extreme Catholic 

Not one dime until the men and women nominated to the federal courts by the President get an up or down vote in the Senate.

Now, more than ever. I do it to both the mail and the phone contacts I have with anyone connected to congressional Republicans -- and that goes double for you, Senator Rick Santorum.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 12:00 AM   Permalink  

Elections matter and he gets to pick. And the sooner we get a justice in place who doesn't want to be a dictator, the better.

There's should be no doubt that with Kelo v. New London and the wacky split decision on the Ten Commandments that the court sees itself as a super-legislature.

The first pick has to be an originalist with a track record for being so.

O'Connor's, Souter's, and Kennedy's are out there ready to be a "conservative" pick locking-in Griswold, "Roe", Lemon, and all the damage that's been done in the past 50 years.

Gonzalez might be a second or third Bush pick, but not the first. Rhenquist and Stevens may come to regret not being first out the door.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 11:03 PM   Permalink  

Robert Bork should be considered. Seriously.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 12:28 PM   Permalink  

In the Woodside, NY Amazon Purchase Circle Michael Moore and Dan Brown.

Ugh!

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 11:55 AM   Permalink  

The author is Rev. Michael Heintz, the rector at St. Matthew Cathedral replying to Rev. Edward Ruetz

Catholic Church Catechism is clear on homosexuality : South Bend Tribune

While the church certainly distinguishes between homosexual orientation (which I believe is not, in the vast majority of cases, something chosen by an individual) and homosexual activity (which I believe is intrinsically disordered and also within the capacity of an individual freely to choose), those who are homosexual are encouraged and supported by the church and its sacraments to live -- no less than heterosexual individuals are -- a chaste life.

However, it is in direct opposition to the teaching found in the catechism to suggest that homosexual orientation is "a beautiful part of God's plan'' and "a healthy act of God and nature.''

Despite Ruetz's assertion that Jesus "never condemned the lifestyle,'' ("lifestyle,'' it should be noted, is a modern category with which inhabitants of the first century would have been unfamiliar), there is a clear and constant teaching within the Scriptures and the Catholic tradition in opposition to homosexual activity.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 9:35 AM   Permalink  

The dispute between a Roman Catholic priest in Vernon and the bishop of Norwich has reached a new level, with the priest filing a lawsuit in federal court accusing the Norwich Diocese of employment discrimination and defamation.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport on behalf of the Rev. Justinian B. Rweyemamu, formerly assigned to St. Bernard Church in Vernon, seeks unspecified damages from the Most Rev. Michael R. Cote, bishop of Norwich.

I haven't followed this one but it's typical of the pattern where a bishop and a priest can resolve some sort of disagreement.

The suit should be thrown out immediately on First Amendment grounds.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 11:06 PM   Permalink  

It was a good speech but contained no surprises or no stirring rhetoric.

It's the stupid criticism of the Democrats and RINO's (i.e. Chuck Hagel) that elevates the speech.

The speech was predictable by people like myself who are following the news in many respects. I think there was a missed opportunity to present stories of heroism and statistics that support an optimistic outlook. These are being blocked by MSM and the president in a speech like this can breakthrough the MSM blockcade and it cannot be ignored in the same way that if Cheney, Rumsfeld, or Rice give the same accounts.

The insurgency has a body count but is not gaining popular support. In fact, it's a Vietnam in reverse. The jihidis from Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Syria, etc. are foreign fighters entering Iraq where they are fighting a native Iraqi army and police force being trained by Americans and its coalition partners.

By focusing on the body count, the jihadis and the MSM who oppose the US policy are forgetting that they are not winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people.

Even if there's another Beirut airport diaster where hundreds of American service people are killed at once, there's no "cut and run" in this war.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 9:09 AM   Permalink  

Chosen, the Olympics slogan of 2008 for the Peoples Republic of China has.

One World, One Dream

...and one system to rule them all...

The Vatican's negotiation style has been mostly appeasement.

Has China's position moved an inch since the dialog with the Vatican began?

Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, the Secretary for Relations with States, spoke with Vatican Radio on June 22, after his return from a 10-day trip to southeast Asia. There are "no insurmountable obstacles" barring the restoration of diplomatic ties between the Holy See and China, according to the Vatican's top foreign-policy official.

Beijing and Rome agree on bishop's appointment : CWN

In a clear sign of improving relations between the Vatican and Beijing, the Chinese government has recognized a bishop appointed by the Holy See, the AsiaNews service reports.

The June 28 consecration of Bishop Joseph Xing Wenzhi as an auxiliary for the Shanghai diocese was authorized by the government-approved "official" Church. But the new bishop announced that he had been nominated by the Holy See.

I still expect an ultimatum to be given to Taiwan, which will be refused, and a very short futile war in which the United States will be a bystander. Taiwan will be incorporated by force and be the signal of the end of the American ability to defend its allies when the threat is a nuclear power and willing to use it.

Both the Vatican and the United States find itself in the position of having zero negotiating leveage against China's demands. It's a dangerous position to be in.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 8:34 AM   Permalink  

A former manager with Allstate has sued the insurance giant, alleging the company, which financially supports homosexual advocacy groups, fired him solely because he wrote a column posted on several websites that was critical of same-sex marriage and espoused his Christian beliefs.

J. Matt Barber was a manager in Allstate's Corporate Security Division, its investigative arm, at the Fortune 100 company's headquarters in Northbrook, Ill.

Also in Catholic World News

I hope Matt gets justice when this plays out in the court but for every Matt there are thousands who read about this and are saying to themselves "Not me. I am not going to speak out. I won't risk my job." This is where there's hidden power in the gay rights movement to intimidate people without the platform of a Rush Limbaugh or Sean Hannity, both of whom should bring the light of publicity to this case.

The message to employees of the so-called "gay friendly" Fortune 500 companies is clear: the gay thought police are watching you.

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 11:19 AM   Permalink  

I decided that I'd start from Battery Park and take the M6 bus rather than the subway. I had some spare time. When I got on the empty bus I sat in the first seat not reserved for seniors and disabled. A tourist came on the bus about my age but 20 lbs heavier with his daughter and asked the driver "What stop for Little Italy?" The driver explained that Canal St would be the closest but also the most crowded. To get to Mulberry St and the heart of Little Italy, you'd have to get off at Grand St. As the bus proceeded he told this pair about some movies and television shows that were filmed in the area.

A few stops later, Waverly Pl, some very confused tourists with dollar bills in their hands started to enter the bus. The bus doesn't take dollar bills, only coins. Now among these four women, they were not likely to have 32 quarters. The driver took pity because it was very hot outside and the bus had very good air conditioning. How far are you going? he asked. To 8th Street. OK. That's only 6 blocks, so come on the bus for free.

The sit down in the front seats facing each other and me. I say to them "You should be grateful to this bus driver for the favor he has done for you. He asks for nothing. But someday - and this day may never come - he may ask you for a favor in return for his kindness today.

Only one of the four tourists got it and she smiled. But the bus driver and the other passengers thought it was very funny. One by one as men left the bus, he asked, was it you who made that joke? No, they answered.

When it was my turn to leave and he asked. I replied "Leave the gun. Take the cannolis".

posted by Patrick Sweeney at 10:16 AM   Permalink