Pro-Life Hypocrisy? Not This Time

Last updated on: May 3, 2017 at 7:08 pm By Brett Salkeld

When the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s coverage of the Tim Tebow Super Bowl commercial described the groups advocating for or against the ad, it described them as anti-abortion and pro-choice, respectively. Now, I have no problem being described as anti-abortion, but the skew here is obvious. I have long believed that the discussion around abortion would be aided by clearer labels. (I think “pro-legal abortion,” and “anti-legal abortion” are about as close to objective labels as we can find, though someone... Read more

A Couple Thoughts on the “War on Terror”

Last updated on: February 8, 2010 at 4:57 pm By Matt Talbot

“Freedom was attacked today, and freedom will be defended.” So said George W. Bush on September 11th, 2001. It struck me then, and still strikes me today, as fundamentally wrong. “Freedom” was not attacked that day; symbols of American economic and military dominance were attacked. Power was attacked that day, not “freedom.” (more…) Read more

Analyze This

Last updated on: February 8, 2010 at 5:22 am By Henry Karlson

Yesterday, in the middle of a discussion, I found out how tied some people are to the promotion of their party of choice. If there is a Republican (Nixon) who says abortion is necessary for inter-racial children (indicating an inherent racism and a pro-abortion stand), he is considered less pro-abortion than a Democrat who says abortion should be a choice (Obama). At least, I hope it is merely an issue of party ties. Read more

iCatholicism

Last updated on: February 7, 2010 at 8:57 pm By Iafrate Michael

Well, I recently purchased my first Apple product, the iPhone 3G, and I was pretty sure I’d like it. But I really like it. I still can’t stand iTunes. I had avoided downloading and using iTunes for any music purposes before getting the phone — for politico-cultural reasons as well as general annoyance — but now with the phone, using iTunes is a must. I can’t understand how the phone itself can be so elegant and iTunes so clunky. Anyway,... Read more

Embracing (and Rejecting) Contradiction

Last updated on: February 7, 2010 at 10:34 am By Sam Rocha

Contradiction is widely seen as a sign of indecency. This makes some sense when we consider it as a matter of honesty. “Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’ and your ‘no’ be ‘no'” is very to the point. Insofar as rejecting contradiction means something like “always tell the truth,” then, it seems like a worthy problem to try to eradicate. Things become more sticky when we begin to unravel the requisites of truth-telling. What if the truth itself is contradictory? After... Read more

With All the Real Concerns One Could Raise About President Obama, Why Is There So Much Focus on a Teleprompter?

Last updated on: February 7, 2010 at 6:30 am By Henry Karlson

Of all the legitimate complaints one could have of President Obama (such as his stand on abortion, contraception, American exceptionalism with its use of the military to enforce the desires of the United States, his placing of a US missile shield into Romania , et. al.), one of the most popular criticisms launched against him is that he uses a teleprompter. I’ve never understood this. What exactly is so wrong with this? I’ve tried to think this through. (more…) Read more

What Isn’t Wrong With This Picture?

Last updated on: May 3, 2017 at 7:08 pm By Brett Salkeld

So, at some point in here there is a criticism of oversexualized beer commericals. I believe that’s about it. I can’t believe what passes for journalism. Brett Salkeld is a doctoral student in theology at Regis College in Toronto. He is a father of two (so far) and husband of one. Read more

Snow, Guns, and Hummers

Last updated on: February 5, 2010 at 3:47 pm By Morning's Minion

As I sit and wait for Washington DC to be pounded by another show storm, I am reminded of an incident during the last major snow storm in December. A major snowball fight broke out at the popular intersection of 14th and U St. Obviously there was little traffic on the road. Then a big Hummer comes along, and – understandably – becomes a snowball target. What happened next was unbelievable. The driver was a DC detective who jumped out, pulled his gun... Read more

Quote of the Week: Jacques Ellul on Violence

Last updated on: February 5, 2010 at 8:48 am By Henry Karlson

As we have just seen, Christian realism leads to the conclusion that violence is natural* and normal to man and society, that violence is a kind of necessity imposed on governors and governed, on rich and poor. If this realism scandalizes Christians, it is because they make the great mistake of thinking that what is natural is good and what is necessary is legitimate. I am aware that the reader will answer at once: “You have shown that violence is... Read more

Vox Nova At The Library: Melbourne

Last updated on: February 4, 2010 at 8:56 am By Henry Karlson

Lord David Cecil, Melbourne (New York: Harmony Books, 1979). Lord David Cecil, a direct descendent of Lord Melbourne (William Lamb: 1779 – 1848), and one of the Inklings, offers a very affectionate biography of the Prime Minister. One gets a sense that Lord Cecil is trying to give a balanced presentation of William Lamb, but it is also clear that his personal connection to Lord Melbourne readily leads him to a rather positive assessment of the Prime Minister and to... Read more

Who said, "I am not worthy to untie the strap of his sandals"?