The breakaway traditionalist Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) would rather not return to full communion with Rome right now, but maybe later. �Meanwhile, some decks were cleared, as regrding who’s in charge:

The July 19 statement . . . �underlined the group’s dedication to Catholic Church, saying that “the supreme power of government over the universal Church belongs only to the Pope, Vicar of Christ on earth.”

They also reiterated their deep suspicion of Vatican II:

The SSPX proclaimed its determination to uphold the teachings of the Church, but said that these teachings must be interpreted in the light of the “uninterrupted Magisterium.” The statement drew the line at “all the novelties of the Second Vatican Council which remain tainted with errors.”

So if they come back to Rome, it will be with an agenda which will be mightily displeasing to progressives.

via Pius X Catholics hold off…

I start my day ever suspicious of the Sun-Times, which I have called the Obama Reelection Newsletter (fits handily in your pocket), so I have some wondering to express as regards Monifa Thomas on Wheaton College joining the Catholics vs. the dreaded HHS mandate — dreaded a la W-Sox announcer the dreaded Harrelson, referring of course (without fail) to the leadoff walk.

M. Thomas:

Joining several other religious institutions, Wheaton College has filed a lawsuit against President Barack Obama administration’s so-called contraception mandate.

How’s that?  So-called?  What would M. Thomas call it?

Lower down, we find:

The alliance marks the first time that Catholics and evangelicals have worked together to oppose a regulation in court.

What’s this “marks”?  Noosepaper jargon, of course.  Better indirect and fancy than simple and straightforward.  The alliance is the first time, right?  Or if you’re not sure and don’t have…

I endorse the reason this fellow gives for blogging, though I do not have a physician’s recommendation:

Paul Gottfried is the Raffensperger Professor of Humanities at Elizabethtown College and the author of nine books, most recently an autobiography, Encounters, as well as several tons of essays on European social and intellectual history and the history of political movements. He contributes to Taki\’s Magazine, per request of his physician, as a means of releasing pent-up bile and vexation.

via Taki\’s Magazine – Contributors.

Football tail wagging university dog. �

via Penn State Abuse of Power Football | CNSNews.com.

* What Noosepapers do:  They run stories by the carload of government-supplied services being cut, far more than ones that waste money.  You have to be a gadfly to go after that sort of thing, and, well, we know how they are, sniff.  Noosepaper reporters are professional, you know.  But they listen to squeaky wheels and go for the sentimental jugular, too often blissfully unaware of the theft that goes on under guise of helping people with public money. 

Editors coast to coast react, lemming-like, in all seriousness and sincerity, according to a script prescribed by the NY Times-Wash Post combine, the East Coast liberal axis.  These editors are shocked and contemptuous when another narrative is followed, as by Fox News, which with all its faults gives play to stories that the others never touch.  And gets accused of bias, when at worst they are supplying a crying lack.

*

Doting husband to loving wife, before 100–mile drive to the country:  You want to drive?

Loving wife: Yes.

He: Good.  I can read.  (Pause)  I can read out loud to you?

She: No.

He: You don’t like me to read out loud to you.

She: No.

He: You don’t like me.

She: (pause)  Can I get back to you on that?

Seeking respite from the incessant palaver at our parish church during mass — from the altar and assorted podiums, I mean — I repaired to Northlake’s St. John Vianney this a.m. for the 10 o’clock Latin mass. 

Not only did I find a respite from palaver — do this, do that, sing when the lady raises her right hand as if hailing a taxi, watch your step in the communion-time scrum, say howdy (“amen”) to the lady holding the host before your eyes, etc. etc. — but I also in the sermon got a terrific rundown on what’s bad about the HHS mandate.

Want some churchgoing that does not discourage prayer and reflection?  Go west (from Oak Park), young man and woman and old ones too, to Wolf Road a half block north of North Avenue.  On Sunday morning it’s a breeze to get there in the flivver.  You’ll be…

Simon of Politico meditating on the 5-4 pro-Obamacare decision:

The immediate political analysis offered by many was that this is a huge political boost for President Obama. But President Obama had nothing to do with it. He was a spectator, . . . .

Does S of P want to say one cannot be boosted politically by what someone else does?

Mark it down to being in a hurry.

Anyhow, that’s today.  Yesterday he was feeling really peckish about it all (2nd meaning, not  hungry) and relieved himself of this panicked observation:

Once upon a time, in a place called America, there was a government with three equal branches. That America no longer exists.
One branch now rules American life.
It is the Supreme Court, and it consists of nine people elected by nobody. They rule for life. Their power is absolute.
To overrule them requires an…

Vulgarly.