Preliminary Thoughts on Voter’s Guides

Last updated on: July 11, 2007 at 2:36 am By M.Z.

I generally don’t like voter’s guides. I find their stated purpose, “How can anyone know everything about the candidates?”, to be insulting and condescending. There are very few competitive races, even at the local level, where one who has even the slightest bit of interest in knowing the positions of candidates can’t easily learn them. Even a significant number of non-voters know the positions of candidates. One thing these voter’s guides don’t discuss is the type of people seeking office.... Read more

Preliminary Thoughts on Voter’s Guides

Last updated on: July 11, 2007 at 2:36 am By M.Z.

Attention Corporations: Catholic universities put their money where their mouthes are

Last updated on: July 10, 2007 at 10:57 pm By Policraticus

Georgetown University and St. Thomas University are the first two Catholic universities in the U.S. to adopt a “living wage” policy in an effort to practice what the Church’s social doctrine teaches. Georgetown passed the Just Employment Policy in 2005, though there has been some controversy involved in its timetable and implementation according to the Georgetown Solidarity Committee. At St. Thomas, a similar policy went into effect on July 1, 2007, which affects the housekeeping and grounds maintenance crews, and... Read more

Another volume of Jesus of Nazareth; Another encyclical

Last updated on: July 10, 2007 at 10:01 pm By Policraticus

Pope Benedict, who will be on a three week vacation in northwest Italy, hinted at the possibility of writing a second encyclical. CathNews reports: Arriving in Lorenzago di Cadore, reporters asked the pope when he expects to publish the second part of his book on Jesus. The first volume of “Jesus of Nazareth” was released in the spring and covered the period from Jesus’ baptism to his transfiguration. “It is in the hands of God,” said the pope, referring to... Read more

The Death Penalty: A Practice the United States Shares with China

Last updated on: July 10, 2007 at 8:42 pm By Henry Karlson

Let us pray for the soul of Zheng Xiaoyu, who was executed today in China. He was the former head of the Food and Drug watch in China, and, because of bribes he received, he signed approvals for untested medicine which resulted in the death of at least ten people. While what he did was criminal and morally wrong, does his death make up for it? Does this make you trust China more, when it says it is looking to... Read more

Catholics have become mainstream America

Last updated on: July 10, 2007 at 2:12 pm By voxnovablog

“If I have achieved anything in my life it is because I have not been embarrassed to talk about God.” –Dorothy Day One of my classmates just forwarded me the results of a Barna survey that has concluded that “Catholics have become mainstream America.” Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Let us see the results. The study can be summarized as follows: “The survey data portray Catholics as people whose lifestyles and thought patterns are more influenced... Read more

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid! Terrible Anti-Terrorism Laws Could Be Coming Your Way!

Last updated on: July 10, 2007 at 9:07 am By Henry Karlson

No one wants terrorist activities in their country, right? Of course! Therefore, it’s time to make harsh anti-terrorism laws, right? Hold your horses! What laws would you put into place? Are you telling me that, until such laws are put into place, terrorism is legal? “Obviously not.” Then what is it that you want? “The ability to prevent terrorism.” How? Stricter gun laws? “No. Gun laws only hurt the innocent. If you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns.” More... Read more

A Cultured Pope

Last updated on: July 10, 2007 at 5:56 am By Policraticus

Be Nice!

Last updated on: July 10, 2007 at 3:19 am By M.Z.

As Mayor Bertrand Delanoe launched the first Paris Tourist Day on the sprawling Trocadero Plaza across the Seine from the Eiffel Tower, the response from passers-by was predictable: Parisians said their rude reputation was exaggerated. Visitors disagreed. Paul Roll, director of the Paris Tourism Office, conceded that the French capital has a “rather unfriendly” image but defended his compatriots. He said the campaign was aimed at making Parisians understand how important tourists are to their city’s economic growth, and to... Read more