New Link
I was happy to find an excellent website for general Catholic info. It's called Internet Padre, and it's run by Fr. Ronald Vierling.
I recommend checking it out.
Tuesday, December 31, 2002
Monday, December 30, 2002
Some good news in Cleveland
(No, I'm not talking about the Browns making the playoffs.)
It appears that John Carroll University no longer links Planned Parenthood on one of its webpages. They've replaced it with WomanKind, a pro-life counseling and assistance center.
Thanks to Amy and one of her readers for the update.
(No, I'm not talking about the Browns making the playoffs.)
It appears that John Carroll University no longer links Planned Parenthood on one of its webpages. They've replaced it with WomanKind, a pro-life counseling and assistance center.
Thanks to Amy and one of her readers for the update.
The Accidental Imperialist
That's the title of this Jackson Diehl column in today's Washington Post.
Diehl argues that Bush's stance vis. international terrorism, Iraq, and North Korea is his response to "the crystallization of a new global era."
A pretty good read.
That's the title of this Jackson Diehl column in today's Washington Post.
Diehl argues that Bush's stance vis. international terrorism, Iraq, and North Korea is his response to "the crystallization of a new global era."
A pretty good read.
Movie Watch
Having seen the second installment of The Lord of the Rings when it opened on the 18th, I saw its newest competition at the box office -- Catch Me If You Can -- last week, and I have to say, it was pretty enjoyable.
But it isn't LOTR.
According to this Fox News story, The Two Towers is on course to do better than its predecessor, The Fellowship of the Ring, having already crossed the $200 million mark. My favorite quote is from a movie industry professional: "To say it's this generation's Star Wars is almost an understatement."
Amen.
Having seen the second installment of The Lord of the Rings when it opened on the 18th, I saw its newest competition at the box office -- Catch Me If You Can -- last week, and I have to say, it was pretty enjoyable.
But it isn't LOTR.
According to this Fox News story, The Two Towers is on course to do better than its predecessor, The Fellowship of the Ring, having already crossed the $200 million mark. My favorite quote is from a movie industry professional: "To say it's this generation's Star Wars is almost an understatement."
Amen.
NYTimes Editorial Watch
Today's edition: Mr. President, don't tear down this wall!
In today's lead editorial, the editors of the Times followed their columnist Paul Krugman's lead (which I blogged on here) and decried President Bush's decision a couple of weeks ago to allow religious groups which run social service programs to receive federal funding more easily. There are two specific comments I have.
First, the editorial states that "President Bush's initiative runs counter to decades of First Amendment law, which holds that government dollars cannot be used to promote religion." The editors are correct, in that Bush's plan runs counter to decades (and only about five of them) of rulings on the First Amendment. In November I blogged about two new scholarly books which demonstrate that the modern understanding of the First Amendment is not only relatively new, but runs counter to the original intent of the Amendment. And this ties in to the error in this editorial's statement: nowhere does the First Amendment use the term "promote". Rather, it prohibits the establishment of a state religion. The reading of the editors may be common, but it is wrong nonetheless.
Second, the editorial states that "the faith-based initiative is also unconstitutional, and fundamentally unfair, because it allows tax dollars to be used in programs that discriminate in hiring." But tax dollars are already given to various programs that discriminate in various ways (the bruh-haha over the U of Michigan's law school's acceptance practices being one notable example). Discrimination per se is not wrong... that is determined by the specific way in which it is applied. The fact that I -- as a man -- cannot use a women's restroom is discrimination, but it isn't wrong. So too do religious groups have the right to choose whom they want to hire.
This editorial repeats the standard secular mantra against religious activity in the public square, a mantra which scholarship is more and more proving to be unhistorical and illegitimate.
Today's edition: Mr. President, don't tear down this wall!
In today's lead editorial, the editors of the Times followed their columnist Paul Krugman's lead (which I blogged on here) and decried President Bush's decision a couple of weeks ago to allow religious groups which run social service programs to receive federal funding more easily. There are two specific comments I have.
First, the editorial states that "President Bush's initiative runs counter to decades of First Amendment law, which holds that government dollars cannot be used to promote religion." The editors are correct, in that Bush's plan runs counter to decades (and only about five of them) of rulings on the First Amendment. In November I blogged about two new scholarly books which demonstrate that the modern understanding of the First Amendment is not only relatively new, but runs counter to the original intent of the Amendment. And this ties in to the error in this editorial's statement: nowhere does the First Amendment use the term "promote". Rather, it prohibits the establishment of a state religion. The reading of the editors may be common, but it is wrong nonetheless.
Second, the editorial states that "the faith-based initiative is also unconstitutional, and fundamentally unfair, because it allows tax dollars to be used in programs that discriminate in hiring." But tax dollars are already given to various programs that discriminate in various ways (the bruh-haha over the U of Michigan's law school's acceptance practices being one notable example). Discrimination per se is not wrong... that is determined by the specific way in which it is applied. The fact that I -- as a man -- cannot use a women's restroom is discrimination, but it isn't wrong. So too do religious groups have the right to choose whom they want to hire.
This editorial repeats the standard secular mantra against religious activity in the public square, a mantra which scholarship is more and more proving to be unhistorical and illegitimate.
Abortion Politics
As many of you probably already know, last Tuesday the Bush Administration appointed a number of doctors to the FDA's Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs.
Such an action would normally receive little attention. But when the doctors appointed are pro-life, that's not the case. The usual suspects (NARAL, Planned Parenthood, etc.) have decried the appointments, as this CNS story shows.
Planned Parenthood President Gloria Feldt called the selection of one of the doctors -- Dr. David Hager -- a "frontal assault on reproductive rights."
A NARAL statement issued on Dr. Hager prior to his appointment stated that "his potential appointment is part of a pattern from the Bush Administration of supplanting science and objectivity with anti-choice politics and ideology."
Okay now... the Bush Administration prefers "anti-choice [sic] politics and ideology" over "science and objectivity"?? And I suppose that NARAL reverses that preference, because there is no way that the abortion lobby would ever let their own interests, bias, and concerns interfere with their judgment, correct?
Nah.
As many of you probably already know, last Tuesday the Bush Administration appointed a number of doctors to the FDA's Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs.
Such an action would normally receive little attention. But when the doctors appointed are pro-life, that's not the case. The usual suspects (NARAL, Planned Parenthood, etc.) have decried the appointments, as this CNS story shows.
Planned Parenthood President Gloria Feldt called the selection of one of the doctors -- Dr. David Hager -- a "frontal assault on reproductive rights."
A NARAL statement issued on Dr. Hager prior to his appointment stated that "his potential appointment is part of a pattern from the Bush Administration of supplanting science and objectivity with anti-choice politics and ideology."
Okay now... the Bush Administration prefers "anti-choice [sic] politics and ideology" over "science and objectivity"?? And I suppose that NARAL reverses that preference, because there is no way that the abortion lobby would ever let their own interests, bias, and concerns interfere with their judgment, correct?
Nah.
I'm baaack!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and remember -- it ain't over! Today is the sixth day of Christmas, with six to go before the Feast of the Epiphany.
My football prognostication skills continue to deteriorate... I was sure that the Pack would lock up homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a W over the Jets, but they got pounded instead.
Oh well... at least my Vikes beat Detroit. Hey... that's two road wins in three games! And three Ws in a row! Woo-hoo!
I hope everyone had a great Christmas, and remember -- it ain't over! Today is the sixth day of Christmas, with six to go before the Feast of the Epiphany.
My football prognostication skills continue to deteriorate... I was sure that the Pack would lock up homefield advantage throughout the NFC playoffs with a W over the Jets, but they got pounded instead.
Oh well... at least my Vikes beat Detroit. Hey... that's two road wins in three games! And three Ws in a row! Woo-hoo!
Monday, December 23, 2002
Steelers can clinch tonight... like that's gonna happen!
The AP website has a headline, "Steelers can clinch division tonight", meaning that if they beat Tampa Bay in Tampa, they will clinch the AFC North.
Okay, raise your hands if you think Pittsburgh can beat Tampa anywhere this year, let alone in Tampa.
Please.
I'm no Bucs fan, and I don't have anything against the Steelers, but there is no way the latter can beat the former this year.
The AP website has a headline, "Steelers can clinch division tonight", meaning that if they beat Tampa Bay in Tampa, they will clinch the AFC North.
Okay, raise your hands if you think Pittsburgh can beat Tampa anywhere this year, let alone in Tampa.
Please.
I'm no Bucs fan, and I don't have anything against the Steelers, but there is no way the latter can beat the former this year.
Thanks, Trent
Thanks to Senator Lott's multiple attempts to save his status as Majority Leader by apologizing for all sorts of things -- including sound legislative decisions -- liberals have new ammo to use against conservatives.
Consider, for instance, William Raspberry's editorial in today's Washington Post. Raspberry concludes this piece as follows:
Thanks, Senator.
Thanks to Senator Lott's multiple attempts to save his status as Majority Leader by apologizing for all sorts of things -- including sound legislative decisions -- liberals have new ammo to use against conservatives.
Consider, for instance, William Raspberry's editorial in today's Washington Post. Raspberry concludes this piece as follows:
- It is impossible to review the succession of Lott apologies without concluding that he not only regrets the racial insensitivity of his birthday party remarks but also has come to suspect that some important aspects of his present political views -- the dominant views of his party -- may be racially insensitive as well.
You see why he had to go?
Thanks, Senator.
Frist's Pro-life record
CNS has an article on soon-to-be-SML Bill Frist's pro-life record.
The Senator is pro-life except in the instances of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is threatened. This is, of course, a barely intelligible argument. What is the only reason to be pro-life? Because one acknowledges the humanity & personhood of the embryo. But if the embryo is acknowledged as being a human person, on what grounds can abortion in the case of rape & incest be considered morally licit?
According to the article, abortion is not one of Frist's top 14 issues (listed on his website). The website does have a statement Frist made on cloning:
Don't get me wrong: I realize that President Bush has other things on his mind. And I recognize that he has done a number of good things for the pro-life cause (I don't follow Judie "There's a cloud in every silver lining" Brown [credit to Kevin Miller for that] and her ever-present pessimism). But I wish he'd support a guy who is unabashedly pro-life, a guy like Rick Santorum.
Oh well.
CNS has an article on soon-to-be-SML Bill Frist's pro-life record.
The Senator is pro-life except in the instances of rape, incest and when the life of the mother is threatened. This is, of course, a barely intelligible argument. What is the only reason to be pro-life? Because one acknowledges the humanity & personhood of the embryo. But if the embryo is acknowledged as being a human person, on what grounds can abortion in the case of rape & incest be considered morally licit?
According to the article, abortion is not one of Frist's top 14 issues (listed on his website). The website does have a statement Frist made on cloning:
- No one can deny the potential human cloning holds for increased scientific understanding. [...] But given the serious ethical concerns this research raises, the fact that promising embryonic stem cell research will continue even under a cloning ban, the lack of significant research in animal models, and the existence of promising alternatives, I am unable to find a compelling justification for allowing human cloning today."
Don't get me wrong: I realize that President Bush has other things on his mind. And I recognize that he has done a number of good things for the pro-life cause (I don't follow Judie "There's a cloud in every silver lining" Brown [credit to Kevin Miller for that] and her ever-present pessimism). But I wish he'd support a guy who is unabashedly pro-life, a guy like Rick Santorum.
Oh well.
The BBC on Jesus' Conception
According to a documentary [sic] aired on the BBC last night, Jesus may have been conceived when a Roman soldier raped Mary.
Okay. Whatever.
(Read more about it here if you care to.)
According to a documentary [sic] aired on the BBC last night, Jesus may have been conceived when a Roman soldier raped Mary.
Okay. Whatever.
(Read more about it here if you care to.)
Saturday, December 21, 2002
Kmiec on himself
Douglas Kmiec, dean of Catholic University of America's School of Law and possible Bush nominee to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, has penned an article in the Wall Street Journal on the attempt of some to prevent him from attaining that position.
Kmiec argues that essentially, those opposed to his judgeship do so because of his morals and his religion, and that such criteria are neither appropriate nor the best means to determine one's ability to serve as a federal appellate judge.
Good column.
Douglas Kmiec, dean of Catholic University of America's School of Law and possible Bush nominee to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, has penned an article in the Wall Street Journal on the attempt of some to prevent him from attaining that position.
Kmiec argues that essentially, those opposed to his judgeship do so because of his morals and his religion, and that such criteria are neither appropriate nor the best means to determine one's ability to serve as a federal appellate judge.
Good column.
Friday, December 20, 2002
Science, Religion, and Young Earth
David Heddle has a terrific post on the needless opposition between science and religion (if the archives still aren't working, it's the post from yesterday, Thursday the 19th). David's post focuses specifically on the question of the Earth's age, in light of the Genesis creation narrative. As he points out, the notion that the "day" of Genesis 1 refers to a 24-hour period is not that which was held by most theologians in the early Church.
The idea the science and religion (Christianity in particular) are diometrically opposed is a fallacy which has been pushed for far too long. We acknowledge God as Creator of the material universe, and hence any discovery about that universe's nature and workings cannot but complement what God has revealed to us directly.
Kudos to David for a terrific post.
David Heddle has a terrific post on the needless opposition between science and religion (if the archives still aren't working, it's the post from yesterday, Thursday the 19th). David's post focuses specifically on the question of the Earth's age, in light of the Genesis creation narrative. As he points out, the notion that the "day" of Genesis 1 refers to a 24-hour period is not that which was held by most theologians in the early Church.
The idea the science and religion (Christianity in particular) are diometrically opposed is a fallacy which has been pushed for far too long. We acknowledge God as Creator of the material universe, and hence any discovery about that universe's nature and workings cannot but complement what God has revealed to us directly.
Kudos to David for a terrific post.
C-FAM's Friday Fax is up
I referred to it yesterday... it discusses the coming impact of AIDS in Eurasia.
Well worth a read.
I referred to it yesterday... it discusses the coming impact of AIDS in Eurasia.
Well worth a read.
LC in the Curia
The much-maligned priestly congregation Legion of Christ yesterday saw one of its own appointed to an important Curial position. Father Brian Farrell, LC was appointed by John Paul II as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. Fr. Farrell (soon to be Bishop Farrell) is replacing Bishop Marc Ouellet, who was named Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada last month. (Bp. Ouellet is also an outstanding theologian, having taught at the John Paul II Center for Marriage and Family at the Lateran University in Rome.)
IMHO, the LC doesn't deserve the bad rap it often gets, even from Catholics of every stripe. Perhaps there are some problems, but all in all, I think LC is and will be a great gift to the Church. Time will tell...
The much-maligned priestly congregation Legion of Christ yesterday saw one of its own appointed to an important Curial position. Father Brian Farrell, LC was appointed by John Paul II as Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity. Fr. Farrell (soon to be Bishop Farrell) is replacing Bishop Marc Ouellet, who was named Archbishop of Quebec and Primate of Canada last month. (Bp. Ouellet is also an outstanding theologian, having taught at the John Paul II Center for Marriage and Family at the Lateran University in Rome.)
IMHO, the LC doesn't deserve the bad rap it often gets, even from Catholics of every stripe. Perhaps there are some problems, but all in all, I think LC is and will be a great gift to the Church. Time will tell...
Thursday, December 19, 2002
Vatican II, Integrism, etc.
There have been a number of posts over the last few days concerning the implementation of Vatican II, what it means to be a "Traditional Catholic" as opposed to being an integrist, and some of the latest problems from the latter. Envoy's Encore has a number of them:
I'd highly recommend reading these posts, along with the accompanying comments discussions.
There have been a number of posts over the last few days concerning the implementation of Vatican II, what it means to be a "Traditional Catholic" as opposed to being an integrist, and some of the latest problems from the latter. Envoy's Encore has a number of them:
- This one by Matt Abbot, Art Sippo, and Pete Vere on the new Luminous Mysteries of the Rosary
- This one by Carl Olson on Vatican II
- This one by Carl on rebellion from the left and the right, in general
- This one by Dwight Longnecker on the correlation but not causation between Vatican II and the post-conciliar problems in the Church
- This one by Carl on the implementation of the Council
- This one by Shawn McElhinney and Pete Vere on what makes an authentic Traditional Catholic
I'd highly recommend reading these posts, along with the accompanying comments discussions.
The Future Impact of AIDS in Eurasia
Tomorrow's Friday Fax from the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute summarizes an article in the latest issue of Foreign Affairs by demographer Nicholas Eberstadt. Eberstadt foresees the AIDS epidemic moving out of Africa -- where it has had little global impact, because of Africa's position on the "fringe" of global affairs -- and into Eurasia, where it will especially impact Russia, India, and China, countries which are decidely not on the fringe of global affairs.
I highly recommend you read it, once it is put online on Friday.
I also highly recommend subscribing to the free subscription to Friday Fax, which is sent out via email.
Tomorrow's Friday Fax from the Catholic Family & Human Rights Institute summarizes an article in the latest issue of Foreign Affairs by demographer Nicholas Eberstadt. Eberstadt foresees the AIDS epidemic moving out of Africa -- where it has had little global impact, because of Africa's position on the "fringe" of global affairs -- and into Eurasia, where it will especially impact Russia, India, and China, countries which are decidely not on the fringe of global affairs.
I highly recommend you read it, once it is put online on Friday.
I also highly recommend subscribing to the free subscription to Friday Fax, which is sent out via email.
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