Conversion. Three syllables. It’s not even a pretty-sounding word. Kun – vur – shun. But when the conversion in question is a switch from an anti-god viewpoint to an allegiance to Jesus Christ, it has the power to sweep away everything in its path. Conversion means more than reciting a formulaic prayer. It isn’t about anything you do, at least not initially. In the beginning, conversion, at least as it was for me, is just a matter of saying yes.... Read more
I’m a big Steve Jobs fan. When the Hollywood powers that be cast Ashton Kutcher to play Steve Jobs, I “got” that he could look like Jobs. But could he possibly come up with that intensity and drive? Could he — or anyone — create a facsimile of that charisma? I saw a clip from the movie today, and I’m still not convinced. Have a look and decide for yourself. Read more
I am fascinated by the places people carve out for themselves when they work. Whether it’s a rest bar a the Post Office, a cubicle, or a spot on an assembly line, we all tend to make nests out of our workplaces. Writers, in particular, seem to give full vent to their creative nesting impulses when it comes to the places where they put words to paper. The Guardian published a fascinating article a few years ago with photos of... Read more
I am a Jesus-loving, Catechism-following, pro-life feminist. It appears that by simply being my own contrary self, I have done something most people regard as impossible. I have brought the polar opposites of our cultural divide together. The polar righties see pro-life feminists in much the same way bumper stickers describe pro-choice Catholics: as Vegans for Meat. The polar lefties agree with them. To polar lefties, feminism is abortion. In their myopic view, abortion equals human rights for women in an exact... Read more
I have sometimes wondered if city planners are trying to destroy the cities they serve. Here in my neck of the woods we’ve had to fight the city’s plans to put everything from dumps to strip clubs in quiet family neighborhoods. We usually lose. Resident’s only learn of the plans after the wheels have been greased, so to speak. When they try to protest, they are forced to take off work, go downtown, pay parking, and then sit through all-day... Read more
At least one gun control proposal is now in the hopper, and if it becomes law, it would be a big change. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Ca) announced plans to introduce a sweeping gun control bill that would ban 158 types of rifles, as well as other shotguns, hand guns and semi-automatic rifles. Feinstein claims that no guns will be confiscated. Her aim is to do away with the weapons by attrition over time. Representative Carolyn McCarthy, (D-NY) will file the... Read more
You are not marching in vain. That is the message from the Vatican to the pro life marchers here in the United States. The things we do here in the United States often reverberate around the world. According to Bishop Carrasco de Paula, head of the Pontifical Academy for Life, the pro life marches we hold in this country every year at this time do exactly that. I can’t join you this year. Gimpy the Foot is healing rapidly but... Read more
Power corrupts. Lord Acton You cannot serve both God and mammon. Jesus Christ I vote pro-life! Pro-life people sometimes make this statement as if they were throwing down a gauntlet, or perhaps, ending an argument. Talk to them about the many nuances of grown-up politics and they will try to end the inevitable confusion by announcing emphatically, “I vote pro-life!” The unhappy truth is that they can’t vote pro-life. “Pro Life” ain’t on the ballot. All they have to choose from when they go... Read more
Is the male/female sexual difference key to understanding marriage? Not so long ago, that question would have been greeted with confusion. After all, it was questioning the obvious; kind of like asking if gravity is key to keeping us from flying off into space. But times have changed, and today the question is more likely to be greeted with cries of “bigot” and claims about “homophobia.” Perhaps the real question should be, are we deluding ourselves? Is the claim that... Read more
I didn’t write about the 40th Anniversary of Roe v Wade yesterday. I didn’t because, as we say in these parts, I had no spit. I just didn’t wanna even think about it. Then last night, I saw this. At first view, I thought it must be a parody attacking the abortion movement. I went to the Center for Reproductive Rights, the group which is credited with this thing, and there it was. In addition to the overall sleeziness of... Read more
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