of course, you don't treat people with SSA with contempt or hatred. But the battle we are in pits us against enemies who will NOT take the time to examine the niceties of philosophically correct language. They wouldn't know how to be that kind of critical. They'll either ignore what you say, chalking it up to a duplicitous attempt at subterfuge, or they will quote it back, deconstructing it to mean whatever they want it to mean, and scream that you are being inconsistent with your own principles (cf. anyone who has ever been quoted from DignityUSA). And since people don't have critical faculties anymore, they'll buy it.
We need a clear and unambiguous rhetoric on the issue, because rhetoric is important. Rhetoric is not just what most modern people (left and right) use it for, i.e. verbal gymnastics to score debating points. That's sophistry. Rhetoric is the use of language in persuasion in service to the truth. To make the truth luminous. A man named Bryan Smith taught me that, and I'm sure he got it from Cicero (even if he didn't, he should have).
We are in a battle of ideas. Just as deadly as a physical battle. Only the casualties are not those living today, but the casualties are the moral and intellectual lives of our children and grandchildren. And while the language of the CCC is good per se, it seems to me that there is a squishiness to it that doesn't capture the reality of the battle we are in. It just makes me nervous when applied without discrimination to the current controversies.
Now, I realize the CCC is a foundational doc with principles that need to be made concrete in particular circumstance. And to make the CCC a political tract de praescriptione haereticorum hodierni doesn't give it much in the way of lasting value. And how does this square with my above statement that we need to be able to reach modern men without them tuning us out? I have no idea.
I'm willing to believe we are in a Catch-22 here. We can do the right thing and be unambiguous and have people tune us out. Or we can do the right thing by being subtle and have people either think us duplicitous or misinterpret our rhetoric and think us more squishy than we are. Both ways have pitfalls. I am at a loss.
In this case, however, I think O'Malley walked that line well. He said what needed to be said in as tactful a way as possible, with plenty of room so that he is not making a militant call (real or imagined) for discrimination or violence vs. gay people.
We live in a knee-jerk age. Reflection is just about dead as an intellectual practice. We may walk the line and make the argument and still be both vilified and misunderstood. My real concern is that my kids will grow up in a culture that is, for all intents and purposes, dying. And if that is so, how much can we afford to make nice with the culture so they'll listen to us and have some of our principles pulled down with the ship.
And yet, how can we not go down fighting as part of the battle?
Note to self: read City of God again.
I welcome comments to help me sort out this dilemma.
Thursday, October 02, 2003
The Rockin' Sound of a New Generation of Dumbasses!
Rarely have I seen such a marvelous synergy between knee-jerk liberal prejudice and bad, eighties-influenced political rock.
Big ups to Jonah G for pulling this one down in the Corner.
By the way, don't you love the fresh and original juxtaposition of KKK rallies next to groups of young Republicans? Such a novel idea!
And I love the tune. It's like "David Bowie sings Night Ranger's greatest hits!" A sound I know I'VE been dying to hear.
Rarely have I seen such a marvelous synergy between knee-jerk liberal prejudice and bad, eighties-influenced political rock.
Big ups to Jonah G for pulling this one down in the Corner.
By the way, don't you love the fresh and original juxtaposition of KKK rallies next to groups of young Republicans? Such a novel idea!
And I love the tune. It's like "David Bowie sings Night Ranger's greatest hits!" A sound I know I'VE been dying to hear.
Wednesday, October 01, 2003
Does this mean I have to like Ben Affleck?
Via Church of the Masses:
What super hero are you?
I am this sort, apparently, apparently
Via Church of the Masses:
What super hero are you?
I am this sort, apparently, apparently
Have you ever wondered what an Orthodox Priest/PhD Candidate does in his spare time?
Well, wonder no further! Go check out the site of Father John Schroedel: Orthodox Priest, PhD candidate at the University of Chicago, husband, father, and all around interesting guy.
His strength is the area of bioethics/technology and religion. Really great stuff.
Hosted on his site is The Stephanos Project, an absolute must read. It is an interesting group of articles on contraception and NFP from the Orthodox Tradition.
Burning questions answered: Is there a Traditional Eastern teaching against the use of artificial contraception? How did various Orthodox communities and theologians react to Humanae Vitae? "I heard someone cite St John Chrysostom in support of Christian use of artificial contraception. Does his theology really support the use of these methods?" Is JPII's Theology of the Body compatible with Orthodox thinking? And much, much more!
His wife also has a nice collection of articles on her web site.
All in all, if you are interested in NFP, the issues surrounding artificial contraception, or bioethics in general, you should not not go to this site. Required reading.
Well, wonder no further! Go check out the site of Father John Schroedel: Orthodox Priest, PhD candidate at the University of Chicago, husband, father, and all around interesting guy.
His strength is the area of bioethics/technology and religion. Really great stuff.
Hosted on his site is The Stephanos Project, an absolute must read. It is an interesting group of articles on contraception and NFP from the Orthodox Tradition.
Burning questions answered: Is there a Traditional Eastern teaching against the use of artificial contraception? How did various Orthodox communities and theologians react to Humanae Vitae? "I heard someone cite St John Chrysostom in support of Christian use of artificial contraception. Does his theology really support the use of these methods?" Is JPII's Theology of the Body compatible with Orthodox thinking? And much, much more!
His wife also has a nice collection of articles on her web site.
All in all, if you are interested in NFP, the issues surrounding artificial contraception, or bioethics in general, you should not not go to this site. Required reading.
Summa Mamas
Our friend Kirsten has, in conjunction with two other parties unknown to me at this time, begun a blog titled "Summa Mamas". Look to your left and click, si vous plait.
They are self-described as "One Organic, One Fun, and One Old". Now, I know Kirsten to be both organic and fun. And, well, she IS older than I am (hahaha, ha, hahahaha). So choosing which she is was difficult.
But, after much rumination, and consultation with the inimitable Lizzie, I have determined that she is the organic.
Many great reflections, opinions, and general life-type stuff to be found here.
Our friend Kirsten has, in conjunction with two other parties unknown to me at this time, begun a blog titled "Summa Mamas". Look to your left and click, si vous plait.
They are self-described as "One Organic, One Fun, and One Old". Now, I know Kirsten to be both organic and fun. And, well, she IS older than I am (hahaha, ha, hahahaha). So choosing which she is was difficult.
But, after much rumination, and consultation with the inimitable Lizzie, I have determined that she is the organic.
Many great reflections, opinions, and general life-type stuff to be found here.
Save the Octopus!
Click here to find out how you can help save the endangered Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
A rare and curious animal, the octopus is in danger of becoming extinct. Urban encroachment is shrinking this amphibian's habitat. The growing population of both natural and foreign predators (they are hunted by domesticated housecats, the poor beasties) is having a negative effect on this species survivability.
I think Washington State needs to open season on this natural predator of the PNTO, in particular. The menace of this predator is legendary, and its population needs to be thinned for the good of all NW forest species.
Thanks to Father Tucker at Dappled Things for bringing the plight of this unheralded forest creature to my attention.
Click here to find out how you can help save the endangered Pacific Northwest Tree Octopus
A rare and curious animal, the octopus is in danger of becoming extinct. Urban encroachment is shrinking this amphibian's habitat. The growing population of both natural and foreign predators (they are hunted by domesticated housecats, the poor beasties) is having a negative effect on this species survivability.
I think Washington State needs to open season on this natural predator of the PNTO, in particular. The menace of this predator is legendary, and its population needs to be thinned for the good of all NW forest species.
Thanks to Father Tucker at Dappled Things for bringing the plight of this unheralded forest creature to my attention.
