Here's A Good Guy

From Mike in Texas:

He's not only just a local guy, but a member of our church, which is behind his work 100%.

San Antonio Authorities Arrest Syringe Exchange Workers

The Texas state legislature authorized creation of the state's first legal needle exchange, as a pilot project, in San Antonio. Local officials are blocking the plan and now harm reduction workers involved in a needle exchange there have been arrested.

Please go read the rest of the story at Mike's website, Lavender Wolves.

As I say so often, "No good deed goes unpunished".

Good Fortune From A Cookie

Me: "Adventure can be real happiness."
Lucky numbers: 12, 14, 18, 22, 28, 38

Grandpère: "You may be hungry soon: order a takeout now."
Lucky numbers: 11, 24, 25, 37, 39, 41

Grandpère's fortune is so very true and right. He thinks about food much of the day. Immediately after finishing one meal, he is thinking of the next. He shoulda done what they said.

Shall we rush out to buy lottery tickets?

Image from Wiki.

Gov. Bobby Jindal Watch - Three

Continuing with the "Gov. Bobby Jindal Watch Series", following Part One and Part Two, here's the word from C. B. Forgotston at Forgotston.com on Gov. Bobby Jindal's Gold Standards For Ethics For Politicians In Louisiana. See how he practices what he preaches.

Thanks to Oyster for the tip. What would I do without the Big Oyster?

Feast of St. Thomas Aquinas

From James Kiefer at the Lectionary:

In the thirteenth century, when Thomas Aquinas lived, the works of Aristotle, largely forgotten in Western Europe, began to be available again, partly from Eastern European sources and partly from Moslem Arab sources in Africa and Spain. These works offered a new and exciting way of looking at the world....While remaining a Christian, he [Aquinas] immersed himself in the ideas of Aristotle, and then undertook to explain Christian ideas and beliefs in language that would make sense to disciples of Aristotle. At the time, this seemed like a very dangerous and radical idea, and Aquinas spent much of his life living on the edge of ecclesiastical approval. His success can be measured by the prevalence today of the notion that of course all Christian scholars in the Middle Ages were followers of Aristotle.

I was schooled in scholastic philosophy, or Thomism, more than 50 years ago at Loyola University in New Orleans, but Thomist philosophy has fallen out of fashion. The important contribution that Aquinas made, as Kiefer says, is that he set a precedent for engagement with philosophies and spiritualities which are not explicitly Christian. It remains a treacherous road for theologians to travel.

Some Christian scholars today are undertaking, with varying degrees of success, to explore the relations between Christianity and various contemporary studies or world-outlooks that have been used as weapons by opponents of Christianity.

With respect to the painting of Aquinas by Fra Angelico, who, by the way, is one of my favorites, the good brother has made him into a grim looking fellow, hasn't he? The other image at Wiki by Carlo Crivelli shows Aquinas as crabbed-visaged also.

His two best-know works are the Summa Theologica and the Summa Contra Gentiles.

Readings:

Psalm 37:3-6,32-33 or 119:97-104
Wisdom 7:7-14
Matthew 13:47-52

PRAYER

Almighty God, you have enriched your Church with the singular learning and holiness of your servant Thomas Aquinas: Enlighten us more and more, we pray, by the disciplined thinking and teaching of Christian scholars, and deepen our devotion by the example of saintly lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Image from Wiki.

Clinton And Obama To Vote "No"

From FireDogLake comes word that both Clinton and Obama will be present in the US Senate to vote "No" on the motion for cloture by the Republicans on the FISA bill.

Excellent! They had better be there to vote "No". They are both still serving in the US Senate. The vote will take place this afternoon at 4:30, so it's not too late to contact your senators to ask them to vote against the cloture motion.

This matter involves complicated maneuvering in the Senate. If you want to know more, go to Democracy For America.

If you care about the U.S. Constitution and your government spying on you, it's important to make the calls.

UPDATE: I called my Republican senator, David Vitter, just for the hell of it, to ask him to vote "No" on cloture, even though I know he won't. The young woman who answered the phone did not know what I was talking about, nor how the senator would vote, and she was not able to reach anyone who did know to ask them. I know more than the office worker knows, but it doesn't hurt to annoy them a little, does it?

Sen. Landrieu's office did not answer. Perhaps, they're getting lots of calls. I made do with an email message, but I will try to call again later.

UPDATE: Cloture vote failed 48-45, 60 needed to pass. Yay!

Mary Landrieu voted "Yes". Boo!

"Remain Episcopal" Gathering in San Joaquin

From Episcopal Life:

Hundreds of people—from as far south as San Diego and as far north as Seattle—packed the historic Church of the Saviour in Hanford January 26 in joyous celebration and support for remaining Episcopalians who are "Moving Forward, Welcoming All" and claiming their status as the official Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin.
....

Cindy Smith, president of Remain Episcopal, said the organization has received generous financial, liturgical and emotional support from all over the country, including from clergy from across the nation who willing to serve congregations on an interim or permanent basis.

Organized in 2003, Remain Episcopal is "planning for the day we cease to exist, a day the renewed leadership of the Fresno-based Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin can once planning for the day we cease to exist, a day the renewed leadership of the Fresno-based Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin can once again continue the reconciliation, work and mission of the church," said Smith, who called for patience as the way forward as communities of faith continue to form and grow and the future of the Central Valley churches continues to unfold.

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori sent both written and videotaped greetings to the gathering. "We expect to work next to clarify the status of members of the clergy in the Diocese of San Joaquin, and the status of any former diocesan leaders who wish to remain in The Episcopal Church," she wrote in a letter read by the Rev. Canon Bob Moore, the designated interim pastoral presence for the diocese.
....

"Once the ultimate status of John-David Schofield is adjudicated by the House of Bishops, and if he is deposed, I will seek to gather the remaining members of the Diocese in a special convention to elect new leadership and make provision for an interim bishop. I will work with diocesan leaders to clarify ownership of the personal and real assets of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin," the Presiding Bishop's letter said.

On January 11, Jefferts Schori inhibited Bishop John-David Schofield of San Joaquin from continuing to serve after a Title IV review committee determined he had abandoned the communion. He has the options of recanting his position, renouncing his orders or declaring that the Title IV assertions are false.

If a majority of bishops concur with the Title IV review committee's findings during the March 7-13 House of Bishops meeting at Camp Allen in Navasota, Texas, the Presiding Bishop will depose Schofield and declare the episcopate of the San Joaquin diocese vacant.
....

[T]he Rev. Canon Robert Moore, who was appointed as the interim pastoral presence for remaining Episcopalians, presided and served as homilist.

"It is wonderful to look out here and see so many faces," said Moore who told the gathering they are in the process of recreating and reforming a "new and wondrous" church. "It's happening as we speak," he said amid hearty applause.

"We are not establishing a new Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin, we are celebrating, worshipping and working for the continuing Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. You are the Episcopal Church in this part of the world," he said.

What struck me about the service was its fullness of joy and its familiarity. It was so very like the service in my church. I love that they prayed the "Prayer of Humble Access", although the Rite II Eucharist was used. I often say the prayer silently before the Eucharist because of my fondness for it.

We do not presume to come to this thy Table, O merciful Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, but in thy manifold and great mercies. We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy Table. But thou art the same Lord, whose property is always to have mercy: Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of thy dear Son Jesus Christ, and to drink his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, and our souls washed through his most precious blood, and that we may evermore dwell in him, and he in us. Amen.

What a glorious day of celebration for the faithful Episcopalians of the Diocese of San Joaquin. May the Spirit of the living God continue to be powerfully present with them.

Here's a link to the video of the service at the Church of the Savior, Hanford, California.

Thought For The Day - Elie Wiesel

The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference;
the opposite of beauty is not ugliness, but indifference;
the opposite of learning is not ignorance, but indifference;
Hatred cannot be anything but evil.
Hatred contaminates me.
We cannot give in to hatred;
To preserve humanity we must fight indifference.

Bush Allows Alaska Logging Plan

From the LA Times:

Millions of acres of the country's largest national forest would be open for logging and other development under a Bush administration forest management plan released yesterday, a move critics said will hurt wildlife and destroy pristine lands.

....

"Time and again, these guys have had to rewrite this plan, and they just keep coming back with the same answer," said Franz Matzner, forest and public lands advocate for the Natural Resources Defense Council. "Logging levels are way down, and there is just no demand for this timber. The Bush administration is just dedicated in its last months to go after the roadless rule one forest at a time."

Think about it. Housing prices have dropped through the floor. How could there be great demand for lumber for building new houses?

Bush is determined to destroy as as much of our reputation, as many of our institutions, and as much of our land as is possible before he leaves office. He is determined to give big business whatever they want, no matter the cost.

From My Daughter

A young man learns what's most important in life from the guy next door.

It had been some time since Jack had seen the old man. College, girls, career, and life itself got in the way. In fact, Jack moved clear across the country in pursuit of his dreams. There, in the rush of his busy life, Jack had little time to think about the past and often no time to spend with his wife and son. He was working on his future, and nothing could stop him.

Over the phone, his mother told him, "Mr. Belser died last night. The funeral is Wednesday." Memories flashed through his mind like an old news reel as he sat quietly remembering his childhood days.

"Jack, did you hear me?"

"Oh, sorry, Mom. Yes, I heard you. It's been so long since I thought of him. I'm sorry, but I honestly thought he died years ago," Jack said.

"Well, he didn't forget you. Every time I saw him he'd ask how you were doing. He'd reminisce about the many days you spent over 'his side of the fence' as he put it," Mom told him.

"I loved that old house he lived in," Jack said.

"You know, Jack, after your father died, Mr. Belser stepped in to make sure you had a man's influence in your life," she said

"He's the one who taught me carpentry," he said. "I wouldn't be in this business if it weren't for him. He spent a lot of time teaching me things he thought were important...Mom, I'll be there for the funeral," Jack said.

As busy as he was, he kept his word. Jack caught the next flight to his hometown. Mr. Belser's funeral was small and uneventful. He had no children of his own, and most of his relatives had passed away.

The night before he had to return home, Jack and his Mom stopped by to see the old house next door one more time.

Standing in the doorway, Jack paused for a moment. It was like crossing over into another dimension, a leap through space and time. The house was exactly as he remembered. Every step held memories. Every picture, every piece of furniture....Jack stopped suddenly.

"What's wrong, Jack?" his Mom asked.

"The box is gone," he said

"What box?" Mom asked.

"There was a small gold box that he kept locked on top of his desk. I must have asked him a thousand times what was inside. All he'd ever tell me was 'the thing I value most,'" Jack said.

It was gone. Everything about the house was exactly how Jack remembered it, except for the box. He figured someone from the Belser family had taken it.

"Now I'll never know what was so valuable to him," Jack said. "I better get some sleep. I have an early flight home, Mom."

It had been about two weeks since Mr. Belser died. Returning home from work one day Jack discovered a note in his mailbox "Signature required on a package. No one at home. Please stop by the main post office within the next three days," the note read.

Early the next day Jack retrieved the package. The small box was old and looked like it had been mailed a hundred years ago. The handwriting was difficult to read, but the return address caught his attention. "Mr. Harold Belser" it read. Jack took the box out to his car and ripped open the package. There inside was the gold box and an envelope. Jack's hands shook as he read the note inside.

"Upon my death, please forward this box and its content s to Jack Bennett. It's the thing I valued most in my life." A small key was taped to the letter. His heart racing, as tears filling his eyes, Jack carefully unlocked the box. There inside he found a beautiful gold pocket watch.

Running his fingers slowly over the finely etched casing, he unlatched the cover. Inside he found these words engraved: "Jack, Thanks for your time! -Harold Belser."

"The thing he valued most was...my time."

Jack held the watch for a few minutes, then called his office and cleared his appointments for the next two days. "Why?" Janet, his assistant asked.

"I need some time to spend with my son," he said.

"Oh, by the way, Janet, thanks for your time!"

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take but by the moments that take our breath away.

I'm requested to pass this on to 15 people. I'll pass it on this way.

Catholic School Students Discplined

From the Daily Comet:

When her daughter was suspended from E.D. White Catholic High School, it was for actions taken in a realm seemingly beyond the reach of administrators.

Along with more than 20 seniors, Deneen Spinella’s daughter was suspended from the school for joining an online discussion group where administrators say students posted profane comments and attempted to share coursework answers.

According to a letter sent to one parent, school officials said students violated a policy outlined in the campus code of conduct that prohibits them from engaging in online activity -- on or off campus -- that could harm the school’s image.

Hmmm, "...harm the school's image."

Though administrators suspended her daughter for attempting to cheat, Spinella said, they misinterpreted her intentions. She said her daughter created the group -- titled "Screw Apologetics and yo wonky ass sources" -- in hopes of gathering information for teachers who couldn’t answer questions posed to students.

"She was trying to collect information, put it on a CD and hand it over. The teacher would use it because they didn’t have a guide," she said. "Because she took it upon herself to put the school first, they persecuted her for it."

I found myself smiling as I read the story, but I feel bad for Deneen Spinella's daughter, because she was stripped of "her academic titles, including a high-ranking position in the Key Club and her membership in the National Honor Society". I only know what I read in the newspaper, but what the students did does not seem that bad to me.

Though administrators suspended her daughter for attempting to cheat, Spinella said, they misinterpreted her intentions. She said her daughter created the group -- titled "Screw Apologetics and yo wonky ass sources" -- in hopes of gathering information for teachers who couldn’t answer questions posed to students.

The group was removed from the Facebook website for a brief period, but it is now back up. I wasn't able to gain access to it.

Near the top of the page, a description for the group reads "MAYBE I DON’T WANT TO DEFEND THE CATHOLIC FAITH!?" A photo of local Catholic Bishop Sam Jacobs appears in the top right corner.

The group also includes this statement, with no mention of an author: "(This site) was not a way to cheat and if the school administrators would have taken a chance to look at this page then they would no (sic) that no cheating actually occurred on this page."

I don't know the motivation of the student organizer nor the motivation of the students who participated, but it doesn't seem like that big a deal to me. Maybe I'm missing something.

I know that rules are rules, and the parents signed statements, etc., etc., etc., but the teen years are a time of questioning, a time for the young people to find their way. What message do the suspensions send to the students about exploring their faith and addressing their doubts, instead of squelching them? A very wrong message, I'd say. Maybe some of the students don't want to defend the Catholic faith as it's being presented to them. Maybe that's OK.

I attended Roman Catholic schools for 17 years of my life. It was a long time ago, but it seems not much has changed. My only "C" grade in college was in a course called "Christian Marriage". I am convinced that the reason I made that "C" was because I argued with the priest who taught the class about Matthew 19:9, "And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another commits adultery." I said that it seemed to me that Jesus was saying that one was permitted to divorce one's spouse and marry another if the spouse was unfaithful. He said that was not the meaning of the statement. I persisted in my questioning. I argued with him. I wouldn't let it go, with the end result that I made my "C" in the course.

Once, during a job interview, the interviewer said of my college transcript, "All "A's" and "B's". No wait; here's a "C". Let's see what subject the "C' is in. Oh! 'Christian Marriage'." He and I both laughed. And I've only been married for 46 years.

There is questioning, and there is QUESTIONING! QUESTIONING gets you in trouble. Is it possible that the teachers were truly not equipped to deal with the questions of the students? I believe it is. In the courses which prepared them to teach religion classes, perhaps the future teachers were not encouraged to explore their own doubts and questions.

In my humble opinion, the school authorities were harsh in their response. Do the school authorities have a clue about offline conversations among high school students?

"Screw Apologetics and yo wonky ass sources". That's pretty funny.

UPDATE: I have been told that the student who was suspended for nine days would have lost a full scholarship to a private university of good reputation, if she had stayed to serve her suspension at E. D. White.

UPDATE 2: Further discussion on this matter may be found at the website of the Daily Comet Forum.