Month: October 2017

Miscellaneous Rambling

The response to Amoris Laetitia? Repression and fear: Give it the liberal interpretation, or you’ll be shunned. “Many who have spent time around the Vatican, permanently or temporarily, speak of an atmosphere of fear.” Link.

Do you think the leftist cheerleaders for Amoris Laetitia are oblivious that their ideology veers disturbingly close to the Weinstein mindset? If to deny a homosexual or adulterer his sexual desire is the height of cruelty, what exactly did Weinstein do wrong? Yes, I know: He didn’t get full consent (even though it sounded like he got partial consent, like the time I sold a Mickey Lolich card for 10 cents because I was trading with a cool older boy that I looked up to). And I agree, that is a huge distinction, but Amoris Laetitia isn’t about rape. It’s about conscience, and the idea that conscience can trump objective moral norms. Based on everything I read, Weinstein acted wholly in accord with his conscience. A warped conscience, yes, but his conscience nonetheless. Do we really want the Church to say, “Well, Harv, you probably shouldn’t have done that, but if you were really, really, really introspective about it first . . .”.

Speaking of Harvey and Amoris, I just learned last night that, when a high school guy is interested in a girl and he in good faith thinks she’s interested in him, it’s permissible (polite?) for him to send her a picture of his penis. Marie heard about this at a “girl’s weekend,” and assumed that was just the practice in Grand Rapids and Detroit areas (where the other females in the group are from). But no. She asked around our small town and found out that it’s normal . . . even expected, in some circles.

On … Read the rest

This church is decorated with the bones of 30,000 plague victims… – https://t.co/5CP1s9a1wQ

— New Advent (@newadvent) October 29, 2017

… Read the rest

I never thought I’d say that.… Read the rest

I’ve seen the future, and it works. Detroit is back!

Well, not really . . . not quite.

I spent nearly twelve hours in downtown Detroit Thursday, re-establishing my acquaintance, hitting old haunts, and, in general, marveling at this great old city that might, just might, be emerging from its dark ages.

Keep in mind: Detroit is big. I spent my entire time on, I’m guessing, a three-square mile strip (out of 138 total square land miles). I was in the heart of downtown only. I’ve heard there are pockets of civilization emerging in other areas, but I can’t vouch for those other 135 square miles.

I was mostly on Woodward, from the Detroit River on the south north over I-75, to the new Little Caesars Arena (where the Red Wings and Pistons play), and in the area from Greektown (the easternmost edge of the reclaimed area) to Joe Louis arena (the westernmost edge). Those areas, during the day, are safe and fun to explore. You see renaissance all around, but you still see enough of the dilapidation to make you feel like you’re on the cusp of something that isn’t there yet.

What I found most fun about the ongoing rejuvenation is the interest it piqued in me. Maybe it’s my advancing age, but when I was younger, I always just wanted to get out of downtown Detroit. I worked there . . . and went home right away after work. I went to a Red Wings game, maybe grabbed a drink at one of the two bars on Jefferson Street where a guy felt safe . . . and went home asap. Now, while I’m walking around, I want to see things: “Oh, the Detroit Public Library. I hear that still has its ostentatious charm from the generosity … Read the rest

In my first lecture, I was going to offer a 3-minute overview, but the lecture was running so long, I had to slash out everything that wasn’t essential, but I still have my 3-minute outline:

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You have the old testament period. We aren’t even going to touch that because I hate Jews (smile).

Christ: 1 AD to 33 AD. ISH! Doesn’t really matter.

Until 313, Christianity grows, then gets official recognition.

Starts to prosper.

476: “Fall” of the Roman Empire. Not accurate, which we’ll touch upon, but remember the date anyway.

State disintegrates. “Nature abhors a vacuum.” The Church fills it. Thereafter the Church and politics are intertwined, which leads to pretty much every abuse thereafter that non-Catholics gloat over. Malcolm Muggeridge loves an ancient inscription that said, basically, there are two things in life, love and power, and no man can pursue both. Well, power was thrust on the Church out of necessity, which in many ways, threw it off course, BUT NEVER OFF THE RAILS. The mere fact that the Church survived all the flirtations and abuse with power for over 1,000 years is a testament to its status as a divine institution.

1076: Gregory VII, Hildebrand. Investiture crisis. Probably the peak of papal power: Crippled the secular arm’s involvement in sacred matters, while the sacred keeping power in secular matters. After this point, the latter starts downhill.

So, anyway, 500-1500. Columbus: 1492

1517: Reformation

1789: French Revolution

1800s: Vatican I, 1870: Elimination of Papal States

1929: Lateran Accords, restoration of the Papal States . . . or rather Vatican City, an independent nation. … Read the rest

Another hoax bites the dust! https://t.co/efzJdb1fdv

— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) October 24, 2017

Two of my sons go to EMU. I remember when this story broke. Few people, including me, thought it was legitimate graffiti . . . it was too over-the-top. … Read the rest