The Cannes Film Festival closed over the weekend, and much of the buzz out of France has been over the Grand Prix winner, Des Hommes et Des Dieux (Of Gods and Men). It recounts the story of a group of French Trappists who were caught in the middle of the Algerian civil war and ultimately … Read more
While Kentucky senatorial candidate Rand Paul pulled back from the national media after his Rachel Maddow Show appearance, he did allow one interview on Friday with local television station WHAS11. It hasn’t gotten much notice, but it’s worth reading. Paul said one lesson learned from the MSNBC experience is “I need to be very careful … Read more
I’ve heard of this Roman tradition, but have never seen it: On Pentecost, to symbolize the Holy Spirit’s descent on the Apostles and Mary, rose petals are dropped from the Pantheon’s oculus. The video belows gives a sense of what it would be like to experience the event. You’ll notice Veni Creator Spiritus being chanted … Read more
With the general direction of American politics trending towards more government control of ever-smaller areas of life, and with the citizenry’s ever-greater detachment from the exercise of said governance, it is rare and refreshing fruit when every now and then the people manage to strike a blow for some small freedom. I know, because I’ve … Read more
You have to hand it to the guy — after 100 years, Mark Twain still knows how to grab headlines: Exactly a century after rumours of his death turned out to be entirely accurate, one of Mark Twain’s dying wishes is at last coming true: an extensive, outspoken and revelatory autobiography which he devoted the … Read more
Any other fans of LOST here? Whad’ya think of last night’s finale? I’m still mulling it over. I found it moving (not surprising, given the emotional investment I have in the characters after following them for 6 years), but it sure didn’t resolve some loose threads – including some important ones, I thought: When did … Read more
Ayaan Hirsi Ali is an impressive woman. In her late 30s, she speaks six languages — that includes both her native Somali, as well as Dutch, which she learned so she could run for the Dutch parliament. Of course, she’s best known for what Theodore Dalrymple calls “her public and uncompromising repudiation of Islam.” Her … Read more
Have any of you noticed that the concept of “the common good” is being used to justify every expansion of government power in our lives? Take a look at Anne Hendershott’s treatment of “God’s Politics” at Catholic Advocate. “God’s Politics,” as you may know, is the title of a book written by Jim Wallis, president … Read more
We’re taking a break from Uncle Harry this week because of my favorite feast day of the whole year: Pentecost! Without Pentecost, the teaching that Jesus gave the apostles … would have vanished. Pentecost is, to me, the feast of the protection of the Holy Spirit over the deposit of truth given to the apostles. … Read more
This quote in Dr. Thomas Howard’s book, Christ the Tiger, caught my eye this week. It speaks of how in God all things are made new. It’s a perfect passage to ponder as we approach Pentecost Sunday: Behold I make all things new. Behold I do what cannot be done. I restore the years that … Read more
Here’s a recent story dug up by the Catholic New Service — and when I say “dug up,” I mean to say you really have to go out of your way to find stuff like this. The headine reads, “Union busting is a mortal sin, Catholic scholars say.” Now, if the headline had been reveresed, … Read more
Racism, abortion, blasphemy, sex abuse — today’s Friday morning round-up is a more serious affair: Immediately after winning the Republican primary in Kentucky, Rand Paul got in hot water for his appearance on the Rachel Maddow show, where he questioned the constitutionality of one aspect of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Now he’s clearing … Read more
Last week, I mentioned that a Boston-area Catholic school had declined to re-enroll a boy with lesbian parents, but that the archdiocese was looking to place the student in another Catholic school. On his personal blog yesterday, Cardinal Sean O’Malley defended the archdiocese’s decision: In Boston we are beginning to formulate policies and practices to … Read more
An 18-year-old Emirati woman who was gang-raped by six men is being charged with having sex outside of marriage. The woman and one of her male Emirati friends, HA, went for a drive in his vehicle on May 2, prosecutors said. The charges allege that because she had agreed to be in the car, the … Read more
There have been three important additions to my household over the past few weeks. The first was an iPad — my first Apple product since 1981. Deal posted some of my thoughts about it here. After incorporating this incredible device into my work and personal routine, my verdict still stands: It’s a game-changer in so … Read more
There have been three important additions to my household over the past few weeks. The first was an iPad — my first Apple product since 1981. Deal posted some of my thoughts about it here. After incorporating this incredible device into my work and personal routine, my verdict still stands: It’s a game-changer in so … Read more
Deal Hudson and Matt Smith have been on fire over the USCCB’s membership in the controversial Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights (LCCHR). Deal wrote: There is nothing ambiguous about LCCHR’s lobbying activity on behalf of abortion, same-sex marriage, and “family planning.” All the items on the LCCHR Web site listed here affirm their … Read more
I’ve read the stories on and off for some time: Unless things change, our oceans could be out of fish by 2050. The latest report from the United Nations says that, according to current estimates, a fish-less world is quite possible within 40 years unless stocks are allowed to recover: According to the UN, 30 … Read more
The results of yesterday’s primary elections were almost all good news for the political challenger: Rand Paul, the tea party favorite, walked away with a 24-point lead over the GOP-backed Trey Grayson in Kentucky. Party-swapper Arlen Specter’s 30-year record wasn’t enough to save him this time — even with robo-calls from President Obama on his … Read more
Burqas are fast becoming a heated subject in parts of Europe, notably France and Belgium. The UK Telegraph reported an incident over the weekend where two women came to blows over the burqa: [A] 26-year-old Muslim convert was walking through the store in Trignac, near Nantes, in the western Loire-Atlantique region, when she overhead the woman lawyer … Read more