Friday, February 24, 2012

My Take on the News: Death; Religious Freedom; Resistance; Burned Books; and Saints

More posts about forcing Catholics to violate our conscience:
The Department of Health and Human Services vs. Conscience
I'm a little more aware of 'last things' today, partly because Lent has started; and partly because of what I've been seeing in the news:
  1. The Seventh Death
  2. Religious Freedom and Living in a Big World
  3. The Spirit of Resistance
  4. Apology for Burning Quran
    Particularly
  5. Kateri Tekakwitha - Canonization Slated for October
"Memento mori" means "remember death." Or "remember your mortality," or "remember you must die," or "remember you will die," or something equally cheerful. It's Latin, and - like it or not - true. The special case of Elijah notwithstanding, one of the few things human beings can count on is that, sooner or later, we die.

What a person does with that knowledge is up to the individual. We've got quite a few options, including:
  • Denial
    • 'Anything I don't like is an illusion'
  • Evasion
    • 'Let's talk about something else'
  • Morbid fascination
    • 'Oh, goody! Another funeral!'
I think a sensible choice is 'none of the above.' Death happens, I think it's daft to make believe it doesn't, and there's more to life than death.

1. The Seventh Death

Monday was a really bad day for driving in Minnesota. Seven people were killed in three separate accidents:
"Six lives lost in three hours"
Echo Press; Alexandria, Minnesota (February 22, 2012)

"In the space of three hours, six lives were lost in three separate crashes on snowy, slushy roads near Alexandria and Glenwood on Monday.

"The first crash happened during a heavy snowfall at about 3:05 p.m. on Interstate 94 about three miles west of Alexandria.

"Four female students from North Dakota State University died at the scene – the driver, Lauren Peterson, 18, of Prior Lake and passengers, Jordan Playle, 19, of Elk River, Megan Sample, 18, of Rogers and Danielle Renninger, 18, of Excelsior...."

"...Tragedy struck again at about 6:15 p.m. on County Road 82, west of Alexandria, about a quarter mile east of Townhall Road.

"Kristy Carlson, 40, of Alexandria was driving east with her 13-year-old daughter, Megan Victoria Carlson in a 2002 Oldsmobile that collided with a westbound 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by Erin McCoy, 38, also of Alexandria, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

"Megan Carlson was pronounced dead at the Douglas County Hospital.

"Kristy Carlson was transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center where she was listed in satisfactory condition Tuesday morning...."

"...A three-vehicle crash on State Highway 28 in Pope County in Glenwood at about 3:30 p.m. Monday also claimed a life.

"Steffanie Dahlseng, 26, of Starbuck was killed in the crash...."
These weather-related fatalities were hard to miss in regional news. I put more excerpts at the end of this post.1

Perhaps understandably, most news was about the four college students. Three of the four young women were roommates, they were well-liked by friends and family, their lives were tragically cut short, and I'm sure that they'll be missed.

This is just a suggestion, and no pressure: but prayer couldn't hurt. Quite a few families are mourning just now.

Remember, I said that seven people were killed in three crashes? The seventh victim died at the scene of one of the accidents, but hasn't, as far as I can tell, been mentioned in the news.

When Steffanie Dahlseng was killed on State Highway 28, her baby died, too. She and her husband were expecting the birth in May.

I posted about that little omission on Wednesday:

About the Four NDSU Students

Don't get me wrong: I think the death of all seven people last Monday was a sad set of circumstances.

All three accidents were, as far as I can tell from the news and what I've heard, the sort of thing that tends to tug at the heartstrings. I'll focus on the four North Dakota State University (NDSU) students, since that's the instance that's had the most coverage.

They had every reason to expect that they'd arrive at NDSU and get back to studies. Interstate 94 is a well-engineered road, and the part near Alexandria, Minnesota, is far from the most likely to cause trouble in bad weather.

Sure, in 20-20 hindsight, they might have looked at the weather and decided to wait until the ice, snow, and slush got cleared off. But like I said: I-94 is a well-engineered road. Besides, I've been a college student: and skipping class generally isn't a preferred option.

They'd apparently been driving sensibly - seat belts fastened, and no alcohol in evidence. Seat belts improve the odds of surviving a crash, by the way: they don't guarantee it. The same goes for any safety gadget.

So, one minute they were very much alive and looking forward to several decades of living. The next - they were dead.

I don't think constantly brooding on the possibility that something's going to kill me is sensible. But neither, in my considered opinion, is blithely assuming that I've got all the time in the world before I die.

2. Religious Freedom and Living in a Big world

America has, to a remarkable extent, allowed folks to worship the way they want: or not worship at all. I think that's a good idea.

Which is just as well, since as a Catholic: I'm required to support religious freedom. It's 'in the rules:'
  • Catholics must support religious freedom
    (Catechism, 2104-2109)
    • For everybody
      (Catechism, 2106)
  • Freedom comes with responsibility
    • For the individual
      (Catechism, 1731-1738)
    • For the state
      (Catechism, 2431)
Like I said, America has a fairly good track record when it comes to freedom of (not from) religion, as well as the freedom to not enthusiastically applaud the country's establishment. I've discussed aberrations like McCarthyism and political correctness before.

Other countries aren't doing quite as well, dealing with folks who follow their conscience: instead of their country's leaders.
"Iran court convicts Christian pastor convert to death"
Lisa Daftari, FoxNews.com (February 22, 2012)

"A trial court in Iran has issued its final verdict, ordering a Christian pastor to be put to death for leaving Islam and converting to Christianity, according to sources close to the pastor and his legal team.

"Supporters fear Youcef Nadarkhani, a 34-year-old father of two who was arrested over two years ago on charges of apostasy, may now be executed at any time without prior warning, as death sentences in Iran may be carried out immediately or dragged out for years....

"...'The world needs to stand up and say that a man cannot be put to death because of his faith,' said Jordan Sekulow, executive director of The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).

" 'This one case is not just about one execution. We have been able to expose the system instead of just letting one man disappear, like so many other Christians have in the past.'..."
There may be more to the case of Youcef Nadarkhani, than simple religious intolerance. Iran's Ayatollahs have been trying to run a fairly large, technologically advanced, country - using a set of rules that might have worked when Abram left Ur. Three dozen centuries later? Not so much.

I've made the point, in another blog, that places like much of the Middle East and Sudan have been dragged over several thousand years of change in a few generations:
"...To people still accustomed to burqas and Sharia, a world of Barbies and sports cars must be terrifying. It's no wonder that they go a little crazy, trying to adjust...."
(Another War-on-Terror Blog (November 28, 2007))
I'm not making excuses for Iran's leadership. But I think it's worth noting that they're old men, who seem to be trying desperately to hang onto a way of life that much of the rest of the world left behind centuries - at least - back. That doesn't excuse their actions: but it may help explain them.

'Religion Kills People?'

One thing I emphatically do not think the death sentence proves is that 'religion kills people.' Yes, the occasional homicidal maniac with weird religious beliefs makes the headlines. Sometimes folks get confused about what God says, and what they want to believe. But there's more to faith than than. A lot more. I've linked to a few posts about that, near the end of the blog. There's also a sort of quick link list under "Background."

Death Sentence as Distraction?

There may be more going on in the 'death to the apostate' sentence than cultural rigidity or religious intolerance. Iran's economy has not been doing too well. Sanctions haven't helped, and that's another topic.

The Ayatollahs may have decided that killing infidels may distract their subjects from shortcomings of leadership - and might force foreigners to stop pestering the Ayatollahs. I'm not saying that it's a sensible thing to do.
"...It is also feared that Nadarkhani will be executed in retaliation as Iran endures crippling sanctions and international pressure in response to its nuclear agenda and rogue rhetoric. The number of executions in Iran has increased significantly in the last month...."
(FoxNews.com)
Compared to what's happening to Youcef Nadarkhani, the Department of Health and Human Services forcing Catholic doctors to abandon their conscience or their careers is a relatively minor threat.

3. The Spirit of Resistance

Before getting to the third news item, some quotes:
"The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive."
Thomas Jefferson (3rd president of US (1743 - 1826))

"Silence is the virtue of a fool."
Sir Francis Bacon (1561 - 1626)
The bad news is that folks in America's government are trying to force Catholics to abandon their conscience.

The good news is that Catholic bishops - and others - are not being silent.
"ACLJ: Obamacare Contraceptives Rule 'Blatantly Unconstitutional' -- 70,000 Sign Petition to Reverse Reg"
Elizabeth Harrington, CNSNews.com (February 22, 2012)

"The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ) and almost 70,000 Americans are urging the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to reverse its controversial mandate that requires all health insurers to offer sterilizations and contraceptives, including those that induce abortion, free of charge because it potentially is a violation of religious liberty under the First Amendment.

"Along with the petition, the ACLJ sent a legal analysis to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius on Feb. 21 that finds the mandate 'blatantly unconstitutional.' The legal group says the regulation violates the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA), which protects individuals and institutions' right to freely exercise their religion against burdensome laws.

"Thus far, 68,794 people have signed on to the 'Defend Religious Liberty – Stop Forced Abortion Pill Coverage' petition that states, 'The Obama Administration has launched an all-out assault on people of faith.'..."
I think this HHS mandate is a very bad idea. It's bad enough that killing people who are too young, too old, too weak, or too sick, to defend themselves is legal in America. Forcing folks who think that murder isn't nice to help the assassins is unacceptable.

The good news is that Catholic bishops in America are doing their job. I'd rather that they not have to say that murder isn't nice, and we shouldn't do it. But at least somebody with authority in this country isn't stark raving bonkers.

There's an election coming up, by the way. Just a thought.

From Bishops: Leadership

Here's an updated list of resources from Catholic Bishops in America:

4. Apology for Burning Quran

"Barack Obama apology to Afghanistan over Koran burning"
BBC News (February 23, 2012)

"President Barack Obama has apologised to the Afghan people for the burning of Korans by American troops at a US base.

"In a letter to President Hamid Karzai, Mr Obama expressed his 'deep regret' and said the incident earlier this week was a genuine mistake.

"Demonstrations against the desecration have continued for a third day across northern and eastern Afghanistan.

"Two US soldiers and two Afghans were killed in an attack on a military base. Elsewhere there were four other deaths.

"On Wednesday, another seven people were killed and dozens injured in protests.

"Mr Obama's letter, delivered by the US ambassador to Afghanistan, assured the Afghan president that US authorities would question all those responsible...."
I'm inclined to believe what this general said:
"NATO commander orders probe of 'improper' disposal of large number of Islamic religious materials from air base"
Associated Press, via FoxNews.com (February 21, 2012)

"More than 2,000 angry Afghans rallied Tuesday against the inadvertent burning of Korans and other Islamic religious materials during trash disposal at an American air base. They demanded to meet the country's president over the issue and threatened to demonstrate again if their demand was not met.

"U.S. Gen. John Allen, the top commander in Afghanistan, apologized and ordered an investigation into the incident, which he was 'not intentional in any way.'

"The incident stoked anti-foreign sentiment that already is on the rise after nearly a decade of war in Afghanistan and fueled the arguments of Afghans who believe foreign troops are not respectful of their culture or Islamic religion...."

Apology: It's a Start

I have no problem with the American president apologizing for desecrating books that many folks in Afghanistan take as seriously as I take the Bible. Looking at it from a strictly diplomatic point of view, it's one of the few things the American president could reasonably do in this situation.

Burning those Qurans - almost certainly an accident - was a monumentally stupid and destructive action. And an insult to the faith of a great many folks in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Now, if the current administration could start treating the beliefs of Catholics in America with the same respect - - - well, that's probably a bit much to expect.

I've already been over this administration's disregard for conscience. (Spirit of Resistance, earlier in this post)

Error, Consequences, and Spelling

I don't envy whoever is responsible for torching those Qurans. Even if it was the result of ignorance or negligence - there are likely going to be personal consequences.

By the way: I've generally spelled the book in question "Quran." Quite a few folks who speak English and use the Latin alphabet write "Koran." It's actually spelled القرآن‎ - and I've discussed transliteration before.

At least this time the book-burning seems not to have been a deliberate insult:

5. Kateri Tekakwitha - Canonization Slated for October

"Oct 21: Canonization of 1st Native American Saint, Kateri Tekakwitha"
"Nun Who Cared for Hawaii Lepers Will Also Be Canonized That Day"
ZENIT (February ,21 2012)

"On Saturday, the prefect of the Congregation for Saints' Causes announced that Oct. 21 will be the date for the canonization of the first Native American saint, Kateri Tekakwitha.

"Blessed Kateri will be raised to the altars along with Marianne Cope, a German-born immigrant to the United States, who followed St. Damian in caring for the lepers of Hawaii...."
Also scheduled for canonization October 21, 2012:
  • Jacques Berthieu
    • Martyr
    • French
    • Priest of the Society of Jesus
  • Pedro Calungsod
    • Martyr
    • Filipino
    • Lay catechist
  • Giovanni Battista Piamarta
    • Priest
    • Italian
    • Founder of the
      • Congregation of the Holy Family of Nazareth
      • Congregation of the Humble Sister Servants of the Lord
  • Maria del Carmen (born Maria Salles y Barangueras)
    • Foundress of the Conceptionist Missionary Sisters of Teaching
    • Spanish
I'd probably be interested in folks who greeted Brendan the Navigator, vikings, and that lot that started coming over about five centuries back, even if I didn't have family connections to the Oglala Lakota. And that's another topic.

Anyway, Kateri Tekakwitha was born in the Mohawk tribe. Her mother was a Christian Algonquin who had been captured by Iroquois. There's a fairly good - and brief - biography of her on a page of the online Catholic Encyclopedia:It takes two confirmed miracles for canonization to be authorized. Here's the one that put Kateri Tekakwitha on the list:
"Sainthood nearer for Kateri Tekakwitha"
The Gazette, Montreal (December 20, 2011)
"Credited with miracle, Lily of the Mohawks to be canonized

"A Mohawk woman whose remains are entombed inside a Kahnawake church has moved one step closer to becoming a saint.

"On Tuesday, Pope Benedict XVI cleared the way for the canonization of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, known as Lily of the Mohawks, and six others.

"Kateri died in 1680 at age 24....

"...The decision was made on Tuesday after the pope signed a decree approving a miracle attributed to Kateri. She is credited with interceding to save Jake Finkbonner, a child in Washington State who developed necrotizing fasciitis, a flesh-eating disease, after cutting his lip while playing basketball.

"With Jake gravely ill in hospital, his parish priest asked his family and other church members to ask Kateri for intercession. Soon after, the bacteria stopped spreading and Jake recovered, his family says....

"...In 1980, Kateri was beatified by Pope John Paul II, the final stage before sainthood. To be declared a saint, a miracle must be attributed to the candidate after he or she has been beatified.

"The Vatican has been receiving requests to canonize Kateri for more than 100 years. The first recorded instance came in the 1880s, when Jesuit missionaries delivered a petition on behalf of Mohawks...."
I've posted about miracles before. Yes, they happen. And that's almost another topic.

Related posts, getting a grip about:
Background:
  • Religion, reason, and emotions
    • Faith and reason are compatible
      (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 159)
      • Reason
        • Isn't opposed to faith
          (Catechism, 35)
        • Is a critical part of
          • Conscience
            (Catechism, 1778)
          • Human law
            (Catechism, 1902)
          • Natural law
            (Catechism, 1954-1960)
        • As intellect, an attribute of God
          (Catechism, 271)
        • An ability which makes human beings like God
          (Catechism, 1730)
      • Emotions
        • Are "natural components of the human psyche"(Catechism, 1764)
          • Aren't "good" or "bad" by themselves
            (Catechism, 1762-1770)
        • Should be governed by reason
          (Catechism, 1767)
    • Catholics are not allowed to hate anyone
      • No exceptions
      (Catechism, 1033)
    • Jesus told us that the Commandments boiled down to 'Love God, love your neighbor.'
      (Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:28-31)
    • Everybody is our neighbor
      (Matthew 5:43-44; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-30; Catechism, 1825)
  • Death
    • Jesus
      • Died: really
        (Catechism, 624-628)
      • Didn't stay dead: really
        (Catechism, 631-635, 638-655)
      • And is currently seated at the right had of His Father
        (Catechism, 659-664)
    • I will
  • Freedom
    • Catholics must support religious freedom
      (Catechism, 2104-2109)
      • For everybody
        (Catechism, 2106)
    • And responsibility
      • Of the individual
        (Catechism, 1731-1738)
      • Of the state
        (Catechism, 2431)
    • Threats to freedom
      (Catechism, 1740)
    • And property
      (Catechism, 2402-2406)
  • Last Judgment
    • You can't miss it
      (Catechism, 1038-1041)
    • After the end of time: a new universe
      • When God says so
        (Catechism, 1048)
      (Catechism, 1042-1050)
  • Life issues
    • Human life is sacred
      (Catechism, 2258)
    • A human being is a person from conception to natural death
      (Catechism, 2270)
    • Euthanasia is wrong
      • Even if the person is
      (Catechism, 2276-2279)
    • Science can help people
      • Provided the research is ethical
      (Catechism, 2292-2295)
    • Organ transplants are okay
      • But don't kill someone and break him down for parts
      (Catechism, 2296)
  • Miracles
    • Why Jesus worked miracles
      (Catechism, 515, 548-544)
    • Charisms and miracles
      (Catechism, 2003)
(This isn't even close to being a complete index on these topics.)
1 Excerpts from the news:
"Six lives lost in three hours"
Echo Press; Alexandria, Minnesota (February 22, 2012)

"In the space of three hours, six lives were lost in three separate crashes on snowy, slushy roads near Alexandria and Glenwood on Monday.

"The first crash happened during a heavy snowfall at about 3:05 p.m. on Interstate 94 about three miles west of Alexandria.

"Four female students from North Dakota State University died at the scene – the driver, Lauren Peterson, 18, of Prior Lake and passengers, Jordan Playle, 19, of Elk River, Megan Sample, 18, of Rogers and Danielle Renninger, 18, of Excelsior...."

"...Tragedy struck again at about 6:15 p.m. on County Road 82, west of Alexandria, about a quarter mile east of Townhall Road.

"Kristy Carlson, 40, of Alexandria was driving east with her 13-year-old daughter, Megan Victoria Carlson in a 2002 Oldsmobile that collided with a westbound 2007 Chevrolet Trailblazer driven by Erin McCoy, 38, also of Alexandria, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office.

"Megan Carlson was pronounced dead at the Douglas County Hospital.

"Kristy Carlson was transferred to Hennepin County Medical Center where she was listed in satisfactory condition Tuesday morning...."

"...A three-vehicle crash on State Highway 28 in Pope County in Glenwood at about 3:30 p.m. Monday also claimed a life.

"Steffanie Dahlseng, 26, of Starbuck was killed in the crash...."
"Four NDSU Students From Twin Cities Killed in Snowy Crash"
Michelle Knoll, KAAL TV (February 21, 2012)

"Four women from the Twin Cities were killed in a crash on I-94 near Alexandria Monday afternoon. The women were freshman at North Dakota State University. Three of the women were roommates.

The Minnesota State Patrol says 18-year-old Lauren Peterson of Prior Lake, 19-year-old Jordan Playle of Elk River, 18-year-old Megan Sample of Rogers, and 18-year-old Danielle Renninger of Excelsior died when they lost control of their car and went through the median into oncoming traffic.

Peterson was driving, and roads were slippery at the time of the crash. Authorities say all of the women were wearing seat belts, and no alcohol was detected...."
"4 college roommates killed in Minnesota crash"
News8000.com (February 21, 2012)

"The four young women who died in an interstate crash west of Alexandria were college roommates heading back to North Dakota State University.

The Minnesota State Patrol says the teens' car crossed the median of Interstate 94 near Alexandria Monday afternoon and was struck by an SUV, which was hit by a third vehicle...."
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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.