A question for Vox Nova readers and bloggers: What is “torture”? Let’s put aside, for present purposes, any definitions of the term that might be provided in particular legal texts. I can look those up. What I want to know is, if the question is posed, “is ____ torture?”, what would be the characteristics of “____” that would indicate that it is, or is not, “torture”? In asking this, I am assuming (and, of course, believe) that “torture” is immoral... Read more
Unlike Pope John Paul II, who explicitly stated that climate change was not only a reality but also the responsibility of humanity to work to curb, Pope Benedict XVI has been cautious in the presentation of his concerns. He seems to take climate change as a given, as exhibited in his choice of words when speaking on the topic. However, Pope Benedict XVI encourages more patience and study of the question before conclusions are reached too hastily. Now, my fellow... Read more
“Don’t Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers?” – Mike Huckabee, New York Times By the way, the answer is yes. To put it in more understandable parlance, it would have been equivalent to him asking, “Don’t Eastern Catholics create icons?” with the implication that there is something odd about that. Many will go ahead and assume the answer is ‘no’ to the question. For a media that has been begging for Huckabee’s opinions about Mormonism, they sure... Read more
Take that, Al Gore. 🙂 Update: My co-blogger Henry thinks the article I’ve linked to is badly misrepresenting the substance of the Holy Father’s speech (and others agree with him), and in some respects I agree. That having been said, it still seems to me that Pope Benedict XVI is warning folks like Al Gore to quit overhyping the issue. Here’s the money quote: It is important for assessments in this regard to be carried out prudently, in dialogue with... Read more
One of the things that stands out to me as I meditate upon the feast of Our Lady of Guadelupe is the fact that Mary, our loving mother, chose a lowly peasant, St. Juan Diego, to be the herald to the Americas of the love of Christ. As the Patroness of the Americas, Our Lady of Guadelupe points us to the truest Christian manifestation in simplicity, poverty and faith–a needed message in times of economic, social, nationalistic and ethnic division.... Read more
At this time of year in particular, many indulge in a certain amount of nostalgia that includes watching It’s a Wonderful Life. And indeed, that account of a bygone era offers valuable lessons in the context of the recent financial turmoil. At that time, mortgages were held on the books of banks, so it was in the interest of the lender to make sure the borrower could repay the loan. Like George Bailey, the banker and the borrower’s interests were often aligned.... Read more
Today is the day when Mexicans, wherever they are, arise super early and go to Mass and sing to Our Lady. They will serenade her with Las Mananitas and they will bring Her roses in honor of her appearance and her love for the lowly. !Que Viva La Virgen! !Viva! Read more
It’s now pretty clear the CIA did not engage in their approved torture techniques without authorization, especially for waterboarding. They had to request permission at each step. And the authority came not only from the top echelons of the CIA, but from the White House itself. It follows that the proximity of Bush and Cheney to the intrinsically evil act of torture is extremely close. They made it legitimate. They approved the techniques. And they gave authorization in individual cases.... Read more
Oh, but it’s not about Israel, is it? After all, we all know that Bin Laden barely talks about Israel, and instead wants to restore a caliphate… right? Wrong. Setting aside the silliness of worrying about how a few thousand extremists with no country or official support will somehow take over the entire Middle East and Mediterranean world.. set this aside, and focus on Israel. Anybody who has spent any time in the region, or who knows people from the... Read more
I am opening up the comboxes today for discussion on episcopal leadership in the United States. One of the more interesting topics in the dialogue between East and West has been the use of episcopal conferences. Then Cardinal Ratzinger stated that the patriarch formula worked fine in the East, but the conference scheme worked for us in the West. I think that formulation is debatable. There are those who would like to get rid of the USCCB. I think there... Read more
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