For the best take that I've seen on the rightness of the decision by the Anglican Consultative Council not to seat the Rev J P Ashey, who "is both a priest of the Church of Uganda and the COO of the AAC (American Anglican Council)" see Tobias Haller's post titled "The Peril of Musical Chairs".
I'm not sure what a COO is, but Tobias' post is eminently sensible.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Update 2 On Tigger The Cat
Tigger is now eating soft cat food on his own. He seemed to have to learn how to eat again. He also drinks on his own, in a somewhat awkward way, with a dipping motion and then licking the water from around his mouth.
My son called the vet to tell her the news, and she could not believe it. She said, "Bring Tigger in. I want to see this. He is a miracle cat." My son said, "I'll take him in, but I'm not paying for a visit." (He's close with his money.) The vet said, "Fine. I have to see him."
Thank you all for the prayers and good wishes. We're not even thinking long term, but, for now, we are happy people.
DON'T BLAME ME! BLAME DOUG!
Hi Mimi....
Remember when I told you that God has a sense of humor--and you doubted me :>)
Well, look what just happened!
A couple of years ago, when I was down in New Orleans, I heard a conversation where some one asked if America would ever have a black President.
The answer, with laughter, was "When pigs fly!" Well, here Obama has been President for 100 days, and swine flu!
Coincidence? I think not!
THROW THE ROTTEN TOMATOES AT HIM!
Remember when I told you that God has a sense of humor--and you doubted me :>)
Well, look what just happened!
A couple of years ago, when I was down in New Orleans, I heard a conversation where some one asked if America would ever have a black President.
The answer, with laughter, was "When pigs fly!" Well, here Obama has been President for 100 days, and swine flu!
Coincidence? I think not!
THROW THE ROTTEN TOMATOES AT HIM!
Please Continue The Prayers For Roseann
Just now, I talked to Gary, Roseann's husband. He said that Roseann was scheduled to go home today, but that she coughed quite a bit last night, and the doctors heard a rattle in her lungs that they did not like, so now they want to keep her in the hospital until that is cleared up.
Needless to say, Roseann was quite disappointed about not going home. It was good to hear Gary's voice, as I feel that I already know him a little. He can't be with Roseann as much as he'd like, because he must work. Pray for both Roseann and Gary. They've had more than their share of trouble.
Needless to say, Roseann was quite disappointed about not going home. It was good to hear Gary's voice, as I feel that I already know him a little. He can't be with Roseann as much as he'd like, because he must work. Pray for both Roseann and Gary. They've had more than their share of trouble.
Mass of Reparation - Part 2
From the Orlando Sentinel:
Upset by an honorary degree being bestowed upon President Barack Obama by the University of Notre Dame, Bishop Thomas Wenski presided over a "Mass of Reparation" Sunday to draw attention to the Catholic Church's opposition to abortion.
....
Wenski, the bishop of the Orlando Diocese, said Notre Dame's embrace of Obama undercuts the efforts of the bishops. Giving Obama an honorary degree from a Catholic university symbolizes support of his policies that run counter to the Church's teachings, Wenski said Sunday before the Mass.
"That's what it implies," he said. "He's [Obama] one of the most radical pro-abortion presidents we've ever had."
From the Washington Post:
There is a vocal and influential constituency of American Catholics who disapprove of the University of Notre Dame's decision to invite President Obama to speak at the Catholic university and receive an honorary degree in mid-May. But almost twice as many Catholics approve of the invite -- not a total shock since the majority of American Catholic voters cast ballots for the president.
(My emphasis)
Upset by an honorary degree being bestowed upon President Barack Obama by the University of Notre Dame, Bishop Thomas Wenski presided over a "Mass of Reparation" Sunday to draw attention to the Catholic Church's opposition to abortion.
....
Wenski, the bishop of the Orlando Diocese, said Notre Dame's embrace of Obama undercuts the efforts of the bishops. Giving Obama an honorary degree from a Catholic university symbolizes support of his policies that run counter to the Church's teachings, Wenski said Sunday before the Mass.
"That's what it implies," he said. "He's [Obama] one of the most radical pro-abortion presidents we've ever had."
From the Washington Post:
There is a vocal and influential constituency of American Catholics who disapprove of the University of Notre Dame's decision to invite President Obama to speak at the Catholic university and receive an honorary degree in mid-May. But almost twice as many Catholics approve of the invite -- not a total shock since the majority of American Catholic voters cast ballots for the president.
(My emphasis)
MadPriest's Prayer List
The Rev. MadPriest posted a long prayer list. Please go over there and pray for the folks on the list. Mixed in with the bad news are bits of good news, for which you may give thanks.
Good News - Bad news
Here in our fair city, we are presently experiencing bad weather, much rain, lightning, and thunder. We were under a tornado alert, but I don't know if we still are. It looks bad enough still out there.
Some months ago, we bought two rather expensive battery-powered lanterns for the hurricane season. At the time we bought them, I suggested that we buy the batteries for them, but Grandpère decided that he was spending enough money on the lanterns, and that he would not buy eight D-batteries right then.
Several months later, we had a power outage which lasted about two hours, during which time we could have used the lanterns, but - alas! - no batteries, which was as much my fault as GP's by then. We finally bought the batteries, and today, we lost power again, but we were able to load the batteries into the lanterns, and - voila! - they worked. Power returned quickly, so we didn't need them, but we are ready for the next time. And it only took about nine months.
That's the good news. The bad news is that swine flu is nearby, and almost certain to be here in our area quite soon. There are confirmed cases in New Orleans and in Lafayette, Louisiana. Returning to good news, most folks in the US seem to be recovering, most without needing hospitalization. Thanks be to God.
Note: We bought green lanterns, not the camouflage version.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
The Truth About Torture
From the Times Online:
Torture is morally abhorrent, self-perpetuating, and illegal. But the most important argument against torture is that it doesn’t work.
No, no, no, no, no! The most important argument against torture is that it is morally abhorrent, self-perpetuating, and illegal! Once you permit the discussion to go in the direction of utility, or, "Does it work?", you yield the moral ground. Moral people, civilized people do not torture, whether it works or does not work. It is shameful that we even have discussions in the media about whether torture is justified. It is never justified.
And now that I've had my little rant, I'll move on to Robin Stephens, the man pictured above and the subject of article in the Times.
Colonel Robin “Tin Eye” Stephens was the commander of the wartime spy prison and interrogation centre codenamed Camp 020, an ugly Victorian mansion surrounded by barbed wire on the edge of Ham Common. In the course of the war, some 500 enemy spies from 44 countries passed through Camp 020; most were interrogated, at some point, by Stephens; all but a tiny handful crumbled.
Stephens was a bristling, xenophobic martinet; in appearance, with his glinting monocle and cigarette holder, he looked exactly like the caricature Gestapo interrogator who has “vays of making you talk”.
When Stephens questioned suspects, he was not Mr Nice Guy. But here's what he said about physical violence:
Stephens did not eschew torture out of mercy. This was no squishy liberal: the eye was made of tin, and the rest of him out of tungsten. (Indeed, he was disappointed that only 16 spies were executed during the war.) His motives were strictly practical. “Never strike a man. It is unintelligent, for the spy will give an answer to please, an answer to escape punishment. And having given a false answer, all else depends upon the false premise.”
Confessions extracted by inflicting pain are most likely to be whatever the victim believes the torturer desires to hear, whatever is necessary to stop the agony.
Yes. Anyone with a functioning brain should now know that torture does not provide useful information, but I doubt that the pro and con discussions will cease. The talking heads on the tee vee and radio will continue to provide "balance" by giving national exposure to advocates of torture, including Darth Cheney.
And those amongst us who believe torture is acceptable may find food for thought in the words of Jean-Paul Sartre:
“You cannot make your young people practise torture 24 hours a day and not expect to pay a price for it.”
Paul the BB and I have discussed the subject of including utility in the discussion of torture more than once in his comments threads, and I thank him for the link to MeMeMeMeMe at Daily Kos, who references the Times piece.
While you're at Paul's place, look at the pictures of his gorgeous roses and the other plants that grow in his garden. He worked hard in his garden today, but he did not go to church. Just sayin'.
On The Mass Of Reparation Today
From David Gibson at dotCommonweal:
Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando is going to lead a Mass of Reparation linked to Notre Dame’s invitation to Obama. This whole thing has truly gone into an alternate universe. The mass is May 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. James in downtown Orlando. The announcement says:
So…what are they making reparation for? Or are they using a mass to point the finger of blame? Amy Welborn tries to put a positive spin on it:
I’d guess it’s more than that, more like what the announcement says, and indeed kind of strange. As Amy notes, Bishop Wenski is no Burkean Romanist, by any stretch. It also seems clear that there are any number of moments to hold a mass of this sort. And I of course also wonder whether such a mass has been held regarding the abuse crisis.
Apart from the politics of this, ecclesial and political, perhaps others can illuminate the use and rationale of a Mass of Reparation. This does seem inadvisable, to say the least, as it feeds divisions when there is no clear judgment that Notre Dame has committed such serious sin.
(My emphasis)
I hope that David does not mind that I copied his entire post. Commonweal is a Roman Catholic periodical.
Since I view the Mass of Reparation as a rather bizarre idea, and I promised myself that I would not be a bitter ex-Catholic, I thought I'd use the commentary from a person inside the church.
Bishop Thomas Wenski of Orlando is going to lead a Mass of Reparation linked to Notre Dame’s invitation to Obama. This whole thing has truly gone into an alternate universe. The mass is May 3 at 6:00 p.m. in the Cathedral of St. James in downtown Orlando. The announcement says:
As Catholics we are aware of the many shortcomings and transgressions committed against the dignity and sacredness of human life in our world. That is why it is inconceivable that Notre Dame University, a Catholic institution of higher learning, should receive and honor anyone who promotes policies that are contradictory to who we are as a people of faith.
As our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI stated in his visit to the U.S. last year in reference to Catholic university presidents, “to justify positions that contradict the faith and teaching of the church would obstruct or even betray the university’s identity and mission.” …
Come and pray with Bishop Wenski for all of our transgressions against the Gospel of Life.
Reparation is the making amends for a wrong done or for an offense against God. By his death on the cross, the Son of God offered his life out of love for the Father to make reparation for our sinful disobedience (CCC #614).
We are obliged to make reparation for personal sins against justice and truth (CCC #2412 and #2487).
So…what are they making reparation for? Or are they using a mass to point the finger of blame? Amy Welborn tries to put a positive spin on it:
If this were, indeed (as some might read it), a Mass in Reparation for the Sins of Notre Dame..that would be inappropriate and kind of strange. But it seems (seems - I’m just guessing) as if what has happened here is an examination of conscience of sorts.
I’d guess it’s more than that, more like what the announcement says, and indeed kind of strange. As Amy notes, Bishop Wenski is no Burkean Romanist, by any stretch. It also seems clear that there are any number of moments to hold a mass of this sort. And I of course also wonder whether such a mass has been held regarding the abuse crisis.
Apart from the politics of this, ecclesial and political, perhaps others can illuminate the use and rationale of a Mass of Reparation. This does seem inadvisable, to say the least, as it feeds divisions when there is no clear judgment that Notre Dame has committed such serious sin.
(My emphasis)
I hope that David does not mind that I copied his entire post. Commonweal is a Roman Catholic periodical.
Since I view the Mass of Reparation as a rather bizarre idea, and I promised myself that I would not be a bitter ex-Catholic, I thought I'd use the commentary from a person inside the church.
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