I don’t want to talk about Harry Potter. I don’t like the Harry Potter series very much. It’s not terrible, it’s just predictable and not my cup of tea. Maybe the problem is that I didn’t read the books until I was in my twenties, but they just don’t send me. I prefer Madeline L’engle, or Diana Wynne Jones, or Neil Gaiman. But for some reason, undead remnants of the Satanic Panic never rise up and attach themselves to... Read more
Michael was still in the shower when our ride pulled up to take us to Mass. I was cross. I am picky about being late, especially for Mass. I called to him to hurry up and went out, grumbling. The lady who gives us rides was patiently waiting behind the wheel, but she wasn’t watching us. She was watching the police cars down the street; there were three of them, and one ambulance. Another ambulance rolled up beside us... Read more
I was raised to believe that human life is important, and I believe it. I was raised to believe that “it is poverty to believe that a child must die so that you can live as you wish,” and I believe that. I was raised to believe that “but my rights!” are a selfish thing to say when a human child’s right to life is on the line, and I believe it. I am a Catholic. I believe that the... Read more
Hello friends, this is my monthly dip into the absolute worst part of blogging: the part where I remind you that Steel Magnificat, and my family, run on gratuities. I had a really weird experience last month, where a commentator under an assumed name made insulting comments on the blog and then took out an entire Twitter account to follow me around social media tell everyone I’m a “swindling grifter” for living on tips. It took a couple of... Read more
(This post is part four in a series on addiction written by my courageous friend Celia O’Keefe. You can find the other posts in this series here, here, and here. I am very honored and grateful that Celia chose to share her experience and wisdom with me.) Not all addicts are in active addiction. This post is meant to illustrate what living with the disease is like when you’re not in active addiction– when you’re in a sort of... Read more
First of all, a few days ago they wrote: “We respectfully request that people stop dropping off abandoned and bug infested furniture and clothing on our porch. We do not have staff or vehicles or money to keep doing dump runs. Please check with us before leaving donations.” And I think we can apply that to the rest of our day-to-day lives as well. The Golden Rule, we all know, is to do unto others as you would have... Read more
Almost exactly a month ago now, I wrote about the alleged Marian apparitions happening in Argyle, Texas. I rather flippantly pronounced my private and personal opinion that they were nonsense. I’ve been keeping my eye on the situation, as much as I can when there’s so little information. Today, it’s just hitting the news that the Bishop of Fort Worth has officially declared them “a fabrication.” The times being what they are, I would not fault anyone for not wanting... Read more
Sometimes I don’t write about something that’s important, because I feel I have nothing to say. Sometimes I have nothing to say because it’s a topic I know absolutely nothing about– the ordination of women deacons, for example. I don’t have the theological background to have a good opinion, so I try to shut up and listen. Sometimes I have nothing to say because I’m tongue-tied with panic and grief– the fires in the Amazon are giving me that... Read more
I got to meet a friend for the first time this weekend. We’d corresponded online but never met in person. This week she was coming through town and asked to visit me, and I was glad to say yes. She asked if she could bring groceries for me, and some for the Friendship Room. I was glad to say yes to that as well. I was raised in the city. To me, groceries are a thing that comes in cans... Read more
At the end of last week, there was a kerfuffle on Twitter, when some Catholic traditionalist men who take themselves very seriously tried to claim that it had always been the teaching of the Catholic Church that it was a sin for married women to work outside the home. This got way more attention than it merited, but my friend Rebecca gave it a good dressing down. Later, I saw a traditionalist man who took himself very seriously, asserting that... Read more
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