Sunday, May 31, 2009

Thought for the Day

"The test of courage comes when we are in the minority. The test of tolerance comes when we are in the majority."
Ralph W. Sockman, The Quotations Page

Pentecost Sunday, 2009: A Reflection

Readings for May 31, 2009, Pentecost Sunday:

Pentecost 2009

By Deacon Lawrence N. Kaas
May 31, 2009

I found it interesting as to how this feast came about and it's meaning so I looked it up in Fr. John Hardens Catholic Dictionary. "Feast commemorating the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. It takes its name from the fact that it comes about fifty days after Easter. The name was originally given to the Jewish Feast of Weeks, which fell on the fiftieth day after Passover, when the first fruits of the corn harvest were offered to the Lord. And later on the giving of the law to Moses was celebrated. In the early Church, Pentecost meant the whole period from Easter to Pentecost Sunday, during which no fasting was allowed, prayer was only made standing, and Alleluia was sung more often."

I continue: for the most part from a reflection by Fr. Raniero the preacher to the papal household. For what he says is: that when the Holy Spirit takes possession of a heart, a change comes about. If before there was a "secret rancor or hatred against God" in the depths of a persons heart, now when the Holy Spirit comes from God and attests that God is truly favorable and benign. In other words a Loving God and not an enemy. Ones eyes are opened to all that God has made capable of doing for each of us and to the fact that He did not spare His only Son for us.

The Spirit puts "Gods love" into man's heart. In this way God makes us over into a new persons who Loves God and who willingly does what God asks. God, in fact, no longer limits Himself to telling man what he should do or not do, but man does it with God and in God. The new law, the law of the Spirit, is much more then an indication of ones will; it is an action, a living and active principle. The new law is a new life. That is why it is more often called grace rather than law: "You are not under the law but under Gods Grace".

In a strict sense, then, the new law or the law of the Spirit is not that which Jesus proclaimed on the mount of Beatitudes, but that which He engraved in man's heart at Pentecost. The evangelical precepts are certainly higher and more perfect than the Mosaic laws were; yet, on their own, they too would have been ineffective. If it had sufficed to proclaim the new will of God through the Gospel, we would be unable to explain why Jesus died and why the Holy Spirit came. But the apostles themselves showed that it was not enough. They heard everything, for example, that we should turn the other cheek to the those that strike us, and yet at the moment of the Passion they were not strong enough to carry out anything of what Jesus had commanded. If Jesus had limited Himself to proclaiming the new command saying; "A new commandment I give you, that you love one another", it would have remained what it was before, just an old, written law. It was at Pentecost when He poured His love into the hearts of His disciples by means of the Spirit that it became, by right, a new law, the law of the Spirit that gives life.

This new law, this new way of life, is a pure gift from God, a free gift of Grace.

So once again as we reenter Ordinary time we are called to live the life of Grace. Scripture reminds us that we are to be a peculiar people. In other words a people set apart to fulfill the will of God in our lives and to manifest this new way of life to the world.

'Thank you' to Deacon Kaas, for letting me post his reflection here.

More:

Dr. George Tiller Murdered: Two Wrongs Don't Make a Right

Dr. George Tiller was serving as an usher at Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas, when somebody shot and killed him.

Dr. George Tiller's Death - Statements About an Abortionist and the Law

Dr. Tiller's attorneys had a statement about his death:
"...'Our loss is also a loss for the city of Wichita and women across America. George dedicated his life to providing women with high-quality heath care despite frequent threats and violence.'..."
(FOXNews)
The "high-quality health care" Dr. Tiller provided was killing babies in the third trimester. Not many doctors were willing to kill babies at a point where they look like babies.

Dr. Tiller's death prompted another statement, this one from Operation Rescue, a group which - by Tiller's attorney's standards - is against "high-quality health care" for women:
"...'We are shocked at this morning's disturbing news that Mr. Tiller was gunned down,' said Troy Newman, Operation Rescue's president. 'Operation Rescue has worked for years through peaceful, legal means, and through the proper channels to see him brought to justice. We denounce vigilantism and the cowardly act that took place this morning.'..."
(FOXNews)
Dr. Tiller's "clinic," Women's Health Care Services, had been bombed in 1985, and he was shot in both arms in 1993. I don't think either of those acts was a good idea: although I believe I can understand the probable motive behind them.

"Understanding" and "agreeing with" are two rather different things. I can also understand, I think, why some people believed that cripples and the feeble-minded should be sterilized, at least, for the good of 'the race.' That doesn't mean I agree with proponents of eugenics.

The Murder of Dr. Tiller was a Bad Thing to Do

I am not at all happy that Dr. Tiller is dead. Not because I think it's a good idea to kill babies: but because Dr. Tiller was a living human being. I'm a Catholic, and have strict instructions to love people. Even people who do things that aren't very nice.

I would prefer to live in a country where someone like Dr. Tiller would have been restrained from killing babies. But, that's not the way America is right now. And, being a Catholic, I cannot support vigilantism.
"...By the Middle Ages, Christians widely accepted the civil power's right to put evildoers to death. Even so, the Church was quick to condition this right. St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), for example, points out that only a public authority may judge and execute a serious offender where the society's defense is at stake, and where the offender's reform is not expected. St. Thomas leaves no room for private vigilantism...."
("The Gospel of Life and the Sentence of Death: Catholic Teaching on Capital Punishment" Rev. Augustine Judd, O.P., via USCCB)
The Catholic Church does permit capital punishment, under circumstances which I do not believe have existed in America since, possibly, frontier days. There's more on the subject, in the Catechism (2265-2267, for starters).

Whoever killed Dr. Tiller committed murder, and I hope the legal sanctions against such behavior are applied - short of the death penalty. People who kill other people for personal reasons are not, in my opinion, safe to have around.

Murdering an Abortionist is Wrong - So is Killing Babies

Killing Dr. Tiller was wrong. Killing an adult, or a child after a certain age, for personal reasons, is illegal in America. More to the point, for me, it's wrong.

That's because "Human life must be respected and protected absolutely from the moment of conception. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person—among which is the inviolable right of every innocent being to life...." (Catechism 2270)

Dr. Tiller's innocence might be debated, but killing him was objectively wrong.

Related posts: News and views: More, about Dr. George Tiller's murder:
Tip of the hat to 1Cor16_13, for heads-up on "Pro-life leaders condemn murder of abortionist."

Friday, May 29, 2009

Finding the Patron Saint of Just About Anything

Researching for today's post in the "Loonfoot Falls Chronicle-Gazette," a column from a fictional weekly newspaper in an equally fictional small town, I found this list of patronage. Saint's patronage, that is.

It's on the SQPN (Star Quest Production Network) website. The page is a massive list of links to pages, showing the patron saint of everything from the city of Aachen, Germany, to Zutphen, Nederlands.

There's a companion page that's of a rather more manageable size, Patronage Groups, linking to information about:
  • Patron Saints of Animal Topics
  • Patron Saints of Cities
  • Patron Saints of Countries
  • Patron Saints of Dioceses
  • Patron Saints of Education Topics
  • Patron Saints of Family Matters
  • Patron Saints of Medical Conditions
  • Patron Saints of the Medical Field
  • Patron Saints of Military Topics
  • Patron Saints of Nobility and Caste
  • Patron Saints of Occupations
  • Patron Saints of States in the US
I don't have time to go into Catholicism and the saints, saintly patronage, and why we venerate (not worship) saints - and just what veneration is. That'll have to wait for another time.

The Catholic Church's patron saints - and a shaky understanding of them - has produced a number of more-or-less well-intentioned gags about the patron saint of some unlikely thing.

Like the patron saint of left earrings, bottle caps, or pencil makers.

Oddly enough, there is a patron saint of pencil makers.

Enough. I'm a few hours behind, and need my sleep.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

The Right to Peaceful Assembly: As Long as the Government Approves


Update (June 4, 2009)

San Diego County allows Christians to meet.
"Couple: County Trying To Stop Home Bible Studies"
KGTV San Diego (May 25, 2009, updated May 28, 2009)

"A local pastor and his wife claim they were interrogated by a San Diego County official, who then threatened them with escalating fines if they continued to hold bible studies in their home, 10News reported.

"Attorney Dean Broyles of The Western Center For Law & Policy was shocked with what happened to the pastor and his wife.

"Broyles said, 'The county asked, "Do you have a regular meeting in your home?" She said, "Yes." "Do you say amen?" "Yes." "Do you pray?" "Yes." "Do you say praise the Lord?" "Yes." '..."

An average of 15 people show up at the pastor's home for Bible study. That's "in violation of county regulations, according to Broyles.

"Broyles said a few days later the couple received a written warning that listed 'unlawful use of land' and told them to 'stop religious assembly or apply for a major use permit' -- a process that could cost tens of thousands of dollars...."

That "unlawful use of land" business makes some sense, when thousands of people come to a place of worship on a regular basis.

But, a little over a dozen people showing up for a Bible study?

San Diego's Problem: 15 People, or 15 Christians?

I live in a town of about 4,000 people. The house my family lives in was owned, years ago, by a family who had groups of about that size come on a regular basis. Somehow, this town of 4,000 managed to deal with the strain these meetings put on its infrastructure.

The KGTV article implied that people in the San Diego area have poker nights and Tupperware parties at their homes, and sometimes get together to watch baseball games.

These activities don't seem to be "unlawful" in the eyes of the San Diego authorities: but I suspect that at least a dozen people may attend.

It's remotely possible that there's some reasonable explanation for San Diego's attempt to shut down a Bible study. But, at this point, it looks like a county government is trying to suppress Christian activity in its territory.

Given how the more 'sophisticated' people in America view religion - particularly Christianity - I'm not surprised. It must be frightening to have "right-wing ideologues who want to take away a woman's right to choose" (NCRegister.com) gathering - to plot who knows what dastardly schemes.

I hope that there's something that didn't get reported by KGTV, that makes the government's actions reasonable. Failing that, let's pray that peaceful assembly of citizens in America continues to be legal: even if they are Christians.

Related Posts:

Knights of Columbus Headline Bistro: New on the 'Blogroll'

Headline Bistro is my latest addition to this blog's Blogroll/Catholic Links. The website's About Us page says:

"Headline Bistro is a service of the Knights of Columbus dedicated to bringing readers the top, daily headlines that Catholics need to know.

"We seek to present the news from the perspective of Catholics who want to know what’s happening in the Church, nation and world around them.

"From election coverage and breakthroughs in science, to breaking news and opinions around the globe...."

They'd like people to visit the website every day. From what I've seen, it could be worth the time. Re-reading one of the articles is on my 'to do' list for this afternoon, as well as giving the website a more thorough once-over.
A tip of the hat to KofCStore on Twitter, for the heads up.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Pope2You.net, YouTube: BXVI, the Catholic Church, and High Tech Marketing

I haven't found Pope Benedict XVI (or BXVI) on Twitter, but the Holy See ("Vatican" to just about everybody in America) is on Facebook and YouTube: and has another website.

The Vatican Online? Old News

In a way, this is nothing new: The Holy See has been online for years. What's different is that the Church is extending its presence in cyberspace. The Holy See's website, vatican.va, is a great source of information - for someone who's spent years writing research papers. It's a beautiful website, and quite useful. But YouTube it isn't.

This new website, Pope2You, is geared for a different set of people. You can even send someone an ecard there. Well, actually, from a Facebook app that's linked from the website. And, I see that the Holy See's on Facebook, too.

Pope2You.net: You Can't Please Everyone

I thought the Pope2You home page was presentable, with fairly obvious navigation: but opinions obviously vary.


"bz***** pope2you, super tacky...." (Twitter identity redacted) This is "super tacky"?? Okay.

"Super tacky" or not, I've added Pope2You to the blogroll, and the Vatican's YouTube account:

High-Tech Marketing and the Catholic Church

This isn't the first time that the Catholic Church has used the best available technology to get its message across.

About eight centuries back, cathedrals built with "...ribbed vaults, applied shafts, flying buttresses, stepped pier buttresses, all in delicate adjustment, form[ed an] extremely light, thin, skeletal framework. Walls reduced to diaphanous screens of tracery and glass; facade wall dissolved by sculptural decoration, enormous recessed portals, tracery and glass...." (Gothic Architecture as Engineering, University of Pittsburgh)

Abbot Suger, in the 12th century, described his ideal church as having "the most radiant windows." (Virtual Cathedral Project, New York Carver) He got what he wanted in the vast stained glass windows of Gothic cathedrals.

We take stained glass windows for granted now, or sometimes make fun of the stiff, formal style used in some. That's understandable. After a few centuries, any technology can seem a bit old hat. Still, by presenting ideas and messages as brightly-colored, glowing images, the Catholic Church anticipated television marketing by nearly a millennia.

What the 12th century's cathedral windows and Pope2You.net have in common is that both are efforts to get the Church's "message of hope and joy" (Zenit) to as many people as possible.

Vaguely related posts: News and views:
A tip of the hat to CatholicMeme, Gen215 and newadvent for the heads up.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Daniel Hauser and Chemo: Mother Submits to Court Demands

Sometimes good things happen.

Daniel Hauser, the Minnesota 13-year-old with a very treatable cancer, will probably get the medical help he needs. He and his mother have returned to Minnesota after fleeing court-ordered treatment.

In this particular instance I think that what the doctors recommended, chemotherapy and possibly radiation treatments, is a good idea.

On the other hand, I am not exactly gleeful that American courts have demonstrated their power to force parents to submit their children to officially-sanctioned medical procedures.

Again, in this case I think that Daniel Hauser will benefit from a regimen of chemotherapy. And that, without it, he will most likely die. The benefit/risk ratio, based on what we've been told, makes the decision seem obvious.

However, I think it's well to remember that doctors and judges can make mistakes. And, may not always have values that are consistent with those of the patient and patient's family. I'll grant that I have a personal stake in this. I'm someone:
  • Who survived a medical experiment
  • Whose mother suffered a drug-induced stroke due to a medical expert's bungling
  • Whose beliefs are somewhat counter-cultural when it comes to life issues
I am glad that Daniel Hauser now has a better chance at a long life. But let's remember that authorities are not always benevolent, or competent.

Related posts: In the news:

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Praying for America and America's Leaders: Think About it

We have been cursed enough: by ourselves and by people in other countries.

Let's resolve - beginning July 4th, 2009, to bless - not only our country, but our leaders. I suggest this schedule, a prayer a day for the rest of the month:
I didn't come up with this idea, but I did assemble the list. I think praying that leaders get the wisdom and strength they need seems reasonable to me.

If you decide to follow this schedule, bookmarking this page or printing out this post would be a pretty good way of keeping track of who's on what day.

Related posts:

Friday, May 22, 2009

Newt Gingrich Converts to Catholic Church: Predictable Responses; Interesting Insight

Newt Gingrich is not perfect. His current wife, Callista, isn't the first woman he married. He converted to Catholicism. And, of course, he's called a hypocrite.

I've noticed that when celebrities say they've stopped doing drugs and enrolled in a posh rehab program, they're called brave.

I have no problem with someone deciding to kick a substance abuse habit. It's a good idea. Particularly when physical addiction is involved, getting 'dried out' can be a hard process. My hat's off to anyone who seriously tries to make a major change like that.

It's different, of course, when someone who isn't one of the glitterati or a sports figure changes. Particularly, I think, when they change in a counter-cultural way.

Predictable news and views on Newt: The Catholic Church doesn't expect people to be perfect. We use the sacrament of penance (my family still often calls it confession, but that's a colloquial term) over and over again.

The Church does take the "go and sin no more" injunction seriously: but also recognizes that we're human beings. I can live with that. (The "go and sin no more" incident is in John 8, 1-11.)

The Faces of Catholicism

Some people see the Catholic Church as a satanic cult. Others say that Catholicism is backward and medieval, or an "ally of the colonizers". A few write dire warnings about the black pope and his Jesuit assassins.

The satanic cult/Jesuit assassin views aren't, I think, taken all that seriously by America's dominant culture. The idea that the Catholic Church is a backward, medieval, ally of colonial oppressors, though, does seem to be accepted. In the 'better' circles, at least.

My parents weren't anti-Catholic. We went to a mainstream Protestant church, which again wasn't anti-Catholic. The area, though, was a distinctly anti-Catholic part of the country. I couldn't help hearing and reading about the 'whore of Babylon,' and was impressed at descriptions of the Catholic Church's ignorance and depravity. I wondered how such a maladaptive institution could have lasted decades. Make that centuries. Make that pushing two millennia.

So, I started doing a little research into the Catholic Church and its history.

Back to Newt Gingrich, Catholic

A 'faith, politics, and culture' U.S. News & World Report feature gives a look at what Newt Gingrich found, when he started getting to know the Catholic Church, up close and personal.

The article includes some extensive statements that Gingrich made, including this excerpt:

"...'...The moment that finally convinced me [to convert] was when Benedict XVI came here [to the United States] and Callista in the church choir sang for him at the vespers service and all the bishops in the country were there. As a spouse, I got to sit in the upper church and I very briefly saw [Benedict] and I was just struck with how happy he was and how fundamentally different he was from the news media's portrait of him. This guy's not a Rottweiler. He's a very loving, engaged, happy person....'..." (U.S. News & World Report)

I've met engaging Catholics, along with some who were anything but. I can say the same about people who very sincerely, even passionately, aren't Catholics.

Thomas Nast's Catholic Church, the Local Parish, and the Universal Church

Anti-Catholicism has a long and hallowed history in North America. From Thomas Nast and Maria Monk, up to the likes of Tony Alamo, people have identified Catholics and the Catholic Church as, well, not American.

There's something to the charge. The Catholic Church isn't tied to one nation or one ethnic group. It is, literally, a universal church. It's "free from provincial prejudices or attachments," one of the definitions for "catholic" given by Princeton's WordNet.

But, as a Catholic, I'm required to be a good citizen. ("Elections and Citizenship, Catholic Style" (September 24, 2008))

So, Catholicism isn't "American," but it's not "anti-American" either.

And the Catholic Church isn't the local parish, or the priests in one diocese or one country. They're part of the Catholic Church, but just that: a part. Unlike many denominations, Catholic parishes don't hire priests. They're assigned from headquarters. Sometimes we like who we get, sometimes not. Again, I can live with that.

I often refer to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (authorized English translation) because that's what the Church teaches. My experiences with individual Catholics are important to me, personally. But I follow Jesus and His Church.

Whaddaya Mean, the Pope's 'Happy?!'

I'm not surprised that Gingrich called Pope Benedict XVI "happy." I learned, decades ago, that what America's dominant culture believes about Catholicism - and religion in general - isn't necessarily true. There are people who are sour, repressed, angry, and authoritarian among any group. But I don't think any group has a monopoly on that sort of personality.

Actually, there's some odd research that identifies old, Republican, men as the happiest Americans. But that's another topic, in another blog.

I Don't Disparage Gingrich, I'm Catholic: I Must Be Conservative?

Quite a few people assume that I'm a conservative. I can see why.

My views are not consistent with the culturally-normative liberal stance. Since quite a few people assume that anyone who isn't a liberal is either "moderate" or conservative, and since I'm not "moderate" either, I must - by those standards - be conservative.

That misses the point, though.

I'm Catholic.

At this moment in American history, my views are a bit less unlike your typical American conservative's, than the standard American liberal.

My views on life issues identify me as 'obviously' liberal (for capital punishment) and equally obviously conservative (for abortion and euthanasia). The same goes with some social issues. ("Conservative? Liberal? Democrat? Republican? No, I'm Catholic" (November 3, 2008))

Catholics are Human Beings: Deal With it

Newt Gingrich hasn't led a perfect life. I'll be surprised if he doesn't, now that he's Catholic, do something else that's imperfect. Catholics are human beings. We make mistakes. Sometimes we do wrong things deliberately. We shouldn't: but we do.

Catholics - and Christians in general - aren't automatons, shuffling along pre-programmed paths. We're flesh-and-blood human beings, with all the messed-up nature that comes with it. It might be nice, if joining a particular church made a person do all the right things for all the right reasons at the right time.

But real life doesn't work that way.

Vaguely related posts: News and views: Background:

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Medical Procedures, Imminent Death, Decisions, and Catholic Teachings

The Catholic Church's teachings about the use of medical technology got personal for me again today. I got a call from my hospice contact this morning. My father's decided to stop taking medications which will prolong his life. ("My Father's Life: Another Milestone Passed" Through One Dad's Eye (May 21, 2009)) He is, however, continuing to take those which make him more comfortable.

Under the circumstances, I think his decision is correct. I don't like the situation, but the coming end of my father's life is part of the way the world works - and I can't change it.

More to the point, my father's decision appears to be consistent with Catholic teaching. (He was born into a 'cultural Catholic' family, and spent most of his life being involved with the Methodist (later United Methodist) church. Which is another story.)

The Catholic Church isn't one of those 'drugs - bad' outfits. We're expected to maintain our health, but aren't required to go to extremes (I wrote more about this yesterday: "Daniel Hauser and Mother Fleeing Chemo" (May 20, 2009).)

It's okay to stop "medical procedures that are burdensome, dangerous, extraordinary, or disproportionate to the expected outcome" - that's "the refusal of 'over-zealous' treatment." (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2278)

On the other hand, we're required to care for people whose death is imminent. That includes food, water, and - as needed - painkillers. "...Palliative care is a special form of disinterested charity. As such it should be encouraged." (2279)

As nearly as I can tell, my father isn't so much trying to cause his own death, as accepting his inability to stop it.

Opportunity to Practice Charity: Kidney Donor Says He Needs Help

Following up on a Twitter by toddlemieux (Todd Lemieux), I found this blog post that he'd written:

"Kidney Transplant Fund"
Sainthood and Surrender (May 21, 2009)

"Let me explain the little Paypal button on the left.

"Today I found out that I am a perfect match to donate a kidney to my brother who has been suffering from kidney failure for the past few years.

"I need to make two round trips to Dallas so that he can get the kidney and get on with teaching at the University of Dallas and life with his wife and son...."

I gather that insurance is covering the medical procedures, but not transportation. He's trying to raise money so he can make two round trips to Dallas.

I haven't researched his situation, and know very little apart from what's in that post: but his account is plausible.

Prayer couldn't hurt Todd Lemieux - and it sounds like he can use a limited amount of financial support. Think about it. As usual, I'm not trying to make you do anything.

Again, that's "Kidney Transplant Fund."

Organ Donation: a Good Idea

The Catholic Church says that organ donation is a good idea: "...Organ donation after death is a noble and meritorous act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity...." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2296) In the case of paired organs, like kidneys, we don't have to die to donate the organ. I suppose it's a sort of win-win situation.

Related posts:

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Daniel Hauser and Mother Fleeing Chemo

You may have heard of Daniel Hauser. He's a Minnesota boy who has cancer: Hodgkin's lymphoma, specifically. At this point, he and his mother, Colleen Hauser, are on the run. A judge issued an arrest warrant for her, and the hunt is on.

His parents - his mother, at any rate - apparently have religious objections to letting him get chemotherapy. That's too bad, because he's got a shot at living another five years (at least) with chemo - and maybe radiation - therapy. Court documents show that some doctors put his chances with "...chemotherapy and possibly radiation at 80 percent to 95 percent...." (CNN)

From everything I've read and heard, chemotherapy is no bed of roses. But, if I were in Daniel Hauser's shoes, I'd want a shot at living another five-years-plus. Particularly with his odds.

Faith, Medicine, Law, and Cultural Norms

The dominant culture in America having the values it does, I'm not entirely comfortable with a state judge overruling a parent's religious beliefs 'for the good of the child.' Particularly when the child is a teenager who agrees with the parent.

I do think that, in a case like this, avoiding a treatment that could buy at least several more years makes good sense.

What bothers me is the general situation of the state deciding what's an acceptable religious belief, and what isn't. Particularly when it's a judge doing the deciding. At this point in America's history, they're virtually immune from the sort of checks and balances we're taught about in civics class.
I Know - 'It Can't Happen Here'
Let's take a somewhat far-fetched example: say, not too many years from now, doctors report that a youngster will probably have trouble with acne, late in his teens. This could lead to great emotional trauma, since he'll probably have a zit the size of Massachusetts when it's prom time.

Obviously, the only humane thing to do is to put this child out of his misery.

Now, let's say that this boy's parents are religious people, and have some sort of religious objection over having a post-natal abortion performed.

'Obviously,' in this hypothetical society, the courts must override the parent's superstitious objections. For the good of the child.

Sound crazy? I think so: but I never did buy into that 'quality lifestyle' argument for abortion.

About seventy years ago, following another set of values, a group of very determined people tried to clean out Europe's gene pool. Killing people for the 'good of the race' isn't at all popular now, as a rule, in Western culture. Killing people 'for their own good,' on the other hand, is considered a virtue in some circles.

Maybe that hypothetical example isn't so crazy, after all.

What the Catholic Church Says About Health, Drugs, and Today's Medicine

There are some 'medical' treatments which the Catholic Church forbids. Even if someone isn't able to live a 'quality lifestyle,' doesn't measure up to our notion of what a normal person ought to be, or is in the way, we're not allowed to kill people. In other words, euthanasia is out. On the other hand, painkillers are quite all right to use: provided that they aren't used to kill the patient. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2276-2279) The Catholic Church also teaches that "the abuse of food, alcohol, tobacco, or medicine" is wrong. (Catechism, 2290)

That doesn't mean 'trusting God' and turning off our good sense. We're specifically required to be concerned about our own health, and the health of others. Society is supposed to be concerned with the availability of
  • Food and clothing
  • Housing
  • Health care
  • Basic education
  • Employment
  • Social assistance
    (Catechism, 2288)
Organ transplants are okay, too. "...Organ donation after death is a noble and meritorous act and is to be encouraged as an expression of generous solidarity...." (Catechism, 2296)

Chemotherapy? Radiation treatments? That's not a problem for practicing Catholics: providing that the benefit/risk ratio is right. The Catholic Church does not expect the faithful to turn off their brains. We're taught that the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are:
  • Wisdom
  • Understanding
  • Counsel
  • Fortitude
  • Knowledge
  • Piety
  • Fear of the Lord
    (Catechism, 1831)
There's a bit about these gifts in Isaiah 11.

As for Daniel Hauser, I hope - and pray - that he gets the medical treatment he needs, and lives a full, good life. What you do is strictly up to you, of course: but I think that you doing the same couldn't hurt.

Related posts: In the news: Background:

Being Christian, Being Catholic: No Half-Measures

"New Life in Christ: What it Looks Like, What it Demands"
Charles J. Chaput (O.F.M. Cap., is archbishop of Denver), First Things (May 11, 2009)
"The Catholic faith is not simply a collection of doctrines and ideas, or a body of knowledge, or even a system of beliefs, although all those things are important. At its root, Christianity is an experience: a life-changing, personal experience of the risen Jesus Christ...."1
'Although personally opposed to abortion, I don't believe I have a right to impose my beliefs on others.' Sounds nice and reasonable, doesn't it?

It should. That excuse for allowing people to kill babies stems out of one of the often-repeated messages of today's Western culture.

Ignoring God: It's the In Thing

"...Most men and women today can live their whole lives as if God didn't exist. Of course in all the developed, Western-style democracies, we're allowed to believe in God, and even to pray and worship together. But we're constantly lectured by the mass media to never impose our religious viewpoints on our neighbors...."1
We don't see 'although personally opposed' used that much now. I think that's partly because some 'divisive' (another term with a special meaning in our newspeak) citizens pointed out how terrible it sounded when you replaced terms like "slavery" or "cannibalism" for "abortion." ("Although personally opposed to slavery...."?!)

The archbishop's article is a somewhat long read, but I think it's worthwhile. He highlights four major points:
  1. "...We need to trust the gospels, and we need to trust the Church that gives us the gospels...."1
  2. "...Jesus didn't come down from heaven to tell us to go to church on Sunday. He didn't die on the cross and rise from the dead so that we'd pray more at home and be a little kinder to our next-door neighbors. The one thing even non-believers can see is that the Gospels aren't compromise documents. Jesus wants all of us. And not just on Sundays. He wants us to love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our strength, and all our mind. He wants us to love our neighbor as ourselves. In other words, with a love that's total...."1
  3. "...Being a follower of Jesus Christ is not just one among many different aspects of your daily life. Being a Christian is who you are. Period. And being a Christian means your life has a mission...."1
  4. "...Love the Church; love her as your mother and teacher...."1

Fear, Facts, and the 'Immoral Pope'

I can understand why people, particularly those in high-profile positions, want to downplay any specifically Christian standards they have. The archbishop tells of the time when, during his trip through Africa, reporters asked the Pope about condoms.

'Everybody knows' that intelligent, up-to-date, people use condoms, and encourage/force others to do so, too. And that anybody who disagrees with that is a pariah.

Back to the Pope, the reporters, and inconvenient facts. The archbishop recalled that
"...there aren't many nations or organizations in the world today that have poured as much money and human effort into the fight against AIDS in Africa as the Catholic Church. That's just a statistical fact. So when the Pope answers a question like this he's speaking, not just from theological opinion, but with real knowledge about conditions on the ground...."1
And, the Pope blasphemed (my term, not the archbishop's) against one of Western culture's cults. He said that condoms don't help. That they make STD problems worse, by giving people a false sense of confidence.

Back to the archbishop, AIDS, Africa, and what happens to people who don't go along with the condom cult:
"...By one count, more than 4,000 articles were filed on the subject. And what's astounding is the uniformity of the criticism—that the Pope and the Church are backward and medieval, and that Catholic beliefs are a threat to the public health...."1
And:
"...So public discussion gets shut down. Nobody stops to consider that what the Pope said wasn't just sectarian religious belief, but that it actually makes good practical sense. Giving people condoms offers them a false sense of security and encourages the very behaviors that lead to the transmission of AIDS. What's even more frustrating is to know that leading AIDS-prevention research scientists in Africa actually agree with the Pope...." [emphasis mine]1
I think that encouraging "the very behaviors that lead to the transmission of AIDS" is one of the reasons that condoms have been pushed so hard in recent decades. If you've got the hots for one of your students, or a member of your staff, that 'I'll use a condom' line probably makes the job easier.

Martyrs: They're Not Just Ancient History

The archbishop sprinkles a short biography of "Franz" through the article. This Franz grew up as a sort of cultural Catholic: went to church on Sunday; said he was Catholic; and a gang leader who (informally) got a girl pregnant.

Until he was forced to leave town, Franz was quite an up-to-date fellow. Then, somewhere along the line, he changed.

Franz came back to town, started making payments for the support of his illegitimate child, married a Catholic, and settled down to what in some circles is considered a dreary routine.

Then Germany invaded Austria. Since that's where Franz lived, he was rather directly affected. Unlike many of his neighbors, he wasn't reasonable. He didn't cooperate with the National Socialists. Franz was of the opinion that they were enemies of Jesus.

(From what the allies found at Nuremberg and Auschwitz, I'd say Franz was right - but that's another topic.)

Instead of being a nice, reasonable Austrian, Franz kept on refusing to serve the National Socialists. Then, on August 9, 1943, they killed him. The charge was sedition. He was 36.

Franz was beatified in 2007.

By secular standards, that's not much of a payoff.

By 2007, Franz had been dead for well over sixty years. No movie rights, speaking engagements, or tell-all book revenue for him.

If he'd been 'reasonable,' met Hitler and company halfway, and gone with the flow, it's quite possible that he would have survived WWII, and lived a moderately prosperous life.

He'd have had to switch sides again, after the other side won, but as long as he kept his nose clean during the National Socialist regime, he'd be just one more reasonable Austrian.

That's the secular view.

The archbishop says that being Christian means following Christ. Even if it's inconvenient. Or, as in the case of Franz, a literal choice of life or death.

I would just as soon not face the choice that Franz did. Martyrdom is, by any reasonable standard, an unpleasant experience. I don't particularly like unpleasantness.

But, given a choice, I'd rather be in trouble with the likes of Germany's National Socialists, the American judicial system, or The Associated Press, than with the Son of God. Putting it bluntly, He's got more clout, and will be around longer.

Related posts:
A tip of the hat to talentpatrol and danielkenney, on Twitter, for the heads-up on this article.

1 All quotes in this post are from (Archbishop Charles J. Chaput's article.

Arab Christians: a Short Review

"Arab Christians"
National Geographic (June 2009)

"The Forgotten Faithful"
"Followers of Jesus for nearly 2,000 years, native Christians today are disappearing from the land where their faith was born."

"Easter in Jerusalem is not for the faint of heart. The Old City, livid and chaotic in the calmest of times, seems to come completely unhinged in the days leading up to the holiday. By the tens of thousands, Christians from all over the world pour in like a conquering horde, surging down the Via Dolorosa's narrow streets and ancient alleyways, seeking communion in the cold stones or some glimmer, perhaps, of the agonies Jesus endured in his final hours. Every face on Earth seems to float through the streets...."

The writing style is reminiscent of another era, National Geographic's political stance is rather clear, but the photos are (as usual for the magazine) excellent, and the article highlights "The Forgotten Faithful".

I think it's important to remember that Christianity isn't peculiar to any national or ethnic group. People in places like America may grow up assuming that a Christian is typically a relatively tall blond with blue eyes and a name like Johnson or Smith: but that just isn't so.

It's true that Jesus was a resident of the Roman Empire, and the Holy See is a city-state within the contemporary city of Rome. But that doesn't make Christianity Roman.

It does explain why the Catholic Church uses Latin as it's official language, though. Until people from an island off the European coast started carving out a global empire, a few centuries ago, Latin was the closest thing we had to a universal language: west of the Zagros Mountains and north of the Sahara Desert, at least.

Back to "Arab Christians." I don't buy into the idea that problems in the Middle East are the fault (in whole or in large part) of the Crusades, the Bush administration (either one), and Israeli oppression. Aside from that obligatory proselytism, however, I think this is a pretty good overview of people living in the Levant who are Arab by birth and Christian by heritage or choice.

Tip of the hat to newadvent, on Twitter, for the heads-up on this article.

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Obama, Abortion, and Being Nice

Reading the news, I get the impression that President Barack Obama wisely and generously suggested that the "divisive" debate over whether or not mothers should be allowed to kill their babies should have a nicer tone.

I see his point. Some people on all sides of the issue seem better at slinging verbal mud, than presenting facts or opinions.

Divisiveness isn't Necessarily a Bad Thing

I find some reassurance in abortion being a "divisive" issue.

Consider this alternative: What if, in America,
  • Abortion was legal for any reason, or no reason at all
  • A woman who couldn't be bothered with a baby could quite legally get the child killed
    • Provided that she put out the contract by a certain date
  • Or, if her husband/boyfriend/father/significant other/boss/whatever didn't want her to have the child, he could pressure her to kill her baby
That's very, very, close to the situation we have now.

What if people who thought that killing innocent babies might not be the nicest thing to do, were too polite and open-minded to try forcing their opinions on others?

I'm one of those people who think that killing babies isn't nice. And, more to the point, is wrong. I even think it's morally wrong to kill Senators, Representatives, judges, and convicted rapists: providing that there is a way to protect society from them.

I also think that slavery and cannibalism are morally wrong. Interestingly, it isn't generally considered "divisive" to say so, these days: despite the long history involving deeply-felt cultural beliefs that both practices have.

Obama, History, and Life

I ran across a homily on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) website today. It was delivered this January, before the annual March for Life.

The Archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas, opened by pointing out the historic importance of President Barack Obama's election, comparing it to the election of J. F. Kennedy. He also discussed a very real issue that faces America:

"...While we celebrate the important threshold our nation has crossed, we gather tonight on the vigil of the March for Life, on the eve of the 36th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton decisions of our Supreme Court that, in effect, struck down every state statute protecting the lives of innocent unborn children. In 1973 the Court usurped the right of the people and their elected representatives from determining public policy on abortion. Their decision has divided and frustrated our nation for the past 36 years...." ("National Prayer Vigil for Life Opening Mass" Homily of Most Reverend Joseph Naumann, Archbishop of Kansas City, Kansas, Trinity Washington University Notre Dame Chapel, usccb.org (January 21, 2009))

Where's the Common Ground on Slavery, Cannibalism, or Genocide?

The abortion president has called for finding 'common ground' on abortion. And, the traditional news media is dutifully repeating his message.

It sounds so 'divisive' to say that something like abortion is, simply, wrong.

But, can you imagine a public figure calling for finding common ground on the issue of slavery? This institution is still practiced in some parts of the world: does America have a right to deny people the right to own slaves?

Several court decisions and a major war settled that question. The answer is "yes." Slavery is illegal in America. Any effort to re-instate it would be, I'm quite sure, howled down in days. Maybe hours.

We've gotten used to the idea that it's not right for one person to own someone who is, legally, not quite a person.

Maybe, someday, America will get used to the idea that it's not right to kill a baby, even if the child is inconvenient.

Related posts: News and views:

Sunday, May 17, 2009

You Think You've Got Troubles? Remember Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Catholics living in America have it easy right now. Following Church teachings may result in being identified as a rank outsider, but that's about as far as it goes. Even the fringe groups and individuals who hate Catholics, along with what they think are other 'Satanic cults,' generally don't try to kill us. Tony Alamo, for example, is quite content with making anti-Catholicism part of his 'evangelical' stock in trade.

Life isn't always this easy.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran theologian, until the Third Reich had him executed. I can't say that I'm surprised: aside from teaching that racial prejudice is wrong, he was part of an organization that had a shot at killing Hitler.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer still makes quite an impression.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Catholic Communication Campaign. helped pay for "Bonhoeffer" (2003)

IMDB describes the movie as "boring," but they also describe the would-be assassin's assistant as a "young German pacifist," so whoever wrote the review may have missed a few points.

Another blogger wrote a short post about Bonhoeffer this weekend, "Why Me?" (IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING (undated: most likely May 16 or 17, 2009)). The post focuses, in part, on the effect that Bonhoeffer made on the doctor who witnessed his execution.

A local priest spoke today, about his involvement with the parish in Vladivostok. That's another place where following Catholic teachings hasn't been entirely easy for the last several generations. I plan to get back to that.

At Notre Dame university today, people who have decided to follow what the Church teaches, rather than today's dominant culture are being "divisive."

Looking at 20th century history, I realize that the sort of social ostracism that Catholics may face in America is small change compared to what followers of Christ have had to put up with.

Notre Dame, Obama, and 'Outside Agitators' - a Blast From the Past

Notre Dame university plans to give an honorary law degree to President Barack Obama today. I'm quite sure that the university will receive acclaim and congratulations for being open-minded, or forward-looking, or something groovy like that.

And, getting a high-profile public figure on campus is a feather in the cap for Notre Dame university.

Too bad that, under the circumstances, it's violating Catholic teachings.

Still, it could be worse. Notre Dame could have shown how up-to-date it was, by re-naming its law school to honor Harry Blackmun, and its Women's Studies Department after Dorothy Sanger.

"Protesters to Greet Obama at Notre Dame"

AssociatedPress, YouTube (May 17, 2009)
video 1:04

The Associated Press's video carefully points out that most Notre Dame students are not protesting, and are concerned about graduating.

A phrase used by the AP reporter took me back more than 40 years. Saying "...demonstrators have descended on South Bend Indiana to speak out against Obama and also the university...." reminded me of the times, back in the sixties, when it was 'outside agitators' who were stirring up all that fuss about civil rights in the south. A FOXNews headline, "Pro-Life Activists Converge on Notre Dame to Protest Obama Speech," had the same sort-of-nostalgic feel.

In both cases, it's probably straight reporting. For most reporters, the civil rights movement of the sixties is part of history - not something they experienced personally.

As for "...students are generally in favor of Obama giving the graduation speech...," I'm not surprised. He's got great charisma, says things very nicely, he's a celebrity, and America has quite a few Catholics who are about as knowledgeable about their church's teachings as Nancy Pelosi.

A professor, Richard Garnett, wrote " 'My strong hope is that serious Catholics will not let this particular incident drive them away from Notre Dame, which remains very important in the life of the Church,' ... 'But, Notre Dame has allowed itself to get into a very unhealthy adversarial relationship with many bishops, and lay Catholics.

" 'The university is going to have to find ways to demonstrate its Catholic character, to reassure those who think that the invitation to President Obama revealed a lack of commitment to that character.'..." (FOXNews)

I think Professor Garnett misses a point. Notre Dame university has violated one of the teachings of the church by giving the abortion president a platform for airing his views. ("Notre Dame: Lots of Prestige, Lots of History, About as Catholic as Harry Blackmun" (May 3, 2009))

The professor may think it's a fine thing for a "Catholic" university to defy Church teaching, and then explain to the Church that it's wrong about what it teaches. Me, I think that discussion of opposing views should be carried out in detail, and honestly: in the classrooms, coffee shops, and faculty lounges.

Defying Catholic teaching by giving "awards, honors or platforms which would suggest support for their actions" ("Catholics in Political Life"
United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (June, 2004)) is about as appropriate for an allegedly Catholic university, as would holding a slave auction to raise funds.

Related posts: Background: In the news:

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Obama to Get Honorary Degree from Notre Dame U. - Students Protest

The American president will soon be given an honorary degree from Notre Dame university in Indiana. Quite a number of students will start protesting this evening. A coalition of 11 student groups, ND Response, plans:
  • A prayer vigil
  • Outdoor mass
  • Rally
  • A meditation for seniors boycotting their graduation
What the more official Notre Dame paper called a "prayer vigil" seems to be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, starting at 9:30 tonight.

I don't know why Notre Dame's The Observer decided not to use a specifically Catholic term to describe the event.

Related posts: In the news: Background:

Thursday, May 14, 2009

DHS Report Identifying Veterans and Pro-Lifers as Potential Terrorists (Quietly) Withdrawn

"Homeland Security Withdraws 'Extremism' Report"
Catholic Online (May 15, 2009)

"DHS Secretary Napolitano tells lawmakers that the offensive report has been pulled from the DHS website and is no longer available.

"WASHINGTON, D.C. (ACLJ) - I want to report some very encouraging news as the Department of Homeland Security has confirmed that it has pulled the troubling 'extremism' report that said 'rightwing extremism' may include groups of veterans and those opposed to abortion.

"As you recall, this report labeled these groups as 'extremists'- a report that prompted the ACLJ to demand a retraction...."

The article also appears on the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) website. The ACLJ article also has links to a letter sent to DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano.

Department of Homeland Security and Those Dangerous Conservatives - What Were They Thinking?

I don't know what was going on in the minds of whoever decided to identify specific liberal fringe groups as potential terrorist recruiting sources: and identify all veterans and pro-life people as potential Timothy McVeighs.

I can speculate. Maybe they'd never actually seen an American veteran, and had only read about what Code Pink had to say about America's military. Maybe they really feel that people who object to killing babies are bloodthirsty savages. And, again, had never actually seen someone who is pro-life.

Sounds crazy, but in a way it's better than some other explanations for why the new administration tried painting its political opponents as terrorists in the making.

An interesting note: Traditional, mainstream, national news organizations are not reporting this development, as far as I can tell. I don't think they're trying to hush this up: they may not realize that there are a more than a handful of people who are military veterans and/or pro-life - or that we can read.

Related posts: News and views: Tip of the hat to FaithSN, on Twitter, for giving the 'heads up' on this news.

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Thought for the Day

"Wisdom is knowing what to do next. Skill is knowing how to do it. Virtue is actually doing it. - Brother Louie Roncoli"
From AlexianBrothers on Twitter
A tip of the hat to CatholicMeme (also Twitter) for the heads-up.

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Notre Dame and the Abortion President: Students Protest

I've said this before: Being counter-cultural isn't what it used to be.

There's a student protest at Notre Dame.

A number of seniors won't attend the commencement that Notre Dame's big kahuna has made into a platform for President Obama.

And Notre Dame isn't getting in their way. Which is a pleasant surprise.

Excerpts from a press release by NDResponse.com, a student organization:

"11 May 2009

"...Pro-Life Notre Dame Students Refuse to Attend Graduation in Protest of Obama Visit, Opt for Prayer in University's Grotto

"Notre Dame University seniors who have decided not to attend their commencement ceremony in protest of the university's decision to grant President Barack Obama an honorary law degree will instead hold a meditation in the university's grotto at 2 p.m. on May 17, to coincide with the official commencement. ND Response, the student-led coalition that is planning the meditation, says Notre Dame should not be honoring a political figure who supports abortion and stem cell research...."

The entire press release is available in pdf format from NDResponse.com.

I doubt that this will influence Notre Dame university's decision to flush its Catholic values for an opportunity to fit in with the 'better sort' in America. There's too much status and prestige at stake.

That reference to stem cell research may be obscure. The Catholic Church isn't against medical research. The Church is, however, against chopping up babies 'for science.' I've written about 'stem cell research' before. And the ersatz compassion that makes it acceptable. (More about that in "Related posts," below.)

As someone who went through the sixties and seventies, it's good to see that college students still have standards. I wish the same could be said for the professional academics.

Related posts: In the news: Background:

Monday, May 11, 2009

Another Notre Dame SNAFU - This Time in Jerusalem

The Pope attended a meeting for interreligious dialog, at Notre Dame Centre in Jerusalem. The meeting didn't go quite as planned.

'Muslims and Christians Unite Against the Murdering Jews' - I'm Not Making This Up

The Palestinian Authority's Chief Islamic Judge, Sheik Tayseer Rajab Tamimi, wasn't on the program, but he took the microphone anyway, after the Pope had spoken. He had an interesting proposal: That Muslims and Christians should work against 'those murdering Jews.'

The sheik dragged out the usual 'Jews murder women and children' thing.

The Chief Islamic Judge's little speech was bit awkward, since there were quite a number of 'those murdering Jews' at the meeting.

The Holy See's press office director, Father Federico Lombardi, had a statement ready a few minutes later:
" 'The intervention of Sheikh Tayseer Tamimi was not previewed by the organizers of the interreligious meeting that took place at Notre Dame Centre in Jerusalem,' the message read. 'In a meeting dedicated to dialogue, this intervention was a direct negation of what [it] should be,' it continued.

" 'We hope that such an incident will not damage the mission of the Holy Father aiming at promoting peace and interreligious dialogue, as he has clearly affirmed in many occasions in this pilgrimage,' Father Lombardi added.

" 'We hope also that interreligious dialogue in the Holy Land will not be damaged by this incident,' the message concluded...." (Jerusalem Post)

Points for Thinking Outside the Box: But Pogroms are a No-No

I'll give the sheik credit for stepping outside the usual 'death to the Jews/death to the great Satan America' box. His call for a Muslim/Christian pogrom might have gotten a more favorable reception a few generations ago. Anti-Semitism isn't quite as popular as it was, though, before a German leader's efforts to cleanse Europe's gene pool, back in WWII.

Still, Maria Monk, Thomas Nast, Tony Alamo, and all notwithstanding, anti-Semitism isn't really part of Catholic teachings.

I know: Over the last couple thousand years, some Catholics have done mean things to Jews. And, more recently, a few priests raped boys in this country. The Church is made up of human beings - and some of us aren't very nice. That doesn't mean that the Catholic Church has a 'go and sin some more' philosophy.

Actually, quite a chunk of the Catechism of the Catholic church discuses 'human solidarity:' Article 3 / Social Justice.
"...After the meeting, Jesuit Father Federico Lombardi, Vatican spokesman, said, "In a meeting dedicated to dialogue, this intervention was a direct negation of what a dialogue should be.

" 'We hope that such an incident will not damage the mission of the pope aiming at promoting peace and also interreligious dialogue, as he has clearly affirmed on many occasions during this pilgrimage. We hope also that interreligious dialogue in the Holy Land will not be compromised by this incident,' Father Lombardi added.

"[Carol] Tabash, a Catholic who works for the Jerusalem Center for Jewish-Christian Relations, told Catholic News Service, 'It would have been better if he (the sheik) had stuck to interreligious dialogue....'" (UPI)
The Pope had an interesting idea, regarding the Palestinians:
" 'I plead with all those responsible to explore every possible avenue,' the pope said, 'So that both peoples may live in peace in a homeland of their own, within secure and internationally recognized borders.'..." (CNN)
Providing that people with the sheik's mindset aren't running the show, that's an idea that could work.

More-or-less elated posts:
About the title: "Notre Dame" university, in America, claims to be a Catholic institution. The last I heard, the number of American bishops who have gone public in criticism of the allegedly Catholic university's defiance of Catholic teaching was still growing. More at "Notre Dame: Lots of Prestige, Lots of History, About as Catholic as Harry Blackmun" (May 3, 2009).

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Marian Apparition: Champion, Wisconsin

Background:Posts in this blog: In the news:

What's That Doing in a Nice Catholic Blog?

From time to time, a service that I use will display links to - odd - services and retailers.

I block a few of the more obvious dubious advertisers.

For example: psychic anything, numerology, mediums, and related practices are on the no-no list for Catholics. It has to do with the Church's stand on divination. I try to block those ads.

Sometime regrettable advertisements get through, anyway.

Bottom line? What that service displays reflects the local culture's norms, - not Catholic teaching.