Your Tax Dollars at Work for a Healthier America

Memorial of St. Jerome

Here's the truffle quote from the CBS report regarding the USDA's new MyPyramid Blast Off computer game:

Third-grader Saurav Khulal said the game was fun as he played it in the school computer lab. Saurav said he might play it "a little bit" at home, but he prefers games like Pokemon during the half-hour of computer time his parents allow.

Any guesses on how much this little bit of non-subsidiarity cost to develop?

Aside:

I didn't expect that my Atkins-like diet would get me to "Planet Power," but I was (mildly) surprised by the absence of some of my regular food selections. I wonder what the Egg Board and the strawberry growers think of the game...

See, I Told You That That Other Diary is a Hoax

(cap tip: Spirit Daily)

The Paradoxy of St. Benedict, University of Mary Unveils Sculpture

[Welcome, Catholic Carnival Readers!]

From the Bismarck Tribune:

Hauer Theater was standing-room-only on Thursday, [September 8th,] or in the case of University of Mary students, sitting-in-the-aisle-room-only, as sculptor Greg Mueller presented a view of the process that brought his bronze sculpture of St. Benedict to a sheltered square of lawn outside the Benedictine Center for Servant Leadership, under the shadow of the massive bell tower that anchors the campus and monastery south of Bismarck.

Mueller, an artist at Bowling Green State University in Ohio, was commissioned to create U-Mary's first piece of outdoor sculpture through a gift from Myron and Marge Atkinson, of Bismarck, who were present at [the] convocation, along with members of the Benedictine religious community, teachers and students.

St. Benedict was lowered into place beforehand by crane, resting on a hexagonal pedestal designed as an ode to the angular Marcel Breuer geometry of the buildings on campus, Mueller said.

Mueller brought video and slides, an inside look at the creation of the 15-foot bronze sculpture, a process akin to working in a steel mill or a foundry - lots of physical labor, muscle, solder, metal and mess as shapes are created, turned inside-out, outside-in, as the sculptor creates several positive and negative images of the piece, building it up in layers and sections with materials such as aluminum, burlap, wax, steel, copper and plaster.

In the end, patina-ed and complete, the piece is given a good rubbing of paste wax and set down in its place, and viewers see a sixth century monastic in rough robes, shaven-headed, barefoot, descending a 12-runged ladder, symbolic of the 12 virtues of the Rule of Benedict.

The theme of the work is "humility," Mueller said, a strong theme in the Rule of Benedict that guides Benedictine monastic life, descending in humbleness, with the byproduct of spiritual ascension.

Worn robes and bare feet suggest simplicity; the shaven head, a typical look of Roman slaves, represents Benedict's "slavery to truth," he said.

Traditionally, Benedict is seen holding his Rule in one hand, but in this piece, his free hand is empty, open, "extending the offer to follow the Rule," Mueller said.

Mueller first rubbed shoulders with Benedictines at St. John's University at Collegeville, Minn. Architect Marcel Breuer, who designed the great themes of U-Mary and Annunciation Monastery, is an architectural hero of his, he said.

So, details of St. Benedict's look, such as the bold, simple and angular crozier, or shepherd's staff, incorporated into the piece, pay respect to Breuer's love of massive Egyptian form and use of geometric detail, he said.

If people see this piece and think about humility, "It's done its job in a divided world," Mueller said.

University of Mary photo
Disclaimers: First, Mr. Mueller is my cousin-in-law, and second, I have only seen the sculpture from the picture on the University of Mary's web site, and photographs never, ever do justice to a sculpture.

I knew that Mr. Mueller had been working on this sculpture for some time, but this is nothing of what I envisioned. His is not the Benedict that is often depicted as old and frail, like the icon that graces this blog. This is a young, powerful man offering that we follow him up the sturdy, hard-edged (OK--bold, if you will) ladder of humility. As often happens, it is a counterintuitive juxtaposition that reveals the Truth, that which preserved Western civilization through the monastic life, in this case. Imitating Jesus Christ's complete submission of His perfect human will to the Father, it is a vigorous Benedict's humility that is our example today for aligning ourselves to the Grace that may undo the dictatorship of relativism.

Anarchy and the UN

Memorial of St. Wenceslaus
Memorial of St. Lawrence Ruiz and companions

A Coalition for Darfur Post

As Darfur descends into anarchy, the United Nations appears unable to do any more than express concerns and continue to ask the parties involved to cease their violent attacks.

After rebels attacked and took control of the town of Sheiria last week, the Sudanese army said it was prepared to retake the town, to which the rebels replied that they would "repulse anything from the Sudanese government's army."

The upsurge in violence forced thousands more out of the villages, swelling the ranks of the internally displaced that already numbers nearly 2 million.

As the violence was raging, even the UN's own Special Representative Jan Pronk, a man who tends to see everything in Sudan through rose-colored glasses, was forced to admit that the violence was spiraling out of control. He was joined by the US government, which stated that the "uptick in violence ... is of concern to us" and the UN's genocide advisor, Juan Mendez, who acknowledged that Khartoum had done little to disarm militias or end the "culture of impunity" that exists in Darfur.

Pronk went on to state that the UN must give the Sudanese government and rebels an ultimatum to compel them to reach some sort of peace agreement and even made the startling admission that, thus far, the UN has utterly failed to deal with Darfur

Pronk said that when the Darfur conflict began U.N. humanitarian officials agitated for the Security Council to take up the conflict, which it refused to do.

A "massive force" was needed [in 2003] then to guarantee security but instead several thousand African Union troops and monitors had to carry the burden. And now the council needed to plan for how to keep the peace in case a peace deal was signed.

Pronk was quoted elsewhere as saying

He said the war situation in Sudan was "everybody's failure" and could have been avoided if the international community had acted quickly.

How could the present day situation have been avoided?

"I think there should have been intervention in 2003," Pronk said, adding that while the occurrence of genocide in the country was debatable, "There was mass slaughter of people. It needed humanitarian intervention."

Of course, the international community did not act quickly, nor are they acting quickly now.

In fact, while Darfur burned, the BBC reported that American and British intelligence officials, along with representatives of the UN, China and 12 African nations were in Khartoum discussing cooperation on counter-terrorism operations in the region.

Hosting the conference is part of a sustained diplomatic push by Sudan to shake off its pariah status ... When the opportunity for this second regional conference on counter-terrorism came up, Sudan competed for the right to host it ... The decision of the CIA to agree to come to Sudan shows the pragmatism of the intelligence community against the continuing political desire of America to punish Sudan for what has happened in Darfur.

Khartoum continues to work to "shake off its pariah status," with Sudanese Ambassador Khidir Haroun Ahmed publishing an op-ed in the Washington Times today claiming that "After two decades of brutal civil war, Sudan is emerging as a reminder that engagement, dialogue and intensive diplomacy can resolve seemingly intractable problems and permit a country to look to the future with optimism."

Meanwhile, the violence and anarchy Khartoum unleashed is now spilling over into neighboring Chad, a country that is already host to an estimated 200,000 refugees from Darfur

A group of unidentified armed men in military uniform crossed into Chad from Sudan early on Monday, killing 36 herders and stealing livestock, the Chadian government said.

The violence, in addition to threatening the people of Darfur, is also threatening the relief work that sustains them, as U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator Jan Egeland noted yesterday

"If it (the violence) continues to escalate, we may not be able to sustain our 0perations for 2.5 million people requiring life-saving assistance," he said, adding: "In Darfur, it (aid distribution) could all end tomorrow. It is as serious as that."

As Eric Reeves never fails to remind us, in December 2004, Egeland warned that 100,000 people could die a month if humanitarian organizations are forced to suspend operations in Darfur.

Despite all of this, Pronk still managed to recently declare that progress was being made on implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between the North and South and on efforts to reach peace in Darfur.

Such a statement is utterly feckless and shameful.

As Gerald Caplan, author of "Rwanda: The Preventable Genocide," wrote last week

But what we are learning from Darfur, which we never remotely imagined, is that even naming a genocide is an utterly inconsequential exercise in hot air ... despite the apparent concern of many western leaders, despite the pressure from elements of civil society, the catastrophe in Darfur is explicitly allowed to continue ... As always, everything takes precedence over the suffering and death of hundreds of thousands of distant, exotic others. It won't be the last time."

After two years, 400,000 deaths, and an estimated 3.5 million now entirely dependent on humanitarian aid, it must be stated that the UN and every one of its member nations have failed the people of Darfur and, in all likelihood, will continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

High Court Could Address Partial-birth Rulings by Next Spring

Solicitor General Paul Clement has filed an appeal asking the Supreme Court to reinstate a national ban on partial-birth abortions. The law was challenged before it took effect and has never been enforced. Rulings in New York, California, and Nebraska have found that the law was unconstitutional because of the lack of a health exception, a measure of undue burden on a woman desiring an abortion as determined by the Supreme Court decision 5-4 to strike down Nebraska's partial-birth abortion law in 2000, with retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor voting with the majority

The Supreme Court is already dealing with a similar issue, where New Hampshire's parental notification law lacks an exception allowing a minor to have an abortion to protect her health in the event of a medical emergency.

The Bush administration thinks that the court should review both cases because the partial-birth case involves the constitutionality of a significant act of Congress that has been invalidated and permanently enjoined by the lower courts.

The earliest that justices could hear arguments on the law is next spring. The court is expected to have two new members by then with the confirmation of Chief Justice nominee John Roberts and a replacement for Justice O'Connor.

If we weren't going to get fireworks on the second nominee before, we are all but guaranteed them now.

For the Love of St. Pete Already!

Amy Wellborn makes a comment about the Holy Father meeting with a poster-child of popular heterodoxy, Fr. Hans Küng, and we get a[nother] scuffle breaking out in the comment box that spills over to CAEI between the "Cyber-Fatwa Tribunal of Faithful Conservative Catholics™" and "St. Blogs Charity Gestapo (patent pending)."

OK, I might buy that after a pastoral pattern of "reaching out" to Jews, Muslims, Protestants, Orthodox, and the SSPX, rather than responding with "Awesome" this better merits a half-intensity Mel Allen "How about that?" but is this really waging the good warfare? Do we not think the dictatorship of relativism is challenging enough that we have to walk through the Catholic blogosphere with a full snark clip and the hair-trigger set?

Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man. We can lose this priceless gift, as St. Paul indicated to St. Timothy: "Wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting conscience, certain persons have made shipwreck of their faith." To live, grow and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our faith; it must be "working through charity," abounding in hope, and rooted in the faith of the Church.

Catechism of the Catholic Church, 162

It's clarity and charity, boys. Clarity and charity.

Tagging the Vote

Memorial of St. Vincent de Paul

Patrick Ruffini has another GOP straw poll up this month. This time he adds a "tagging" feature for self-identification so you can track candidates by the voter issues they attract. It may be of note to Minnesotans that Gov. Tim Pawlenty is now among the choices. That doesn't include me, however. Ideologically (which is what straw polls ought to be about, this early anyway), I'm more of a Brownback/Allen type for now.

(cap tip: Hanging onto Nothing)

Catholic Carnival XLIX is Up at On the Other Foot

Who's the Wise Guy?

Memorial of Ss. Cosmas and Damian

I had seen a few news reports last Friday around noon about the release of an alleged diary of a cardinal written during the conclave, including vote tallies. The tenor of all of them is that, much to everyone's surprise, then-Cardinal Ratzinger did not run away with the election. How one of the shortest conclaves in history with alleged vote percentages increasing from just over 40% after the first ballot to nearly 75% only three ballots later is not a runaway is a bit puzzling to me, but whatever. The other bit of buzz is that the only other real contender was Jorge Cardinal Bergoglio, archbishop of Buenos Aires, not the heterodox darling Carlo Cardinal Martini of Milan as has been generally presumed since Benedict's elevation.

So why "alleged?" My suspicions were not raised when I read the release from the Italian news agency ANSA (cap tip: Papabile), even though commenters suggested the possibility that somebody is lying. It was this bit from the AP:

Finally, the diary includes a few surprises, including a vote in the final ballot for Cardinal Bernard Law, forced to resign as Boston archbishop because of the church sex abuse scandal.

So we have one of three possibilities: 1.) Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, there is a cardinal who believed Cardinal Law was the right man for the job, 2.) Instead of submitting to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, there was a wise guy trying to be funny, or make some still unknown point, or 3.) The diary is a hoax. I refuse to believe option 1 for various reasons, so until and unless Wise Cardinal Guy is revealed, I am sticking with option 3.

The Troglodyte Top 12

No big shake-ups--Louisville is out, MSU is in. I will eventually get this to the side bar...

Rank. Team (Previous)
1. Texas (1)
2. USC (2)
3. Virginia Tech (3)
4. LSU (4)
5. Florida (5)
6. Georgia (6)
7. Florida State (7)
8. Miami, FL (9)
9. Ohio State (10)
10. California (11)
11. Tennessee (12)
12. Michigan State (--)

Some of Why I Blog

Oswald Sobrino, of Catholic Analysis, reflected recently after learning of the new journal, Dappled Things, on why so many of us like to write . In doing so, he gives a fair rendering of my own motivations.

For me and I think for many others, writing is not so much an escape from reality as a way into reality. In writing, we order the jumble of thoughts and desires inside of us--I am excluding those who practice the "stream of consciousness" form of writing which seems to me more akin to painting or composing. The act of writing brings order and logic which reveals new depths to what we think. In the act of writing, value is added, something new emerges that was not present before the laptop was opened. That something new is insight and enlightenment.

For the secular, writing is therapeutic because it expresses and releases our feelings and desires. But for the Catholic or Christian it is much more. For the Catholic, writing is a way of praying, of listening to God. We try to order our thoughts, all along, asking the Holy Spirit to be our muse, as John Milton (1608-1674) did in the beginning of Paradise Lost. That invocation is why for many of us writing is a sort of sacrament with a small "s": we discover things we did not know before we began writing. Our writings are certainly not infallible; but if we invoke the only true Muse, we should expect some progress, however gradual and halting, in attaining wisdom for ourselves and others. So the new journal is a good thing. If done right, it will be a catalogue of "prayers"-- if the writers follow Milton's example. May the young writers of this new journal share Milton's ambition and his humble invocation of the Holy Spirit.

May they indeed.

Illinoisans Don't Need No Stinkin' Voice

An Illinois state House committee approved a proposal 10-3 to use taxpayer dollars for embryonic stem cell research. The bill, sponsored by a Republican, would establish the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute and use state money to fund it.

This would not seem remarkable except that the committee chairman, Chicago Democrat, Rep. Dan Burke 1.) blocked opponents by calling for a vote before they could give any testimony against the measure, and 2.) substituted several lawmakers who backed the measure for absent legislators who opposed it.

Robert Gilligan, executive director of the Catholic Conference of Illinois, and others were only able to speak to the bill after Mr. Burke called for a vote. Gilligan said such a move is a violation of long-standing protocol of letting those for and against a bill speak before a vote is taken.

This follows Illinois becoming the first state in the country to establish a stem cell research institute without input from the public. In July, Gov. Rod Blagojevich issued an executive order to create the Illinois Regenerative Medicine Institute, which he plans to open before the year is over. Taxpayers were told in a press conference in Chicago that state funds would cover the $10 million start up cost for the IRMI, with details about ongoing funding, fiscal accountability, and research methodology to be determined later.

Those who have dismissed Pope Benedict's reference to our building a dictatorship of relativism as a just metaphor may want to take a look at this behavior and reconsider.

Rebutting My Rebuttal

Scott Carson of An Examined Life has posted a response to my three replies (beginning here). It appears in one case that I am the party guilty of careless reading. Mea culpa. In any case, his is a thoughtful post, making a nice change of pace from the bulk of the ID "debate." He brings out some important subtleties. I recommend the post and his blog.

For my part, I am still not sure whether I agree with him, but having just eaten and wanting to avoid a sideache, I'm going to wait before I jump back into the ID debate pool. I will probably noodle on this a little before I close out this part of the discussion.

Pope's Diplomatic Immunity is being Challenged

In a Predictable move, Houston attorney Daniel Shea said that Pope Benedict XVI should be considered the head of a church, not the head of state, as he moved to challenge a filing by Assistant Attorney General Peter Keisler in Houston federal court to grant the pope immunity.

Three unidentified males claim they were abused 10 years ago and the church not only did not do enough to stop child abuse by priests, but assisted in it. The Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, Archbishop Joseph Fiorenza, and Monsignor William Pickard are also named in the suit, as is a former seminarian, Juan Carlos Patino Arango, who has allegedly fled the country.

Beyond the typical lawyering that gives lawyers a bad name, I don't understand the point of this move. It is an extreme longshot to keep the pope, named as Joseph Ratzinger, a defendant in this case. First, there would need to be a finding that he is not a head of state and does not merit immunity, when, of course, he is a head of state. Second, there has to be a credible claim that the pope either assisted abuse personally, or facilitated it with intent through policy directives. How could this not get dismissed outright?

Justice demands that if abuse did occur, then those directly responsible must be held to account. Re the pope, however, this is a fishing trip that ought to come home with an empty stringer and if succussful will likely only extend whatever time for reconciliation is needed between the church and these men.

Nevertheless, it would not surprise me in the least to see some plaintiff in a country with, shall we say, a more pliable rule of law (or maybe the 9th Circuit) try to use this as a basis to draw the pope in as a defendant for some other case(s); a Predictable move from a Dictator of Relativism. We'll be keeping an eye out for it.

The Descent into Anarchy

A Coalition for Darfur Post

One week ago, experts and observers warned that Darfur risked "sliding into a perpetual state of lawlessness." At a time when Khartoum and the Darfur rebels were preparing to meet in an attempt to move the essentially non-existent peace process forward, IRIN was reporting

Banditry and continuous attacks by armed groups on humanitarian workers, Arab nomads and villages in Darfur have increased significantly over the past weeks and threaten to destabilise the fragile ceasefire in the volatile western Sudanese region.

The "fragile ceasefire" has never really existed and fears of "perpetual" lawlessness are misplaced considering that Darfur has been essentially lawless for more than two years.

Last week, the World Food Program reported that "security levels deteriorated in Darfur during the reporting week." This week, the WFP reported that "despite precautionary security measures, attacks on commercial and humanitarian vehicles continue in Darfur."

And as the UN was expressing its concern "about the recurrent attacks carried out by armed men and gangs in Darfur states, which target civilians and commercial vehicles hired by relief organizations," Norwegian Church Aid was reporting that "relief convoy has been raided at gunpoint by bandits in Darfur for the second time in a short period. The security situation in
Darfur shows signs of deterioration"

A growing problem is also that aid convoys are now being ambushed with increasing regularity by bandits on horses and camels. Norwegian Church Aid vehicles have been raided at gunpoint twice in a matter of weeks ... The field teams who travel most often through the western and southern parts of Darfur regularly encounter en route, and are often chased by, heavily armed men riding on horses and camels. Since the aid operation began just over a year ago, security has presented a great challenge for the agencies. Yet whereas assault, exchanges of fire and attacks on villages were previously politically motivated, much of the violence seems now to be criminal in nature.

And the violence continues.

Just yesterday, it was reported that 40 were killed in fighting after an attack on the rebel Sudan Liberation Movement/Army by "armed nomadic tribesmen" [aka "the Janjaweed"]. This was followed by another report that 80 government soldiers had been killed by the SLM when they captured the town of Sheiria in a surprise attack in retaliation for earlier government attacks on rebel-held territory.

The attack on Sheiria put at risk some 33,000 civilians who rely on humanitarian assistance after staff from three NGO's were withdrawn due to the fighting. And for good measure, the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) "reported that the security situation in the Kalma camp housing displaced persons has further deteriorated with a large number of security incidents, including some 60 reported attacks on women over the last week alone."

All of this took place while the sixth round of peace talks were being held in Nigeria.

It has now been more than a year since the United States declared the situation in Darfur a "genocide" - and the security situation on the ground is now even arguably worse. While government-orchestrated attacks on civilians have diminished, mainly because "there are not many villages left to burn down and destroy," the rampant insecurity in all likelihood still qualifies as part of Khartoum's genocidal campaign to "deliberately [inflict] on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part."

The genocide is not ending and the situation is not improving. The people of Darfur have, for all intents and purposes, been abandoned.

Supreme Court to Hear Assisted Suicide Case Early in Session

Feast of St. Matthew

John Roberts could begin his tenure as Chief Justice by presiding over the controversial issue of assisted suicide when the Supreme Court hears oral arguments October 5 in a case where the Bush administration is defending its determination that federally controlled drugs should not be used in assisted suicides in Oregon. The Bush administration, supported by a filing from the USCCB, claims the Controlled Substances Act allows it to regulate drugs that shouldn't be used without a legitimate medical purposes, including all the drugs used in state-sanctioned assisted suicides in Oregon.

In 1997, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously that no right to assisted suicide exists, but states could decide whether to allow assisted suicides to take place. John Roberts, then in an interview with PBS anchor Jim Lehrer, appeared to support the decision

The right that was protected in the assisted-suicide case was the right of the people through their legislatures to articulate their own views on the policies that should apply in those cases of terminating life, and not to have the court interfering in those policy decisions. That's an important right.

We euthanasia opponents, who still may be concerned about how Mr. Roberts intends to apply his criteria for rejecting precedent, can probably breathe easier on this one.

Adult Stem Cell Therapy Treats Spinal Cord Injury

In another example of "Anything you can do, I can do," researchers at the University of California--Irvine Reeve-Irvine Research Center have used adult human neural stem cells to successfully regenerate damaged spinal cord tissue and improve mobility in mice. Recall that last May scientists at Reeve-Irvine derived a treatment from human embryonic stem cells to improve mobility in rats with spinal cord injuries.

One tidbit that is particularly interesting is that the sacrosanct flexibility of ESCs does not appear to be needed in this case. From ScienceDaily:

Brian Cummings, Aileen Anderson and colleagues injected adult human neural stem cells into mice with limited mobility due to spinal cord injuries. These transplanted stem cells differentiated into new oligodendrocyte cells that restored myelin around damaged mouse axons. Additionally, transplanted cells differentiated into new neurons that formed synaptic connections with mouse neurons.

Myelin is the biological insulation for nerve fibers that is critical for maintenance of electrical conduction in the central nervous system. When myelin is stripped away through disease or injury, sensory and motor deficiencies result and, in some cases, paralysis can occur. Previous Reeve-Irvine research has shown that transplantation of oligodendrocyte precursors derived from human embryonic stem cells restores mobility in rats. ...

Mice that received human neural stem cells nine days after spinal cord injury showed improvements in walking ability compared to mice that received either no cells or a control transplant of human fibroblast cells (which cannot differentiate into nervous system cells). Further experiments showed behavioral improvements after either moderate or more severe injuries, with the treated mice being able to step using the hind paws and coordinate stepping between paws whereas control mice were uncoordinated.

The cells survived and improved walking ability for at least four months after transplantation. Sixteen weeks after transplantation, the engrafted human cells were killed using diphtheria toxin (which is only toxic to the human cells, not the mouse). This procedure abolished the improvements in walking, suggesting that the human neural stem cells were the vital catalysts for the maintained mobility.

This study differs from previous work using human embryonic stem cells in spinal cord injury because the human neural stem cells were not coaxed into becoming specific cell types before transplantation.

The Other Reason Why We Have an ID Controversy

I have written plenty of late as to how opponents of intelligent design have been mischaracterizing the science of it and, in doing so, fomenting discord where clarity would lend itself to rational policy. But there are two in this tango. For example, some Christian conservatives (distinct from conservative Christians) are claiming that the Warner Bros. movie March of the Penguins, a documentary of emperor penguins by Luc Jacquet, is a testatment to intelligent design. Witness this truffle of rigorous analysis:

"The complexity of the penguins' lifestyle testifies to a Divine Creator," said one commentator on Christian Answers.

"To think that natural selection or even the penguins themselves could come up with the idea to migrate miles and miles multiple times each year without their partner or their offspring is a bit insulting to my intellect. How great is our God!"

God is great indeed. But please bring a real argument next time.

Rallying Around the Flag Pole

Troglotykes 1-4 left for school early today to join this year's "See You at the Pole" rally and millions of other students nationwide and all over the world.

See You at the Pole is a student-initiated and student-led movement that started in the Ft. Worth suburb of Burleson, Texas, in 1990. Last year more than 2 million students met for See You at the Pole in all 50 states, with reports of participation also coming from at least 20 other countries.

It's Not Randy Moss the Vikings Miss

It's Cris Carter. At least that's the case the StarTribune's Jim Souhan makes (may be FRR). He was the Vikings best receiver of all time and its unquestioned leader during their run. Consider:

[The Vikings] went 56-40 (a .583 winning percentage) when Carter was their top receiver, from 1992 to 1997.

They went 41-23 (.641) from 1998 to 2001, when Carter and Moss played together.

They went 23-25 (.479) from 2002 to '04, after Carter left and Moss became the unquestioned star.

Now Moss is making spectacular catches and taking smoke breaks for a new team, and that team is 0-2, making his personal record 23-27 without Carter.

Yes, the departure of former quarterback coach and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan has seriously affected quarterback Daunte Culpepper's performance, but he did not arrive until after the Vikings made two NFC Championship appearances. And Souhan rightly notes where the solution must come in this truffle passage:

Now Linehan is gone, new offensive coordinator Steve Loney is trying to learn on the job and coach a depleted offensive line and call plays, and Tice is displaying the leadership skills that made New Orleans the tourist attraction it is today.

At this point in his career, Culpepper should be tutoring Loney and taking charge of the offense, not paying homage to Monty Python's 100-meter dash for people with no sense of direction.

Tice and Culpepper welcomed life without Randy.

Through two games, both have failed to take command of their team, and both seem to agree that Culpepper should shoulder the blame.

[emphasis in original]

Pope Benedict Bars Gay Seminarians

Pope Benedict XVI has approved an Instruction prepared by the Congregation for Catholic Education, indicating that men with homosexual tendencies should not be ordained as Catholic priests. It is likely to be made public after the Synod of Bishops this October.

The Instruction does represents a change in neither Church teaching, nor policy. The Church has consistently taught that homosexual men should not be ordained to the priesthood. Pope John XXIII approved a formal policy to that effect, which still remains in effect. However, during the 1970s and 1980s, that policy was widely ignored, particularly in North America. The resulting crisis in the priesthood-- in which one prominent American commentator observed that the priesthood was coming to be seen as a "gay" profession-- prompted Pope John Paul II to call for a new study on the question.

Excuse Me While I Kiss the Ground, Part 3

Mr. Carson has taken exception to my comments about ID in three areas: 1.) What he takes as my dismissal of the arguments of ID’s opponents, 2.) My perceived failure in defining a criterion for what science is, and 3.) My alleged failure to recognize that what sets ID apart from genuine science is that like effects do not necessarily entail like causes.

This post addresses item 3. Here is the post for item 1. Here is the post for item 2.

Now onto bringing a plague to my peoples because of some syllogistic blunder. For the life of me, I can’t figure out to what Mr. Carson is referring. He provides a link to what is supposed to be a comment of mine at CAEI, but it is to a post on which I have no comment. Either, he has me confused with someone else, or his link is broken-I do have two ID-related comments at CAEI (here and here).

Even reviewing these two comments, I don’t see it. I wonder, could it be that Mr. Carson has been motivitated by a flaw in his own reasoning? Perhaps he is using a non-sequitur of his own. Something like: If ID is accepted as science, then it displaces evolution. But no, I can’t be that uncharitable because it might be a reasonable proposistion, if you rely on Popper’s falsifiability criterion. I’m just spitballing here because I honestly do not know where it is he thinks I assert like effects entail like causes. Given he seems to have missed my points elsewhere, I will assume it again to be the case, in the absence of additional data.

Frankly, regardless of whether his reading of my post was careless, I suspect in the end, that my use of Kuhn (and his of Popper) is at the heart of his objections. Consider one of his closing paragraphs:

I, for my part, can't for the life of me imagine what the motivation behind ID is supposed to be. If one is an evolutionist who believes in God, and who believes that evolutionary processes are themselves examples of the design that God built into the kosmos, on what grounds are we supposed to then reject evolution in favor of a hypothesis that says, in effect, everything you already believe is true, except for the evolution part. In short, ID is antecedently denying that certain examples of design can really be counted as examples of design. But no reason is given for thinking that these forces ought not to count as proof of God's design.

Here he reveals a dogma not dissimilar from those who promote the ID movement, and in doing so, to his credit, rejects the presuppositoin of material determinism. I assume by evolutionary process Mr. Carson means neo-Darwinism’s “random mutation and natural selection.” This process is already admitted by ID (the movement), including the gang at DI, as one example of God’s design, particularly for micro-evolution. No reason is given by many in the ID movement for thinking that these forces ought not to count as proof of God's design because ID the science, properly understood, is testing and ID the movement is challenging outright (prematurely, I think) whether neo-Darwinist processes are the only examples of design that God built into the kosmos.

For my part, the ID movement ultimately will rise, or fall, on the strength of the science. I am content to let the science proceed and judge it accordingly. The falsifiability will present itself. Want a clue? There will be nothing to falsify if the specific complexity hopper winds up empty.

BTW, Mark Shea Still Doesn't Get the ID Controversy

Exucse Me While I Kiss the Ground, Part 2

Mr. Carson has taken exception to my comments about ID in three areas: 1.) What he takes as my dismissal of the arguments of ID’s opponents, 2.) My perceived failure in defining a criterion for what science is, and 3.) My alleged failure to recognize that what sets ID apart from genuine science is that like effects do not necessarily entail like causes.

This post addresses item 2. Here is the post for item 1. Here is the post for item 3.

Mr. Carson also chides me for not defining a line of demarcation for science. This despite my repeated references to Thomas Kuhn's definition of normal science as my context for discussion. Among all people, I would expect a least philosophy professor, particularly one with a self-proclaimed interested in philosophy of science, to recognize that as my line of demarcation, even if it’s not Popperian. For the record, as a service to the hyperlink-challenged, from my third edition copy of Kuhn's The Structure of Scientific Revolutions (also see here), p. 10:

"[N]ormal science" means research firmly based upon one or more past scientific achievements, achievements that some particular scientific community acknowledges for a time as supplying the foundation for its further practice.

What is this foundation in the case of ID? If you read any of ID's scientific literature (Note that I am not referring to the popular literature, or the news accounts, of the ID movement), then you will find that it is rooted in evolutionary theory. To corroborate further that there is legitimate science in ID, let's look at the actual work. From Kuhn, pp. 25-27:

There are, I think, only three normal foci for factual scientific investigation, and they are neither always nor permanently distinct. First is the class of facts that the paradigm has shown to be particularly revealing of the nature of things... A second usual but smaller class of factual determination is directed to those facts that, though often without much intrinsic interest, can be compared to directly with predictions from the paradigm theory... A third class of experiments and observations exhausts, I think, the fact-gathering activities of normal science. It consists of empirical work undertaken to articulate the paradigm theory, resolving some of its residual ambiguities and permitting the solution of problems to which it had previously only drawn attention.

In my judgment, in this context, cataloging evolutionary anomalies with specified complexity is an activity of the second class. Moreover, I think, anyone, opponent, or proponent, of ID, who claims the science of ID is more, or less, than this is in error. However, there still seem to be those who refuse to recognize the science of ID even as I have characterized it, so I will adjust the definition of my third category of opponents to include those who make this mistake, i.e., the third group mischaracterizes what ID actually is, from ignorance, or by choice, including many Joe and Jane Sixpacks.

If you want to have a debate over using Kuhn’s framework vs. Popper’s, for example, that’s fine. Let’s have that discussion. Or how could one categorize ID as science in light of Popper’s concept of falsifiability? Another good topic. But, again, I have to chalk up claiming that I provided no framework to define what science is to careless reading.

To be continued...

Federal Study Suggests Shift in Teen Sex Practices

According to the study's lead author, the combination of trends where more than half of American teens ages 15 to 19 have engaged in oral sex, increasing to nearly 70% for those who are 18 and 19, and that 11% of women ages 18 to 44 have reported having at least one homosexual experience in their lifetime, up from 4% in a similar survey a decade earlier, suggests a shift in sexual practices, in which females are using oral and lesbian sex as a "safer" alternative than vaginal sex with men.

The predicatable claim is that this is a direct result of abstinence-only programs. If we ever needed the teaching of the Theology of the Body...

Rainbow Sashayers Seek Audience with Bishops

The Rainbow Sash Movement (National Organization of Gay and Lesbian Catholics) is planning to send a delegation to the USCCB's fall meeting in November. They also plan to attend the Plenary Liturgy at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.

The truffle quote from their press release is this little bit of self-delusion:

Over the years the Rainbow Sash Movement (RSM) Delegation has been denied the Holy Eucharist, we believe this has happened because of miscommunication. We have listened first to Cardinal Francis George of Chicago, then to Archbishop Harry Flynn of Minneapolis/St. Paul as they spoke of protest and the Rainbow Sash Movement. We also understand people of good will can look at the same act and see two different things. We are certainly willing to seek common ground, but only the Bishops can make that decision. Murray said, "We believe it is time to focus on the Lord and seek common ground with our bishops. We believe our Bishops are called to be more than they are in relationship to GLBT Catholics and the Gay Community, and we believe Christ is calling us to be more than we are in relationship to our bishops."

I don't think we can expect to see them approaching the table in humility and reconciliation anytime soon.

Excuse Me While I Kiss the Ground, Part 1

Memorial of Ss. Andrew Kim Taegon, Paul Chong Hasang, and companions

At least that's the position in which Scott Carson at An Examined Life, generally a quality blog, sees me with my contributions to the ID debate at CAEI. This puts me in a precarious position because I am unable to see, and therefore unable to avoid, the dogs and cats falling from the sky that I have unleashed with some terrible logical error.

Mr. Carson has taken exception to my comments about ID in three areas: 1.) What he takes as my dismissal of the arguments of ID’s opponents, 2.) My perceived failure in defining a criterion for what science is, and 3.) My alleged failure to recognize that what sets ID apart from genuine science is that like effects do not necessarily entail like causes.

This post addresses item 1. Here is the post for item 2. Here is the post for item 3.

He begins with a nice rant:

The ID controversy seems unwilling to go away. The Troglodyte, Scott Warmke [sic], has this to say on the matter, and although I ordinarily find his blog very good, this is a case where he really falls on his face. One of my favorite lines in there is this one:

Curiously, or perhaps not, all three groups gravitate to the same stock phrases, albethey [sic] for different reasons. "ID is not science!" "ID is creationism!" "ID is not testable!" "ID teaches religion in the classroom!" yada yada yada.

You've especially got to love the "yada yada yada" comment. You just can't argue with logic like that! I'm reminded of a line from Plato's Republic, where Socrates has been asked to say what he thinks justice is, but his interlocutor, Thrasymachus, has told him that he may not say that it is "what's beneficial" or "what's necessary" or "what's profitable" or any of the other popular definitions floating about. As it happens, Socrates doesn't happen to think that justice is any of the things that Thrasymachus has mentioned, but the constraint put upon him prompts him to say

Clever of you, Thrasymachus. Clever enough to know what would happen if you were to ask someone what twelve was, but then give him a warning before he answered: "Now look here, don't go telling us that twelve is twice six, or three times four, or six times two, or four times three. I'm not going to take any nonsense of that sort from you."

First, saying that The Troglodyte is usually very good is nice. I appreciate it. And Thrasymachus! Ha! I love it, I’ve always fancied myself an ancient.

"I'm not going to take any nonsense of that sort from you" here = "yada yada yada."

Well, no. I am inclined to dismiss all this as the result of a careless reading. Yes, he did catch a grammatical error (one gold star), but he does misspell my name several times (three demerits), although it is a counterintuitive truth that phonetically spelled surnames are a challenge in a multicultural world. He is also incorrect if he thinks my commenting on the reliance of stock phrases by opponents of ID says anything about ID, much less tries to argue in its favor. I describe three groups whose offerings are not reasoned arguments, but hair-free exclamations. Note that I have never asserted the three groups cover all opponents of ID. Maybe I should have used ALL CAPS to convey better the hysteria with which those phrases are often shoved in the face of anyone even willing to listen to what an ID proponent may have to say.

Anyway, “yada yada yada” = “Don’t bother me if you’re not going to bring an argument”

Note again that Mr. Carson is one of the few who actually brings an argument, but having missed the point, apparently thinks I would include him in one of the groups.

Also, he wrongly assumes I have a “favored candidate” between neo-Darwinism and ID. I have no dog in this fight. I am making a modest claim that there is legitimate science to separate from the ID movement, and that the truth of the state of maturity of that science can be used to make rational education policy, which, in my opinion, requires excluding it from a standard science curriculum. For a take from someone who understands my argument, check-out Holy Fool.

To be continued...

Catholic Carnival XLVIII is Up at Living Catholicism

The Troglodyte Top Twelve

Memorial of St. Januarius

Something frivolous... The world needs another poll like I need a hole in the head, but I like the college game, I have an opinion, and I have a pulpit. I have also intentionally waited until most of the non-conference play has concluded. Here is the inaugural edition.

1. Texas
2. USC
3. Virginia Tech
4. LSU
5. Florida
6. Georgia
7. Florida State
8. Louisville
9. Miami, FL
10. Ohio State
11. California
12. Tennessee

I Need High-speed Internet at Home

That is my conclusion after last week, with the ID debate that I entered and my inability to keep up with it, not to mention track down other threads it spawned (there is one to which I will reply). Also, there were probably a half-dozen posts that I would have like to have done this weekend, but it is such a pain because it takes so long for dial-up. I suppose the other alternative is to come up with a better offline queueing strategy.

Is It Any Wonder?

Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows

The BBC radio program "In Our Time" recently conducted a poll of listeners on who was the greatest philosopher of all time. Here is the top five:

1. Karl Marx - 27.9%
2. David Hume - 12.7%
3. Ludwig Wittgenstein - 6.8%
4. Friedrich Nietzsche - 6.5%
5. Plato - 5.7%

Aquinas, Socrates, and Aristotle don't show up until #'s 7, 8, and 9, respectively, with less than 5% of the vote each.

I'm not going to say that BBC listeners are representative of the Continent, but the order of the list seems a little too consistent with why we have a Dictatorship of Relativism and why Europe is dying.

Acton's Samuel Gregg has more specifically on the West's Marxist blind spot.

A Meaningless Pledge

Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
A Coalition for Darfur Post

Some are hailing the inclusion of language regarding a "responsibility to protect" in the draft declaration on UN reform to be discussed during the three-day summit being held in New York.

The "Responsibility to Protect" is, according to the seminal report on the topic

[T]he idea that sovereign states have a responsibility to protect their own citizens from avoidable catastrophe, but that when they are unwilling or unable to do so, that responsibility must be borne by the broader community of states.

The report, and the idea, were generated by the international community's ignominious failure to intervene in situations such as the 1994 Rwandan genocide. The thinking was that it was necessary to shift the debate away from a "right to intervene," which carries serious implications for the cherished idea of national sovereignty, and toward a "responsibility to protect" those people in danger.

After much debate, compromise and rewriting, the final text included in the draft declaration came out looking like this

The international community, through the United Nations, also has the responsibility to use appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means, in accordance with Chapter VI and VIII of the Charter, to help protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. In this context, we are prepared to take collective action, in a timely and decisive manner, through the Security Council, in accordance with the UN Charter, including Chapter VII, on a case by case basis and in cooperation with relevant regional organizations as appropriate, should peaceful means be inadequate and national authorities manifestly failing to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. We stress the need for the General Assembly to continue consideration of the responsibility to protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing, and crimes against humanity and its implications,
bearing in mind the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and international law. We also intend to commit ourselves, as necessary and appropriate, to help states build capacity to protect their populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and to assist those which are under stress
before crises and conflicts break out.

Nowhere has the Security Council or the UN member states actually pledged to do anything. This section carries no legal obligations; rather, it merely reiterates that the UN has a responsibility "to help protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity," which something they already an obligation to prevent under the Genocide Convention.

Note also that it doesn't say that the UN has a "responsibility to protect" but rather a responsibility ... to help protect" those at risk. That is a big difference.

As such, it is a little difficult to share Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin's excitement

But a Canadian-inspired initiative highlighting the world's responsibility to protect threatened people and prevent genocides is a clear move forward, Martin said.

The doctrine "essentially says that if Rwanda occurred today that the United Nations would act," he said, referring to the genocide that took an estimated 800,000 lives in the African country in the mid-1990s.

Considering that there is "another Rwanda" currently taking place in Darfur, why are we to expect that suddenly the UN is going to take seriously its "responsibility to protect"? Has the UN failed to act thus far solely because it lacked this one resolution? The UN has resisted acting on Darfur for two years and there is absolutely no reason to believe that this recognition of a
theoretical "responsibility to protect" will have any impact on the legal or political concerns that have thus far prevented action.

If the UN and its members truly believed in the "responsibility to protect," they would be protecting the people of Darfur, not writing resolutions vaguely promising to act when Darfur-like situations arise in the future.

In, But Not Of: The Paradox of a Catholic Political Philosophy

Zenit has a two-part interview (here and here) with Fr. James Schall re the necessity of an authentically Catholic approach to political philosophy in contrast to a Western civilization that often links its rise to the separation of philosophy and natural science from theology and dogma.

Here is a truffle passage:

Question: How is Roman Catholic political philosophy different from Catholic social thought?

Father Schall: Roman Catholic social thought is a body of particular analyses and responses that the popes and the various hierarchies from the middle of the 19th century have given to central economic and political issues in which Catholics have found themselves involved.

Catholic social doctrine seeks to combine what it knows from natural law, reason, experience and Revelation so that it might address itself coherently to ongoing issues in any sort of polity in which Catholics find themselves. It seeks, too, to elaborate the general principles of these issues but it desires to leave the particular applications to the laity and citizenry.

When it comes to practical matters of politics and economics, most things such as laws and policies could be otherwise, even though we must select some reasonable way to act. This very complexity cautions us not to give more certitude to something than its subject-matter allows, as Aristotle remarked in the first book of the "Ethics."
Roman Catholic political philosophy operates at a more fundamental level. It wants to know what is the reason that Revelation can presume to speak to reason, such that philosophy, on its own grounds, needs to pay attention to what is proposed.

Today, political philosophy is one of the few areas in which all things come together and must be sorted out. To understand political things we need to understand history, religion, ethics, science, manners, and all pertinent aspects of culture. Yet, politics looks at what is to be done but done for a good.

Revelation has long recognized that its most dangerous opponent is the city closed in on itself, using the coercive powers of the state to define reality.

This danger is why Revelation has recognized that it first must deal with politics on its own grounds, grounds which recognize that human disorder can be identified and accounted for.

Contrary to the tradition of Machiavelli, itself already criticized in Plato, politics does not just look to what man does do, but to what he ought to do. And what he ought to do can, in some basic sense, be understood by the philosophers.

This possibility is why Roman Catholicism has regularly insisted that there is such a thing as philosophy and that philosophy can both ask the right questions and propose at least some basic and correct answers. Moreover, it can at least recognize the meaning of answers coming from Revelation.

Related:

Catholic Analysis has more on Catholic social teaching, including John Paul the Great's contribution, based on a recent exposition by George Weigel.

Why Aren't We Worried About This?

From the AP:

Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter, a Pennsylvania Republican, tried to elicit Roberts' position on the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion. Would he abide by "stare decisis," the doctrine that says justices should honor previous court rulings?

"Yes, Mr. Chairman, I would," Roberts replied. "To avoid an arbitrary discretion in the judges, they need to be bound down by rules and precedent." He declared Roe v Wade "settled as a precedent," and said overturning high court rulings creates "a jolt to the legal system."

A casual viewer might think he had ruled out overturning the 1973 abortion ruling. Not so.

In sentences thick with legalese, Roberts said precedents must be overturned when they are proven "unworkable" or "eroded by subsequent developments." He refused at least three times to give his views on Roe v. Wade, citing a long tradition of judges not commenting on cases they might consider in the future.

Forgive me for being a casual viewer, but it is not clear to me how we show that Roe is proven either unworkable, or eroded by subsequent developments.

Aside #1:

It appears the Democrats are keeping their powder dry until the hearings for the next nominee.

Aside #2:

Why we never need to worry about hearing the phrase "President Joe Biden:"

I'd like to explore that philosophy a little bit, because you got asked that question by Senator Hatch about what is your philosophy, and the baseball metaphor was used again. As you know, in Major League Baseball, they have a rule. Rule 2 defines the strike zone. It basically says from the shoulders to the knees. And the only question about judges is, do they have good eyesight or not. They don't get to change the strike zone. [emphasis added]

Pardon me, Sen. Clueless Joe, the top of the strike zone technically is the horizontal midline between the top of the pants and the top of the shoulders, commonly referred to as THE LETTERS.

(cap tip: Hugh Hewitt)

Mark Shea Still Doesn't Get the ID Controversy

[Welcome, Mark Shea readers. Please feel free to take a look around. The post title is based on the following from Mark's linked post:

And so, people like me, who are scratching their heads, trying to
figure out what is so terrible in saying that Creation sure looks a lot like the
product of a Creator get the sense that volume and splenetic fury are
substituting for argument here and a sort of catechetical faith in a High
Priesthood is, by a curious jiggery pokery, substituting for science
education.

Here is my take on what is driving the spleen-venting ID opponents. Pax.]

I am not sure I buy that, but OK, whatever. His is a question that can't be answered by asking what the big deal is, but by looking at who is it that is doing the wailing and gnashing of teeth. There are three basic groups aligned against the proponents of intelligent design. The first is a hold-over from the election, those who see ID as a proxy for the "America is becoming a theocracy" battle that exists in their alternate universe. The second group is those who are responding predictably to their neo-Darwinian worldview potentially being challenged as normal science preludes scientific revolution in the Kuhnian sense. The third group is the misinformed, operating from false premises about what ID actually is and what its proponents, like the Discovery Institute, are actually proposing, including many Joe and Jane Sixpacks. Curiously, or perhaps not, all three groups gravitate to the same stock phrases, albethey for different reasons. "ID is not science!" "ID is creationism!" "ID is not testable!" "ID teaches religion in the classroom!" yada yada yada.

There really is nothing to say to the first group, other than to kill them with kindness, I will not consider them further. The big deal to the second group is that they are afraid their world is going to be rocked. For the third group, it is that they don't know better (or don't want to know better?). To see this you have to do something that many supporters of ID do not want to do, separate the science from the movement, i.e., from those who are pushing ID precisely because in the abstract it is more consistent with their metaphysical presuppositions. The emotional strength of the hysteria of the theocracy crowd, in response to its popular caricature of the ID movement, has influenced the other two groups, which is why they all sound the same. Nevertheless, the strength of ID is the science qua science, and as such, the separation of the science from the movement also means that ID should be removed from consideration for presentation in the classroom.

I have been on the record as not supporting teaching ID as part of a general science curriculum, or even "teaching the controversy." The thing is, neither is the Discovery Institute. Why not? Simply put, ID is not yet ready for prime time.

Intelligent design is born of the normal science of neo-Darwinist evolution. More specifically, it is the attempted accumulation of particularly troublesome anomalies using specified complexity that potentially pose a serious problem for the existing neo-Darwinist model. This is not a revolution, but may be a precursor to a scientific crisis for the macro-evolutionary process of speciation.

The second group knows this either consciously, or sub-consciously, which is why we need to treat them with compassion. They will long stand in opposition even should compelling evidence be forthcoming. But how many in the third group appreciate this about intelligent design? How many Sixpacks have even heard it in that context? This is why they need to be corrected gently. Ultimately, as the deposit of the culture, it is their understanding as "public consumers" of what science is that will determine when (not whether) neo-Darwinism is replaced by something better, and whether (not when) that something includes intelligent design.

Susan Anne Catherine Torres, RIP

Memorial of St. John Chrysostom

Eternal rest grant unto her, O Lord, and let the perpetual light shine upon her.
May her soul, and those of all the faithful departed, through the Grace of God's mercy, rest in peace.
Amen.

(cap tip: Holy Fool)

Chinese Ready for Dialogue with Vatican? Not So Much

[Original posted 8:08 AM, Tuesday, Sep. 13, 2005]

From the Italian news agency, ANSA:

Four Chinese Catholic bishops have been banned from attending a synod in the Vatican to which they had been invited by Pope Benedict XVI .

On top of that, the official Chinese Catholic Church has accused the Vatican of showing it "no respect" by issuing the invitations without consulting it first .

So much for the "warming of relations" we thought was happening.

Update:

Zenit has reported the four might still have a chance.

Illinois Gov. Crosses [State] Line with Offer

While Missouri legislators prepared to debate in a special session scheduled this month whether to ban stem cell research, Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich extended an invitation to some of Missouri's leading scientific institutions to conduct controversial stem cell research in his state.

Blagojevich authorized $10 million in state grants over the next year for research on stem cells, including those stolen from human embryos, and hopes to authorize more. Illinois has become the fourth state in the nation to publicly fund embryonic stem cell research, joining California, New Jersey and Connecticut.

With the timing of his Predictable move, the governor ceases to be just another state executive trying to "do what's best for the people in his state" and becomes an advocate advancing outright the ESCR cause. This is a useful reminder that without the passage of the Life Begins at Conception Bill (ESCR will not be banned nationwide without it), the high profile debate in the US Congress is not the only game in town for Cave Dwellers to concern themselves.

Stem Cell Debate Still Awaits Senate

As all eyes turn to the confirmation of Judge John Roberts as US Chief Justice, now is the time to begin reminding Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who is expected to push for debate and votes on an array of bills, that if his support for embryonic stem cell research is as based on principle as he says, then by his own standard he must treat the senate's version of the house-passed Castle-DeGette as DOA.

Catholic Carnival XLVII is Up at Our World and Welcome to It

Headphone Use May Worsen Hearing Loss

One for the Duh File, or "You're Mom was right." What did you say?

Prayer Request Update

[Original posted, Friday, September 2, 1:06 AM]

Long-time readers know that I have a friend, Don Cook, who has been battling cancer, stage IV melanoma, more specifically, and I have requested (and continue to request) prayers for him, his wife, and their two girls. He has been undergoing chemotherapy, including protocol changes, to address primarily one tumor that is inoperable because of its proximity to vital organs. Here is the latest.

His last several scans have continued to show little change in the tumor. However, more recently he has started experiencing severe pain requiring heavy-duty meds. It is suspected that the tumor is now causing pressure on his spinal cord, but it is not clear whether this is because the tumor has grown, or is the effect of necrosis. He has been going through another round of treatment this week, and we hope the tumor finally begins to shrink.

Again, as Hurricane Katrina's aftermath demands attention, I ask you to pray for Don and his family, and I encourage you to use Fr. Tharp's prayer to invoke Pope John Paul the Great, among others.

WE adore You O Christ, and we praise You,
because by Your holy cross, You have redeemed the world.

Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us.
St. Joseph, pray for us.
Ss. Peter and Paul, pray for us.
St. Jude, pray for us.
St. Benedict, pray for us.
John Paul the Great, pray for us.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us.

Update:

I guess it is clear that there is new growth in the form of additional tumors. He has changed treatments and is on a 24/7 pain management regimen. He also has tested positive for Hepatitis C, which excludes him from any experimental trials. It it wasn't before, it is now prayer crunch time. Please insert saintly intercession and divine intervention here for Don and his family.

Update for St. Jude Shrine's Oblates

From the Oblates' US Provincial web site:

[During the storm] Fr. Mike Amesse, along with long time seminary professor, Fr. Frank Montalbano, took refuge in the Cathedral rectory Sunday night and Monday...

Fr. Tony Rigoli and scholastic Bro. Porfirio Garcia, made an attempt to drive to Belleville to get ahead of the hurricane. After 12 hours on highway 55, they got nowhere and ended up in a hotel lobby with dozens of other “refugees,” sleeping on the floor amid cats and dogs. Porfirio said it felt like he was in Noah’s ark! ...

Frs. Mike Amesse and Tony Rigoli and Bro. Porfirio Garcia are now staying at the Christian Renewal Center in Dickinson, outside of Houston. (Fr. Frank Montalbano is staying at Madonna Residence in San Antonio.)

They are ministering to the various people from New Orleans located in the 4 centers (Astrodome, Reliant Center, Arena, Convention Center) in Houston. Many of those people are parishioners of St. Jude or people from the neighborhood. Fr. Mike says things are very well organized by FEMA in these places, and that people with skills are using them—barbers are cutting hair, hair dressers are doing women’s hair, garbage men are collecting garbage, etc. Folks are clean and getting rested, clothes have been provided, and there are plenty of services (doctors, etc.) and security. For the moment, people seem to be being taken care of (today the Social Security people were there to work with those on Social Security and get their benefits straightened out) but long term issues remain to be seen.

They are asking people who are interested in making financial donations to help the Oblates of St. Jude Shrine help victims of the disaster to contribute through either the Oblates' Missionary Association in Belleville IL (http://www.oblatesusa.org/; 888-330-6264), or Oblate Missions in San Antonio TX (http://www.oblatemissions.org/; 210-736-1685).

The Blotter's Minnesota Blog of the Day

Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A mighty thanks to City Pages' Corey Anderson for the privilege.

BIC Sells 100 Billionth Pen

Ya see? The French do do other things well besides wine and cheese and whine and surrender.

Remember Mississippi?

Lest we forget, Hillbilly, Please reminds us.

Gov. Schwarzenegger to Veto Gay "Marriage" Bill

Press Secretary Margita Thompson's statement included:

Five years ago the matter of same-sex marriage was placed before the people of California. The people voted and the issue is now before the courts. The Governor believes the matter should be determined not by legislative action — which would be unconstitutional — but by court decision or another vote of the people of our state. We cannot have a system where the people vote and the Legislature derails that vote. Out of respect for the will of the people, the Governor will veto AB 849.

Given the narrow margin of passage in the State Assembly, the bill appears to be dead... for now. All in all, this is a fine bit of pass-taking by the CafCath governor, but we'll take it.

(cap tip: Catholic Report)

Related:

Mass. AG approves petition for Gay Marriage Ban Initiative, but it's a long shot. (cap tip: Recta Ratio)

Bishops Launch DVD to Promote Vocations

[Original posted 5:28 PM, Wednesday, Sep. 7, 2005]

Not just leaving it up to pastors who insist their congregations pray for vocations, the USCCB is releasing this fall "You Could Make a Difference," a 17-minute vocation video and DVD, to assist parishes, youth groups and others interested in promoting vocations.

Consciously embracing the New Evangelization, the video tool is intended to enable parish groups to get the conversation started about vocations. It features four segments that illustrate how priests and religious can serve the needs of the church and includes a brief study guide, available online to facilitate discussion.

Father Mike Schwarte, the pastor in Petersburg, leads two parishes separated by a glacier, and pilots a small plane between them. He tells a compelling story of personal conversion and reflects his delight in bringing the sacraments to people in southeast Alaska.

Father Agustin Mateo, pastor of a Latin American parish in Washington, D.C., shows life in an urban, multi-cultural parish, where Sunday means Mass, religious education, and hospitality. He highlights the strength he draws from the congregation and his belief that he can face anything because God provides for whatever is humanly lacking in him.

Sister Janet Gildea, MD and Sister Peggy Deneweth, RN, Sisters of Charity from Cincinnati, show life in the medical clinic they founded in El Paso, where they practice what they call "poverty medicine." Their work resembles that of the Charity sisters in pioneer days when they helped people along the frontier, they said.

Sister Mary Claudina Sanz, a member of the Oblates of St. Francis, directs the Mary Elizabeth Lange Center Baltimore, a home for troubled young women which is named for the Oblates' founder. Sister Claudina describes girls from the program who go to college and return to help others troubled as they once were. She speaks of her family in Belize where her parents with eight children took in three more who needed a home. At the Mary Elizabeth Lange Center, she provides similar warmth and care for young women.

The DVD runs for $10 each ($15 for the videocassette) and can be ordered through the USCCB Communications Department.

Update:

The Curt Jester links to a different (better?) video produced by the Legionaries of Christ and Regnum Christi, and notes that Bishop Clayton has not only panned the Conference's offering, but thinks it will do more harm than good (cap tip: St. Leonard's).

Side Note:

It's about time we see (some? more?) US episcopal presence in the blogosphere.

Darfur in the Dark

A Coalition for Darfur Post

Two weeks ago, the "Be a Witness" campaign reported that it couldn't even pay TV networks to cover the genocide in Darfur

American Progress created a television advertisement for BeAWitness.org, our netroots campaign that calls out the television news media for their deplorable coverage of the genocide in Darfur. Over the last few days, three Washington DC television affiliates, NBC-4, CBS-9, and ABC-7, informed us that they refuse to air the ad.

Since the major networks seem to have their hands full covering stories like Natalee Holloway and the Runaway Bride, the ad does what the media won't — puts the spotlight on Darfur, and suggests that genocide warrants increased coverage.

ABC News broadcast just 18 minutes of Darfur coverage in its nightly newscasts in all of 2004 — "and that turns out to be a credit to Peter Jennings," as Nicholas Kristof pointed out. NBC News featured 5 minutes, and CBS only had three, "about a minute of coverage for every 100,000 deaths." Now they won't allow us to pay for 30 seconds to urge better coverage of the genocide.

While this is obviously inexcusable, it is at least somewhat understandable that TV networks
would be reluctant to run ads criticizing their own failings.

What is odd is that the networks' collective refusal to run this ad generated almost no print media coverage. And judging by the print media's own lack of coverage of Darfur, it is easy to see why.

A search of US newspapers for the number of stories that mentioned the word "Darfur" at least 2 times over the last 19 months shows how coverage of the genocide increased during 2004, only to all but disappear in 2005 (we looked for stories that mention Darfur at least twice in order try to eliminate pieces that mentioned it only in passing)

January 2004: 8
February 2004: 20
March 2004: 29
April 2004: 72
May 2004: 186
June 2004: 327
July 2004: 713
August 2004: 891
September 2004: 659
October 2004: 369
November 2004: 517
December 2004: 269
January 2005: 397
February 2005: 271
March 2005: 240
April 2005: 275
May 2005: 199
June 2005: 227
July 2005: 260
August 2005: 115

The most staggering thing about these numbers is that they reveal that there has been a nearly
eight-fold decrease in the number of stories about Darfur between last August and this August.

The other amazing thing is that, on August 1st of this year, former Sudanese rebel leader John Garang died in a helicopter crash. Garang, who only three weeks earlier had been sworn in as vice president under the terms of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended two decades of civil war between North and South Sudan, was seen by many as a man who might be able to bring peace to Darfur. Yet, despite his death and the implications it holds for the future of Darfur, coverage of Darfur plummeted.

Nearly one year after the United States called the situation in Darfur "genocide" and the United Nations found overwhelming evidence of "serious violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including crimes against humanity or war crimes" in Darfur, the genocide is receiving less print coverage than it did before many had even heard the word "Darfur."

We cannot "be a witness" to the genocide in Darfur if the media continues to keep us in the dark.

Minnesota Company Banking on Adult Stem Cell Research

Following a similar, recent discovery of cord-blood-derived-embryonic-like stem cells (CBEs) we have this from Minnesota Public Radio:

A small biotech company called BioE says it has discovered an adult stem cell that appears to act a lot like embryonic stem cells. The company has cloned the rare cells and stockpiled millions of copies in its warehouse. Questions still remain about the science behind BioE's discovery. But the company is forging ahead with plans to sell its stem cells to researchers around the world.

The process is similar to that demonstrated by University of Minnesota researcher Katherine Verfaille, who did it a couple of years ago with adult stem cells from bone marrow called multipotent adult progenitor cells, or MAPCs (link cap tip: Stem Cell Extremist)

Some are questioning BioE's claims because it has not yet submitted its findings for peer review, a position which company president Mike Haider says is more a business decision than a scientific decision.

The company has distributed its cells to a few select researchers, including the Clinical Cell Therapy Laboratory at the University of Minnesota, which so far is showing promising results. If BioE's results can be verified, then the company expects to sell its stem cells to scientists around the world.

The Revelation of Sean Penn

[Welcome, Catholic Carnival-goers!]

With the announcement by the Senate Homeland Security committee that it will investigate the federal government's response in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the exhibition games are over and we begin the regular season Washington's Blame Game. The prime motivators are, of course, the general blanching at the sight of thousands of refugees stranded for days in what can rightly be described as inhumane conditions at the Superdome and the New Orleans Convention Center and at the widespread looting and hooliganism. One thing we ought not lose sight of, however, is the hope and confidence that New Orleans cannot only be rebuilt, but can be redeemed. And we have Sean Penn to thank for pointing it out to us.

One thing that was striking about the two groups that caught our attention late last week was their contrast in attitudes. One played out the part of victims, unable to flee the city, going where they are told to go and then raging at the the very real, horrific degradation of their situation and the apparent lack of response and attention to their plight. The second was the pleasure-seekers, the "I gotta get me a plasma TV" hedonists, who also preyed upon the first group. One a group who took the situation seriously, one who did not. One who saw and lived (and died) a tragedy, one who saw and lived a farce, i.e., from an absurd premise. But the thing that both groups have in common is that they operate from the egotist's philosophy of pleasure.

The late Archbishop Fulton Sheen identified three laws of the pursuit of pleasure: 1.) It is conditioned of contrast; must be some sort of treat (relief, in this case), 2.) It never becomes permanent until it has passed through a moment of pain, and 3.) It is always a quest for the infinite (there will always be un-fulfilled desires). We can see all three at work in each group. Even in conflict, there is common ground.

Enter Mr. Penn and his ill-fated rescue attempt (Warga NEWS photo). Regardless of whether Mr. Penn's motives are sincere (and I know there are many who doubt them) consider, first, that, despite helping a few trapped people, the idea is amusing that he and a boat full of his entourage are going to be something less than a nuisance to professionals in the rescue and clean-up business, including those New Orleans first responders who have the pluck not to flee their posts, and second, that the scenes of Sean's ship of succor first having motor trouble and then taking on water to the point of having to abort the mission are downright funny.

Again, archbishop Sheen noted that a proper attitude of life is to cultivate a divine sense of humor, which entails being able to "see the point." If you cannot see the point of a joke, or a pun, then you do not have a sense of humor. So what is the divine point here? Taking things seriously as an end to themselves is to overrate them, and while everyone would agree that Mr. Penn takes himself seriously (again, regardless of the purity of his intentions), that he is not where our collective gaze is directed . The point, as always, is that all things are revelations of God. What is illuminating about both groups, neither of which Mr. Penn succeeded in rescuing, is that they operate from a common philosophy of pleasure.

The fact of acting from a philosophy is half the battle, for redemption can eventually come to those who have a philosophy, a framework, to climb through the world made transparent by revelation, but similarly cannot come to those, like Benedict's dictators of relativism, who deny they need any philosophy at all and, consequently, cannot even value themselves. If this is true of those most scandalized by this disaster and even of those who seem least worthy of the gift of civilization, there is a great opportunity ahead for the City of New Orleans.

Catholic Carnival XLVI is Up at A Penitent Blogger

Gearin' Up

With two Supreme Court vacancies and stem cell legislation on the docket in the US Senate, this fall is an important check-point for the Culture of Life. Now is a time to be heard and seen and acting from principle, acting in charity. If you are so inclined, I have a new online store you can visit dedicated to a fundamental concept of life. As usual here, all profits go to charity, pro-life causes in this case.

Blogging for Relief Weekend

[Post moved to the top and stats updated]

As many of you know, Blogging for Relief Day to support Hurricane Katrina victims has been expanded through the holiday weekend. As of 8 PM CDT Monday, here are the stats:

$ 1,015,033 in contributions so far
1,759 blogs participating
268 charities recommended

Many thanks to The Truth Laid Bear and Instapundit for organizing this effort. Hugh Hewitt has more ideas on how to keep the momentum going.

Acton's Karen Woods rightly highlights that subsidiarity is a key element to effective compassion. This is why I request contributions be directed to one of two places (small/local and big), the International Shrine of St. Jude (see my previous post for contact info) and Catholic Charities. Please be as generous as you can. And don't forget about a St. Jude Novena.

All mail to New Orleans is being redirected, and the Shrine does not (yet) have online giving, therefore all contributions made to this site during the month of September using the Amazon link on the sidebar will be collected and sent to the Shrine once I determine an alternate path. 100% of your contribution will be forwarded as I will pick up Amazon's commission.

[Update: Follow links at bottom of Sept. 9th Oblate update to make online donations to the Shrine's Oblates.]

After you make a contribution, please remember to log it on the TTLB site.

Thank you and God bless.

Technorati tags flood aid, hurricane katrina

Be Prepared for Second Collection

Just a reminder... The USCCB has announced a National Collection for Hurricane Relief to occur during the next two weekends. In St. Paul & Minneapolis, the second collections will occur today. (Yeah, OK, they started at last night's Saturday Vigil Masses.)

John Paul the Great on God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit #2

The splendor of Christ's glory is reflected in the face of every human being, and is even more so when that face is emaciated by hunger, saddened by exile, or oppressed by poverty and misery.

Catholic Relief Services Message, 1995

Fox & CNN Reporting That William Rehnquist Has Died

Memorial of St. Gregory the Great

Shaping up to be an interesting autumn...

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let the perpetual light shine upon him.

May his soul and those of all the faithful departed, through the Grace of God's mercy, rest in peace.

Amen.

The Dance Goes On

Please support Hurricane Katrina relief

In New Orleans, the sacred and the profane dance every day.

Raymond Arroyo

When I began to understand the degree of devastation in New Orleans, I first could not help but wonder, like New Orleans native, Oswald Sobrino, whether Hurricane Katrina's aftermath was retributive. I have never been to New Orleans, so I freely admit I possess the distorted view of the city's seedy public image.

As a guest on yesterday's Relevant Radio Program, The Right Questions with Sheila Liaugminas, Mr. Arroyo, also a New Orleans native, described a very different city, a very Catholic city, including the tidbit that it has the highest percentage of Eucharistic Adoration chapels per capita in the US. Given also that Bourbon St. is one of the relatively lesser affected areas, it seems remote that God is smiting the Big Easy. Nevertheless, the video juxtaposition in the news of looters and heroic rescuers calls to mind that New Orleans' Catholic culture has the opportunity to transform this devastation. We can only imagine what powerful Grace can be born in Faith, Hope, and Love of such tremendous suffering.

Considering Mr. Arroyo's quote above, and that the need for the dance to continue is as real and as urgent as ever in this desperate time, as part of Blog for Relief Day, The Troglodyte requests you support the city of New Orleans by 1.) Beginning today (or ASAP), if you have not started already, say a Novena to St. Jude for all the victims, direct and indirect, of Hurricane Katrina and the city of New Orleans, and 2.) Making as generous a contribution as you can to Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel, International Shrine of St. Jude.

Devotion to St. Jude Thaddeus - known as the patron for difficult and apparently impossible cases was cultivated as early as the 1920s by a group of parishioners at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church who had petitions granted through the Apostle's intercession. This group was encouraged by Father Bornes, OMI to begin a public Novena in honor of St. Jude. Father Bornes obtained ecclesiastical permission and the first devotions were inaugurated on Sunday, January 6, 1935. An authenticated relic of St. Jude was given to the church by a friend and a small statue of the saint, which had been in the rectory for years, was placed in a side niche. As devotions increased, a new lifesize statue of St. Jude was placed in a shrine where it remained at the far end of the communion rail, until the new St. Jude Shrine was built in 1976. In addition to functioning as a local Catholic Church for nearly 180 years, Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel is home to ongoing devotions to St. Jude as visitors come to seek aid and to grow closer in their relationship to God.

The International Shrine of St. Jude and its Our Lady of Guadalupe Chapel is located at 411 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70112, just blocks away from Canal St. and on the edge of the French Quarter. It is staffed by the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. You can also try contacting via phone (504)525-1551, fax (504)525-1827, or e-mail.

For those who would rather contribute to a more traditional relief agency, Catholic Charities is a worthy choice.

St. Jude, Pray for Us, and for all who honor and invoke thy aid.

Related links:

See Instapundit and TTLB Katrina Relief page for more recommended charities and blogs participating in Blog for Relief Day.

If you make a donation, please visit contribution logging page at TTLB.

Technorati tags flood aid, hurricane katrina