American Grace: How Religion Divides and Unites Us by Robert D. Putnam and David E. Campbell is a landmark book, says Martin Marty, who praises it suspiciously.
It is fat, full of good stories, and crammed with data: the authors seem never to have found an opinion poll they didn’t like, and readers will be well served by the array of graphs which can be put to work in ways that relate to their interests, prejudice, and hopes.
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Here we go, with an oldie but goodie:
“I cannot accept, your canon that
we are to judge pope and king unlike other men, with a favorable presumption that they do no wrong. If there is any presumption, it is the other way against holders of power …
Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely.
A persuasive argument here for disbelieving Woodward in what he claimed to have heard from Deep Throat.
This pic is from today’s Dems of Oak Park e-blast for its Get out OUR Vote! campaign:
But didn’t the West Wing character do that all the time? Play with a rubber ball? A little fantasizing here? Actually, downsizing the prez, since the West Wing fellow was a mere aide. But showing O. as the shirtsleeved easy-goer, cool fella, our kind of guy. I think that’s the idea, but I’m not sure.
SNAP has studied the matter:
—256 of the Chicago archdiocese’s roughly 400 parishes have, at one time, had an accused pedophile priest working there,
– 30 parishes had two or more alleged predator priests assigned to them at one time, and
– a disproportionate percentage of parishes in lower income neighborhoods had accused priests working at hem.
The leaders:
Two parishes have had five accused priests [each] (St. Leonard in Berwyn and St. Aloysius in Chicago). Six have had four accused priests [each] (Holy Innocents in Chicago, St. Christina in Chicago, St. Eulalia in Maywood, St. John Vianney in Northlake, St. Thomas of Villanova in Palatine, and Resurrection Life Center in Chicago).
Maybe a new group? Priests who Stood by Unknowing or Uncertain (PSUU)? In silence, that is. Many of them feeling not so good at this point, I bet.
Latest from the Church Reporter:
(POSTED: 10/11/10) The amazing thing about the Rev. Timothy Radcliffe at Dominican U.-River Forest on Sept. 30 was that he was completely interesting and engaging. He was scripture prof at U. of Oxford, where he studied, there and in Paris. He’s past provincial for English Dominicans and past master (general) for the Dominicans worldwide. He gives retreats around the world, writes books on spirituality, etc. Who knew that he’d make a terrific talk-show host?His talk was all about love, and a trifle airy at times, but this was a Caritas et Veritas lecture (Love & Truth), and anyhow he salted it with apt citations and anecdotes. It was easy listening.
As to questions, which do tend to be idiosyncratic and overly complicated, he demonstrated much aplomb.
. . . .
More more more at Chicago Catholic News.
Aimed at the Teleprompter, we presume.
The people I know who listen regularly to NPR are almost all degreed. It appeals to them partly for the very aspect that this study says is limiting its audience:
A new study for NPR identifies a much bigger potential news audience that would listen to public radio if the field works to break down perceptions that its programs are elitist and stuffy.
Producers would have to make shows that are more lively and conversational and promoters would have to take greater care when describing public radio as “intelligent” and “serious,” according to the Los Angeles-based firm SmithGeiger.
So. Maybe more like Rush Limbaugh?
The search for a successor to the fired Rev. Julio Giulietti at Wheeling Jesuit U. is approaching the wire. Now two candidates: Joseph Bascuas and Richard Beyer.
Both will be on campus next week, and an announcement will follow after a final review on Oct. 20.
Beyer is vice president of Trimble Navigation Ltd., based in Sunnyvale, California, a company that develops global positioning systems.
Trimble provides positioning solutions enabling professionals in engineering and construction, surveying, agriculture, fleet management and field service to be more productive by revolutionizing their work processes.
Trimble is transforming the way work is done through the application of innovative positioning. Trimble uses GPS, lasers, …
He’s also served as chairman of the board at [his alma mater] Michigan’s Olivet College, [affiliated with the United Church of Christ and the National Association of Congregational Christian Churches] and he’s currently on the board of the Wash. DC-based Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.
Bascuas was most recently the interim president of Becker College [private, apparently nonsectarian] in [Worcester] Massachusetts. Before that, he was president [’02–’06] of Medaille College [private, nonsectarian] in Buffalo, N.Y.
The two are not Jesuit, as previously understood. Catholic? Ready to move forward in the Jesuit tradition?
In an email message, not online, the OP Dem committeewoman sees “very scary consequences” from the coming election — “26 more days” — plus:
Concerns about the Democratic candidates have faded [they are not as worried about Giannoulias et al.] and the alternatives have become even more frightening as we have learned more and more
about the Republican challengers. [italics and boldface added]
She urges Dems
to see Brady’s positions on women’s issues (no abortion in the case of rape or even
for a woman’s health), lesbian and gay rights, creationism in the schools, animal rights, the economy etc.
When dismal economy threatens, go social-issues.
Oh and did I tell you he wants to lower the [job-killing] minimum wage? Illinois will revert back to the Stone Age if Brady gets elected!
As for Kirk,
See the top ten worst lies about his military record, the top ten worst votes supporting the Bush style
economy, etc.Having the Republicans retake the Senate will jeopardize and/or wipe out all the progress
we have made by getting Obama elected!
Sounds like a call to Republican arms to me.
Blithe Spirit 