U.S.SUPREME COURT – A BRANCH OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

U.S.SUPREME COURT – A BRANCH OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

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On Thursday of this week, the U.S. Supreme Court will announce its decision about the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act. The political implications of that decision are obvious and the overwhelming odds favor an adverse treatment of the Act by the conservative block on the court. Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed by George Bush, is the most conservative justice since the early 1970s, when Richard Nixon named Warren Burger to replace  the famously liberal Earl Warren. Clarence Thomas is the most conservative of…

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A STRANGE STORY ABOUT A LAWYER WHO DIED WHILE DEFENDING HIS CLIENT

A STRANGE STORY ABOUT A LAWYER WHO DIED WHILE DEFENDING HIS CLIENT

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This is a an unusual true story from history about a lawyer who died while defending a client in a murder case under peculiar  circumstances. Clement Vallandigham was an Ohio politician and lawyer. He was the leader of the copperhead faction of the antiwar Democrats during the American civil war. He was a strong supporter of constitutional state’s rights. He believed the states had the right to withdraw from the union and was anti Lincoln. During the Civil War he…

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A COLLECTION OF VIEWS ABOUT THE AMERICAN BISHOP’S LAWSUIT OVER ARTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTION

A COLLECTION OF VIEWS ABOUT THE AMERICAN BISHOP’S LAWSUIT OVER ARTIFICIAL CONTRACEPTION

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Commonweal Magazine in its June 15th issue had a discussion by several Catholic theologians on the Bishop’s lawsuit over the health care act provisions relating to birth control contraceptives and their position paper the Bishops entitled "Our first, most cherished liberty." Here are excerpts from the articles. One point the writers made is that unlike the apparent belief of the Bishops, religious freedom is not an absolute freedom. Here are some observations made about that fact. While freedom of religion…

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THE STORY OF AN AMAZING COINCIDENCE OF LIFE

THE STORY OF AN AMAZING COINCIDENCE OF LIFE

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While looking for something on the internet I came across this account which is reported to be entirely true according to the website www.friendshipsofefrat.org/idf-story.php The story involves two Israeli soldiers,  Yoni and Yair. Yoni was an Israeli Defense Force soldier who was stationed in Hebron. One early morning he was shot by an Arab terrorist. It was in a remote area and there was no one around to help him. He passed out while bleeding badly. However, it happened that…

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WISCONSIN – POLITICAL UNION BUSTING

WISCONSIN – POLITICAL UNION BUSTING

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Voters in Wisconsin go to the polls today to vote in an important election about worker rights which has ramifications for the rest of the nation. The vote is about the recall of the Wisconsin governor, but it deals more with politics than just union rights. Scott Walker was elected governor of Wisconsin in a GOP landslide in 2010.The Republicans also gained control of the Wisconsin State Senate and House of Representatives. Walker was able to push through the Republican-controlled…

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“TOTO, I’VE A FEELING WE’RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE. WE MUST BE OVER THE RAINBOW.”

“TOTO, I’VE A FEELING WE’RE NOT IN KANSAS ANYMORE. WE MUST BE OVER THE RAINBOW.”

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Lita and I are in Arizona this week, and like Dorothy I have a feeling we are not in the United States anymore. This is Arizona where reality and fantasy are like distant cousins who hardly meet anymore. Martin Luther King Junior could have been talking about Arizona when he said: "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Martin Luther King, Jr. A recent article, entitled "Total Eclipse" by Timothy Egan in the New…

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ADVICE FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE AGING

ADVICE FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE AGING

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Here are some thoughts about attitudes as we grow older. Maybe there is something here that will benefit you. The first is the thoughts of a Jesuit priest as he grew older. It has been reproduced many times. Prayer of an aging Jesuit Dear Lord, teach me to grow gracefully, help me to see that my community does me no wrong when gradually it takes from me my duty; when it no longer seems to seek my views. Rid me…

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HEAVY HANDED CATHOLIC CHURCH CONDUCT

HEAVY HANDED CATHOLIC CHURCH CONDUCT

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In Vienna, Austria, it's reported that at the parish church near Innsbruck a first communion mass was held on April 22. The church was full of parents and relatives and the first Communion children. The parish priest, father Patrick Busskamp, announced that only Catholics who were in a state of grace should come forward for communion. He told them that Catholics who are divorced and remarried and Catholics who do not attend mass every week were not worthy to receive…

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PAUL ALLAN & THE PIG WAR

PAUL ALLAN & THE PIG WAR

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Allan Island is located just west of Fidalgo island. It is a 292 acre private island. It was named by Charles Wilkes who led the first United States Navy expedition assigned to explore the Pacific Ocean in 1838. He surveyed Puget Sound and named dozens of landmarks including Elliott Bay. Wilkes obsessive behavior and harsh code of discipline was the inspiration for Herman Melville's Ahab in the book Moby Dick. Wilkes named it in 1841 after Capt. William H Allen…

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THE PHRASE “HOBSON’S CHOICE”

THE PHRASE “HOBSON’S CHOICE”

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For many years people would use the phrase "A Hobson's choice" in referring to a situation where they only had one option. The orgin of the phrase is based on actual historical fact. Around the turn of the 17th century Thomas Hobson ran a carrier and horse rental business in Cambridge, England. He rented horses much as cars are rented today. While he had a large number of horses to rent he would require customers to chose the horse in…

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