Get over it! That is sooooo July 13! Today, Jesus is discovered to be a liberal who approves of abortion and gay marriage. You may ask “How does somebody get this from the evidence we have about Jesus?” Why, by the time-honored practice of simply ignoring everything the evidence says and making a forceful and baseless assertion, compounded of half-truth, outright lies, sentimentality and wishful thinking that exactly conforms Jesus to what you would, in any case, say even if... Read more

Very interesting personal account of Life as a Legionary from Steve Skojec (ocassioned by an interview with Fr. Berg on the upcoming attempt by the Vatican to give the organization its long-overdue enema). I basically knew nothing of the Legionaries (I’m not much of a joiner) but the account Steve writes is strangely reminiscent to me of some of the more controlling aspects of the “discipleship” movement that swept some of the non-denoms in the 80s and left its mark... Read more

Business Week may sell for $1 Goldman Sachs executive claims new encyclical is the best analysis of the economic crisis Hey, Western Civilization! Are you listening? Read more

In which we consider the last of the Beatitudes. Read more

I made a post earlier today about funds drying up for VOTF and their serious financial straits. The Boston Globe has picked up on it and I’ve updated the post to include information on SNAP and their financial irregularities. I don’t know if it is a particularly worthy post, but it does provide a lot of information that other more talented bloggers and news sources might run with. My background belief is that both groups have been funded by trial... Read more

For instance, firing neocon fool Bill “Wrong About Everything” Kristol and hiring Ross Douthat, whose latest column begins: Papal encyclicals are supposed to be written with one eye on two millenniums of Catholic teaching, and the other on eternity. But Americans, as a rule, have rather narrower horizons. As soon as the media have finished scanning a Vatican document for references to sex, the debate begins in earnest: Is it good for the left, or for the right? For Democrats,... Read more

Skipper Dan should cheer up. Both Steve Martin and John Lasseter (the genius in charge of PIXAR) worked at Disneyland. Lasseter actually skippered a jungle cruise boat. Nice Divya Srinivasan animation. Read more

terrific actor and impresario of the Theatre of the Word, writes: Ignatius Press has posted audio book versions of all of B-16’s encyclicals, including “Love in Truth”, as well as my reading of “Manalive” (in which, like Bottom, I get to play all the parts) – all as downloadable mp3’s. Go here. This is starting to explain a lot. I tried to get a book published with Ignatius a few years back, but they told me their schedule was all... Read more

Today, my followers, I am allowing to come blinking into the daylight for a short respite from toiling in my sweatshops. The reason: A very cool website which recreates the Apollo 11 mission in real time. I find this fascinating–and therefore so do you. When you are done checking it out, please return to the dungeon for your next feeding of thin, watery gruel. Small steps only. No giant leaps. Read more

A reader writes: Recently a friend of mine has been dealing with the discovery that she is bisexual, and is feeling afraid and alone because if her parents ever find out then she is afraid they might evict her from the house. She’s a devout believer and we’ve all tried to consol her as best we can but she’s rather devastated by this. Prayers would be very appreciated. Another reader writes: My grandfather or Dza Dza passed away this afternoon... Read more