A quite rare act… Read more
A quite rare act… Read more
Recently released figures show that the number of people without health insurance in the US rose in 2006 from 44.8 million, or 15.3% of the population, to 47 million, or 15.8%. The increase reflects the ongoing reduction in employer-based health care, covering only 59.7% of the population in 2006, down from 60.2% in 2005. This is a crisis that is not going to abate. I sincerely believe that a single payer system is the best option, from the point of... Read more
Excerpts from Atlanta’s Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory’s homily at the Immigration: The Facts, the Challenges, The Moral Response Conference this past December 4th. For the full homily text, click here. “The role of the Catholic Church in the current immigration debate in the United States has surprised and perhaps upset many people, including even some Catholics. But the Church’s position on migration has remained consistent for decades. Drawing on some classic principles of Catholic social thought, the bishops of the... Read more
As Zenit reports today and the Pro-Life Campaign of Ireland reported two months ago: 19 th June 2007 The latest abortion figures published today by the British Department of Health* show a reduction in the number of Irish women travelling to Britain for abortion. In 2006 some 5,042 Irish women travelled to Britain for abortion, down from 5,585 for the previous year. This is the fifth consecutive year that Irish abortions have reduced after over a decade of upward trends.... Read more
It was to be expected. Political debates tend to trickle down into school discussions. Therefore, it is not surprising to hear about a high school class having a heated debate on America’s immigration crisis. Nor is it surpising, in the middle of the debate, racist remarks would be made. What is sad and unexpected is that a student of a Catholic High School would end the debate chanting “White power.” Such was the case in Holy Family High School in Broomfield, Colorado. Apparently the discussion began when... Read more
Well, this is disappointing: illegal immigrants Question from Lawrence on 4/11/2007: Fr. Torraco, I am struggling to understand the position that many Church leaders have taken regarding the stay of illegal immigrants in the United States. Would you please explain why so many of our Church leaders are proponents to allow all illegal immigrants to remain in a country in which their entry was knowingly unlawful. What is the moral law that would trump civil law in this situation? I... Read more
Let me state upfront that I believe the infatuation with the private lives of public figures is a huge problem in the US. The “gotcha” culture serves little purpose beyond titillation, and is on par with the banal infatuation with celebrity culture that permeates the media today. But I am noticing a distinctly different tone in how two senators, Craig and Vitter, are being treated as their sexual behavior is trumpeted from the rooftops. With Vitter, there was rote condemnation... Read more
Interview with Rob Shearer of the Toronto Catholic Worker. H/T Chris Rooney. Read more
Apparently holy water from Lourdes is now a threat to international security! Airline passengers in France, who waited in long lines to get their holy water, have been finding this out the hard way: they are having their holy water confiscated before getting on the plane! Read more here. What is your reaction to this? Is it a good idea or just plain stupidity? Read more
There is a music group called Nox Nova, and they produced this piece, entitled “Deus”. It is, shall I say, “interesting”…. Read more
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