As in this gem by Fr. Spadaro SJ from the latest issue of Jesuit-run Civilta Cattolica about how Republican presidents were influenced by the writings of a conservative Evangelical pastor:

The [Rev. Rousas J.] Rushdoony doctrine . . . supports the theocratic need to submit the state to the Bible, with a logic not unlike the one that inspired Islamic fundamentalism.

After all, the narrative of terror that feeds the imagination of jihadists and neo-crusaders is drinking from sources not too far apart. We must not forget that the theopolitics touted by ISIS is based on the same cult of apocalypse to hurry [things up] as soon as possible.

So it is no coincidence that George W. Bush has been recognized as a “great crusader” . . . by Osama bin Laden. [Italics added]

Fr. Spadaro and his co-author of the article from which the above is taken, the Argentinian Presbyterian pastor Rev. Marcelo Figueroa, editor of the Argentinian edition of L’Osservatore Romano, are reported as close to Francis, functioning as advisors.

Not as religious leader:

Over the life of this blog, your humble blogger [of The Deus Ex Machina Blog] has been chronicling the evidence that Francis, the bishop of Rome appears to be more of a politician [than] a religious leader.

He re-runs this from Rorate Caeli in evidence:  

Evangelical Fundamentalism and Catholic Integralism in the USA: A surprising ecumenism

Antonio Spadaro S.J., Editor-in-chief of La Civiltà Cattolica
Marcelo Figueroa, Presbyterian pastor, Editor-in-chief of the Argentinean edition of L’Osservatore Romano

In God We Trust. This phrase is printed on the banknotes of the United States of America and is the current national motto. It appeared for the first time on a coin in 1864 but did not become official until Congress passed a motion in 1956.

A motto is important for a nation whose foundation was rooted in religious motivations. For many it is a simple declaration of faith. For others, it is the synthesis of a problematic fusion between religion and state, faith and politics, religious values and economy.

Religion, political Manichaeism and a cult of the apocalypse

Religion has had a more incisive role in electoral processes and government decisions over recent decades, especially in some US governments. It offers a moral role for identifying what is good and what is bad.

At times this mingling of politics, morals and religion has taken on a Manichaean language that divides reality between absolute Good and absolute Evil. In fact, after President George W. Bush spoke in his day about challenging the “axis of evil” and stated it was the USA’s duty to “free the world from evil” following the events of September 11, 2001.

Today President Trump steers the fight against a wider, generic collective entity of the “bad” or even the “very bad.” Sometimes the tones used by his supporters in some campaigns take on meanings that we could define as “epic.”

These stances are based on Christian-Evangelical fundamentalist principles dating from the beginning of the 20th Century that have been gradually radicalized. These have moved on from a rejection of all that is mundane – as politics was considered – to bringing a strong and determined religious-moral influence to bear on democratic processes and their results.

. . . . . .

For the rest of this fascinating analysis from the heart of Vatican City, blaming the U.S. for succumbing to “a strong and determined religious-moral influence,” go to Rorate Caeli . . . 

​About Israelis in Judea and Samaria as obstacles to peace, arguing that they are not. Very good.

Stefan Molyneux’s his name, giving it to you straight is his game!!!

This man calls for revolution.

Source: Francis Out Of Time…

Having gone out of its way to accommodate her.

With everyone now rummaging through every document, intercept, and memo for something, anything tying Trump to Russia, The Hill’s John Solomon and Jonathan Easley have unearthed details that show the Russian lawyer who penetrated Donald Trump’s inner circle was initially cleared into the United States by Loretta Lynch’s Justice Department under “extraordinary circumstances” after she had initially been turned down

And it (LL and DOJ people) lost her.

Extraordinarily sloppy or extraordinarily devious.

​Show us what you know, DNC.​

Last night we asked a very simple question about why the DNC has failed to cooperate with Russia investigators by handing over their infamous email server to either the FBI or Robert Mueller’s team (see: DNC Server: Most Critical Evidence To Proving “Russian Hacking” Is Being Withheld From Mueller, Why?). After​ ​
all, if Russia did “hack the election”, as we’ve been told 24/7 by CNN going on 8 months now, then the evidence could very well be on that server. Which prompted us to ask this very simple question:

​Just think. Bliss is an evidence providing away.​

All of which brings us back to our original question: If the DNC is in possession of actual tangible evidence that could prove once and for all that Russians hacked their servers and attempted to undermine the campaign of Hillary Clinton, why not share that evidence with investigators and enjoy the blissful vindication that its public release would provide?

​

Huh? Why not?

​”Near insolvent,” would be “first U.S. state” with toilet-level bond ratings.​

One week ago, Illinois passed its three year-overdue budget in hopes of avoiding a downgrade to junk status, however in an unexpected twist, Moody’s said that it may still downgrade the near-insolvent state, regardless of the so-called budget “deal.” In fact, a downgrade of Illinois may come at any moment, making it the first U.S. state whose bond ratings tip into junk, although as of yesterday, credit rating agencies said they were still reviewing the state’s newly enacted budget and tax package.

​”Political dysfunction . . . continued unaddressed long-term liabilities . . . unaddressed long-term liabilities . . . [weak] revenue performance. . . ”
​

The most likely outcome is, unfortunately for Illinois, adverse: “I think Moody’s has been pretty clear that they view the state’s political dysfunction combined with continued unaddressed long-term liabilities, and unfavorable baseline revenue performance as casting some degree of skepticism on the state’s ability to manage out of the very fragile financial situation they are in,” said John Humphrey, co-head of credit research at Gurtin Municipal Bond Management​.

​All points to serious kicking of can down the road.​

​

​

​Love, wedding, death. Listen to the dirge that is linked. No Irish lullaby this.

From the Choir Loft:

The natural effect of “limiting” the traditional [liturgical] repertory seems so obvious that one wonders if widespread ignorance of Latin and chant has not been achieved by design​,”

concludes this piece about Pope St. John Paul II on Latin in the liturgy, referring to the church-wide (attempted) abolition of same.

The writer has asked,

What should the role of the Latin language be in the 21st-century Church?

JP2 spoke of Latin liturgy as:

an expression of the unity of the Church and through its dignified character elicited a profound sense of the Eucharistic Mystery.

and added that

It is therefore necessary to show not only understanding but also full respect towards these sentiments and desires. As far as possible, these sentiments and desires [of those who miss it] are to be accommodated, as is moreover provided for in the new dispositions .

It’s in a 1980 letter, “Dominicae cenae,” in which JP2 recognizes the value of the vernacular in helping “everyone to participate with fuller understanding.”

It’s a nice pacific approach, pleading or making an argument in the cause of church unity. In other words, it’s with neither rigidity nor hostility about or towards Latin, but with openness for all.

From that Polish pope with cruel personal experience of rigidity and hostility on the part of authority.

As for “ignorance of Latin and chant achieved by design,” as above, that design would be by that old fix-it gang which like the poor we have with us always.