Center for Ethics and Leadership

2010-01-15T09:29:00.000-08:00

Contemptible Christianity

Working with my students in the introduction to theology last fall, I decided to assign them a few passages from Revelation. Chapter 19 speaks of the enemies of God being cast into the lake of fire and brimstone. This is the beginning of Christianity's argument that God's judgment is terrible and swift for those who align themselves with the devil.

For centuries the church has wrestled with these texts, at times embracing them, and at others providing softer interpretations of them. My guess is that most Christians do not know that the inclusion of Revelation in the New Testament was hotly disputed in the fourth century as the canon was being closed.

The question of whom God judges and how was raised again in the worst way by politican and pastor Pat Robertson yesterday. Robertson has a track record in spiteful Christianity. Readers may recall that he and Jerry Falwell suggested that 9/11 might have been God's punishment for America's sins. Those of us with a special attachment to New Orleans will not forget his attributing that disaster to the Crescent City's unique ambiance.

Robertson has now crossed over into territory that is beyond reprehensible for a Christian pastor. Citing a Haitian legend from the late 18th century that claims that slaves made a pact with the devil to free them from French colonialism, Robertson has located the source of this week's earthquake in divine retribution.

Many have already called Robertson's remarks stupid and racist. Let me call it like it is: contemptible Christianity.

2009-12-08T14:40:00.000-08:00

Here’s to Whimsy – Especially at Christmas

Wandering through my mind looking for something to contribute to the holiday fun . . . Nathan Thomas and I were talking yesterday about working as an actor. If you want to work as an actor, the saying goes, you can always find work. We got to talking about character actors. Like Walter Brennan, who played a crotchety old man from the time he was young and always worked. From there the conversation moved to two of your favorites, I’m sure – Thomas Mitchell and Henry Travers. That’s Uncle Billy and Clarence the Guardian Angel from Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life. They were not particularly attractive any of these men, and they had funny voices. They certainly were not leading men. They played characters, just characters. Can an actor like that work today? Not as easily. The roles aren’t being written as they once were. We left it at that.

Then it was time for me to think about my Christmas wish list. I had not been able to come up with a story line for my Alvernian column, so I decided I might as well tell my wife what I want for Christmas. The Incredible String Band. Was their vinyl ever converted to CD? Yes and yippee!

Yippee for the group that was among the first of the flower children. The Incredible String Band made Donovan, he of Sunshine Superman and Mellow Yellow fame, sound like Lawrence Welk, and they did it entirely acoustically with about a dozen instruments ranging from flute to sitar to, well, you name it. Mike Heron and Robin Williamson, and a few others here and there. I loved them. They were whimsical:

Oh ah ee oo there's absolutely no strife
living the timeless life
I don't need a wife
living the timeless life
If I need a friend I just give a wriggle
Split right down the middle
And when I look there's two of me
Both as handsome as can be
Oh here we go slithering, here we go slithering and squelching on

The above, from The Hangman’s Beautiful Daughter, released in 1968, was a welcome daydream, a tonic coming in the same year that The Rolling Stones asked Lucifer to introduce himself as a man of wealth and taste.

And then it hit me. Who would listen to ISB’s silly lyrics today? What scriptwriters would provide a multi-decade career for Brennan, Mitchell, or Travers? Where has the whimsy gone? Lost perhaps in our self-serious search for leadership. Fortunately, it’s still here at Christmas, a season so joyous because of its very whimsical truth claim – that God wanted to become human rather than the other way ’round -- that flights of fancy are often thought of as the perfect way to capture the Christmas spirit. So here’s a Christmas column dedicated to Clarence, Kris Kringle (for which Edmund Gwenn won a Best Supporting Oscar), Buddy the Elf, red-nosed reindeer, and of course The Waitresses singing Christmas Wrapping. From Robin, Mike and me:

May the long time sun shine upon you
All love surround you
And the pure light within you
Guide you all the way on.

2009-11-30T08:02:00.000-08:00

I'm Trying to be Ecologically Responsible, but I Can't Afford It.

Honest. When I bought my Toyota Corolla more than 200,000 miles ago, I wanted a Prius, but it was 1/3 more than the Corolla. And now Toyota has reworked the Prius, and fully loaded it comes in at about $34,000.

I wanted to put solar panels on my house about five years ago. I think BP, working through Home Depot, wanted 20 grand. The federal rebate made no real difference at that price level.

And did you ever compare the price of organically grown produce with the regular stuff at the supermarket?

I'm trying, honest.

2009-11-24T11:45:00.000-08:00

Left/Right Divide over Catholic Bishops' Campaign

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), celebrating its fortieth year, is once again under attack from the Catholic right. It is an old story. Twenty years ago, William Simon called CCHD "a funding mechanism for radical left political activism in the United States, rather than for traditional types of Catholic charities" (as quoted in F. Kammer, Doing Faithjustice [Paulist Press, 1991]). Twenty years later, a group called Reform CCHD Now (RCN) has again asked the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to closely review the grant awarding activities of CCHD.

To be sure, there have been concerns, most notably with CCHD's funding groups who do not agree with Catholic public policies or have been guilty of corruption themselves. The USCCB has been addressing those problems.

That said, Bishop Roger Morin, chair of the USCCB's subcommittee on CCHD called the allegations outrageous and untruthful. In addition, he said at the November meeting of the USCCB that some of these attacks were motivated by ideological or political agendas. In fact, RCN's web page on CCHD seems as angry over its alleged "radical politics" as its violation of Catholic doctrine. RCN of course called for a lay boycott of the CCHD collection taken last Sunday in most dioceses. Eighteen years ago in Doing Faithjustice, Fr. Fred Kammer pointed out that the attacks on CCHD represented the rejection of wealthy and powerful Catholics of the Church's attempt to side with the poor "by threatening cutbacks on financial support. That would be a traditional exercise of economic and political power."

The American Catholic (Politics and Culture from a Catholic Perspective) took matters a step further. Using a headline to call Bishop Morin a liar, it closed its article with a quote attributed to both Athanasius and John Chrysostom, "The floor of hell is paved with the skulls of bishops." Both were very powerful bishops in the fourth and fifth centuries, by the way, and both are much revered saints.

2009-11-12T13:45:00.000-08:00

It Must Be Good. It Has Upset Left, Right, and Center.

A bill for health care reform has passed the House of Representatives. The most surprising turn of events was Speaker Pelosi's agreement to remove federal funding for abortion from the House version. Three newspapers, the liberal New York Times, the conservative Wall Street Journal, and the centrist Philadelphia Inquirer, all complained about it for different reasons.

The Times was incensed about the eleventh-hour agreement between Pelosi and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to exclude federal funding for abortion altogether from the bill. It editorialized that the action of the USCCB led to the rejection of a compromise that would prevent federal funds for paying for abortion. The USCCB has argued precisely the opposite and claimed that the proposed compromise would have been a mere dodge. (As I write this blog, I still don't quite understand the financing differences.) The Times continues to argue that a woman has a right to abortion services, as does the left. As I wrote three weeks ago, that a woman has a right to have an abortion (current law) does not mean that she has a claim on the government to pay for the procedure. The Times also rejected the idea of independent riders on insurance policies and argued that no one would buy them since "nobody plans to have an unplanned pregnancy." The logical circle (planning the unplanned) notwithstanding, no one plans on getting sick, period.

The Journal ranted along the far right's talking points and argued that this was part "of temporary liberal majorities that are intent on fulfilling their dreams of a cradle-to-grave entitlement state." I wondered when the once-noble Journal began sounding like Fox News and then looked at the masthead and was reminded that Rupert Murdoch, owner of Fox, has purchased the paper. Shame on you, Rupert. You are ruining one of America's great journalistic voices.

The Inquirer rejected the bill on the grounds that it will be too costly, especially for small business and the middle class. Interestingly, freshman Democratic representative John Adler from Philadelphia's New Jersey suburbs, voted against the bill on the same grounds. Adler, however, won a seat that had been Republican for more than a quarter-century, and the governor's seat has just switched parties. Costs come in many forms, not the least of which are the drag that current costs place in hidden ways on the economy.

So there they are, complaints from left, right, and center. Perhaps some political sausage is best made when it does not satisfy any constituency completely.

2009-10-26T15:43:00.000-07:00

Health Insurance Again

I was all set to write about the exemption of health insurance companies from anti-trust legislation when the Associated Press published a story stating that health insurance generates a very low profit margin, rarely 5 percent. Someone had told me that about 20 years ago, and it was one reason I was befuddled by the insurance companies' attempt to defeat President Obama's health care reform bill (and Bill Clinton's before that). Over the weekend, I saw a statement that said we do not have a healthcare problem, we have a healthcare insurance problem. What we need are more facts and debate.

2009-10-26T14:17:00.000-07:00

Go Phillies! A Lesson in Positive Leadership

For several weeks now I have been thinking of Phillies manager Charlie Manuel as a model of excellent top management that can truly be called leadership, positive leadership.

Oh, Charlie can make the tough decisions when necessary. This year's Brad Lidge story should find its way into every management and leadership text. For those of you who don't follow sports, Lidge had one of the best year's in baseball history for a man at his position last year, and this year he had one of the worst. Manuel removed him from the most critical moments, but never lost confidence in him and now Lidge is nearly his old self. There are many more examples.

So I was surprised and pleased to see a front-page article on Charlie's leadership style in Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer in which a Wharton professor and an important Philadelphia-area CEO talked about what exceptional leadership and management skills Manuel has. Leaders who stay positive can accomplish much. Charlie's team is the current world champion that now is the first National League team in more than 30 years to return to the World Series the following year to defend the title.

2009-10-26T14:05:00.000-07:00

That Anglican Thing

By now you have gotten a basic understanding of Pope Benedict's most recent apostolic constitution inviting traditional Anglicans into the Roman Catholic Church through an expedited process. Anglicans opposed to the ordination of women and to same-sex Christian marriage will have their own jurisdiction within the Roman Catholic church. Married Anglican priests will be able to continue priestly duties within the new jurisdiction.

There have been many different reactions to the decision. An op-ed in today's New York Times suggested that Benedict may be looking to strengthen European Christianity against Islam. Some Catholics have called for the ability of all Catholic priests to marry. Some have wondered if Benedict is trying to shore up a conservative constituency by adding these Anglicans and also reconciling with the Society of St. Pius X. It seems leaders of the Church of England were caught somewhat unaware.

The story has gotten press for a few weeks now, and that is unusual for news in religion. I look at this cautiously as a good thing, but it does raise questions.

2009-10-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

Bishops Revise Statement on Jewish-Christian Dialogue

Last June, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) issued a correction to the existing statement on Catholic-Jewish dialogue that angered Jews in the dialogue. (See my September 16 blog entry.) Last week, they issued a new statement. The bishops said explicitly that Jewish-Catholic dialogue was neither intended to convert Jews, nor to invite them to baptism. The clarification is welcome, since the bishops themselves realized that the previous document had resulted both in misunderstanding and hurt feelings.

2009-10-11T17:56:00.000-07:00

Franciscan Cardinal Backs Women Religious

Sean Cardinal O'Malley, Cardinal Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Boston, used the opening of an exhibit sponsored by the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) to praise them and all sisters for the work they do and have done over the years. LCWR currently represents about 95 percent of religious sisters on the United States.

The cardinal's remarks are significant since LCWR is currently under investigation by the Vatican for questioning controversial church issues such as the ordination of women. LCWR is a more liberal coalition of sisters that has drawn criticism from conservative Catholics over the years. The group's leaders met with the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the
Faith in 2001. LCWR also has seen itself as progressive in interpreting Vatican II and its members are dedicated to working in the world to effect justice. Current leadership of LCWR, both president and president-elect, are Franciscan sisters.

2009-10-11T17:25:00.000-07:00

Congratulations, Mr. President

Congratulations to Barack Obama on being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. That's what you say when your president wins something like that. Unfortunately, the right-wing has decided to insult the Nobel committee, even as it celebrated the loss of Chicago's Olympic bid. The Grand Old Party, with no spokespersons other than these, has now become the party of bitterness and spite. And of course some have insisted on bringing race into it negatively.

I did not realize the Nobel Peace Prize had an affirmative action quota for it, but that is the only thing I can think of for this news . . . The Peace Prize reaffirms it s a joke. But now a sad joke.

That's from Erick Erikson of frequently searched conservative blog redstate.com.

Sigh.

2009-10-03T07:50:00.000-07:00

Some Thoughts on Health Care Reform

Two of the more fiercely debated issues in health care reform concern the public option and federal coverage of abortion. I have been trying to figure out the pros and cons of a public option for a while now, and I am sorry that the Senate rejected it, but glad that the House holds on to it. It seems that a public option if properly structured would go a long way toward reaching a goal of universal coverage. Those opposed to it say it would put the insurance companies out of business and lead to government-run health care.

I wondered about this. After all, Medicare already represents a large portion of the health care economy and also has been modified to allow for private insurers to sell supplemental products. I have worried about American corporations dropping their health insurance benefit and most of the population moving to a public option, but not for fear of "socialized medicine." That exodus, if it occurred, would require an enormous increase in taxes and also relieve American corporations of a tremendous operating cost that grows more severe each year. Now, that tax increase, the cynic in me argues, would not be borne by the corporations but by ordinary taxpayers. In other words, there would be a windfall to the corporations and their shareholders. Would there be a transfer of wealth upward?

I went Googling and found an editorial from last June from the Salt Lake City Tribune that helps. The following is a close paraphrase of what was written.

A good deal depends on how the public option is designed. If eligilibility is limited to such persons as the self-employed or small employers and premiums follow the current Medicare schedule, about 32 million would drop private insurers, not a serious shift. If private insurers's rates were used, only 10 million people would switch from private plans. A public option open to all at current Medicare rates would lead to 131 million people leaving private insurers. The editorial claimed that this transfer would decimate private insurers, but did not address the ways in which the last design would affect the provision of health care in the U.S. Would that be the cost restriction the health care sector so sorely needs?

As for coverage of abortion, The New York Times strongly editorialized in favor of abortion coverage on October 1. Said the Times, "In a rational system of medical care, there would be virtually no restrictions on financing abortions." Not so. In a rational system of medical care we might have a more genuine debate about the difference between rights that prohibit government interference in personal freedoms, and rights that obligate government support. The first are called negative rights (the government may not) and the second positive rights (the government should). One's freedom of speech does not require a government-bought megaphone.

The negative right of freedom of reproductive choice is well established in American jurisprudence. Even the very conservative justice and Catholic, Chief Justice John Roberts, said during his confirmation hearings that he considered Roe v. Wade to be stare decisis (settled law). At issue is whether the positive right to federally funded abortion exists. Contra the Times, the plans put forward do not "constitute an improper government intrusion in Americans' private lives."

2009-10-03T07:20:00.000-07:00

Facebook, Immaturity, and Presidential Threats

My hope is that by now most of you know of the poll put on Facebook that asked if the president should be assassinated. There are also groups on Facebook with such titles as "Let's Kill Bush with Shoes" with more than 400 members.

I have written about civility before; that is, I do not think these items have been posted by those who pose a serious danger to presidents present and past.

But can anyone get that some stuff just isn't funny?

2009-09-16T17:25:00.000-07:00

Difficulties in Catholic-Jewish Dialogue

It has only been a short time since the exhibit, A Blessing to One Another, closed here at Alvernia University, but certain statements issued by the Catholic Church over the last few months have put a strain on Catholic-Jewish interreligious dialogue.

The first was a correction issued by the U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) to an earlier document on Catholic-Jewish relations. The correction added that Catholics should always witness their faith. A few days ago, the Vatican approved a change to the Catechism that removed the statement that the covenant with Moses remains eternally valid for the Jews and instead now speaks of the covenants, the promises, the patriarchs, and the law belonging to them. The change was made to indicate that the covenants made with the Jews are fulfilled in Christ said the USCCB.

Add to these two recent statements the restoration a few years ago of the earlier Good Friday liturgy that prays for the conversion of the Jews and the Vatican's ignorance of Bishop Richard Williamson's denial of the Holocaust, and Jewish partners in the dialogue are concerned.

This glass is half-empty and half-full. All of these statements are aimed not externally at Judaism, but internally at Catholic theologians, or for the benefit of traditional Catholics, or at the reconciliation of schismatics with the Church. Unfortunately, interreligious dialogue has changed the rules of the game and theological statements must take the faith of non-Christians and non-Catholic Christians into account before they are finalized. The decrees of Vatican II make this consideration necessary.

Should Christians always witness their faith? Yes. In addition, however, the clarification states explicitly that Catholics should not proselytize Jews, so this statement is of less concern, or should be. Does the covenant with Moses remain eternally valid for Jews? Yes. Although Christians have always seen Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of the prophets (read Matthew's Gospel), Paul is very clear in Romans 9-11 about the permanency of God's covenant with the Jews. Consequently, God's relationship with the Jews is God's work, and this Pauline point raises questions about praying for their conversion, something for which Paul never asks. And once Pope Benedict was informed of Bishop's Williamson's statements, he took swift action. Of course, Vatican aides should have caught the problem earlier.

So things have gotten a little rough. Hopefully dialogue will continue. But statements from some rightfully concerned Jews have been harsh. There should be no threat to cut off dialogue, as there has been. More dialogue is called for.

2009-09-16T09:47:00.000-07:00

Sister Barred From Teaching for Supporting Women's Ordination

Archbishop Daniel Pilarcyk of Cincinnati has barred from teaching at parishes and institutions Sister of Charity Louise Akers for her support of women's ordination. Sister Akers had placed her name on a website for the Women's Ordination Conference. She agreed to remove it in conversation with the archbishop, but refused in conscience to make a public renunciation of her position.

Catholic bloggers have reacted strongly on both sides of the issue, although the website I searched, WLWT, channel 5, in Cincinnati, seemed to have more Catholics critical of the archbishop and the church hierarchy in general. The issues were three: the sexual abuse scandal (again!), the accusation of sexism in the Church, and the accusation of hypocrisy in banning Sister Akers for what she reduced to a private position of conscience but providing Sen. Kennedy a Catholic funeral. The ferment among the laity continues.

As for the theological issue itself, a few years ago Pope John Paul II called the teaching on women's ordination definitive and forbade further public discussion of it. This caused some concern since the Church does not have a category of teaching classified as definitive but not infallible. In addition, while there has been some protest against the position that Catholics may not dissent publicly against Church teaching, the issue of a faithful Catholic's private dissent in conscience is more strongly debated.

This is a very difficult issue that will roil the Church for some time.

2009-09-16T09:11:00.000-07:00

Does Racism Play a Role?

It took a white Southerner to finally say what has been whispered for a while. Jimmy Carter told NBC Nightly News that much of the opposition to President's Obama's proposals was based on racism. Response was quick. Joe Wilson's (R-SC) son said that his father was no racist and that the matter was about policy. African-American Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele agreed. But Dick Harpootlian, former chair of South Carolina's Democrats said that while he did not think Wilson was racist, his remarks encouraged those with racist attitudes toward the president. African-American Congressman, and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-SC), who supported Wilson financially early in Wilson's career, was not so sure about the integrity of Wilson's motives. The White House says the president does not think racism plays a role.

The racial remarks have surfaced now and again since Obama's candidacy. There is something happening here.

2009-09-16T08:54:00.000-07:00

Financial Messes and Corporate Welfare III

A year after the Lehman collapse, the last thing I thought I would be doing is writing about Wall Street's irresponsibility again, but President Obama needed the anniversary of the meltdown to reprimand the financial community and warn that there would not be a second bailout.

It seems the previous behaviors have crept back in -- if they ever left. The courts had to reject the sweetheart settlement that arose from the Merrill Lynch/Bank of America merger; financial houses are once again lending with more risk than they should, and even the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) has backed down under pressure from Congress, which, of course, is under pressure from lobbyists.

We hear the same tired rhetoric: regulation stymies the market and, besides, is unnecessary. The high pay is legitimate because it is pay for performance. Can anyone understand that regulation should exist because humans misbehave? Does anyone ask whether the compensation formulas are in themselves appropriate? Can we have a conversation about the social responsibility of corporations and a genuine understanding of the jobs and savings lost by average Americans as the financial shock waves rippled through all society as they still are doing?

Where are the ethics? Where is the leadership?

2009-09-10T07:41:00.000-07:00

Civility II

Some Catholics were outraged that Sen Kennedy received a Catholic funeral because of his position on abortion. Fortunately, Cardinal O'Malley, a Franciscan, defended his presiding over the requiem liturgy. This is more than a question of civility as the cardinal pointed out. It is about whether we believe in the mercy and forgiveness of God, or whether we think we have the authority to say, as one objector put it, that the mass was one more example of the senator spitting in the face of Christ.

2009-09-10T07:30:00.000-07:00

Civility I

I'm running to catch a plane, so I will be brief. No sooner had one of my doctoral students criticized those who wanted to keep President Obama's Tuesday speech out of their schools as disrespectful of the office of the president, than Rep. Joe Wilson (R, S.C.) called the president a liar during his health care speech to Congress. What is happening to us?

2009-09-06T14:31:00.000-07:00

The Importance of Unions

Thursday's (September 2) New York Times (which my undergraduates are supposed to be reading) carried an editorial that reported research done by UCLA on low-wage American workers. The survey found abuses in overtime worked but not paid for, wages below the legal minimum wage, illegal deductions to pay for tools or other expenses, and so on. The Times called the report "an acute picture of powerlessness."

There is more. I have written before about "mobbing" in the workplace, which is when bosses and co-workers pick on an employee until the employee suffers greatly, and the risks of whistle blowing are well known. The Times writes, "Workers who complained to bosses or government agencies or tried to form unions suffered illegal retaliation: firing, suspension, pay cuts or threats to call immigration authorities."

The Times calls for more rigorous government investigation of complaints, especially where immigrant workers are concerned, but the answer is more basic still.

We need a return to the power of the union.

Unions have been blamed for much. Many would blame them for the decline of the auto industry. They are said to interfere with global competitiveness. But that competitiveness is made possible only by exploited foreign workers, often women and children. And Detroit knew long ago about the changing automobile market and workplace and did nothing.

Unions have been under assault since Ronald Reagan fired the air traffic controllers in the early 80s. At approximately 20 percent membership then, they are now only at 12 percent of the American workforce. They never were stronger than about one-third of the workforce.

One hundred and eighteen years ago, Pope Leo XIII argued for the moral legitimacy and economic necessity of unions. Those reasons, primary among them fairness in the distribution of wealth generated by modern economies, remain valid today. Most of us, including the well educated knowledge workers among us, would benefit from strong unions today.

2009-09-06T14:12:00.000-07:00

An Attempt to Save Newspapers, Again

Alvernia's new Vice President of University Life and Student Learning Experiences, Joseph Cicala, has brought a program to campus meant to involve current undergraduates in reading the newspaper. It is a daunting task. News is, after all, available in the palm of one's hand with the right model of cellular phone. And the brevity of the digital transmission is print's greatest challenge. Not the immediacy, the brevity. Unfortunately, newspapers are about anything but brevity.

If you have been reading this blog, you know that I am quite dedicated to the importance of newspapers to American society, and so I have incorporated Mr. Cicala's USA Today Collegiate Readership Program into my introductory theology course. Here's hoping I spark some interest.

2009-08-19T14:31:00.000-07:00

The Right's Irresponsible Attack on Health-Care Reform

I have kept away from explicitly political positions during this blog's 16-month life, but enough is enough. No one is going to condemn old people to death. The only responsible moral position about end-of-life care is to discuss openly and generously the way of dieing nobly. No philosophy or religion advocates a win-at-all-costs end-of-life strategy.

The town hall ruckuses are clearly orchestrated. Enough.

Medicare is "socialized" medicine that, like social security, often provides recipients more benefits than they have paid in. The United States has had a mixed public-private healthcare system since Medicare was passed in 1965, and healthcare providers have negotiated reimbursement with for-profit payors (insurance companies) for years. And the name-calling "socialized" is as politically unintelligent as it is morally bereft.

A public option may work well, as would the reorganization and assignation of pools of citizens to insurance companies that did not allow the companies to "cherry-pick" only the healthy for customers. Health insurance is not like auto insurance because medical care is not like automotive transportation.

Healthcare became taken for granted in the 1940s when American business petitioned Congress to exempt health insurance from income taxes on the employee so that business could attract more employees. Now American business claims that the cost of health insurance hinders its ability to compete globally. Does this mean that to remain competitive American workers will have to give up access to "the best healthcare in the world"? Might as well have socialized medicine. And the single-payor (government) option should at least have been brought to the table, although even healthcare economists (not the yahoos at the town hall meetings) are unsure of it.

Almost 20 years ago when healthcare was only 14 percent of the GDP, it was thought to be a drag on the economy. It is now 18 percent. Reform is necessary, for the sake of the uninsured and for the sake of the economy.

Enough.

2009-08-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

Two Michaels, Two Controversies

Michael Jackson and Michael Vick, people sure like to be hatin' on 'em.

So here goes. MJ was a genius. When he died, the various music video cable channels played his greatest videos over and over. They were and are terrific, as are the songs and his performances. He was a very frightened child who grew up into a very troubled man. I never bought the accusations, however, and a few weeks ago a guy from my old neighborhood -- I might have gone to high school with his older brother -- who spent time as Michael's bodyguard was on the radio promoting his new book. He didn't buy the accusations, either. He said Michael was set up, and this guy had no reason to lie.

As for Michael Vick, he served his time and that's that. The Eagles waxed righteous and talked about giving him a second chance. Baloney! Their failed second string quarterback, Kevin Kolb, is injured, and they are in trouble at the only position that the organization thinks is sacrosanct, quarterback. Vick is not a good quarterback, although immensely talented, but he is a legitimate NFL quarterback. And he was cheap at $1.6 million.

2009-08-19T14:07:00.000-07:00

Welcome Back! And, Greetings to First-Year Students!

This is a brief note to returning students to welcome them back to Alvernia University. I hope you had a good summer.

I am teaching the introductory course in theology this fall, and consequently will have a few of you who are new to college in my class. Remember that you are supposed to respond to this blog, so I hope to see you.

It is a new academic year, and my new year's resolution is to blog much more frequently.

2009-08-03T17:50:00.000-07:00

Catholics More Comfortable with Same -Sex Marriage?

Mark Silk of Trinity College in Connecticut has looked at a study about to be released by two political scientists at Columbia University on the matter of gay rights, hate crimes and related issues. Silk has drawn the conclusion, from his own and the additional research, that states with a larger percentage of Catholics may be more likely to support same-sex marriage. USA Today writer Cathy Lynn Grossman calls this finding counter-intuitive and says it may have to do with liberal Catholics' understanding of social justice.

It may be neither.

Andrew Greeley's sociological work has long argued the very positive evaluation of sexual intimacy that distinguishes Catholics from other segments of the population. He has also argued that the same sacramental imagination that leads Catholics to see the work of God in creation leads them to this optimistic view of sex and their lesser condemnation of premarital sex. If Catholics think that faithful same-sex relationships can be fulfilling, their reasons may neither challenge intuition, proclaim justice, nor defy church teaching. It may be just that Catholics are being Catholic.