Middle-Aged and Lovin' It!
This is something I wrote up to put out on facebook to get some attention from former students- to give them a head’s up, and to give them hope for the future- if they give their lives completely over to our Lord. Here goes:
Middle-Age Surprises
I recently turned 46, and I’m surprised by how good it feels. I spent a lot of time in my youth worried over getting old, picturing middle-age domestication as a kind of spiritual death of hope. Man, did I have that backwards.
Happy Tax Freedom Day Illinois!
I wish a Happy Tax Freedom Day to my fellow residents of the Land of Lincoln. Here is a list of Tax Freedom Days by state. I enjoyed working for Uncle Sam and the State of Illinois up to this date, didn’t you? It isn’t as if a lot of our tax money is being wasted as a result of blatant mismanagement and corruption. Considering the new taxes on the horizon, certainly on the state level in Illinois, and almost certainly on the Federal level, I suspect may of us will soon look back at our current tax feedom day with fond nostalgia. Now back to work for me to earn something for my family during the remaining year.
Should Pope Benedict visit Gaza? – A response to Deal Hudson
In February, a group of Palestinian Christians asked Pope Benedict XVI to call off his planned visit to Israel and the West Bank, concerned that his visit would “help boost Israel’s image and inadvertently minimize Palestinian suffering under Israeli occupation.” (Haaretz).
Adopting a different approach, Ma’an News Agency reports that a petition raised by the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, California, the University of San Francisco, and several other U.S. peace organizations asking Pope Benedict XVI to make a stop in the Gaza Strip has received over 2000 signatures.
In a recent post to InsideCatholic.com, Deal Hudson raises the question: Should Benedict XVI Include Gaza in his Holy Land Visit? — answering in the affirmative:
Colbert Trounces Ehrman
Normally the humor of Stephen Colbert eludes me, but I do appreciate the trouncing he gave Bart Ehrman and which is here at Creative Minority Report.
The Giggle Test
In my “real life”, for my sins no doubt, I am an attorney. Before I raise an argument in court before a judge or a jury, I always make sure it can pass the giggle test. It has two components: 1. Can I make the argument with a straight face; and 2. do I think a judge or a jury can hear the argument without giggling. The giggle test has saved me a lot of embarrassment over the years in court.
"diminishes the reputation of Notre Dame and makes one wonder what its mission truly is."
Bishop Samuel J. Aquila of the Diocese of Fargo, North Dakota, takes Jenkins to task for the homage to Obama to Obama scheduled at Notre Dame on May 17, 2009 and also addresses the sophistical defense mounted by Jenkins of his decision:
The Immigration Debate
Recently I engaged in a debate with John Zmirak on Inside Catholic regarding the status of Catholicism in modern America. Those who want to try and sort out the back and forth can go here to follow the exchange.
Particularly we disagree on the issue of immigration, but it seems there is a more fundamental disagreement as well. John was originally going to indirectly reply to some of my comments with another article on IC, but instead published his thoughts in Taki’s Magazine. Although he doesn’t mention me by name, he did say that our exchanged inspired him to write what he did.
The charges he levels against me, or at least those he assumes think like me, are amusing in their wild inaccuracy. The reader can examine for him or herself their specifics; the primary purpose of the second half of this polemic is to portray us as those who would sacrifice our children’s future out of a desire to extend mercy and charity to the undocumented workers that have come to our country seeking to support their own families.
My hope is that his final screed against the “modern American liberal” was intended for the faithless, a group distinct from those such as myself who are openly devout Catholics who simply disagree with his hierarchy of values.
An Easter Rescue for Captain Richard Phillips
On this Easter, I would like to join in a commendation of Captain Richard Phillips — profiled here in the New York Times.
According to Reuters, when the U.S. Cargo ship Maersk Alabama was attacked by Somalian pirates on Wednesday, Captain Phillips told his crew to lock themselves in the cabin and offered his own life in exchange for their safety.
An Easter Sermon
Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God?
Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival!
Is there anyone who is a grateful servant?
Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!
Christ Jesus Victor
Something for the weekend. To Jesus Christ, Our Sovereign King. The hymn was written by a German-American priest, Father Martin Hellriegel, in 1941, specifically to rebut the claims of the Third Reich with the eternal message of Christ. Here is a great essay with the story behind the hymn. I find this comforting. Evil often has its hour in the sun, to strut and parade, but, inevitably, Christ is always the final victor.
Who Killed Christ
When Pilate saw that he was not succeeding at all, but that a riot was breaking out instead, he took water and washed his hands in the sight of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. Look to it yourselves.”
And the whole people said in reply, “His blood be upon us and upon our children.”
Then he released Barabbas to them, but after he had Jesus scourged, he handed him over to be crucified.
Matthew 27:24-27
These short lines have, through the fallen nature of humanity, caused their fair share of trouble over the centuries. The gospel message, through primarily one of hope and redemption, contains one dark undertone: Christ died for our sins. The one truly perfect being suffered horrifically because of our too clear imperfection.
It is in our nature to shy away from that which is unpleasant, and so it is perhaps no surprise that throughout history some Christians have attempted to assuage their own consciences by pointing the finger of blame at an obvious target: the Jews.
Passion Narrative
Paraclete invites you to take part in a Good Friday tradition that dates back to the eighth century, with the chanting of the Passion Narrative according to Saint John. Take half an hour apart from the events of the day, and listen to these sacred words, chanted by monastic members of the Gloriae Dei Cantores Schola, in Latin, in Gregorian chant.
[Click the small "Play Passion Narrative" or "download music" links in the top header of the page -- they can be a little hard to find.]
An Easter Peace
One of our reasons for being here on The American Catholic is to provide a forum for spirited yet respectful discourse on the often controversial intersection of Catholicism and civic life. I know I very much enjoy the controversies here, and I’ve learned a lot from the other writers and commenters here over the last seven months.
However, there is a time and place for everything, and as we enter the most sacred period of the year, there’s been discussion among our contributors about instituting an Easter Peace of sorts. We will not be closing comments, however we would respectfully ask that readers consider adopting a more restrained tone between evening of Holy Thursday and the morning of Easter Monday. (If you find the time to read at all.)
All new posts during that time will be on Holy Week related themes.
From the writing team: A blessed Triduum and Easter to all our readers.
Triduum
As we enter into the Holy Triduum, I’d like to invite a reading of Pope Benedict’s catechesis given during yesterday’s general audience, appropriately deemed by Sandro Magister “A Handbook for Holy Week”:
Dear brothers and sisters, Holy Week, which for us Christians is the most important week of the year, offers us the opportunity to be immersed in the central events of Redemption, to relive the Paschal Mystery, the great mystery of the faith. Beginning tomorrow afternoon, with the Mass “In Coena Domini,” the solemn liturgical rites will help us to meditate in a more lively manner on the Passion, Death and Resurrection of the Lord in the days of the Holy Paschal Triduum, fulcrum of the entire liturgical year. May divine grace open our hearts to comprehend the inestimable gift that salvation is, obtained for us by Christ’s sacrifice. [Read the rest]
(The homilies of Pope Benedict XVI for Holy Week 2009 will be made available here, on the Vatican website).
Now He Tells Us
Hattip to Instapundit. “Speaking to GIs in one of Saddam Hussein’s old palaces, Mr. Obama ticked off America’s accomplishments in Iraq: “From getting rid of Saddam, to reducing violence, to stabilizing the country, to facilitating elections — you have given Iraq the opportunity to stand on its own as a democratic country. That is an extraordinary achievement.””
I will leave for others to explain just how Obama’s Iraq policy differs from what McCain would have done, or from the policy of Bush if he were still in office.
Christ in Flanders
I have always found this war poem from World War I very moving. The author is “L.W.”, and I have been unable to discover his identity. The poem powerfully reminds us of how easy it is to forget Christ, He who is most important in our brief lives here on Earth.
Obama to Push Immigration Reform
This is good news, and probably smart politics:
While acknowledging that the recession makes the political battle more difficult, President Obama plans to begin addressing the country’s immigration system this year, including looking for a path for illegal immigrants to become legal, a senior administration official said on Wednesday.
Mr. Obama plans to speak publicly about the issue in May, administration officials said, and over the summer he will convene working groups, including lawmakers from both parties and a range of immigration groups, to begin discussing possible legislation for as early as this fall.
"You dishonor the reputation of the University of Notre Dame"
Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein sends a sharp note to Jenkins at Notre Dame about Obama Day on May 17, 2009:
A Catholic Narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
A Catholic Narrative of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Over a decade ago, I read the story of a Palestinian priest living in a small village in Galilee. His name was Father Elias Chacour, and the book’s name was – Blood Brothers-. I made pilgrimage to the Holy Land and volunteered at Fr. Chacour’s school for some months, and traveled into the West Bank as well. What I saw and heard during my experiences there changed my life forever. I realized then that the Palestinians truly are the “victim’s of the Victims”, as Edward Said so eloquently phrased it, referring to the fact that the Jews, who were the biggest victims of World War II, were now in the position of the oppressor with respect to the Palestinian people.
From a Catholic vantage point, the American policy of pretty much one-sided support for the Israeli State is both detrimental to the cause of Holy Land Christians, and is a primary root cause of Middle Eastern anger and terrorism directed at otherwise innocent Israelis and Americans.
Obama Appoints Anti-Catholic Bigot to Advisory Council
Hattip to Jay Anderson at Pro Ecclesia. With a sense of irony I would admire under other circumstances, President Obama has appointed anti-Catholic bigot Harry Knox to the Advisory Council on Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Mr. Knox is a gay-rights activist and detests the Catholic Church. These stories here, here, here, and here have some interesting quotes from Mr. Knox.
The Real Sermon on the Waterfront
Hattip to the ever reticent lads and lasses at Lair of the Catholic Cavemen. Probably the most powerful sermon ever placed on film, Father Barry speaks of Christ and his crucifixion on the docks. The best performance Karl Malden ever gave. Elia Kazan’s masterpiece, On the Waterfront (1954) was also his response to the criticism he received for naming names before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1952.
Charity and Knowledge
Charity is one of those words which, in Christian discourse, is often in danger of meaning everything and nothing. We use it in certain very concrete senses (“giving to charity”) and also in very broad senses (Faith, Hope and Charity). At times it is taken to mean simply giving something to someone — and some even take it in a negative sense in that regard: the rich giving some few spare pennies to the poor. At other times, drawing on the Latin root of caritas, it is taken to be love as a whole in all its senses.
Because as Christians we identify God as being love, love is clearly meant to encompass a wide range of Christian action and experience, and comes in many forms. Right now, I’d like to talk about love of neighbor, and specifically, that love of neighbor which involves providing for the physical needs of others. So for the purposes of this post, I’m going to call the use of “time and treasure” to perform the corporal works of mercy “charity”, and let’s leave aside the other meanings of that term for now.
Now to me, one of the interesting things about the virtue of charity is that it says a great deal about the sort of relationships we can have as human beings. In the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10, 25-37) we see a scholar of the law (quidam legis peritus) who cheerfully parrots back the great commandments of “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” but then wants to know “Who is my neighbor?”.
Vatican Rejected Three Obama Candidates For Ambassador
Today the Washington Times is reporting that the Vatican has rejected at least three candidates for ambassador. Could one of those candidates been Doug Kmiec? Mayor Richard Daley of Chicago? Caroline Kennedy?
The Headline Bistro is reporting that Senator John Kerry is pushing for Caroline Kennedy for the position. A left-leaning Italian daily, Panorama, is speculating of the ‘glamorous’ benefits of having Miss Kennedy as the Holy See’s ambassador.
Caroline Kennedy? You’ve got to be kidding me! What is interesting to note is the sheer lack of understanding on behalf President Obama of what the Catholic Church stands for. It is not a political entity, but Christ’s church on earth. Abortion is not one of a myriad of policy differences that can be pushed under the rug when it comes to appointing a U.S. ambassador to the Vatican.
The U.S. has a right to appoint whomever they want, but the Pope has the right to reject any ambassador that will not “improve relations” with the Vatican. If President Obama appoints a pro-choice (pro-abortion) candidate, one who promotes the death of innocent children, how can this candidate improve relations with the Holy See that defends the rights the most vulnerable among us? Logic and reasoning seem to be lacking in finding a candidate from the Obama administration.
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