Got the sad news today that CNN commentator and former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow lost his battle with colon cancer early this morning while at Georgetown University Hospital. He will be missed by his surviving wife and three children. Always a smart, candid, and (in my opinion) balanced commentator, Snow certainly enhanced political conversation in a time when many on-air pesonalities tend to drag it down. Read more
In contemporary political debates, those of us who tend to be opposed to an increased role for government in solving social problems are often accused of being radical individualists who favor an atomized society, whereas those who favor such interventions are often described as supporting communal obligations. But as DarwinCatholic argues, it ain’t necessarily so: When we had been married a few years, things came to a crisis point with the care of my paternal grandmother. My grandfather had died... Read more
To his credit, McCain was a big supporter of the 2007 Immigration Reform Act that ultimately failed last year amidst conservative rhetoric over amnesty. President George W. Bush and many of the United States Catholic bishops were also in favor of the bill, including my own archbishop, Daniel Cardinal DiNardo (Katerina and I blogged on this at the time). In a new campaign ad set to air in Nevada, Colorado, and New Mexico in Spanish and English versions, McCain says:... Read more
Both candidates face this accusation on a daily basis, including from their own supporters. Is there a problem? There are two key reasons for flip-flopping: a genuine reassessment of a position, often in light of changing facts and circumstances, and pure political pandering. Most of what we see is in the latter category. But flip-flopping itself is not necessarily a bad thing. If only George Bush had overcome his petulant stubbornness and flip-flopped over the past few years, maybe we... Read more
When I was in high-school, I was very much opposed to tipping (I’ve since mellowed on the point). In fact, I used to get into lengthy arguments with friends on the subject, usually around the time that the bill came. If only I had known just how progressive I was being: Today we think of tipping as beyond the scope of legal regulation. But in researching my Yale article I was surprised to learn that in the early twentieth century,... Read more
“Today let us praise God the Benefactor of all, who has glorified the divinely-wise Olga. And through her prayers may He grant to our souls the forgiveness of our sins” (Kontakion of St. Olga). On July 11, the Church celebrates one of the most remarkable women who ever lived – St Olga. From what has been written of her, one could say that the only thing which rivaled her beauty – which made her greatly desirable by the men of... Read more
Granted, U.S. senators cast many votes, and multi-term senators cast many, many votes. But is the bumbling senatorial amnesia so easily excusable? John McCain’s recent forgetfulness seems to extend beyond foreign policy issues with Iran and his past public statements on U.S. military intervention, now covering his policy options with respect to health care. Setting aside the Viagra question, is it really that difficult to remember why one would vote against mandating health insurance companies to cover artificial birth control?... Read more
Since this was brought up in the context of criticizing some of my recent posts, I feel to need to go deeper into it. The argument goes like this: “Setting aside our grave duty as Catholics [to conscientiously object to the abortion legal regime] is a causeof our ability to make common cause with pro-choicers. But under double-effect, it is not permissible for the good effect we seek to be caused by a bad effect of our act or by... Read more
Libertarians are strange. There’s no use denying it. In a world in which people debate not whether the government should have a major role in the provision of health care but whether or not that role should be total the type of person who thinks we should privatize lighthouses is apt to be more than a little eccentric. Which is what makes Radicals for Capitalism such a fun read. (more…) Read more
In New Testament faith the same love (Agape) of Christ which symbolizes the suffering and forgiving love of God by which the sinful recalcitrance of the human heart is finally vanquished, is also the norm of goodness for those who seek to walk in newness of life. So St. Paul admonished: ‘Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a... Read more
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