Sailing the Last Voyage with Newton and Pascal
I still don't get this: Two congregations will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi with a blessing of the animals. The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea invites pets and their owners to the celebration Oct. 3. The procession into the church will begin at 8:45 a.m., with the service starting at 9 a.m. Coffee …
Continue reading "Blessing the Animals, and Must the Rector Search Committee Have Its Own Chaplain?"
The Lead, quoting William Sloane Coffin, puts the question clearly: Had I but one wish for the churches of America I think it would be that they come to see the difference between charity and justice. Charity is a matter of personal attributes; justice, a matter of public policy. Charity seeks to eliminate the effects …
Continue reading "Charity vs. Justice Work: The Difference Is Important"
This is amazing, in many ways: In a very unusual move, University of Illinois trustees Thursday denied giving emeritus status to controversial retired professor William Ayers. The vote, at a U. of I. board meeting in Urbana, was unanimous and came after a passionate speech by board chair Christopher Kennedy, who invoked the 1968 assassination …
Continue reading "Bill Ayers is Denied Emeritus Status: There Are a Few Who Do Remember"
Velma Hart and others needn't have asked: "Quite frankly, I'm exhausted," Velma Hart said, looking the leader of the free world in the eye. "I'm exhausted of defending you, defending your administration, defending the mantle of change that I voted for, and deeply disappointed with where we are right now." There was more. "I have …
Continue reading "Killing the American Dream was the Whole Point"
This is the seventh in a sporadic series on the Catechetical Lectures of St. Cyril of Jerusalem. The previous post was The Difference Between Image and Likeness in Genesis. In the midst of his exposition on the passion, crucifixion and burial of Jesus Christ, Cyril makes the following statement: But the soldiers who crowd around …
In the middle of his lengthy article about America's "One-Child Policy," Jonathan Last makes an interesting observation: Finally, we could address the dirt gap—the underlying cost of land, which drives the cost of living and gives rise to the dramatic differences in fertility we see across the country. People often make decisions on where to …
Continue reading "The Relationship Between Public Works and the Birthrate"
There's no reason to be shocked by this: Saudi King Abdullah and security czar Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz have held talks with top intelligence and counter-terror officials from the United States and Canada, the SPA news agency reported. John Brennan, assistant to US President Barack Obama for homeland security and counter-terrorism, discussed in Jeddah …
Continue reading "The Saudis Have Many Things to Discuss With Our Intelligence Chiefs"
The division between the Tea Party and "regular Republicans" is well publicised, but not so well understood is that between public trade unions and the "gentry" (I prefer limousine) liberals: My subject today is the civil war raging in one of our great political parties, as highlighted in recent primary elections. No, I'm not talking …
Continue reading "Trade Unions vs. Tea Party: The Emerging Brawl in American Politics"
Yes, we all know that the White House "should" retract insurance industry threats: Everybody loves to hate health insurance companies. Who doesn't have their favourite story about arbitrarily denied claims and, especially these days, excessive premiums? So why would anyone care about their free-speech rights? You should, if you care about your own free-speech rights. …
Continue reading "Putting Our Free Speech Rights in the Subjunctive"
The operative word here is "were": Three staffers working for embattled Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) were asked by security officers to leave an event in downtown Washington on Thursday after they tried to display large campaign signs just as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was about to speak. The aides were holding lawn signs that …
Continue reading "Maxine Waters and Nancy Pelosi: I Thought You Were My Friend…"
Positive Infinity 