My wife pointed me to the text of an address by Archbishop Chaput to the Congress on Priests and Laity.  He deals with the crisis of belief in our age and the special role of artists.  What is most striking to me is his reminder of the reality of Satan as more than a personified evil.  Too many church leaders are afraid of appearing retrograde or (gasp) medieval.  Not Chaput, God bless him.

It is very odd that in the wake of the bloodiest century in history – a century when tens of millions of human beings were shot, starved, gassed and incinerated with superhuman ingenuity – even many religious leaders are embarrassed to talk about the devil. In fact, it is more than odd. It is revealing. Mass murder and exquisitely organized cruelty are not just really big “mental health” problems. They are sins that cry out to heaven for justice, and they carry the fingerprints of an Intelligence who is personal, gifted, calculating and powerful. The devil is only unbelievable if we imagine him as the black monster of medieval paintings, or think The Inferno is intended as a literal road map to hell. Satan was very real for Jesus. He was very real for Paul and the other great saints throughout history. And he is profoundly formidable. If we want a sense of the grandeur of the Fallen Angel before he fell, the violated genius of who Satan really is, we can take a hint from the Rilke poem The Angels:

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I am sad to report the death of Ralph McInerny, a man that I had the privilege to get to know last year while I was on the faculty of the University of Notre Dame. Here is a portion of a note I received today from a friend in South Bend, Indiana:

Ralph died early this morning at 7:45… It was, from what I can discern, a happy death, serene and full of the acceptance that comes from a sure and strong faith. I know that for me, I never expect to know another like him in this life. He was outstanding in all the important roles of life: husband and father, friend and teacher, inspirer and witness, in love with God and truly love by God. Has there ever been a happier man, a man more able to make all around him smile?

Ralph was the sort of intellectual giant that becomes more rather than less formidable when one attempts to explain to those outside the guild the scope and influence of his work, the generosity of his spirit, and the habits of Christian virtue and philosophical rigor that he imparted to his students and colleagues in both word and deed. Although I did not have the privilege to study under Professor McInerny, I am one of literally tens of thousands, both inside and outside the academy, who has been deeply influenced by his work and example.

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May Ralph’s soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

(cross-posed on Return to Rome blog)

Foot-in-mouth disease strikes again.

Matthews forgets Obama is black.

We are in a post-racial society blah blah blah.  Have they tried being a non-protected minority?  Protected minorities = African Americans, Hispanics (or is the term Latino, I can’t get it straight), Native American.  Non protected minorities = everything else.   What if you’re Asian and are generally penalized for being “smart”? What if you’re white South African but everyone assumes you’re American “white”?  < < insert post-racial society rant > >  Post-racial – yeah right.

Note 1: I do not mean this offensively towards anyone, white, black or purple.

Note 2: This is not just aimed at Matthews and his idiotic remarks about a president whose race doesn’t matter to me. Generally discussing race in America gets my dander up.

When worst comes to worst, at least we have HUD.  That tells you something about the instincts of this group.  Putting the fate of the free world in the hands of the ultimate bureaucrat–what’s not to like?  From the AP:

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton missed President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address to attend a conference in London, but she was not the only absentee Cabinet member.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan was designated by the White House to ride out the speech in an undisclosed location as a precaution against the possibility of a catastrophe wiping out the rest of the government leadership.

One positive about this plan is that when the Humanoid Underground Dwellers emerge from the smoking pits, we’ll have HUD vs. HUD for control of the post-apocalypse world.

Mr. Obama has his opinion; now let him render it.

For all his flaws as a leader, Bush 43 was a man. Obama looked so small last night, and I don’t just mean when he school-yard bullied the Supreme Court. I was recalling last night the situation at Bush’s first State of the Union. Bush had inherited a recession and nine months into his office, we were attacked. By his first State of the Union, Bush, however, enjoyed a high approval rating. His tax cuts had prevented the economy from spiraling downward, especially after 9-11. And he had united the nation in a response to the Taliban. Did he complain about the failures under Clinton? Did he blame either problem on the previous administration? I don’t recall so. But more importantly, a year into his presidency, Bush had concretely done something. Obama whined last night about the hand he was dealt. Seriously? He needs to man up, stop complaining, and act resolutely and pragmatically. Instead, he talks about liberal fantasies of the total welfare state and espouses delusional theories about deficit-spending to spur economic growth. Oh yes, and it’s all Bush’s fault. No matter how much the dinosaur media spins it, I think the American people see right through this and are discovering that Obama is indeed, a small, small man.

Would it be too cynical to call it State of the (dis)Union?  I’ll be taking notes.  I’m looking forward to Governor McDonnell’s response and the post-game analysis by my fellow esteemed SA bloggers who are all a lot smarter than me.  Live blog here if you wish. I’ll bring the popcorn.

From the ABC News website (emphasis added):

“The president’s going to explain why he thinks the American people are angry and frustrated,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said on “Good Morning America” today.

“Many of the same factors that led Sen. [Scott] Brown to become a senator from Massachusetts led Barack Obama to become president. Now, we’ve got to deal with those angers and frustrations by putting people back to work, by demonstrating we have a plan to get our economy continued on the road to recovery and putting those folks back to work, and protecting our country from those who seek to do us harm.”

Two observations. First, why is that when a liberal idea is rejected it is the consequence of “anger” at the wrong target, but when a conservative idea is rejected it is “speaking truth to power”? Notice, liberal ideas are never rejected for reasons, and conservative ideas are never accepted but for unreason. If you believe this, you are living in denial, for it means that you have insulated yourself from correction and repentance, from the healing of mind and soul. And that’s not a good thing. Second, the President, according to Mr. Gibbs, will tell us this evening what really lurks in the hearts of those that make up the population whose support for his policies is dwindling at an alarming pace. Apparently, the President has some secret knowledge about the inner lives of vast numbers of the American public, insights that are undetectable by we ordinary humans who are limited by our five senses and cognitive faculties. So, if you think you know what you believe about the President’s policies, your self-knowledge may be mistaken. Tonight, thankfully, the President will reveal to us what we really believe.

“He did not need human testimony about them, for he knew what was in their hearts.” – John 2.24

A woman got a twofer at a New York abortion clinic (i.e. “a one-stop gynecology and plastic surgery clinic”) which killed both the her and her child during an abortion.

An employee at the clinic … insisted that everything had gone well at the second-floor medical facility.

“The patient was transferred to the hospital, she didn’t die at the clinic,” said the woman, who refused to give her name. “Nothing happened here.”

(emphasis added)

Just another day at the office.

Although the article does not mention the child, I presume it was ably killed it as well.

JAKARTA — Indonesian authorities said Monday they are considering a petition to tear down a statue of US President Barack Obama as a boy, only a month after the bronze was unveiled in Jakarta.

The statue of “Little Barry” — as Obama was known when he lived in the capital in the late 1960s — stands in central Jakarta’s Menteng Park, a short walk from the US president’s former elementary school.

HT Drudge, of course.

Yesterday, over at The Corner, John Miller listed the top ten conservative novels. Number four on that list was The Time It Never Rained, by Elmer Kelton. Regardless of the book’s philosophical orientation, The Time It Never Rained, simply put, is one of the best American novels ever written. It is a book every American should read, especially in these times.

The book tells the story of Charlie Flagg, a small West Texas rancher trying to save his ranch during the long drought of the 1950’s. As the drought takes its toll on his livestock and savings he comes under increasing pressure from neighbors, friends, and family to accept federal “assistance” in the form of subsidized feed. However, Charlie will have none of it. For him, self-sufficiency and paying one’s own way are the cornerstone of what it means to be a free man. He refuses to accept handouts while he still has the means to provide for himself. However, as the drought wears on he comes under intense pressure to compromise his beliefs and go along with the crowd.

At its core, The Time It Never Rained is a fight story. By that I don’t mean a combat or action story. It is the story of a man that struggles to maintain fidelity to his personal convictions in the face of withering criticism and personal misfortune.

The Time It Never Rained is a story that is both inspiring and entertaining. It contains some of the most colorful characters you will come across in literature. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Any ideas why Drudge has the inverted bin Laden pic today?  I suppose it’s just a way of tweaking his rather prominent beak or questioning the authenticity of the recording.  Other possibilities?

This was written before Obama became President, but I don’t think he’d win anyway.

So let’s get it on: 43 men enter, one man leaves. No “over the top rope” battle royale, because Taft and Cleveland would have an unfair advantage. All men are at the physical peak of their presidency, because Wilson deserves a chance. No firearms.

We are sticking with the classics: 43 men on a remote island, forced to fight to the death in a series of individual battles with a soundtrack by Stan Bush. It will be called Beyond Capitoldome, and it will cost $49.95 on pay-per-view. Who wins?

Next Thursday, January 28, is the feast day of St. Thomas Aquinas. Over at my Return to Rome blog, I have dedicated January 23-28 to An Aquinas Catechism. It will include video lectures, excerpts from Thomas’ works, and words of praise from prelates and professors.

You can find the blog here. The first two installments are here and here.

You know, this is an amazing week. Massachusetts goes Republican, health care dies and the Supreme Court unshackles the First Amendment. It’s the best week I’ve had since spring break in medical school — and I don’t even remember it. And there was another item . . .  Air America, the liberal talk show network went out of business — which is a redundancy because nobody was listening anyway. ~ Charles Krauthammer on Fox

Keith is apparently displeased that political speech is almost as free as pornography.

Today is the March for Life, an event I hope to attend at least some of later in the day.  It is also the 37th anniversary of one of the most atrocious Supreme Court decisions ever handed down by our Overlords in black, and Red State has a terrific editorial today that is a definite must read on the topic.

It is heartening that we have made some small strides through the years.  Opposition to abortion has increased, and we’re seeing some signs that the youth of today are embracing the culture of life.  But we still have far to go, as evidenced by the actions of the Montgomery County (Maryland) Council.

The Montgomery County Council is considering a regulation that would require pro-life pregnancy resource centers to tell new clients that the information they provide is not intended to be medical advice and to turn to other providers before “proceeding on a course of action regarding [her] pregnancy.” The regulation would impose a fine of up to $750 per day for not doing so.

The bill singles out pregnancy resource centers only because of their pro-life mission. If approved, the Montgomery County regulation would impose government-compelled speech on a non-profit organization that does not receive public funding simply because the organization declines to provide or refer for abortion. The regulation does not apply to “family planning” clinics, which the County government funds, or to abortion clinics.

Maryland, which as a colony was a haven for Catholics, is now the state with the fourth highest abortion rate in the country, and had been one of the few states where the rate is increasing.

There is a critical need for offering alternatives to abortion. While the abortion rate declined 9 percent nationally between 2000 and 2005, the abortion rate in Maryland rose 8 percent in the same period. Our state’s abortion rate is now 38 percent higher than the national rate, with more than one-in-four Maryland pregnancies ending in abortion. There were 37,590 abortions performed here in 2005 – about 103 per day.  To even consider targeting centers that help women choose life is unconscionable in light of these tragic statistics, which represent an even more tragic reality.

Though there is growing opposition to this movement, the Montgomery City Council has not a single Republican member.  My wife has written to our Council member, but I fear our pleas will fall on deaf ears.  If you are in or around the Montgomery County area, please write your local representatives to fight this ideologically motivated attack on pregnancy resource centers.  There is more information on how to get involved here.

Today is the 37th anniversary of Roe v. Wade (1973), the U.S. Supreme Court opinion in which the court ruled that the Constitution’s right of privacy requires a right to abortion. Although prolifers decry this decision, few have rarely examined the logic of the opinion. For this reason, my 2006 article may be of interest: “The Supreme Court, Roe v. Wade, and Abortion Law,” Liberty University Law Review 1.1 (2006): 37-72. It is a revised and updated version of the previously published article, “Roe v. Wade: Its Logic and Its Legacy.” The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 7.2 (Summer 2003): 4-28. The Liberty article was again revised and updated when it was published as chapter 2 of my book, Defending Life: A Moral and Legal Case Against Abortion Choice (Cambridge University Press, 2007)

(Originally posted on the Return to Rome blog)

Just came down the wire. Coincidentally [or perhaps not], I tuned in for a little schadenfreude this morning, and after the Scott Brown victory, they were in particularly miserable form.

Details here. R.I.P., if that means it stays dead.

The Professor From Virginia by Mort Kunstler

And just for Joel Leggett:

There Stands Jackson Like A Stonewall by Mort Kunstler

This parody of Hitler’s anger never gets old…

Do not be idle – join the fight for your children and grandchildren.

From today’s Slate:

BOSTON—President Obama flew in Sunday for a last-minute campaign stop for beleaguered senatorial candidate Martha Coakley. In his speech, besides the usual exhortations to the party faithful, he managed to work in several snide references to her opponent’s truck as a symbol of false populism. Coakley’s opponent, Republican Scott Brown, was flabbergasted. “Unbelievable,” he said. “The leader of the free world is talking about my truck.“

Just got back from three days in Las Vegas. My siblings and I put on a party for my parents in celebration of their 50th wedding anniversary (which is technically January 23, 2010). About 70 people were there. My brother, Jim, opened up the afternoon festivities by welcoming everyone. After lunch, my sister, Elizabeth, presented a video slide show she had produced for the event. It was amazing. I followed Jim with a toast, which I reproduce for you here:
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Yesterday I had the good fortune to attend the inauguration of Virginia’s 71st governor, Bob McDonnell.  All the guests were full of energy and enthusiasm as we watched him take the oath of office, along with his Lieutenant-Governor Bob Bolling and Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.  It really felt like being at a concert of my favorite rockstar – the excitement goes beyond description. I couldn’t do it justice if I tried. There was a little something for everyone, from the flyover after the oath to the Redskins cheerleaders to the history in which Richmond is steeped.  The next four years should be good for Virginia and I pray for the Governor and his family.

Below is the full text of his Inaugural Address, courtesy of #bobmcdonnell: (more…)

Stay with it, people.  HT The Corner

Pat Robertson has been accused of blaming the Haiti earthquake on” God’s wrath” and Haiti’s “pact with the Devil” – though if you actually listen to his comments, that isn’t’ exactly true – though I would agree that his words, and their timing, were poorly chosen at best. Nothing really new for Reverend Robertson. Now, Danny Glover is blaming the Haiti earthquake on Gaia. So, my question to all you theologians: Who’s running this world, Father God or mother nature? Will Glover suffer the same scorn? Of course, the questions are rhetorical ones.

And, in a very strange providence, I watched a PBS documentary last night about Haiti and her revolutionary military leader, François-Dominique Toussaint L’ouverture. It was a fascinating film. Part of the narrative went into some detail about Haiti’s voodooism and their so-called “pact with the devil.” At about 6:11 into the following clip–and until the end of the clip taken from the PBS special–the connection between voodoo and Haiti’s revolution against France is quite plainly made by the narrative–the same connection to which Robertson referred in his now infamous comments. Hmmm . . . did the producers of this documentary consult with Pat Robertson or are they simply saying the same thing without the charismatic, evangelical “flair”?