tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89998902183455872832024-03-10T22:26:50.253-04:00A Piece Of My Mindwild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.comBlogger145125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-64869858474515532022021-05-17T16:57:00.003-04:002021-05-17T17:36:49.082-04:00<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbhzz9EALKiAfzBr9YCQawF_13si3CLd31lgjkoLUvlYcikNKb2MM4My24vGs4-jL5WvYzkiNJVYWitQzIx0x2kqkAdBouj2Y0XX_5YexVRDoJBDG5jASP8_4m4GaXE21dnN_3zI7IwY/s182/same+sex+rings+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="109" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbhzz9EALKiAfzBr9YCQawF_13si3CLd31lgjkoLUvlYcikNKb2MM4My24vGs4-jL5WvYzkiNJVYWitQzIx0x2kqkAdBouj2Y0XX_5YexVRDoJBDG5jASP8_4m4GaXE21dnN_3zI7IwY/s0/same+sex+rings+%25282%2529.jpg" /></a></div><br />It's time for a new post.<p></p><p>I want to enter the conversation about civil unions and same sex marriage. I have witnessed as a licensed clergy person one same sex marriage. I was honored to do this for two long time friends.</p><p>I described the ceremony in their backyard garden several years ago as a civil event with religious overtones. I prayed for the two men and gave them a blessing. This was after the United States approved of gay marriage. The two partners wrote much of the ceremony. </p><p>It was also an ecumenical event. There was another pastor present who participated in the service. He was the pastor of the church where one of the men started attending after he was run off by traditional Roman Catholics at a historic church this man attended for many years and cared for its physical structure as an architect. </p><p>These two men had been together for over twenty years. One of them, the architect, said once to me that their relationship was more stable than some of his straight relatives who were in relationship.</p><p>I signed the marriage license as the official witness. The new pastor of the architect declined because his bishop had not approved of same sex unions. At the time two other bishops of his denomination in that state had approved of same sex weddings. His particular bishop had not approved. I had not bothered to inform the Roman Catholic bishop where I once lived for many years that I was coming back for a gay wedding. He would not have approved in any case.</p><p>This leads me down memory lane. I remember from my catechism a question about the ministers of the sacraments. For baptism the priest was the usual minister, but in a case of life or death a lay person could administer the sacrament. Then for confirmation the bishop was the usual minister of that sacrament. There may be something about a priest doing this if a person was coming into the Roman Catholic Church for example at Easter. The priest could administer the Sacrament of Confirmation. </p><p>This is a big one, marriage. The ministers of the Sacrament of Marriage are described as the two people getting married. The priest was only there as the official witness for the church, the big Roman Catholic Church. There was nothing back in those days about the sexuality of the two getting married. </p><p>I also closely followed back in those days the Second Vatican Council. There was much progress on a number of issues. One of the biggest forward steps was changing the approach to the Jews. The Catholic Church even changed the Good Friday prayers regarding the Jewish people. <span style="font-family: arial;">Here is a Wikepeda citation; </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;">On 21 March 1959, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_XXIII" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0645ad; font-size: 15.75px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Pope John XXIII">Pope John XXIII</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;"> ordered that the word "faithless" (</span><a class="mw-redirect" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin_language" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0645ad; font-size: 15.75px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Latin language">Latin</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;">: </span><i lang="la" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;">perf</i>Her<i lang="la" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;">idis</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;">) be removed from the prayer for the conversion of the Jews,</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-13" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday_prayer_for_the_Jews#cite_note-13" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;">[13]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;"> This word had caused much trouble in recent times because of misconceptions that the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latin" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #0645ad; font-size: 15.75px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="Latin">Latin</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;"> </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;">perfidis</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;"> was equivalent to "</span><a class="extiw" href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/perfidious" style="background: none rgb(255, 255, 255); color: #3366bb; font-size: 15.75px; text-decoration-line: none;" title="wiktionary:perfidious">perfidious</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;">", giving birth to the view that the prayer accused the Jews of treachery (perfidy), though the Latin word is more correctly translated as "faithless" or "unbelieving".</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-14" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday_prayer_for_the_Jews#cite_note-14" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;">[14]</a></sup><span style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 15.75px;"> Accordingly, the prayer was revised to read:</span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-15" style="background-color: white; color: #202122; font-size: 12.6px; line-height: 1; unicode-bidi: isolate; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Good_Friday_prayer_for_the_Jews#cite_note-15" style="background: none; color: #0645ad; text-decoration-line: none;">[15]</a>"</sup></span></p><p>Moving on...back in those days of Vatican II, I remember the word "Sacrament" being used in a very broad and inclusive way. "I am a sacrament, you are a sacrament". Persons, things, events were a called a sacrament; that is an outward sign instituted by God to give grace. I would have no trouble calling a loving union between two same sex persons committed for life a sacrament. </p><p>In reading last Lent Frederik Martel's book; <i>In the Closet of the Vatican</i> one of the more memorable lines was that the Catholic Church was the last bastion in the western world resisting the legacy of Stonewall. It's time for a new Council or at this time and place for the synodal processes that are happening in Germany and Ireland to proceed with more voices than just the Vatican. The windows of the church need to be reopened.</p><p>Finally, a wise Jesuit teacher I had back in the 80's often would offer as an example of binary thinking this antidote; Once a high church official in the Vatican was asked about the priests being accused of child molestation and that high Vatican official responded; "Well, some priests are sinners." The unspoken implication is that of course other priests, like me, are not sinners.</p><p>Now the Vatican says it can't bless sin so no blessing of same sex couples. Only bless sinless couples? </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-65659744958126416132019-10-06T18:12:00.001-04:002019-12-24T18:43:19.499-05:00Finding I am Late to this Discussion...but a Recent Homily with My Religious Community...The Cure of the Centurion's Gay Lover...<br />
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<br />
How to begin this today? First let
me say a word of thanks to all of you who have taken a turn here to preside and
be the homilist at these meetings. I had a turn early on and then decided to
pass the opportunity around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thank you.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
For this Mass today I was looking around to find someone to be the
presider/homilist and finally decided, well it might be my turn again. Then I
looked at the readings. Surprise! This passage about the centurion and his
servant in Luke; there is also a version in Matthew, have been favorites of
mine. I thought about resisting the chance to say something on this topic. I
could talk on Pope Cornelius. Well, I decided to go with a reflection on the
gospel and hope that it would also fit in with our call to reach out to the
outsider, folks on the margins.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In Luke’s account, Jesus praises
the centurion’s faith as greater than any he has seen in Israel. It is one of
many examples of faith in Luke’s gospel. There might be an invitation here for
us to see examples of faith beyond our own community, beyond our own church.
Simply celebrate faith when and where it appears. The Jesus of Luke’s gospel
never preaches directly to the Gentiles. That only happens in Acts.<o:p></o:p></div>
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In searching for some material on
today’s gospel, I at one point ended up at the Wikipidia site, then scrolling
down, saw this headline; “Homo-erotic connotations of the passages in Mt. 8 and
Lk. 7.” Reading through a list of scripture scholars under this heading I saw a
name I recognized. It stirred a very dusty memory, Daniel A. Helminiak.”<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is the old memory, twenty to
twenty-five years ago at a gathering of one of the national groups I belonged
to at that time, I had the honor and privilege of introducing Daniel A.
Helminiak. I cannot remember the group or where it was. It was likely a New
Ways event. I also probably have a book or two of Helminiak’s.<o:p></o:p></div>
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For some reason, probably I was familiar with
the group and he was not; I was asked to introduce him. So, little ole me
introduced Daniel Helminiak who is described on his own web site which I
discovered yesterday as an "Author, Lecturer, Psychotherapist, Priest and
Theologian, and Psychology Professor."<o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a portion of how he described
himself. “I grew up in an intensely devout Polish Catholic community in
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Having entered seminary at a tender age of
seventeen, I was ordained a Catholic priest in Rome. Until my retirement in
mid-2018, I served as a full Professor in the humanistic and transpersonal
Department of Psychology at the University of West Georgia, near Atlanta."<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br />
This is for our reflection today.
Here is Helminiak’s comment on the passage from Luke’s gospel this morning; <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> "</span>Matthew 8 and Luke 7 present parallel accounts
of Jesus' curing the centurion's <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>servant.
The Greek reads 'pais' (boy, slave) and contrasts in the passages with the term
that refers to the other slaves 'doulos' (servant, slave). Luke also notes that
the boy was 'dear' to the evidently wealthy centurion. Not the cost
of a slave nor a mere youth's experience and skill, but only emotional
attachment would explain 'dear.' In extra-biblical usage, 'pais' was sometimes
used to refer to a man's male lover. Very likely, the boy was the centurion's
lover. Jesus cured the boy, restoring the relationship and commending the
centurion's faith.”<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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This is my reason for considering
Luke 7 and the cure of the centurion's servant as one of my favorite scripture
passages. We use similar words that the centurion used and who Jesus praised for
his faith every time we welcome Jesus in the Eucharist; “Lord I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof but only say the word and my soul shall be
healed.” That is the reason I am partial to this passage.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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A final thought. At a recent community meeting we
passed a resolution to invite Fr. James Martin, SJ to speak to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was not around for the voting, but I was told that the resolution passed with a significant positive vote.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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The fallout. Later that day I was
visited by one of my superiors who told me that he was confused by my homily.
Like many Roman Catholic communities, we are grappling with pedophilia issues.
He warned me that I should be more aware of that. I told him that I was aware of
the pedophilia implications but decided to offer these reflections today. I
told him I was sorry if he was offended. I said that I was aware of the whole
Roman man/boy relationship. In parting he said to me that his criticism applied
to other types of relationships. I did not respond.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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In going back and looking at more
of what Daniel Helminiak has to say on this; he writes in his book <i>Sex and Sacred</i> that it is hard to know what would have been in Jesus mind at
the time. Helminiak then says that<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>if Jesus
did not condemn the centurion for his apparent homosexual relationship, he
certainly missed a key opportunity to condemn homosexuality.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://books.google.com/books?id=O4qhggrJFdYC&pg=PA192&dq=Helminiak+%22sometimes+used+to+mean%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Vb4fUfuIEo-6hAf1goD4BQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Helminiak%20%22sometimes%20used%20to%20mean%22&f=false" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">https://books.google.com/books?id=O4qhggrJFdYC&pg=PA192&dq=Helminiak+%22sometimes+used+to+mean%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=Vb4fUfuIEo-6hAf1goD4BQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Helminiak%20%22sometimes%20used%20to%20mean%22&f=false</a><br />
<br />
A link to Daniel Helminiak's web page.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://visionsofdaniel.net/index.htm">http://visionsofdaniel.net/index.htm</a></div>
<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-78850250254253157472019-01-13T19:01:00.000-05:002019-01-13T19:26:03.480-05:00Catholic Bishops Distracted and maybe rightly so. Where is the concern for the poor in the present wall/border crisis?<br />
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I am feeling sorry for us catholics and others who are not getting much leadership from their shepherds these days.<br />
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In the past with all the violations of care happening on the border and Trump's created hysteria of a wall, there would be us bishops ready to be arrested. Are they still supporting Trump? Are us bishops so preoccupied with their failures on the sexual abuse crisis that they have no time for those other least among us?<br />
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During the civil rights era bishops, priests, nuns, lay folks were on the front lines. That all seems to be lost in the Trump era.<br />
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<a href="https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-would-destroy-this-historic-church-to-get-his-wall">Bishops speak out, but more action is needed.</a>wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-13039972205813535002018-08-26T19:58:00.000-04:002018-08-26T20:05:03.813-04:00The Pope in Ireland with the Irish Prime Minister<h2>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Homily thoughts for Sunday, August 26th. 2018</span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here is my reflection which I shared with the congregation I was with this morning. I did soften the paragraph by the Irish Prime Minister which talked about Ireland's modernization in parliament and by referendum of laws to bring the country into the 21st. century. </span></div>
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In close to fifty years, I have seldom quoted the pope, but I did so today. I do celebrate Ireland, I honor some of my roots. Perhaps Ireland can lead the church once again as it has done in the past. I am thinking of the Irish Penitentials. I think the Prime Minister's remarks were prophetic. </div>
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I think this Sunday is the final Sunday with these readings from John’s gospel on the Bread of Life and the Words of Ever Lasting Life. I found myself attracted to the words of both the Pope and Prime Minister of Ireland, each in their own way who echoed in their remarks, words of everlasting life. </div>
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The Prime Minister of Ireland “Together we are guided by your words: ‘Make bridges, not walls, because walls fall.’” “The Ireland of the 21st century is a very different place today than it was in the past. Ireland is increasingly diverse. One in six of us were not born here, and there are more and more people who adhere to other faiths, or who are comfortable in declaring that they subscribe to no organised religion. </div>
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We have voted in our parliament and by referendum to modernise our laws – understanding that marriages do not always work, that women should make their own decisions, and that families come in many forms including those headed by a grandparent, lone parent or same-sex parents or parents who are divorced. Holy Father, I believe that the time has now come for us to build a new relationship between church and state in Ireland – a new covenant for the 21st Century. It is my hope that your visit marks the opening of a new chapter in the relationship between Ireland and the Catholic Church. Building on our intertwined history, and learning from our shared mistakes, it can be one in which religion is no longer at the centre of our society, but in which it still has an important place.” </div>
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For his part, this is some of what Pope Francis had to say; “As you know, the reason for my visit is to take part in the World Meeting of Families, held this year in Dublin. </div>
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The Church is, in a real way, a family among families, and senses the need to support families in their efforts to respond faithfully and joyfully to their God-given vocation in society. </div>
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One need not be a prophet to perceive the difficulties faced by our families in today’s rapidly evolving society, or to be troubled by the effects that breakdown in marriage and family life will necessarily entail for the future of our communities at every level. </div>
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Families are the glue of society; their welfare cannot be taken for granted, but must be promoted and protected by every appropriate means. It was in the family that each of us took his or her first steps in life. There we learned to live together in harmony, to master our selfish instincts and reconcile our differences, and above all to discern and seek those values that give authentic meaning and fulfilment to our lives. </div>
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It is my prayer that Ireland, in listening to the polyphony of contemporary political and social discussion, will not be forgetful of the powerful strains of the Christian message that have sustained it in the past, and can continue to do so in the future. With these thoughts, I cordially invoke upon you, and upon all the beloved Irish people, God’s blessings of wisdom, joy and peace. Thank you.”</div>
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wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-25327850305520762422017-11-04T17:47:00.000-04:002017-11-04T18:05:47.179-04:00Hot Item From Breitbart News. Can't Believe I'm Writing This...Pope Francis is open to discussing the ordination of married men in Brazil.<br />
<br />
Check this link...<a href="http://www.breitbart.com/national-security/2017/11/03/pope-francis-signals-willingness-to-discuss-ordaining-married-men-to-priesthood/">Maybe this is because Steve Bannon of Breitbart News has his problems with the church...</a><br />
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I have deep difficulties with Bannon going back to what he did to Shirley Sherrod in the Obama administration. Truth is truth. Yes, I know Breitbart is an alt-right site.<br />
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This is from Leonardo Boff from almost a year ago.<br />
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link <a href="https://www.ncronline.org/news/vatican/brazil-may-soon-have-married-priests-says-leonardo-boff">Boff says Brazil could have married priests.</a>wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-4365401302643966202017-07-14T13:45:00.000-04:002017-07-14T13:55:39.548-04:00American Fundamentalism Not Too Different From Islamic Fundamentalism.<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since I saw this picture the other evening I have been thinking about the influence of evangelical fundamentalism in Trump's White House. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;">It reminded me of an earlier picture of Vice-president Pence when he signed a law rolling back the progress for LGBTQ persons in Indiana when he was governor.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;">Then today there was an article in the </span><i style="color: #e69138;">Guardian</i><span style="background-color: black;"> that gave some direction to my incomplete thoughts.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <span style="font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">The </span><i style="font-family: "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">Guardian </i><span style="font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">today reports on an article in </span><i style="font-family: "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">La Civilta Cattolica </i><span style="font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">written by Antonio Spadaro who is described as </span><i style="font-family: "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">La Civilta Cattolica's </i><span style="font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">editor-in-chief along with Marcelo Figueroa, the editor-in-chief of </span><i style="font-family: "Guardian Text Egyptian Web", Georgia, serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">L'Osservatore Romano's </i><span style="font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">Argentinian editions. Both men are reported as friends of Pope Francis. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif;"><span style="font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">The <i>Guardian</i> article "</span></span><span style="font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">claims that fake religious arguments are being used to demonise segments of the population – particularly when it comes to migrants and Muslims – and to promote the US as a nation that is blessed by God, without ever taking into account the 'bond between capital and profits and arms sales'".</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">The article continues by criticizing </span><span style="font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">conservative American Catholics who have aligned themselves with fundamentalist Protestants on issues like same-sex marriage and abortion, saying that what really united the groups was a “nostalgic dream of a theocratic type of state”.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">There is a reference to the evangelical theologist John Rushdoony who is described as the father of today's American Christian fundamentalism. Then there is a critique of the roots of this ideology which clearly puts Pope Francis in opposition to where Donald Trump is trying to take the country. </span><span style="font-family: "guardian text egyptian web" , "georgia" , serif; font-variant-ligatures: common-ligatures;">At heart, "the narrative of terror shapes the worldviews of jihadists and the new crusaders and is imbibed from wells that are not too far apart.”</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/13/pope-associates-criticize-american-evangelicals-extremism"><span style="color: white;">This is the Guardian article reporting on the article in La Civiltà Cattolica</span></a></span><br />
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<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/13/pope-associates-criticize-american-evangelicals-extremism">https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jul/13/pope-associates-criticize-american-evangelicals-extremism</a><br />
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<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-53828880848271421002017-03-12T19:03:00.001-04:002017-03-12T19:39:34.129-04:00Steve King, congressperson from pretty catholic iowa.I'm sure the usccb guys are still in King's thrall. Iowa Catholics used to be salt of the earth people. What has happened to you folks?<br />
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wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-23940309233162072102017-01-30T18:00:00.002-05:002017-03-12T19:27:15.771-04:00Trump People Speak the Truth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-86787867809998222892016-12-16T18:33:00.000-05:002016-12-16T18:40:53.439-05:00A Spike In Readers From A Faraway Place<span style="background-color: black; color: #eeeeee;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: black; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #eeeeee;">Для всех моих русских хакеров. Добро пожаловать. Чем я могу тебе помочь?</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="color: #eeeeee; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif;">To all my Russian hackers. Welcome. How may I help you?</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #212121; font-family: "roboto" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 16px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span>wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-63865074763922684492016-11-25T17:15:00.001-05:002016-11-25T17:15:12.308-05:00I Miss Keith Olbermann...How Pence Could Lead A Bloodless Coup...The 25th. Amendment<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-12430494988227197752016-11-13T11:56:00.000-05:002016-11-13T11:58:39.446-05:00Kate McKinnon As Hillary Clinton Opens SNL And Sings Mounfully Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I saw this first thing this morning. It was beautiful and moving. The link was on number of the morning web sites I wake up to including a version of Cohen's "Hallelujah" by K.D. Lang on Bill Lidsey's blog Billgrimage.<br />
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<a href="http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2016/11/as-white-us-christians-go-to-church.html">Bill Lidsey's Blog Billgrimage</a><br />
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Then I had to leave for the sacred mysteries. When I got back home I was moved enough to post here the Saturday Night Live version. The message from Kate McKinnon/Hillary Clinton at the end is one I will try to take to heart.<br />
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<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-68047921258405894652016-11-11T18:53:00.000-05:002016-11-13T13:30:08.080-05:00Yeah,"Win This One For The Groper" or who...This is what Donald's supporters do...This was something sent to the blog Gay Catholic Priests. The message was not on my car, but I understand. I't could have been.<br />
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I posted earlier at this wonderful site...<br />
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<a href="http://bilgrimage.blogspot.com/2016/11/more-on-role-of-white-evangelicals.html#disqus_thread">In every way Trump is not my president. The anger has switched sides. Tonight I am riding that anger.</a>wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-80332028556251632022016-11-09T20:00:00.000-05:002016-11-09T20:04:15.034-05:00Dump Trucks At Trump Tower For Donald Trump DumpWell, maybe this is sort of appropriate.<br />
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From Joe.My. God.<br />
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<a href="http://www.joemygod.com/2016/11/09/apropos-trump-tower-fortified-with-dump-trucks/" style="text-align: center;">Link To Joe.My. God.</a>wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-45727528669860504992016-10-22T17:14:00.000-04:002016-10-26T19:30:01.475-04:00Hillary Clinton And The Jesuit/Ignatian Concept,Magis-The More The BetterToday there was a diary published on Daily Kos by Kascade Kat highlighting the Jesuit/Ignatian Concept of <i>Magis - The More The Better. </i>The diarist articulates his own faith as shaped by <i>Magis </i>and how Hillary closed her talk at the Al Smith Dinner by reminding her guests that Tim Kaine, a Catholic, was educated by Jesuits and how both of them have talked about <i>Magis</i>. I have embedded Hillary's talk from the other night at the Al Smith Dinner. You can watch the whole video. It is about 19 minutes long. Hillary begins the serious part of her remarks at 14:45 and talks about <i>Magis </i>in the closing minute and a half beginning about 17:40.<br />
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I have included a few quotes from Kascade Kat's diary here. The whole diary and the comments are worth the read.<br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;">"[<i>Magis</i>]"</span><span style="font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;">comes from the Jesuit motto “</span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;">Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam” — </em><span style="font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;">For the Greater Glory of God — and it describes the criteria a person should use when discerning among different alternatives, so that their actions will be for the greater glory of God." </span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="background-color: black; color: white;"><span style="font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;">"To fulfill the </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;">Magis, w</em><span style="font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;">e need both charity and the pursuit of social justice to truly love our neighbor as ourselves."</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;">"</span><span style="font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;">So when Clinton talks about reaching for the </span><em style="box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;">Magis</em><span style="font-family: "open sans"; font-size: 16px; letter-spacing: 0.125px;"> within her campaign, when she uses the very word that defines this progressive Catholic’s own striving to live the Gospel, it’s clear to me that she respects the role my faith has played in making me who I am, and who I want to become."</span></span></span><br />
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Here is the link to Kascade Kat's diary.<br />
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<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/10/21/1585258/-The-Magis-or-a-Lesson-from-Hilary-Clinton-in-How-to-Talk-to-People-of-Faith-Last-Night">Kascade Kat's Diary--"The Magis - or a Lesson from Hilary Clinton in How to Talk to People of Faith Last Night"</a><br />
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The full video of Hillary Clinton's remarks at the Al Smith Dinner is below. I watched Hillary the other night. Perhaps it was the late hour, and I felt Hillary was good even though a few jokes fell flat. Today watching it once again, I am very impressed with Hillary Clinton and her faith.<br />
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<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-57122262803342184332016-10-14T19:00:00.000-04:002016-10-14T19:00:15.998-04:00Trump Goes To Confession...To Cardinal Dolan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not much here, but...follow the story. It's all about optics on both sides, Trump and Dolan. This campaign and the catholic church represented by Dolan are a mess.<br />
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<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/donald-trump-meets-privately-timothy-cardinal-dolan-article-1.2831164">Trump and Malania Leaving St. Patricks...ny daily news</a>wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-89958150018545139872016-10-02T17:17:00.000-04:002016-10-02T17:17:48.789-04:00Followup On You Got Trump Trouble...It's LGBTQIA month.<br />
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This is a follow up on <i>You Got Trump Trouble</i> by Randy Rainbow.<br />
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Here's Rainbow's take on the 1st. debate. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldfF6chin5s">An Accurate Update On The First Debate By Randy Rainbow</a><br />
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wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-69993366660225458552016-07-22T20:32:00.005-04:002016-07-22T20:48:20.456-04:00You Got Trump Trouble<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's Friday Night Cheers and Jeers.<br />
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For a little relief from the GOP, the Gloomy Ole Party, this was the lead from C&J's tonight; and I wanted to share this from Bill in Portland Maine's post at Daily Kos for the Friday Night friendly version of Cheers and Jeers.<br />
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http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/7/22/1550505/-Cheers-and-Jeers-Rum-and-Coke-FRIDAY<br />
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Here is the lead video...<br />
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<a href="https://youtu.be/EufHfhnPKTU?t=9">We Got Trouble</a><br />
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<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-11174226106178510592016-06-25T20:38:00.000-04:002016-06-25T20:51:47.253-04:00Cincinnati Pride 2016<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOQ22L5TOLTVGIzLPcRmy-_dpsrZsu88X_O3DheO07aUGQnUG74GrQV9I2eOgiHDZwntCiApu4jGB51uK_UOYvFo-03Tssz-yAu7jjQz8FGYPIcQRCUC3c4rwl4YzU22taDWiaeV9RPM/s1600/P1020132.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidOQ22L5TOLTVGIzLPcRmy-_dpsrZsu88X_O3DheO07aUGQnUG74GrQV9I2eOgiHDZwntCiApu4jGB51uK_UOYvFo-03Tssz-yAu7jjQz8FGYPIcQRCUC3c4rwl4YzU22taDWiaeV9RPM/s320/P1020132.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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At Pride 2016 in Cincinnati there were lots of tributes to Orlando and those who died in the Pulse Gay Bar.<br />
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The first difference I noticed were two fully armed Cincinnati police officers in riot gear at Fountain Square. They were in the background, but when the parade began they moved up very close to the parade route. They seemed to be carrying AK-15 assault rifles, but I am not a gun expert.<br />
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The Grand Marshall of this year's parade was the mayor of a small enclave near Cincinnati called Golf Manor. The mayor's name is Ron Hirth. He was elected last November and is Ohio's first openly gay mayor according to Equality Ohio.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUZT6Spf65qf7Orsdc8TlHHWidOprawtWzrXocSQk07lwnSLy6FdibKmaKCBUGeT-FeT1hf2dz_W_1837J3Nx3q0HIQKx-eFuXIypMG6HbJYAmn_2vhOgFKC-0noELX41-shJWAIHoVE/s1600/P1020136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlUZT6Spf65qf7Orsdc8TlHHWidOprawtWzrXocSQk07lwnSLy6FdibKmaKCBUGeT-FeT1hf2dz_W_1837J3Nx3q0HIQKx-eFuXIypMG6HbJYAmn_2vhOgFKC-0noELX41-shJWAIHoVE/s320/P1020136.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ron Hirth, Mayor of Golf Manor</td></tr>
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There were politicians and politicians running for office. I found that helpful if I can remember them when November comes. Cincinnati's first openly gay council member, Chris Seelbach, appeared early in the parade.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1Jji5cOCAaTpaoHDGGKTBmuuVXmDFO9Wv7enGMS8E3ib3p61-ZTGFI-x51YHvUInODwCdUG7gCIxYnpBvG-jOqFNtNdX9zSIEnSB4eimmTDXra13rmC2yelp-PEdGptMeYjPCC8izC8/s1600/P1020139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil1Jji5cOCAaTpaoHDGGKTBmuuVXmDFO9Wv7enGMS8E3ib3p61-ZTGFI-x51YHvUInODwCdUG7gCIxYnpBvG-jOqFNtNdX9zSIEnSB4eimmTDXra13rmC2yelp-PEdGptMeYjPCC8izC8/s320/P1020139.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Seelbach, Cincinnati City Councilman</td></tr>
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There was a large group of Hillary supporters and also a very large group marching with Procter&Gamble whose world headquarters is in Cincinnati. P&G has been very supportive of the GLBTQ community. Procter & Gamble also supported the equality movement for marriage. They had a large group and they carried signs with photographs of the victims of the Orlando massacre.<br />
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It was hot and I finally moved on to a favorite spot for a little lunch. I wore a gay themed necklace, a silver triangle hung with hoops of rainbow colors. I ate alone. My waitress was Molly and friendly asking questions as she appeared and then moved on. At one point she said that she liked my necklace. I told her a friend gave it to me many years ago. Finally, it was time to go and pay. On the receipt, Molly wrote with a hand drawn heart introducing her remarks; "Love knows no labels." I guess I was not totally alone.<br />
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<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-71069941534537726412016-06-16T20:48:00.000-04:002016-06-16T21:10:46.129-04:00My Memorial To Those Who Died At Pulse Night Club In Orlando<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI12GbbfVV5BoxXUkWDtDH1KKNDdRrYanqzObfn3Um7DqlDCXHtHjqHoJEBzTC-TvGiPVJbW_woUTv7fJAYuUHZMMaKIlJPJ_IQFjf2I7zTnsTEm3kQ6iSNq1INom0ZhkNNHAplaQbjDU/s1600/Hydrate+2010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI12GbbfVV5BoxXUkWDtDH1KKNDdRrYanqzObfn3Um7DqlDCXHtHjqHoJEBzTC-TvGiPVJbW_woUTv7fJAYuUHZMMaKIlJPJ_IQFjf2I7zTnsTEm3kQ6iSNq1INom0ZhkNNHAplaQbjDU/s320/Hydrate+2010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Corner of Halsted and Roscoe 2010</td></tr>
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This is from my handwritten journal entry dated November 14, 1986. The place is Halsted Street in Chicago and the bar was called Christopher Street in 1986. Now the bar is called Hydrate. I was 43 years old then. I also call it middlescence. Sometimes it takes that long to really own who you are.<br />
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I post this to honor the lives of those lost in the attack on the Pulse Night Club in Orlando. I want to honor their courage, their search, their youth, and their openness. I also post this because catholic leaders have been negligent in recognizing that this was an attack on GLBTQ persons. It was also an attack on a place where gay men could find themselves.<br />
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I continue to remember in a private and personal way those lives lost in this horrific attack on a place of safety for gay and lesbian people and their friends.<br />
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Here is my verbatim journal entry, November 14, 1986.<br />
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Last night I walked through the door I had been standing in front of for the past week or so. I walked through it into a gay bar. It took me two hours to get up the courage to do that.<br />
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My reactions. I found a place at the bar with a bit of space around me, pulled a stool over and sat down. Shortly a man came by, put his arms around me at the shoulders from the back and I thought; “gee that was quick.” I realized I was sitting in an over the counter entrance to the back of the bar. I sat for about two hours there. I tried to observe what the protocols were. Most fellows were there with a friend. I was alone which has been part of the story. I tried to catch a couple of guys eyes but got no response. There were already a few fellows who already had too much to drink. Most were young and very good looking. They didn’t look frightened. They didn’t look particularly maladjusted. One small and very young fellow came in stood against the wall and soon was drawn into a conversation. There was something, I’m sure going on in the other part of the building. Conversation was slow for me. I think I might have been sitting next to two priests. They were a little over dressed. They never seemed to invite an opening to talking.wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-18395860489571406972016-04-16T19:17:00.000-04:002016-04-16T19:17:17.802-04:00The US Bishops Fire Tony Spence<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwNSAwrZ7fiu4GyaqTn42Rgue5HJBmV-cPBFGOgjkRDyghZxZ9t82WC-UI0zljxHMe6GZAZe3YT3o57RpW2tqp6jsUi-RvjaG0p5Bvg_KUd21GspuDS6B3xgttxpfIIrOAoi55d9l6K4/s1600/so+called+leadership.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwNSAwrZ7fiu4GyaqTn42Rgue5HJBmV-cPBFGOgjkRDyghZxZ9t82WC-UI0zljxHMe6GZAZe3YT3o57RpW2tqp6jsUi-RvjaG0p5Bvg_KUd21GspuDS6B3xgttxpfIIrOAoi55d9l6K4/s320/so+called+leadership.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is what I like to do to idiot church leaders when they make political and not pastoral decisions.</div>
wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-30046084352889516432016-04-13T20:09:00.000-04:002016-04-13T20:11:02.545-04:00It's Done...New Vatican Ambassador To The US...Archbishop Christophe Pierre From Mexico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfB4I778ozvxgNwJ3uLxah1ASPs5lmFi9VfrFTcMcyj_jZ9eKGTWrewXJXiZlQKFv3RyDOW7bFQhXHfjCNTSyy8IydAzrQ99haD-p570B4j-VWhQdSqmVIczTAFxrKrhQ5-kRX4WkGVM/s1600/new+vatican+abassador+to+the+us.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIfB4I778ozvxgNwJ3uLxah1ASPs5lmFi9VfrFTcMcyj_jZ9eKGTWrewXJXiZlQKFv3RyDOW7bFQhXHfjCNTSyy8IydAzrQ99haD-p570B4j-VWhQdSqmVIczTAFxrKrhQ5-kRX4WkGVM/s320/new+vatican+abassador+to+the+us.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.lastampa.it/2016/04/12/vaticaninsider/eng/world-news/pope-appoints-frenchborn-christophe-pierre-as-the-new-nuncio-to-the-united-states-tZZ32TSekuZvvJnatgLshO/pagina.html">From The Vatican Insider On The New US Vatican Abassador </a><br />
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<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-92020472619707297102016-03-16T18:20:00.001-04:002016-03-17T08:16:56.280-04:00Vatican Ambassador Involved With Arrainging The Meeting Of Kim Davis With Pope Francis In September...Replaced<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4cVntJhAUZRYHnOpIuTFmZab-m4ewDcYnoyom8GVPSUHiYShuws9JH7YkLM8hJ3u_wRR0JgTu9RJPY7uT60OqItxp9ma-In_M6Ox-FB7i1fp_2ZwI61CEKblEigwNXhTYj0-uD8rhrk/s1600/carlo-maria-vigano-146929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4cVntJhAUZRYHnOpIuTFmZab-m4ewDcYnoyom8GVPSUHiYShuws9JH7YkLM8hJ3u_wRR0JgTu9RJPY7uT60OqItxp9ma-In_M6Ox-FB7i1fp_2ZwI61CEKblEigwNXhTYj0-uD8rhrk/s320/carlo-maria-vigano-146929.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
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Some interesting news on a slow afternoon after the second super Tuesday. It's reported that Pope Francis is replacing the Vatican's nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano, with the present nuncio from Mexico who is a native of France, Archbishop Christophe Pierre. According to an article in <i>America </i>Archbishop Christophe Pierre is an experienced diplomat. He has been the Vatican's representative in Mexico for the last nine years.<br />
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There are two sources for the story at the moment. A blogger, Aximill, at <i style="background-color: #e69138;">Daily Kos</i> posted this diary "Pope fires Vatican ambassador to the U.S. over Kim Davis." The headline might be a little exaggerated, but there is interesting information in the anonymous source the diarist uses suggesting the new nuncio because of his experience in Mexico could focus on immigration issues. That could be very interesting, given candidate Trump's desire to build a wall between the US and Mexico<br />
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<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/3/16/1502183/-Pope-fires-Vatican-ambassador-to-U-S-over-Kim-Davis">Link to Aximill's diary at <span style="background-color: #e69138;"><i>Daily Kos</i></span></a><br />
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The<i> <span style="background-color: #e69138;">Daily Kos</span></i> blogger, Aximill, documents Vigano's behind the scenes invitation to Kim Davis to meet Pope Francis during his fall visit to the United States. The blogger also notes Vigano's staunch opposition to marriage equality.<br />
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A second source this afternoon for the story is <i>America </i>magazine.<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">Intermountain Catholic</span></div>
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This picture shows the new Vatican nuncio to the US looking at a border fence in Tijuana, Mexico in 2008. Archbishop Christophe Pierre is at the left. The other prelate is Bishop John Wester of Salt Lake City.</div>
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<a href="http://americamagazine.org/content/dispatches/french-archbishop-christophe-pierre-expected-be-new-nuncio-united-states?utm_content=buffer118d8&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer">The Link to the America story</a><br />
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<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-35907625152086050162015-12-27T18:03:00.000-05:002015-12-27T18:20:59.567-05:00One Year Anniversary...Leelah Alcorn<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is the one year anniversary of the death of Leelah Alcorn, the transgendered teen who committed suicide by walking in front of a truck on Interstate 71 near Cincinnati.<br />
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The front page story in the <i>Cincinnati Enquirer </i>today was about Leelah Alcorn.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2015/12/26/on-anniversary-of-alcorns-death-did-anyone-fix-society/77057614/">Today's Remembrance Of Leelah Alcorn In The Cincinnati Enquirer</a><br />
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Last year when I first read about this, the story dragged me out of my ignorance concerning the transgender community. I am proud that the <i>Enquirer </i>reported and took up this story. I think I have learned much from the newspaper's reporting. I hope this newspaper continues to report on transgender issues.<br />
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Leelah did not want her death to be in vain. Recently the City of Cincinnati passed a law banning the use of reparative therapy partly in Leelah Alcorn's memory. The resolution was introduced in the Cincinnati City Council by Chris Seelbach, the council's first openly gay city council member.<br />
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<a href="http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/politics/2015/12/09/7-2-vote-imposes-ban-conversion-therapy-cincinnati/76993924/">Cincinnati Bans Reparative Sexual Therapy</a><br />
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There are days when I feel like the history of the City of Cincinnati would want to return to the days of the 19th. century. Today I am proud that the city's leading newspaper and a member of the city council are advancing a cause, I think, that respectfully tries to listen and reflect the experiences and thinking of the people, especially sexual minorities.<br />
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<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-66150446506487803062015-12-03T20:14:00.000-05:002015-12-03T20:36:47.086-05:00Time Magazine's Person Of The Year...James Obergefell?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMHdPIRRa698N-rhmUL4wGY2LhP7X0Ci4uKY11zsUgdCfYLJkEh5ivJTuZ5D_5VSpxI9RYdG4FGqrMmctzI5gzttpvtzJZK9dQtBzTjVLGs7Vz4PQyQAejUvMDF0IgIWHer5YadM4yxQ/s1600/Obergefell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRMHdPIRRa698N-rhmUL4wGY2LhP7X0Ci4uKY11zsUgdCfYLJkEh5ivJTuZ5D_5VSpxI9RYdG4FGqrMmctzI5gzttpvtzJZK9dQtBzTjVLGs7Vz4PQyQAejUvMDF0IgIWHer5YadM4yxQ/s320/Obergefell.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It seems that <i>Time</i> magazine is really not all informed on the news of the past year. <i>Time </i>magazine, a so called national magazine, trying so hard to keep up with current events...<br />
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<i>Time </i><a href="http://www.joemygod.com/2015/12/03/liberty-counsel-please-vote-for-kim-davis-as-time-magazines-2015-person-of-the-year/"> Nominates Kim Davis</a>; James Obergefell is not even a nominee.<br />
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James Obergefell was seeking justice not notoriety. The Supreme Court decision that bears his name followed a few weeks after the vote of the Irish People to legalize same sex marriage. Ireland, my God, is a Roman Catholic country. For me that's news, that's history. I nominate James Obergefell as <i>Time's</i> Person of the Year!wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8999890218345587283.post-35684180295871022892015-09-28T19:32:00.000-04:002015-09-28T19:37:24.418-04:00The Super Blood Moon, The Church, The Pope...No Step Forward<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPz61IL4bHL3aj_MSHH7FeCCnH6eo6M69xoBqUg12K_8J8ncWlWveMqeTemSjpvxcRlH5ZJFK6A1EVfSF_vXJ41HFpWX-MXqMNL0_ypEwWkS47NpX9TNoYWKZmm_2bm8XwgLjbpDY8qc/s1600/Eclipse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKPz61IL4bHL3aj_MSHH7FeCCnH6eo6M69xoBqUg12K_8J8ncWlWveMqeTemSjpvxcRlH5ZJFK6A1EVfSF_vXJ41HFpWX-MXqMNL0_ypEwWkS47NpX9TNoYWKZmm_2bm8XwgLjbpDY8qc/s320/Eclipse.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
For a few moments last night I was in awe of the universe. I had dragged out a tripod given to me when I left the last parish I served. Then I mounted my camera on the tripod. I took a few pictures, but nothing great. I did see the moon at about half eclipse. Then I saw it at full eclipse. There was just a glimmer of light. There were some clouds so it was difficult to sort out.<br />
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The moment of awe occurred when I focused the camera on the moon coming up in the eastern sky. I imagined the sun to the west at my back. I was standing with my camera in the driveway focused on the rising moon then overwhelmed by the universal movement. Along with the earth I was casting my shadow on the moon. I have seen the blood moon before. I was hoping to see that. It was getting late so I retired.<br />
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This morning at 4:00 AM I woke and went back outside. I thought I might see that blood moon. The eclipse was over. The sky was much clearer. The moon was bright, full, high in the sky, and beautiful. I took a few more pictures and went back inside.<br />
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Then I started to reflect...a very good priest friend of mine always told this story about Cardinal Robert Bellermine. It was the time when the controversy was; Is the sun or the earth the center of the universe? Galileo determined that the earth moved around the sun. This was contrary to official church teaching. Galileo invited, so the story goes, Cardinal Bellermine to look through his telescope and then he would believe. Bellermine refused. The story continues that Galileo muttered to himself...It [the Earth] still moves. Well we know the rest of the story. It took the Roman Catholic Church and St. John Paul the Great four hundred years to apologize for the church's error.<br />
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It's wonderful that Pope Francis is a scientist...a chemist. I am thrilled that he has moved climate change to the head of the church's agenda. I applaud the pope's other initiatives on immigration and concern for the poor.<br />
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My question? My wonderment? What about the human sciences like psychology and sociology and more specifically human sexuality? It seems the Roman Catholic Church has not made room for this kind of science. What about the research into gender identity? Why won't the church engage even in conversation with those who experience different sexual attractions? Yes, Pope Francis may have brought the church into a new century, but the theologies that the church continues to hold on issues of sexuality and gender are still stuck somewhere back in the dark ages.<br />
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<br />wild hairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08464835061893041481noreply@blogger.com0