This morning we get to pontificate about the importance of Senator Clinton reducing her pledged delegate deficit down to 154 and her known deficit (in other words adding declared super-delegates) down to 130. The Clinton campaign is vigorously spinning this as momentum. With a decisive win coming for Obama in North Carolina this is closer to a grand slam in the 8th inning of a game she was trailing 15-2. Exit polling doesn’t show many surprises. “Operation Chaos” continues to... Read more
Policraticus is right to point out some of the many statements made by the Popes in recent years on the importance of protecting the environment. It’s only fair, however, to note just how much technological progress, spurred on by the free economy, has led to a cleaner, healthier, and all around more pleasant environment. As Don Boudreaux has put it: [S]mallpox, dysentery, and malaria – once common threats to humankind – are today totally conquered in the industrial world. (Smallpox... Read more
Part I Part II-1 After hearing what the Tall Brethren and their disciples had to say against Theophilus, St John Chrysostom tried to find a peaceful solution to the conflict.[i] Instead of pacifying the Alexandrian Patriarch, Chrysostom found himself facing Theophilus’ wrath.[ii]Apparently, Theophilus had heard that not only did Chrysostom give the Tall Brethren sanctuary, he was also communing with them. Since they had been banished from Alexandria, Theophilus believed Chrysostom was over-extending his authority and was meddling in the affairs... Read more
NPR ran a pretty good segment on All Things Considered about lobbyists from Appalachia working to fight environmental injustice in their communities: Lobbyists are everywhere on Capitol Hill. But it’s not always high-priced professionals that get lawmakers’ attention. A cadre of Appalachian residents has come to lobby for environmental protections from coal-mining waste. For many, it was their first trip to Washington, D.C. Listen to it here. Read more
Back in the 1980s in Northern Ireland, it emerged that John Hume was in secret discussions with Gerry Adams of Sinn Fein, at a time when the latter was supporting a vicious and brutal campaign of terror and intimidation. What Hume did was beyond the pale, and he took a lot of heat for it, including from the Irish and British governments (it was even illegal to broadcast the voice of Adams on TV or radio at that time– a... Read more
This is one of those days I’ll use the 6 months or so of my existence as a Californian as a point of pride over the State I’ve called home the rest of my life. Gaylord Nelson created Earth Day, the day some of you might be celebrating today. School children, after being driven by their parents to some some single story school that occupies between one and three city blocks with a service area of a 100 square miles, will be... Read more
In celebration of Earth Day 2008, here are some nice quotes from Pope Benedict XVI and Pope John Paul II on the importance of ecological responsibility: “Care of water resources and attention to climate change are matters of grave importance for the entire human family. Encouraged by the growing recognition of the need to preserve the environment, I invite all of you to join me in praying and working for greater respect for the wonders of God’s creation!” -Pope Benedict... Read more
I’ve followed the career of Patrick Moore, a cofounder of Greenpeace, with interest. He led the organization for 15 years before becoming a critic of the American environmental movement. He has been speaking publicly about nuclear power over the past year, and I’ve seen him raise several points worth contemplating. (more…) Read more
This Friday, April 25, at 7pm, the Faith Formation Committee of St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington DC will show the DVD of John F. Kennedy’s funeral, which took place in the very same cathedral. DC-area folks reading this are most welcome to attend — it’s in the East Conference Room, lower level. I’ve already glossed over it, and it’s fascinating, not least for a perfect example of the Tridentine Mass as it was celebrated at the time. And then there... Read more
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