Category Archives: Politics

The New York Times’ Take on the “Accommodation”

You might want to read today’s New York Times article on the “accommodation.” If what they report is true, then it would seem the accommodation shows a disregard for the bishops and religious beliefs of Catholics in this country. To … Continue reading

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The Catholic Bishops Respond to Recent “Accommodation” by HHS

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops have released a response to President Obama’s announcement of an “accomodation” in the HHS mandate for contraceptive, sterilization, and abortifacient coverage in health plans. I stand with my bishop and the body of bishops … Continue reading

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Government “Accommodation” to the Objections of Catholics and others to the HHS Mandate

This morning President Obama announced a revision of the HHS mandate. The devil is in the details, no doubt, and what they are will hopefully be made clearer. Here is the United States Conference of Catholic Bishop’s first response to … Continue reading

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Update # 1 on “Has Europe lost its soul?”

Last week I made mention of a lecture that was given by Chief Rabbi Lord Jonathon Sacks at the Gregorian University in Rome. His lecture was a brilliant discussion of the Judeo-Christian roots to the market economy, and I wanted … Continue reading

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White House Misrepresents Its Own Contraceptive Mandate

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has issued a point by point clarification of a recent White House response to the HHS mandate requiring religious institutions to violate their consciences and that threatens religious liberty. Here is the bishops … Continue reading

Posted in Church News, General Interest, Health Care, Human Development and Life, Politics | 2 Comments

Conscience Protection

Here is another link for you to look at put out by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. Conscience Protection. Check it out, respond, and speak up for Conscience Protection and Religious Liberty. Thank you!

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HHS Mandate and Religious Liberty

As you no doubt have been reading in the news of late, the Department of Health and Human Services has issued a mandate that all health plans must include, free of charge, contraceptive services including some abortifacients, and sterilizations. This … Continue reading

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An Assault on Conscience and Religious Freedom

As you may be aware, the Department of Health and Human Services recently directed that all employers, essentially, who provide health care benefits, will be required to provide contraceptives, sterilizations and abortifacients to their employees without deductibles or co-pays in … Continue reading

Posted in Ethics and Morality, Health Care, Human Development and Life, Marriage and Family, Politics, Religious Freedom | Leave a comment

The Bishops of Washington State Speak on Marriage and the Common Good

A former classmate of mine from Rome, now Archbishop J. Peter Sartain of Seattle, and his brother bishops in the state of Washington, have issued a letter regarding their state’s effort to redefine marriage. It is worth our reading. Here … Continue reading

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Minnesota Marriage Minute #3

Here is another good video from Minnesota for Marriage. Be informed. And vote for the Marriage Amendment this fall.

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We Are Off and Running… Or Are We?

In a few minutes, the citizens of Iowa will be gathering for their caucuses in which they will be selecting a candidate from their respective parties for president as well as building planks for their parties platforms this coming fall. … Continue reading

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The Church Thrives Where Persecution Reigns

The Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com) reports this morning on an official with the Vietnamese bishop’s conference, who foresees a confident future for the Church in Vietnam. He cites “flourishing” priestly vocations as one reason for this hope. They have over … Continue reading

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“Essence” Is It A Noun or a Verb?

I am attending a day long seminar today on Narrative Therapy which is a form of psychotherapy in which theĀ patient/client defines the problem which afflicts them in terms meaningful to them and separates themselves from the problem, thus making the … Continue reading

Posted in Fundamental Theology, Human Development and Life, Politics | Leave a comment

Gadhaffi’s Death and War

I found myself aghast and sick to the stomach yesterday and the day before after learning of Gadhaffi’s death in Libya. I find no joy in his death and most especially the manner in which it seems he was killed. … Continue reading

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New Nuncio for the United States

The Holy Father recently named Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano nuncio to the United States. Archbishop Vigano, age 70, replaces Archbishop Pietro Sambi who recently died from complications from surgery. The nuncio is a Vatican representative to the American bishops and … Continue reading

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Rome in Flames

I don’t know if you kept abreast as to the demonstrations occurring in many parts of the world yesterday. It is all part of what we in the US are callingĀ ”Occupy Wall Street”. Yesterday, in Rome, there was bedlam to … Continue reading

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The Normalcy of War In Our Times

I was thinking about how when I was growing up, at least from the time I became conscious of world events, my country has been at war more often than it has not. My socio-political views were shaped by the … Continue reading

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Rancor, Moral Relativism, and Political Despair

The political process seems at times to be unmoored from anything solid on which it can function effectively. I know… we have the Constitution and 50 state costitutions that provide some grounding, but I sometimes wonder whether those we send … Continue reading

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If You Want to Fix the Economy, Support the Family

I read a delightful post over at The Crescat entitled “comparing the costs of families….” which she wrote last Friday. She argues that we need to recognize our mutual responsibilities within our families, especially our aging members, and as family … Continue reading

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Hints of Things to Come?

The National Catholic Register is reporting that in Ireland some lawmakers are trying to pass legislation that would require priests to break the seal of the confessional if a pedophile confesses. Please note that this law has not passed, but … Continue reading

Posted in Church News, Politics, Sacraments | 2 Comments