After watching a little bit of the caucuses, and these interminable months of game-playing, nastiness, disingenuity and so forth, and after reading so many breathless bloggers following Iowa so closely, all I have to say is… It’s baloney. It’s hype. Iowa doesn’t mean anything, and I’m not convinced it ever has, but it’s been a very long (too long) election season and we’ve got 11 months to go, so Iowa has been pimped and played up as the be-all-and-end all... Read more
It can’t be said enough that John Allen is a terrific writer who knows his stuff. Can anyone forget his mesmerizing reports on the final illness, death and funeral of John Paul II and the subsequent election of Benedict XVI? One reads Allen and feels like one is at the Vatican, privvy to all the detail and reason that never seems to make it into the secular press. And speaking of what does not make it into secular press, Allen... Read more
It can’t be said enough that John Allen is a terrific writer who knows his stuff. Can anyone forget his mesmerizing reports on the final illness, death and funeral of John Paul II and the subsequent election of Benedict XVI? One reads Allen and feels like one is at the Vatican, privvy to all the detail and reason that never seems to make it into the secular press. And speaking of what does not make it into secular press, Allen... Read more
I’ll say not. Deacon Greg has two astonishing stories up over at his site, both have to do with clergy, authority, abuse and forgiveness, but they are still very different, and both a little mind-blowing. Auntie Anne’s twist of faith. You know Auntie Anne – you love her pretzels (or at least I do). But you don’t know her searing story: The very first time she had gone to the pastor’s office for help, six months after [her daughter] Angela’s... Read more
I’ll say not. Deacon Greg has two astonishing stories up over at his site, both have to do with clergy, authority, abuse and forgiveness, but they are still very different, and both a little mind-blowing. Auntie Anne’s twist of faith. You know Auntie Anne – you love her pretzels (or at least I do). But you don’t know her searing story: The very first time she had gone to the pastor’s office for help, six months after [her daughter] Angela’s... Read more
I’m always amazed at how popular these vocation posts are with the general population. I guess the whole mystery of a life of abnegation is what grabs people, so here are some more. These young, educated women talk to MTV about joining the Sisters of Life MTV Music Videos MTV Shows Entertainment News This active Carmelite makes her final vows while this cloistered Trappistine in Massachusetts is clothed in the habit of a novice. Carmelite first vows in Miami. Here... Read more
A few weeks ago I wrote an appreciation for Happy Catholic blog and its tireless moderator, Julie D: …In between running her own business and knitting socks (which to me already demonstrates remarkable organizational skills, creativity and a phenomenal work-ethic) and running a wonderful foodie blog, and podcasting forgotten books Julie also manages to keep us going, every day with thought-provoking or inspiring quotes from her quote journal Well…in her spare time (!) Julie is contributing to a new blog,... Read more
“Can you imagine such a thing in politics?” Fred Thompson once again makes me laugh. I grow in my admiration of his mood and manner. Via Instapundit: RED THOMPSON RESPONDS TO The Politico: GOP presidential hopeful Fred Thompson said in an in-studio interview with KCCI-TV in Des Moines that there is no truth to rumors that his campaign will fold before New Hampshire if he doesn’t have a strong showing in Iowa. “That is absolutely made up out of whole... Read more
From Ed Morrissey: Sources on the Hill tell some of us that a critical point has been reached at the White House on whether to issue an Executive Order that would prevent federal agencies from spending funds on 90% of the earmarks in the Omnibus Spending Bill. According to the whispers, the earmarkers on Capitol Hill have begun to lean heavily on the White House to let the matter drop and to keep the earmark funding in place. Every day... Read more
Recently we were fortunate enough to attend a bar Mitzvah and I became intrigued with this book, which I’d been leafing through before the ceremony. Happily, Santa noticed my interest, and this afternoon I had a chance to read and think on some of these little gems: 47 I cannot be religious without belonging to a particular religion any more than I can talk without using a particular language. 5. I have always found prayer difficult. So often it seems... Read more
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