My patience for most healthcare discussions is fairly low. Too often the discussion is a group of cliches. I will confess to not having a healthcare solution. My sympathies are with a public sector intervention. Before I do a post on such a thing though, I want to get several things out of the way. (more…) Read more
As the Iraqi government accuses the US mercenary group, Blackwater, of firing on civilians without provocation (and claims to have videotaped proof), it also realizes it can do absolutely nothingto stop these thugs from operating in the country. The Iraqi government at first threatened to withdraw the license of Blackwater, until it realized that Blackwater operates without a license, and can do whatever it wishes with impunity. So much for the so-called sovereign elected government of Iraq. And as for the... Read more
Charles Taylor, Professor of Philosophy at Northwestern University and winner of the 2007 Templeton Prize, has a new book out entitled A Secular Age. Michael Perry over at Mirror and Justice notes some of the positive reviews Taylor’s work is receiving. This looks like a wonderful and insightful read. (more…) Read more
In Fr. Richard John Neuhaus’ latest post at On the Square, the issue of prudential judgment is once more raised prompted by Morning Minion’s recent post Neuhaus Annoys Again. Fr. Neuhaus pays small tribute to MM, describing his post as “among the more thoughtfully critical,” and quotes a large section of it at On the Square. To Fr. Neuhaus’ credit, he does not dismiss MM’s criticism as so many others have at this blog, but instead attempts to respond faithfully... Read more
Many people think the United States was justified in its military action in Iraq because of Saddam’s brutal legacy. While there are questions as to the time period in which this took place and whether or not the situation was the same in the years after the Gulf War (when we were no longer allies with Saddam) as they were before the Gulf War (when there was a clear violation of human rights), it is clear, Saddam was not the... Read more
Aurora, IL pro-lifers managed to prevent a large Planned Parenthood from opening its doors in their community. Bishop Doran led fellow Christians in prayerful protests outside the planned clinic. Good for the Bishop for encouraging his people to pray! And they succeeded via a lawsuit. Read the complete story here. A federal judge Thursday turned down Planned Parenthood’s request for an emergency court order that would allow it to open a new health clinic in Aurora that would provide abortions... Read more
Context. The zeal of some to bomb countries in the name of some general “war on terror” lacks all context, with grave implications. In other words, the use of arms is producing evils and disorders graver than the evil to be eliminated, all due to a Gnostic-Manichean dualism that has proven stubbornly immune to complexity and nuance. Indeed, there seems to be a competition in some quarters for who can espouse the most simple, dumbed-down, context-free foreign policy. For such uncomplicated strength... Read more
Part Seven (conclusion): Appalachia today in the midst of new forms of “imperial capitalism” Acting These insights from the “new ecclesiology” and from the past decade’s radical social movements suggest that, in terms of action, the trajectory started by At Home in the Web of Life could be continued and radicalized. The Church should devote more resources to alternative social and economic experiments and should learn to see itself as the “experiment” of God’s new community, the “new thing” that... Read more
I am not married, but I likely will be some day soon. But I know what my Catholic tradition has to say about marriage. We are told by St. Paul that the married are divided of heart, that they are not only anxious about the things of God. We are told by the Council of Trent and by Pope Pius XII that the consecrated life is superior to the married state. We are told by St. Josemaría Escrivá that marriage... Read more
First there were the rumors that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was snubbed by the Vatican on account of her swift dismissal of the Vatican envoy sent by Pope John Paul II in 2003 to dissuade the Bush administration from waging an immoral war in Iraq. Now the Vice-President of the Venezuelan Bishops’ Conference, Archbishop Roberto Lückert of Coro, is accusing Rice of lying to the public over her relations with the Venezuelan bishops. According to the archbishop, Rice... Read more
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