The Peril of Porous Borders

Federal authorities today released a photograph of members of a terrorist organization that entered the United States recently via Canada. They are suspected of a role in the downing of of US Airways flight 1549, which was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River, off of midtown Manhattan, two weeks ago.

The Peril of Porous Borders

Federal authorities today released a photograph of members of a terrorist organization that entered the United States recently via Canada. They are suspected of a role in the downing of of US Airways flight 1549, which was forced to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River, off of midtown Manhattan, two weeks ago.

Finally, a Fresh Face for the Republican Party

Michael Steele has been elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee. A good pick, certainly a refreshing change from the RINOs who, these past eight years, showed the Democrats how when it came to plundering the public fisc. Steele is a solid conservative and unlike most politicians described by the media as "devoutly Catholic," actually attends mass regularly and is opposed to abortion.

Steele's one weakness is his opposition to overturning Roe v. Wade, arguing that after 33 years we should defer to stare decisis. Nonsense, no one on the Supreme Court employed stare decisis in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (decided in 1896) upholding segregation laws. Roe v. Wade is one of the weakest decisions ever to come down from the Court, read it for yourself and see. Justice Blackmun, who wrote the opinion, seems to have made up his mind first, then to have gone in search of an argument. He was not successful. I worry Steele is afraid of incurring feminist wrath with his reluctance. He shouldn't be: feminists lost whatever clout they had in this country after they blithely turned their eyes from their hero Bill Clinton's countless sexual escapades. Steele should reconsider taking on Roe v. Wade. He has little to fear.

That aside, Michael Steele is a superb choice for RNC chairman. Delightfully vivacious, he doesn't seem bogged down by the debilitating gravamen afflicting the hacks that comprise Republican leadership these days. Perhaps he can inject some energy into that moribund organization, God knows it needs it if it hopes to counter the idiotic socialist fantasies of Ms. Pelosi and company.

Finally, a Fresh Face for the Republican Party

Michael Steele has been elected Chairman of the Republican National Committee. A good pick, certainly a refreshing change from the RINOs who, these past eight years, showed the Democrats how when it came to plundering the public fisc. Steele is a solid conservative and unlike most politicians described by the media as "devoutly Catholic," actually attends mass regularly and is opposed to abortion.

Steele's one weakness is his opposition to overturning Roe v. Wade, arguing that after 33 years we should defer to stare decisis. Nonsense, no one on the Supreme Court employed stare decisis in the 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision that overturned Plessy v. Ferguson (decided in 1896) upholding segregation laws. Roe v. Wade is one of the weakest decisions ever to come down from the Court, read it for yourself and see. Justice Blackmun, who wrote the opinion, seems to have made up his mind first, then to have gone in search of an argument. He was not successful. I worry Steele is afraid of incurring feminist wrath with his reluctance. He shouldn't be: feminists lost whatever clout they had in this country after they blithely turned their eyes from their hero Bill Clinton's countless sexual escapades. Steele should reconsider taking on Roe v. Wade. He has little to fear.

That aside, Michael Steele is a superb choice for RNC chairman. Delightfully vivacious, he doesn't seem bogged down by the debilitating gravamen afflicting the hacks that comprise Republican leadership these days. Perhaps he can inject some energy into that moribund organization, God knows it needs it if it hopes to counter the idiotic socialist fantasies of Ms. Pelosi and company.

Speaker Pelosi Explains It for Us

Specifically, how spending $335 million for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases will stimulate the economy.

Pay attention, there will a short quiz later.

Speaker Pelosi Explains It for Us

Specifically, how spending $335 million for the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases will stimulate the economy.

Pay attention, there will a short quiz later.

"Kirill's Election Hailed as New Phase"

Further anent Christian unity (see the posting below) is this welcome news, courtesy of Zenit:

Kirill's Election Hailed as New Phase

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 28, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI sent a telegram to the new patriarch of Moscow and of All Russia to congratulate him on his recent election as head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Pope expressed his "spiritual closeness" to Patriarch-elect Kirill and offered his "warm" congratulations in the message, published today by the Holy See. The elections were held Tuesday.

[]

"I wish you every strength and joy in the fulfillment of the great task which lies before you as you guide the Church over which you now preside along the path of spiritual growth and unity," said the Pontiff.

[]

Also in a communiqué published today, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity welcomed the election, describing the patriarch as a man "with whom we have maintained fraternal relations for many years."

"We trust we will be able to continue together down the path of mutual understanding we have already begun," the communiqué added. "We do not, of course, wish to lose sight of the difficulties that still remain, but we are ready and willing to cooperate in the social and cultural fields in order to bear witness to Christian values while, nonetheless, not forgetting that the ultimate aim of dialogue is the realization of the testament of Jesus Christ our Lord: the full communion of all his disciples (emphasis added).

Patriarch Kirill and Pope Benedict are close friends, I am told, so cautious optimism may be in order concerning the reunion of the Russian Church with Rome. We live in interesting times.

"Kirill's Election Hailed as New Phase"

Further anent Christian unity (see the posting below) is this welcome news, courtesy of Zenit:

Kirill's Election Hailed as New Phase

VATICAN CITY, JAN. 28, 2009 (Zenit.org).- Benedict XVI sent a telegram to the new patriarch of Moscow and of All Russia to congratulate him on his recent election as head of the Russian Orthodox Church.

The Pope expressed his "spiritual closeness" to Patriarch-elect Kirill and offered his "warm" congratulations in the message, published today by the Holy See. The elections were held Tuesday.

[]

"I wish you every strength and joy in the fulfillment of the great task which lies before you as you guide the Church over which you now preside along the path of spiritual growth and unity," said the Pontiff.

[]

Also in a communiqué published today, the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity welcomed the election, describing the patriarch as a man "with whom we have maintained fraternal relations for many years."

"We trust we will be able to continue together down the path of mutual understanding we have already begun," the communiqué added. "We do not, of course, wish to lose sight of the difficulties that still remain, but we are ready and willing to cooperate in the social and cultural fields in order to bear witness to Christian values while, nonetheless, not forgetting that the ultimate aim of dialogue is the realization of the testament of Jesus Christ our Lord: the full communion of all his disciples (emphasis added).

Patriarch Kirill and Pope Benedict are close friends, I am told, so cautious optimism may be in order concerning the reunion of the Russian Church with Rome. We live in interesting times.

For Real This Time?

Yet another story has appeared raising the possibility that the Traditional Anglican Communion, a worldwide Anglo-Catholic organization of disaffected Anglicans who fled the Anglican Church, will be admitted into the Holy Catholic Church, as they formally requested two years ago.

I'm not holding my breath, stories similar to this one have appeared in the past only to be discredited later on. One significant difference, however, between this report and others is it appears in a Catholic journal, the Record, which serves Catholics in Western Australia. Excerpts:

History may be in the making. It appears Rome is on the brink of welcoming close to half a million members of the Traditional Anglican Communion into membership of the Roman Catholic Church, writes Anthony Barich. Such a move would be the most historic development in Anglican-Catholic relations in the last 500 years...

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has decided to recommend the Traditional Anglican Communion be accorded a personal prelature akin to Opus Dei, if talks between the TAC and the Vatican aimed at unity succeed, it is understood...

The TAC’s case appeared to take a significant step forwards in October 2008 when it is understood that the CDF decided not to recommend the creation of a distinct Anglican rite within the Roman Catholic Church – as is the case with the Eastern Catholic Churches - but a personal prelature, a semi-autonomous group with its own clergy and laity.

Opus Dei was the first organisation in the Catholic Church to be recognised as a personal prelature, a new juridical form in the life of the Church. A personal prelature is something like a global diocese without boundaries, headed by its own bishop and with its own membership and clergy.

Because no such juridical form of life in the Church had existed before, the development and recognition of a personal prelature took Opus Dei and Church officials decades to achieve.

An announcement could be made soon after Easter this year. It is understood that Pope Benedict XVI, who has taken a personal interest in the matter, has linked the issue to the year of St Paul, the greatest missionary in the history of the Church.

Seems promising but I'm from Missouri when it comes to the TAC's Roman aspirations; let us wait and see. Still, it would be splendid if it were true.

UPDATE (you knew this was coming, didn't you?): From Catholic Online via Fr. Robert Hart at The Continuum:

By Deacon Keith Fournier
1/29/2009

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) – UPDATED: Catholic Online promised to update our readers on this extraordinary story. So, we now pass this on: The National Catholic Register cites a "Vatican Source" as saying that "nothing's been decided" by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Reports abound that the Congregation has recommended the creation of a personal prelature as the vehicle through which to receive the members of the Traditional Anglican Communion into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. The Register contends that an official at the Congregation spoke with their correspondent Edward Pentin today saying,“It’s something that has appeared on the blogosphere and then been reiterated, but the truth is nothing’s been decided.” We set forth our original story below believing that the sources reporting this exciting news and the history of the dialogue support its accuracy.

(Thanks to William Tighe.)

For Real This Time?

Yet another story has appeared raising the possibility that the Traditional Anglican Communion, a worldwide Anglo-Catholic organization of disaffected Anglicans who fled the Anglican Church, will be admitted into the Holy Catholic Church, as they formally requested two years ago.

I'm not holding my breath, stories similar to this one have appeared in the past only to be discredited later on. One significant difference, however, between this report and others is it appears in a Catholic journal, the Record, which serves Catholics in Western Australia. Excerpts:

History may be in the making. It appears Rome is on the brink of welcoming close to half a million members of the Traditional Anglican Communion into membership of the Roman Catholic Church, writes Anthony Barich. Such a move would be the most historic development in Anglican-Catholic relations in the last 500 years...

The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith has decided to recommend the Traditional Anglican Communion be accorded a personal prelature akin to Opus Dei, if talks between the TAC and the Vatican aimed at unity succeed, it is understood...

The TAC’s case appeared to take a significant step forwards in October 2008 when it is understood that the CDF decided not to recommend the creation of a distinct Anglican rite within the Roman Catholic Church – as is the case with the Eastern Catholic Churches - but a personal prelature, a semi-autonomous group with its own clergy and laity.

Opus Dei was the first organisation in the Catholic Church to be recognised as a personal prelature, a new juridical form in the life of the Church. A personal prelature is something like a global diocese without boundaries, headed by its own bishop and with its own membership and clergy.

Because no such juridical form of life in the Church had existed before, the development and recognition of a personal prelature took Opus Dei and Church officials decades to achieve.

An announcement could be made soon after Easter this year. It is understood that Pope Benedict XVI, who has taken a personal interest in the matter, has linked the issue to the year of St Paul, the greatest missionary in the history of the Church.

Seems promising but I'm from Missouri when it comes to the TAC's Roman aspirations; let us wait and see. Still, it would be splendid if it were true.

UPDATE (you knew this was coming, didn't you?): From Catholic Online via Fr. Robert Hart at The Continuum:

By Deacon Keith Fournier
1/29/2009

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (Catholic Online) – UPDATED: Catholic Online promised to update our readers on this extraordinary story. So, we now pass this on: The National Catholic Register cites a "Vatican Source" as saying that "nothing's been decided" by the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Reports abound that the Congregation has recommended the creation of a personal prelature as the vehicle through which to receive the members of the Traditional Anglican Communion into full communion with the Roman Catholic Church. The Register contends that an official at the Congregation spoke with their correspondent Edward Pentin today saying,“It’s something that has appeared on the blogosphere and then been reiterated, but the truth is nothing’s been decided.” We set forth our original story below believing that the sources reporting this exciting news and the history of the dialogue support its accuracy.

(Thanks to William Tighe.)

Busy, Busy, Busy

Attempting to turn the tables, the lefties are accusing the right of "Obama Derangement Syndrome." Robert Stacy McCain gives the lie to that fantasy, asking (and answering)

Where are the right-wingers mounting anything remotely like the mass demonstrations organized by International ANSWER? Where is the right-wing equivalent of the Code Pink women who disrupted congressional hearings and State of the Union speeches?

No such analogs exist. For better or worse, Republicans don’t much go for the politics of protest.

Of course not, we have to work for a living.

(h/t Instapundit)

Busy, Busy, Busy

Attempting to turn the tables, the lefties are accusing the right of "Obama Derangement Syndrome." Robert Stacy McCain gives the lie to that fantasy, asking (and answering)

Where are the right-wingers mounting anything remotely like the mass demonstrations organized by International ANSWER? Where is the right-wing equivalent of the Code Pink women who disrupted congressional hearings and State of the Union speeches?

No such analogs exist. For better or worse, Republicans don’t much go for the politics of protest.

Of course not, we have to work for a living.

(h/t Instapundit)

Where the Hell Have You Been?

From Politico:

Boehner to GOP: Vote against stimulus

President Barack Obama is coming to the Capitol this afternoon to curry favor with congressional Republicans. But it appears GOP leaders have already made up their minds to oppose his $825 billion stimulus plan.

[]

Democrats are warning that Republicans will continue to be pegged as obstructionists and the “party of ‘no’” if they are unwilling to negotiate.

If the Republicans had been known as the "party of 'no'" the past eight years, they would control both Houses today and have one of their own in the White House.

(Thanks to the Instapundit.)

Where the Hell Have You Been?

From Politico:

Boehner to GOP: Vote against stimulus

President Barack Obama is coming to the Capitol this afternoon to curry favor with congressional Republicans. But it appears GOP leaders have already made up their minds to oppose his $825 billion stimulus plan.

[]

Democrats are warning that Republicans will continue to be pegged as obstructionists and the “party of ‘no’” if they are unwilling to negotiate.

If the Republicans had been known as the "party of 'no'" the past eight years, they would control both Houses today and have one of their own in the White House.

(Thanks to the Instapundit.)

Steady as She Goes

The Episcopal Church steams full speed ahead on her course to Universalism.

Northern Michigan Bishop Nominee Has Background in Buddhism

The Diocese of Northern Michigan is set to elect as its bishop a priest who once received “lay ordination” in Buddhism. On Jan. 23, a diocesan search committee announced that a single candidate had been put forward to stand for election as bishop at the diocese’s special electing convention Feb. 21 at St. Stephen’s Church, Escanaba.

In recent years, he also was a practicing Buddhist, according to the former Bishop of Northern Michigan...

If Fr. Thew Forrester was an Episcopalian-Zen Buddhist, and if he was elected by the special convention as bishop, objections to his being seated in the House of Bishops would be raised, according to one senior diocesan bishop. That bishop said he hoped the House of Bishops was “still sufficiently faithful to recognize the total self-contradiction this would involve and deny consent” (emphasis added).

You gotta feel for that poor bishop. I wonder if he'll notice the bergs surrounding him before it's too late.

(Thanks to Stand Firm)

Steady as She Goes

The Episcopal Church steams full speed ahead on her course to Universalism.

Northern Michigan Bishop Nominee Has Background in Buddhism

The Diocese of Northern Michigan is set to elect as its bishop a priest who once received “lay ordination” in Buddhism. On Jan. 23, a diocesan search committee announced that a single candidate had been put forward to stand for election as bishop at the diocese’s special electing convention Feb. 21 at St. Stephen’s Church, Escanaba.

In recent years, he also was a practicing Buddhist, according to the former Bishop of Northern Michigan...

If Fr. Thew Forrester was an Episcopalian-Zen Buddhist, and if he was elected by the special convention as bishop, objections to his being seated in the House of Bishops would be raised, according to one senior diocesan bishop. That bishop said he hoped the House of Bishops was “still sufficiently faithful to recognize the total self-contradiction this would involve and deny consent” (emphasis added).

You gotta feel for that poor bishop. I wonder if he'll notice the bergs surrounding him before it's too late.

(Thanks to Stand Firm)

The Vulgar Display of Excellence

Passing through Grand Central Terminal on the way back from mass, I noticed a large Plexiglas cage installed in what used to be the waiting room and in it were two men (along with referee) playing Ping Pong. It turns out this was a tournament and moreover, the players were Ping Pong professionals. Who knew there was such a thing?

Ah, well, to each his own. It brings to mind the philosopher Herbert Spencer's famous sour-grapes adage concerning billiards, addressed to his opponent after he was soundly defeated in a game: "A certain dexterity in games of skill argues a well-balanced mind, but such dexterity as you have shown is evidence, I fear, of a misspent youth."

The Vulgar Display of Excellence

Passing through Grand Central Terminal on the way back from mass, I noticed a large Plexiglas cage installed in what used to be the waiting room and in it were two men (along with referee) playing Ping Pong. It turns out this was a tournament and moreover, the players were Ping Pong professionals. Who knew there was such a thing?

Ah, well, to each his own. It brings to mind the philosopher Herbert Spencer's famous sour-grapes adage concerning billiards, addressed to his opponent after he was soundly defeated in a game: "A certain dexterity in games of skill argues a well-balanced mind, but such dexterity as you have shown is evidence, I fear, of a misspent youth."

Tonight on the Telescreen

Auntie Mame, starring Rosalind Russell (PBS, 9 PM), which contains one of my favorite movie lines ever: a desperately hungover Mame instructs her young charge Patrick to tell Ito, the housekeeper, "bring me a light breakfast: black coffee and Sidecar."

Tonight on the Telescreen

Auntie Mame, starring Rosalind Russell (PBS, 9 PM), which contains one of my favorite movie lines ever: a desperately hungover Mame instructs her young charge Patrick to tell Ito, the housekeeper, "bring me a light breakfast: black coffee and Sidecar."