“I don’t believe my role is to replace the verdict of a jury with my own” — George W. Bush, on why he refused to issue pardons or commutations for the 152 people be executed in Texas. “I respect the jury’s verdict. But I have concluded that the prison sentence given to Mr. Libby is excessive.” — George W. Bush, yesterday. The fact that death may have been excessive never once crossed his mind. And then there’s this: ‘Please,'” Bush... Read more
I asked Michael on the phone this morning what he thought was key to a successful marriage. He responded: “faith in God.” I fully agreed with him, of course, but I inquired further: “hmm… think in more secular terms…” The reason why I raised this question was because a new survey by the The Pew Research Center on marriage and parenting indicates that the percentage of Americans who consider children as being a “very important” factor in a successful marriage... Read more
The ‘working poor,’ as they are approvingly termed, are in fact the major philanthropists of our society. They neglect their own children so that the children of others will be cared for; they live in substandard housing so that other homes will be shiny and perfect; they endure privation so that inflation will be low and stock prices high. To be a member of the working poor is to be an anonymous donor, a nameless benefactor, to everyone else. Barbara... Read more
There is a lot of knee-jerk reaction against Michael Moore’s latest indictment of the US health care system, Sicko. But, overall, the experts pretty much agree that he gets the big picture right. Here’s the New Republic’s Jonathan Cohn, who writes extensively on health care: “As Sicko rolled, it did little to allay my fears. I spotted plenty of intellectual dishonesties and arguments without context–enough, surely, to keep right-wing truth squads (and some left-wing ones) busy for weeks… Still, by... Read more
A consistent respect for human life, must extend to respect for all Creation. The Church approaches the care and protection of the environment from the point of view of the human person. Men and women are created in the image and likeness of God. Fostering and protecting human life and dignity, from conception to natural death, lies at the heart of the Church’s social teachings. We now realize that respect for human life and respect for nature are inextricably linked.... Read more
So as not to leave Morning’s Minion with the only Supreme Court commentary here, I thought I would offer my own. Color me unimpressed. My antipathy to English common law doesn’t help matters. I’m greatly in favor of civil law such as the Napoleonic Code over our present system. “Bong Hits 4 Jesus” is a case that for whatever reason managed to wind up on the high court. (MORSE ET AL. v. FREDERICK) I find myself in agreement with Justice... Read more
Now that I am a mom I realize that God has given me the huge responsibility of teaching my child to love Him and obey Him. No pressure! In my desire to pass on my faith to my child, I look around for good examples who I can emulate. I know many Catholic families, but very few who have figured out how to keep their children in the faith. It seems I see three extreme examples. On the left, I... Read more
Vox Nova has it all. From philosophy to different accents, we have views on everything! So why not bring these two topics together? Yes indeed, time for some Monty Python! A song from the 3 Bruces of the philosophy department of the University of Wallamaloo! Read more
“The Church, therefore, exhorts her sons, that through dialogue and collaboration with the followers of other religions, carried out with prudence and love and in witness to the Christian faith and life, they recognize, preserve and promote the good things, spiritual and moral, as well as the socio-cultural values found among these men” Nostra Aetate (Vatican: 1965). Inter-religious dialogue is an important part of the Church’s mission. It is not optional; it is obligatory for her existence. Indeed, not only... Read more
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