Hopefully The Last Torture Post

Last updated on: February 27, 2010 at 5:05 pm By M.Z.

I guess we are condemned to discuss torture once again. Dr. Tollefsen wrote an article on Marc Thiessen’s misuse of double effect. In the article, Tollefsen states, “…I do not address the question of Catholic teaching on torture….” He is addressing Thiessen’s argument. In specific, he argues that action taken against a person for not cooperating are discrete from the reception of the cooperation. As such, the act of inducing the cooperation must at least be morally neutral for the two... Read more

A Mother’s Song

Last updated on: February 27, 2010 at 11:55 am By Sam Rocha

There are striking and rich similarities between The Magnificat sung by Mary in Luke, and Hannah’s Song from First Samuel. Both of them are decidedly role-reversing. In the past, many have commented on the political nature of this reversal. While that is an unavoidable reading, there is also a deep domestic insight: God as Mother. (more…) Read more

Don’t Limit Yourself To The Catechism Alone

Last updated on: February 27, 2010 at 4:57 am By Henry Karlson

When the Catechism of the Catholic Church was published, I remember Mother Angelica telling her audience to pick up copies of it and to use it to inform themselves of the truths of the Catholic faith. While it was right to suggest people should read it, there was coming from her the implication that we were not being told the truth by our bishops and we need this book to tell us all that we have yet to learn. She... Read more

Ethical Experts Love Torture

Last updated on: February 26, 2010 at 11:05 am By Morning's Minion

This is nearly a year old, but still worth flagging. In an attempt to provide a respectable veneer to its pro-torture gloss, the National Review convened a panel of “experts” who decided – surprise, surprise – that American-style torture is OK. The sad thing is that some of these experts are Catholics, based at Catholic institutions. Read it for yourself. I’ll give you a few highlights. (more…) Read more

All Creation Sings The Glory of God: Who Are We To Kill Such Songs?

Last updated on: February 25, 2010 at 10:36 am By Henry Karlson

“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good” (Gen.1:31a RSV). The world is good because it is created by God and for God’s own purpose. It was made as a representation of his glory. All that is within it can and does glorify God. “O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all; the earth is full of thy creatures” (Psalms 104:24 RSV). One of the grave problems which... Read more

“It’s not that bad.”

Last updated on: February 24, 2010 at 9:45 pm By Iafrate Michael

That phrase, “It’s not that bad,” more than simply being the repeated insistence of a woman who recently “tweeted” her abortion, could really be the mantra of a culture that has become absolutely numb to its deep-rooted tradition of killing human persons. We americans have become simply too good at stopping the pain that comes from killing each other, whether we do it through orally-administered abortion, by pounding it into “our” soldiers that their victims are not human, by talking... Read more

What’s in a Name?

Last updated on: February 24, 2010 at 4:58 pm By Morning's Minion

How does one define an act of terrorism? It seems obvious that a suicide bomber flying a plane into a government building and killing ordinary people would qualify. But apparently not. Apparently, in the United States, there is an important qualifier – the person must be a foreigner, and preferably a Muslim. If he is an American protesting “big government”, well, tut-tut, killing people is bad, but we should empathize with the poor guy, right? After all, this is a common... Read more

Quote of the Week: Jacques Ellul on “The City”

Last updated on: February 24, 2010 at 10:27 am By Henry Karlson

Babylon, the great city, or Babylon the Great. The biggest in the world. No one can rival her, not even Rome. Not because of her historical greatness, but because of what she represents mythically. All the cities of the world are brought together in her, she is the synthesis of them all (Dan. 3 and 4; Rev 14 and 18). She is the head and the standard for the other cities. When the wrath of God is loosed, she is... Read more

Rest and be restless.

Last updated on: February 23, 2010 at 8:14 pm By Sam Rocha

“Come to me all you who are tired and overburdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28) We are always tired—physically, psychically, and spiritually. Rest has become a commodity. Energy drinks, bars, and other things keep us alert and awake. All the while, we are asleep. Our bodies are machines that produce effects and outcomes and without these consequential productions they have no value. Our minds serve the purposes that they have been outlined for by the apocalyptic overtones... Read more

A Quick Thank You And Reminder

Last updated on: February 23, 2010 at 10:39 am By Henry Karlson

Vox Nova is currently looking for new members to work with us. We have had several submissions already, and we want to thank everyone who has applied. It will take some time to decide who to add as a contributor to our blog, and for those who have applied, we ask for your patience. Do not assume silence as a rejection. If you have applied and have not provided a writing sample, we humbly ask you do so, for no... Read more

Which book has the famous phrase, "For everything there is a season"?