Showing posts with label voting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label voting. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Election Night, 2012: Issues; Assumptions; and Responsible Citizenship

I usually write my Wednesday morning 'Bible and Catechism' post on Tuesday. That's not going to happen this week.

America's national election, and the issues at stake, threw me off-schedule. I see that October 24 was the last 'regularly scheduled' Wednesday post:
I skipped Monday's 'Caritas in Veritate' post, too. Instead, I shared opinions and a few definitions:
American news media has been busy, publishing articles about the President playing basketball with Scottie Pippen, and predicting that someone will end up being the next American president. I've put together what caught my eye:

Presidential Race Will Definitely be Won - By Someone

"Obama, Romney locked in tight race with battlegrounds too close to call"
FoxNews.com (November 6, 2012)

"Mitt Romney and President Obama each racked up early and expected victories Tuesday night in relatively safe territory, while some of the biggest battlegrounds that will decide the election remained too close to call.

"All the big swing states where polls have closed -- Florida, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Virginia and North Carolina -- were too close to call, Fox News projects...."
"US election: First results declared from some states"
BBC News (November 6, 2012)

"The polls have begun closing in the US presidential election, with the first results trickling in from some states.

"President Barack Obama and Republican Mitt Romney have each taken several states, exit polls suggest, with no critical swing states awarded so far...."
I started writing this paragraph at about 8:00 p.m. Central, it was still 6:00 p.m. on the west coast: and 4:00 p.m. in Hawaii. Folks would be voting for a few more hours.

It is possible to make educated guesses about how the final counts will come out, based on early counts. But - and I think this is important - educated guesses aren't always correct.

Still, we've learned quite a bit since 1948, when a printer's strike, conventional wisdom, poll results, and possibly wishful thinking, made the Chicago Tribune famous.

From "Dewey Defeats Truman" to "Absurdly Early"

"Live: Obama has early lead; close in Ohio, Va."
David Jackson, USA Today (November 6, 2012)

"It's absurdly early, but: Republican Mitt Romney leads the popular vote by 51%47%, though only 1% of the vote is in.

"President Obama, meanwhile, has grabbed an electoral vote lead of 64-40 -- though no state is a surprise, and the two are locked in close battles in Ohio, Florida, and Virginia...."
This isn't 1948. For which I'm duly grateful.

All Candidates are Equal - Some More Equal Than Others?


(FoxNews.com, used w/o permission)
"Shown here is a mural of President Obama at a Philadelphia polling site before and after it was partially covered up following a judge's order." (FoxNews.com)
"Philly poll workers partially cover Obama mural after court order, leaving logo and quote in view"
FoxNews.com (November 06, 2012)

"Workers at a Philadelphia polling place, after being ordered by a judge to cover up a mural of President Obama 'in its entirety,' slapped up a few pieces of paper that only partially covered his image -- while leaving the Obama campaign logo and a quote from the current president in full view for voters...."
Maybe those three sheets were all the paper the folks running that Philadelphia polling place had. Maybe they hoped nobody would notice. Maybe something else was going on. I don't know.

Moving on.

Jobs, the Economy, and Exit Polls

"Economy's Fate a Central Concern of Voters"
The Wall Street Journal (November 6, 2012)

"Romney Tops Obama on Who Can Better Boost Growth, President Favored as Better for Middle Class, Exit-Poll Data Show

"Fears over the economy and unemployment were the central focus of voters who cast ballots in the presidential election Tuesday, with issues such as health care, the federal budget deficit and foreign policy rated far lower in importance.

"Exit polls showed that many voters see Mitt Romney as better positioned to fix the economy and President Barack Obama as having a better feel for the middle class and how to handle Medicare...."
I think this article is interesting. I also think exit polls give a very clear picture of what folks who have voted respond to exit polls.

"And Now, For Something Completely Different"


(From CNN, used w/o permission)
"photo of an iReporter Voting in South Dakota" (CNN)
"Open Story: 'I Voted' Election 2012"
iReport contributors, CNN (November 6, 2012)

"On Election Day, many polling stations hand out a sticker to signify that you cast your vote. It's not the most important thing about voting, but it's a fun and easy way to show that you took part...."
The 'I voted' stickers here in central Minnesota aren't quite as colorful as their counterparts in some areas, but they get the job done.



That's mine, stuck to a 'cheat sheet' I brought to the polling place. As usual, there were quite a few candidates and issues on the ballot. Writing down my choices before going to the poll helps me keep track.

Marriage and Minnesota Law

I think that "marriage" is a union between a man and a woman. Up to a few years ago, I had hoped that I could ignore the wackadoo referenda which stopped short of letting Americans marry their canaries. I was wrong. (June 23, 2010)

I'll get back to that issue.


I voted "yes" to defining marriage as the union of a man and a woman. These signs were the bishop's idea.

Sex, Marriage, and Assumptions

I think that humanity comes in two basic models. That is not the same as wanting everybody to act as if it's 1950: and certainly doesn't mean that I hate people:
I've run into folks who were frightfully 'religious,' and who seemed to hate commies, homosexuals, Catholics, and rock music. I don't doubt that they were sincere. Their malignant virtue indirectly led to my becoming a Catholic, and that's another topic.

The Catholic Church says that emotions, by themselves, are okay. It's what we decide to do with them that makes emotions 'good' or 'bad.' (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1767)

I've had problems dealing with the emotion of anger, but anger isn't necessarily a bad thing:
"ANGER: An emotion which is not in itself wrong, but which, when it is not controlled by reason or hardens into resentment and hate, becomes one of the seven capital sins. Christ taught that anger is an offense against the fifth commandment (1765, 1866, 2262).
(A, Glossary, Catechism)
Maybe this sounds corny, but 'love the sinner, hate the sin' is pretty close to what the Church says. Bear in mind that I've got the teaching authority of "some guy with a blog." I strongly recommend reading the Catechism.

Bottom line, as a Catholic I'm not allowed to hate people. It's that simple:
"We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves: 'He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.'612 Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren.613 To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called 'hell.' "
(Catechism, 1033)

Freedom, Citizenship, and Being Catholic

The Catholic Church has rules about being a citizen. I must:
  • Support religious freedom
    (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2104-2109)
    • For everybody
      (Catechism, 2106)
  • Take an active part in public life
    (Catechism, 1915)
  • Contribute to the good of society
    • In a spirit of
      • Truth
      • Justice
      • Solidarity
      • Freedom
    (Catechism, 2239)
  • Submit to legitimate authorities
    • Refuse obedience to civil authorities
      • When their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience
      (Catechism, 2242)
    (Catechism, 2239)
    (June 1, 2012)
Being a Catholic means, among other things, that I can't just 'go with the flow.' Like it says in the Catechism, 2242, if civil authorities tell me to do something that is objectively evil: I should refuse. (Catechism, 2242)

Not obeying a rogue ruler has gotten people killed. (June 22, 2012) That doesn't change the situation, though. "I was only following orders" isn't an acceptable excuse: not in the final analysis. (June 26, 2012, May 20, 2011)

I'm hoping that America's national government will begin accepting the practical applications of these ideas:
If "murder is wrong" doesn't seem like a radical idea, consider this: as a Catholic, I think that human beings are people. All human beings. And that's another topic.

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Sunday, November 4, 2012

An Election, Citizenship, and Expectations

I had quite a bit to say this morning, mostly about voting and the November 6 election:
Voting is important. So is understanding issues, and having a sensibly-formed conscience.

Tolerance is important, too, and that's another topic or two.

I plan to be back tomorrow morning with a post about formal cooperation, material cooperation, "life unworthy of life," and American culture.

Meanwhile, here's another list of posts:
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An "Objective Moral Order"

I'll be disappointed, and concerned, if America's national government continues its efforts to control how Americans put our beliefs into practice. But I won't be discouraged.

It took my native country decades to produce the mess we have today. I'll be pleasantly surprised if respect for human life and religious liberty are restored quickly: but I expect that it will be a long process.

I am convinced that as the results of the last half-century's foolishness become harder to ignore, more folks will:
This isn't blind optimism. It's recognition that an "objective moral order" exists. (Catechism, 2108-2109)

I've posted about natural law, cause and effect, and consequences, before:

America isn't Perfect

Finally, America's government has blundered, and eventually cleaned up the mess, before. My hope is that the process this time is swifter and less messy than some have been:
I realize that America's government, and individual Americans, are far from perfect. But for more than two centuries, folks have decided that moving here was better than staying in their homelands. I think that is a good thing, some don't, and that's another topic. (August 20, 2012)

Voting Smart: Resources and Posts

As I said earlier this morning, I wouldn't be allowed to 'make' you believe something, even if I could. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2104-2109)

I can, however, suggest studying what Catholic bishops in America have written about religious freedom and ethics; and it probably won't hurt to tell you where a list of my posts is:
You may find a link list of today's three posts, and others, useful. Then again, maybe not:
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Friday, November 2, 2012

A Senator and a Bishop; Another Sex Scandal; and Religious Freedom

There's more to my faith than this, but it's important:
  • Religious freedom is vital
    (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2104-2109)
    • For everybody
      (Catechism, 2106)
This isn't the sort of "freedom" that means "free to agree with me."

It's the freedom to act as if God matters - or not. I think deciding that God's real, and matters, is prudent. But as a Catholic I wouldn't be allowed to 'make' you believe that: even if I could.

Freedom isn't always popular. Government leaders sometimes find it annoying. Particularly when someone starts talking about ethics and voting. That's the first news item I discuss this week.
  1. Conscience and a Senator
  2. Another Sex Scandal
  3. Chicago Declaration: Religious Freedom; for Everyone
Like I said, there's more to my faith than supporting religious freedom. The most important rules are:
There's more - there always seems to be more - like:
  • People
    • Aren't all alike
    • Have equal dignity
    • Must not be treated unjustly
    (Catechism, 1934-1938)
  • Faith
    • Is important
      (Catechism, 1814-1816)
    • Without works is dead
      (Catechism, 1815)
    • Must be
      • Kept
      • Acknowledged
      • Lived
      • Professed
      • Spread
      (Catechism, 1816)
Here's a sampling of what it's like, living in a society where leaders don't like 'old fashioned' ideas like people having equal dignity, or faith being important.

1. Conscience and a Senator

"North Dakota bishop stands by pastoral letter on election"
Carl Bunderson, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (October 31, 2012)

"Bishop David D. Kagan of Bismarck defended his letter on the election which was read this weekend at parishes in North Dakota, against demands by a state senator that it be withdrawn or changed.

"Bishop David D. Kagan of Bismarck defended his letter on the election which was read this weekend at parishes in North Dakota, against demands by a state senator that it be withdrawn or changed....
(Carl Bunderson, CNA)
I doubt that the state senator would be upset if Bishop Kagan had been the sort of nice, inoffensive, preacher who spreads sweetness, light, and vaguely 'spiritual' soundbite.

From the point of view of folks who like the status quo, Catholic Bishops in America have been downright uppity lately. From my point of view, I'm delighted that Catholic leaders are acting like leaders who are Catholic.

Before getting back to Bishop Kagan and an upset senator, a point or two about the Catholic Church and acting as if God matters.

Ethics and the Establishment

American law won't let priests tell us who to vote for.

But it's legal for us to be told why we should vote for or against issues, and how we should make decisions about voting. Given the alternatively-ethical standards of today's establishment, this situation could change.

Folks who like the status quo trying to 'protect' America from people who want something better is nothing new, and that's another topic:

Vote Smart: Resources

Catholic bishops in America have published quite a few resources for folks who give a rip about elections and voting, including these:
Basically: ethics matter; a candidate's appearance doesn't; and 'my family always voted for this party' is a lousy way to choose.

"A Properly Formed Conscience"

" 'It's with a properly formed conscience, which we regularly nourish with prayer, the sacraments, and continued study, that we can...set a good example, which ultimately isn't about you or me,' Bishop Kagan told CNA Oct. 30.

"The example we set, he emphasized, presents Christ to other people...."
I think Bishop Kagan could have stayed out of trouble if he'd mentioned "a properly formed conscience," and left it at that. A strong indication that he's not going to affirm the 'do whatever you feel like doing' standard of today's American culture is the phrase "...which ultimately isn't about you or me...."

"Seek ... What is True and Good"

"...Bishop Kagan issued the letter asking parishioners 'to vote as a Catholic citizen with a properly formed Catholic conscience.'

"Bishop Kagan wrote that the teachings of the Church are 'the means for us to properly form our consciences so that we seek always what is true and good.'..."
(Carl Bunderson, CNA)
"That which is true and good" might not seem particularly threatening. The trouble, as I see it, started because Bishop Kagan got specific about what's true and good: and what's not.
"He [Bishop Kagan] went on to say that intrinsically evil actions, such as abortion and euthanasia, 'must always be rejected and opposed,' and that issues that do not directly affect the life and dignity of people are secondary to these.

"Though Bishop Kagan 'will not tell you how to vote,' he wrote that 'I ask you to vote for the candidates who represent you as Catholic citizens. Please do not vote for the candidate who is most likeable.'...
(Carl Bunderson, CNA)

North Dakota Senator Instructs Catholic Bishop on Church Teaching

"Responding to an advance copy of the letter, however, state senator Tim Mathern asserted in an Oct. 23 statement that the obligation to 'follow your conscience' is in conflict with the obligation of Catholics to form their conscience according to Church teaching, and that Bishop Kagan's teaching 'short circuits conscience formation.'..."
(Carl Bunderson, CNA)
I'm inclined to think that a Catholic Bishop might know more about theology and Catholic teaching than a state Senator.

Happily, state senators don't currently have the authority to silence a bishop. I hope that continues to be the case.

I also intend to vote next week.

If enough Americans have been paying attention, we may be able to keep our freedom to act as if God matters.

If not, the establishment will win: and the American government will keep trying to make people of faith shut up and follow orders.

2. Another Sex Scandal

First of all: Yes, I know about the pedophile priests. Now, about sex, the BBC, and the Vatican.
"Vatican condemns sex abuse in wake of Jimmy Savile revelations"
CNA/EWTN News (October 30, 2012)

" The Vatican has reiterated condemnation of sexual abuse following allegations against deceased British TV star Jimmy Savile, who during his life was given a papal knighthood for his charity work...."
Jimmy Savile isn't a Catholic priest, but he did get a papal knighthood.

I'm not shocked and horrified that the Vatican rewarded someone for doing good work: and that this person later turned out to have done something bad.

For two thousand years, the Catholic Church has been run by human beings. We're finite creatures. We don't know everything: that includes priests, bishops, and the Pope. "Papal infallibility" doesn't mean that the Pope knows everything, and that's yet another topic.

Which reminds me: We all deal with original sin, some better than others; some worse. "Original sin" isn't the idea that God botched the creation of humanity, and that's still another topic or two. (July 25, 2012, July 11, 2012, November 27, 2011)

"Heinous Crimes of Sexual Abuse of Children"

"...'The Holy See condemns in the strongest terms the heinous crimes of sexual abuse of children, takes very seriously what has come to light about Jimmy Savile,' said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi on Oct. 27.

" 'It is deeply saddened that a person who is stained in this way could in his lifetime be proposed for an honor by the Holy See, which, in the light of what has been learned recently, certainly should not have been given.'..."
(CNA/EWTN News )
Despite the impression many Americans have, the Catholic Church says that:
  • Sexuality is
    • Good
      (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2331-2336)
    • Very important
      (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2332)
  • Rape is
    • Bad
      • We shouldn't do it
    • Very bad when done by someone in a position of trust
    (Catechism, 2356)
Again, I know about the recurring pedophile priest story.

What some priest did was bad. The occasional attempts to cover up their misdeeds was bad: and very stupid. People who had nothing to do with this evil are paying the consequences, and I've been over this before. Often:
Should someone who sexually abused minors have been given rewards for charity work? Probably not. But I seriously doubt that Pope Bl. John Paul II and Queen Elizabeth II of England got together and said, "we know this guy's a villain, so we'll reward him."

Apparently not even the BBC knew about Savile's extracurricular interests. Not officially, anyway.

Jimmy Who?

Maybe Jimmy Savile was as high-profile as the Beatles on this side of the Atlantic. Then again, maybe not. Either way, Sir James Wilson Vincent "Jimmy" Savile, OBE, KCSG seems to have had zipper issues:
"...Savile died October 2011 and was a popular media personality in Britain starting in the 1960s. However, some 300 cases of sexual abuse of minors, both male and female, have come to light since his death....

"...Following the sex-abuse allegations, the head of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Archbishop of Westminster Vincent Nichols, wrote the Vatican asking if it were possible to revoke Savile's papal knighthood...."
(October 30, 2012)
The Vatican hasn't removed him from the register of folks who have gotten papal knighthoods - because there is no such register. Folks who get that sort of reward don't even show up in the yearbook:
"Fr. Lombardi said in his statement that the honor 'perishes with the death of the individual,' and so there is no process for removing the knighthood posthumously.

" 'Since there is no permanent register of persons who have received such recognition, it is not possible to expel a dead person from a register that does not exist. Decorated names do not appear at any time in the pontifical yearbook.'..."
(CNA/EWTN News )

"What is Most Important..."

"...'What is most important is therefore to reiterate the strongest condemnation of all sexual abuse, particularly against children, as serious crimes. On this the Holy See is steadfast.'

"The BBC, for whom Savile worked as a TV and radio presenter, is under review for its child protection and sexual harassment policies....

"...The BBC is also being scrutinized for its shelving of a 2011 report on claims against Savile which was being prepared for the TV program Newsnight."
(CNA/EWTN News )
Maybe the BBC just happened to not notice a few hundred illicit sexual encounters by one of their top performers: and also just happened to keep a report on the shenanigans from being aired. Or maybe someone in the BBC knew, and didn't want to embarrass Jimmy Savile.

Do I think that the BBC is run by pedophiles who routinely and systematically rape minors? No: Jimmy Savile's case may be an isolated one.

Or maybe BBC executives didn't see anything wrong with one of their top attractions having a little 'fun' on the side. I really don't know.

Fixing the Problem, Getting a Grip

I'm upset that some priests used the respect and authority that comes with their position to permanently injure the psyches of some children and young people. If anything, I'm more upset about their immediate superiors who apparently knew what was happening, and ignored the situation.

This was wrong.

It was not right.

It should not have happened.

But it did, and now the Church is paying (literally) reparations: and fixing the problem. If that's not what you read in the papers, I'm not surprised.

I'm not quite so surprised that the Vatican took so long to start sorting out these cases.

For one thing, the Vatican's staff isn't enormous. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) is the office that handles abuse cases, among other duties. There are about 45 people of the CDF staff. That's one CDF staffer for every 22,222,222 Catholics.

For another, lurid tales about the Satanic Catholic Church have been part of American culture for centuries. Maria Monk's perennial bestseller was set in Canada, but it's still being reprinted for the U.S.A. market. I'm not surprised that real complaints of sexually aggressive priests didn't stand out from the background noise:

3. Chicago Declaration: Religious Freedom; for Everyone

"Chicago Declaration gathers support for religious freedom"
Michelle Bauman, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (October 24, 2012)

"A new declaration signed by business and cultural leaders in Chicago voiced support for the U.S. Constitution's religious freedom protections and emphasized the importance of education and engagement on this fundamental right in the face of current threats.

" 'In recognizing the unique and indispensable role of religion in our society and in the development of people, we affirm the positive good that religion plays in resisting vice and degradation, and in building virtue and a more noble humanity,' the signatories of The Chicago Declaration stated.

"Noting that religious freedom is 'the indispensable means of ensuring the hopeful vitality of our people and Constitutional Republic,' they warned that 'to lose it is to lose the heart of the nation and the Republic itself.'...
What I hope does not get ignored in other reports about the Chicago Declaration is that "various religious and political backgrounds discussed current threats to religious freedom and signed the declaration to affirm their support for the Constitution." (Michelle Bauman, CNA)

These are not religious crazies who want everybody to agree with them or be punished. They're folks who think that Americans should be free to act as if God matters: or as if there is no God. The key word here is "free."

I'm convinced that God exists. But I'm also a practicing Catholic: and as I've said before, that means that I must support religious freedom. For everybody.

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Wednesday, October 31, 2012

America's National Election; What I Believe; and What I Don't

Since there's an American national election coming next week, this 'Bible and Catechism' post focuses on citizenship, politics, and an issue or two.

I'm a Catholic. I take my faith seriously. Among other things, I must:
  • Support religious freedom
    (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2104-2109)
    • For everybody
      (Catechism, 2106)
  • Take an active part in public life
    (Catechism, 1915)
  • Contribute to the good of society
    • In a spirit of
      • Truth
      • Justice
      • Solidarity
      • Freedom
    (Catechism, 2239)
  • Submit to legitimate authorities
    • Refuse obedience to civil authorities
      • When their demands are contrary to those of an upright conscience
      (Catechism, 2242)
    (Catechism, 2239)
    (June 1, 2012)

"Far Right-Wing?"

Since I take what the Catholic Church says seriously, some folks may assume that I'm part of the 'far right wing:'
"Catholics United urges 'gay marriage' surrender"
Kevin J. Jones, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (October 26, 2012)

"The group Catholics United, which until now has avoided directly contradicting Catholic teaching in its defense of Democratic political causes, has now denounced Catholic efforts to defend traditional marriage as a 'far right-wing' social issue.

"The shift comes in an Oct. 18 statement criticizing Catholic donations to organizations that support marriage and oppose its redefinition to include same-sex couples. Catholics United called for a halt financial support for 'anti-marriage equality ballot initiatives' in Maine, Maryland, Minnesota and Washington, states where the issue is on the November ballot...."
I've run into folks who say they're Catholics, and act as if they have very conservative beliefs. I've run into other Catholics who appear to be very liberal in their views.

I've been called a conservative, and understand why that label was applied, but I'm not. For example, I believe that human life is sacred. Because I believe this, I have both "conservative" and "liberal" views. I am against:
  • Abortion
    • A 'conservative' position
  • Capital punishment
    • A 'liberal' position
I'm neither conservative nor liberal; I'm certainly not moderate; and I've been over this before:

Marriage, Hate, and Belief

The notion that seeing marriage as a union of a man and a woman is "far right wing" isn't necessarily true. But I can see how it might seem plausible.

Some folks who are religious at the top of their lungs have views which are extreme, and aren't left-wing. If a person assumes that 'left wing liberal' and 'right wing conservative' are the only two possible philosophical stances, these extreme folks 'must' be conservative.

Maybe that's so. But whatever this lot is, they're not Catholic:


(Reuters photo, via FoxNews.com, used w/o permission)

As a practicing Catholic I'm not allowed to hate anybody:
"We cannot be united with God unless we freely choose to love him. But we cannot love God if we sin gravely against him, against our neighbor or against ourselves: 'He who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.' Our Lord warns us that we shall be separated from him if we fail to meet the serious needs of the poor and the little ones who are his brethren. To die in mortal sin without repenting and accepting God's merciful love means remaining separated from him for ever by our own free choice. This state of definitive self-exclusion from communion with God and the blessed is called 'hell.' "
(Catechism, 1033) [emphasis mine]
Again: that's not a photo of Catholics.

"Respect, Compassion, and Sensitivity"

I'm also expected to accept other people with "respect, compassion, and sensitivity:"
"The number of men and women who have deep-seated homosexual tendencies is not negligible. This inclination, which is objectively disordered, constitutes for most of them a trial. They must be accepted with respect, compassion, and sensitivity. Every sign of unjust discrimination in their regard should be avoided. These persons are called to fulfill God's will in their lives and, if they are Christians, to unite to the sacrifice of the Lord's Cross the difficulties they may encounter from their condition."
(Catechism, 2358) [emphasis mine]
I've been over that before, too. (March 13, 2009)

Acceptance, Approval, and Getting a Grip

However, accepting human beings as people is not the same as believing anything people do is okay.

For example, the Church says killing myself is wrong, and has other rules that sometimes get in the way of impulses folks have.

That's not because the Vatican is run by a bunch of killjoys, but because we're expected to love God and love our neighbor.

That's not as narrow a view as it may seem. We're also told that everybody's our neighbor. (Matthew 5:43-44; Matthew 22:36-40; Mark 12:29-31; Luke 10:25-27; Luke 10:29-37; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1822, 1825)

Again, I've been over this before:

Marriage, Catholic Style

As a practicing Catholic, I take Ephesians 5:22 seriously. But I've also read Ephesians 5:21-30, and that's almost another topic. (May 1, 2012)

Basically, the Church says that marriage is between a man and a woman who understand and accept human sexuality, and who agree to be man and wife. (2201-2203, 2333-2391)

Getting back to the question of redefining marriage, I'd hoped that I could take a nice, safe, 'I don't care' approach. I was wrong. (June 23, 2010)

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Friday, October 26, 2012

Liberty, an Election, and a Rock on Mars

I'd be concerned if folks stopped trying to move to America. I think America benefits each time someone with new ideas and fresh enthusiasm comes to my native land.

I'll admit to a bias. My ancestors, not too many generations back, were 'foreigners' who decided that life would be better here. Their motives were a mix of hopes for a better standard of living, and a desire for the freedom to practice their faith without interference from the state.

The freedom to act as if religious beliefs matter is one of the big issues in the November election. I think religious freedom is a good idea: but again I'm biased. I think being allowed to act as if God matters is okay.

I also think that "freedom" doesn't mean "free to be like me." As a practicing Catholic, I must believe that:
  • Religious freedom is vital
    (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2104-2109)
    • For everybody
      (Catechism, 2106)
Meanwhile, a robot is still exploring Mars: and that's another topic.
  1. Immigrants and a 'Foreign' Religion?
  2. A Little Martian Pyramid Named Jake

1. Immigrants and a 'Foreign' Religion?

"Voter scorecard informs Latinos about religious freedom threats"
Michelle Bauman, CNA (Catholic News Agency) (October 25, 2012)

"A group that works to offer a Catholic voice in the public square has released a new guide to inform Spanish-speaking voters of religious liberty concerns in the presidential election.

" 'Our Christianity - our religious fervor - is a huge part of our lives,' said Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie, director of Hispanic Outreach for the Catholic Association.

"She told CNA on Oct. 24 that Hispanic voters need to realize that the current administration 'has been aggressive' towards religion, conscience and the Church.

"Religion is 'intrinsically' part of the Hispanic way of life, she said, and 'it's too central to our culture to give that up.'..."
I could be wrong about this, but I suspect that some of the fury over immigrants from Latin America is rooted in a fear that America will lose the "P" in WASP.

America hasn't been most 'Anglo-Saxon' for several generations: but at least newcomers looked 'Anglo.' Many were Protestant, safely secular, or willing to keep quiet about their 'foreign' beliefs.

Folks who look like me or my ancestors could, in principle, learn to speak with an American accent, wear suitably drab clothing, and pass for 'regular Americans.' Many of today's immigrants don't have that option. Maybe it's time for America to get over trying to be 'British,' and that's not quite another topic.

Out of the Frying Pan - - -

"Out of the frying pan and into the fire" means: "If you get out of one problem, but find yourself in a worse situation, you are out of the frying pan, into the fire." (UsingEnglish.com)

If Americans decide that religious freedom isn't as important as giving the current administration four more years, folks who came here seeking that freedom may feel that they'd have been better off 'back where they came from.'

Which reminds me of a few decades back, when [whatever we're supposed to say when referring to Apache, Cheyenne, Lakota, and the other folks who'd been living in North America for 20,000 years or so] finally got America's government to recognize treaties signed in the 19th century. Whew! That's a monster of a sentence, but I think you get the idea. Moving along.

This 'regular American' supposedly said 'if those Indians don't like it here, why don't they go back where they came from?

It was funny, sort of, at the time.

Back to an issue today's immigrants, and many others, should take very seriously:
"...President Obama is given a failing grade for his policies, including the federal mandate that requires employers to offer health insurance plans covering contraception, sterilization and abortion drugs, even if doing so violates their consciences. Romney is given an 'A+' for his actions and pledges to uphold religious freedom.

"Growing up largely in Mexico with parents from Cuba, Christie said that most Hispanics in the U.S. 'have left their countries because of a lack of freedom' in the economic, political or religious realms...."
(Michelle Bauman, CNA)
I think Americans have gotten used to the idea that an American doesn't have to be pale.

A Tradition We Can Do Without

On the other hand, I still run into folks who seem to think that "American" and "melanin-deficient" mean the same thing. I also run into the same old antipathy for Catholics and Catholicism from time to time.


(Chick Publications, via FoxNews.com, used w/o permission)

From ''Klansmen: Guardians of Liberty'', 1926. Published by the Pillar of Fire Church in Zarephath, NJ. Copyright was not renewed.
(Pillar of Fire Church, via Wikipedia, used w/o permission)
"From ''Klansmen: Guardians of Liberty'', 1926. Published by the Pillar of Fire Church in Zarephath, NJ...."


(From Thomas Nast Portfolio, Ohio State University, used w/o permission.)
"The American River Ganges, a cartoon by Thomas Nast showing bishops attacking public schools, with connivance of Boss Tweed. Harper's Weekly, September 30, 1871." (Wikipedia)

In a way, anti-Catholicism is an old American tradition. Which is why I don't think that old ideas are necessarily good ideas: and that's yet another topic. Topics.

2. A Little Martian Pyramid Named Jake

"Curiosity Rover's Pet Mars Rock 'Jake' Unlike Any Seen on Red Planet
Clara Moskowitz, Space.com (October 11, 2012)

"A rock on Mars being studied by NASA's Curiosity rover is unlike any Martian stone ever seen, and is surprisingly similar to an unusual, but well-known, kind of rock on Earth.

"This type of rock is the first of its kind encountered on Mars and is helping broaden scientists' understanding of how igneous rocks form, scientists said today (Oct. 11). The rock, named 'Jake Matijevic' in honor of a Curiosity mission team member who died in August, is a 16-inch-tall (40-centimeter) pyramid-shape specimen that Curiosity encountered at its landing spot in Mars' Gale Crater...."
A rock that's not quite knee-high for many folks isn't, by itself, newsworthy. What makes 'Jake' special is that it's on Mars, and the first of its kind found on that planet.

Martian Prospecting

Curiosity's work on Mars includes scooping up bits of Martian soil, shaking them, and sending back videos of the process:
Silly as it may sound, that's a pretty good way of seeing what the soil is like.

Back to 'Jake:'
"...'The spectrum that we're seeing was not what I expected,' said APXS principal investigator Ralf Gellert of Canada's University of Guelph. 'It seems to be a new type of rock that we've discovered on Mars' that wasn't seen by NASA's previous Mars rovers Spirit and Opportunity.

"Jake appears to have higher concentrations of elements such as sodium, aluminum and potassium, and lower concentrations of magnesium, iron and nickel, than other igneous rocks studied on Mars.

"... While previously unknown on Mars, this type of chemical composition is seen in a rare but well-studied class of rocks on Earth. On Earth, such specimens are found on oceanic islands such as Hawaii and in other places. They are thought to form when interior rocks melt to form magma, which then rises toward the surface. As it rises, it cools, and parts of the material crystalize, preferentially selecting some elements while leaving a remainder of liquid magma that is enriched with the left-behind chemicals.

"However, the researchers said it's too soon to know whether the Jake rock formed this same way.

" 'This is based on one rock and one has to be careful not to extrapolate,' said Edward Stolper, provost of Caltech and co-investigator on Curiosity's science team. 'You have to wait and see if we find others and if relationships among them give us clues into the processes.'..."
(Clara Moskowitz, Space.com)
If this was science fiction movie from the 'good old days,' we'd probably have seen a Martian princess and/or hideous monster by now.

But this isn't "Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster" (1965). It's real. And, I think, at least as exciting.

A Healthy Interest in God's Creation

As for how I can be interested in science and be a Catholic, I've been over that before. Fairly often.

Basically, I think God is smarter than I am, more powerful, and apparently has no problem with big numbers. Besides, I don't see a point in giving us curiosity, if we're not supposed to be curious.

The way I see it, not showing an interest in this marvel-filled creation would be a strange way of showing respect for God.

Besides:
"...the things of the world

and the things of faith

derive from the same God..."
(Catechism of the Catholic Church, 159)

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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.