Handling him with expensive kid gloves. Heaping praise on a presumably much-abused hero of the church.

In a letter to Wuerl obtained by CNA Oct. 12, Pope Francis told the cardinal: “Your renunciation is a sign of your availability and docility to the Spirit who continues to act in his Church.”

Renunciation? It’s standard to submit resignation at age 75. Such glowing praise for “docility to the [Holy] Spirit”? What about the hundreds who took this required step before him? Such as the ones whose acceptance was received in return mail from Pope Francis? Ye gods and little fishes, has this pope nothing to draw on but tunnel vision?

This this shocker:

“In accepting your resignation, I ask you to remain as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese until the appointment of your successor.”

This is not how it’s done. An auxiliary bishop or monsignor-chancellor is routinely appointed administrator while new “ordinary” (bishop in charge) is decided upon. Or is ready to take over.

Wuerl, 77, originally submitted his resignation on Nov. 12, 2015, when he turned 75 years old, as required by canon law.

Yes, as above. Under heavy fire, Wuerl had sent a special request a few weeks ago.

The (in this case) ebullient Francis:

“This request rests on two pillars that have marked and continue to mark your ministry: to seek in all things the greater glory of God and to procure the good of the people entrusted to your care,” Pope Francis wrote.

He went further, shooting down Wuerl’s critics:

“You have sufficient elements to ‘justify’ your actions and distinguish between what it means to cover up crimes or not to deal with problems, and to commit some mistakes.”

“However, your nobility has led you not to choose this way of defense. Of this, I am proud and thank you.”

Let us all stand up and cheer, especially in Pittsburgh diocese.

via Pope Francis accepts resignation of Cardinal Donald Wuerl, appoints him interim DC leader

Dinner time argument about a TV show came down to this:

My wish for entertainment was an affront to the show’s right to exist; its being morally good superseded any imperative for it to be creatively better.

What would Aristotle say? “Right to exist” vs. entertainment? Here possible ticket to empty theater seats and (dare we say it?) unsold newspapers. Wagging finger or hands clapping.

more more more at The New York Times

Very interesting operation. Newbies in such matters, maybe stay out of it, you might end up unduly frustrated. But quite a professional, come-one-come-all effort to get the pew-sitters rolling.

To be or not to be, an investigation of accusations by Archbishop Vigano. Do not expect Cardinal Cupich of Chicago to go down this “rabbit hole.”

via Google Sheets

Typically engaging front-pager on WSJ.

With usually marvelous hard-copy head “Office coffee/ Once a perk/ Now a grind.”

The story is good, about squabbles over “strength, refills, Folgers.” Folgers?

Lots of offices have fancy coffee these days. That just means lots of office workers are grumbling about it. What some managers thought would help keep workers at their desks instead of going out for coffee, has actually led to employees wasting time bickering or waging campaigns for their preferred brews.

Oh my, people.

But the head? How do you beat it?

via 11 Scoops or 12? Coffee Wars Come to the Office – WSJ

As news ledes go, this went beautifully.

When Christine Blasey Ford accused U.S. Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of attempted rape, she, her Leftist lawyers and her crackpot supporters demanded that the typical procedures for getting at the truth be turned upside down. This has shocked normal Americans. But it just means that Campus Rape-Culture Hysteria has escaped the asylum and is now invading America.

Congrats to my friend Nicholas Stix.

via VDARE.com

This in Chicago’s Newspaper pains me even more than its all-in editorial ringing the oft-sounded alarm about the end of the world coming because of climate change.

Today’s stop: Pullman.  Located 12 miles south of downtown, Pullman may be the most unique neighborhood in the city.

Why? Because something, even a neighborhood, is either unique (one of a kind) or not. There are not degrees of uniqueness.

Common dreadful error, but being common is no excuse. At least the Sun-Times is not unique in this error.

via Chicago Sun-Times

Staffers objected, bishop canceled.

Catholics who were upset about the workshop being given to CCD, RCIA and confirmation instructors contacted Church Militant asking for help investigating and exposing the serious problems with this workshop. Investigations revealed the following:

John Prandini, the one providing the workshop in question, “established the first diocesan LGBTQ Catholic Ministry in 2015 at St. Paul Catholic Newman Center.” Prandini was to represent the St. Paul Center at the workshop.
Prandini represented the St. Paul Catholic Newman Center in the Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade in 2017 and again in 2018.
The St. Paul Catholic Newman Center claims that its LGBT ministry has the full support of Bp. Armando Ochoa. The center states that its vision for the LGBT ministry is to make openly homosexual identities acceptable and welcome in Catholic settings.
The former pastor of the St. Paul Catholic Newman Center was Fr. Geoff Farrow, who revealed his own homosexuality in 2008 and is now acting as a same-sex “marriage” activist, performing sodomitical “marriages.”

Love the sinner, hate the sin? I think I’ve got that right.

via LGBT Conference Canceled in Fresno Diocesan Congress

Verdict will change law enforcement?

“We don’t believe that the evidence supported the conviction. But at the end of the day, with the Cook County jury and with the pressure that we had with this case we started this case 50 yards behind the starting line.”

Herbert also suggested that the verdict marked “a sad day for law enforcement” and would alter the way police officers approach their job.

“We’ve all heard about the Ferguson effect,” said Herbert. “If police officers think that they can never fire against someone that is acting the way Laquan McDonald did 12 feet away from him I think that what we are going to have is that police officers are going to become security guards. There will not be a police officer getting out of a car to confront somebody. Maybe that’s what everyone wants. I don’t know. We’ll have to see how it plays out.”

Unfortunately.

via WTTW

Gregorian chant has charms, in this case for prisoners. Would work for the rest of us if pastors would give it a chance.

via Benedict XVI Institute At San Quentin