Candidate Joe Walsh stood for the pledge of allegiance at a Grayslake debate Wed. 10/20 — over objections of the League of Women Voters moderator.
Have a look and listen to her explain her position. She had been asked from the floor. When she said no, the reported 300 people stood and did it anyhow.
Today at Chicago Catholic News:
Church Reporter: The spirit of the day was excellent
(POSTED: 10/27/10) The Chicago Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) served up heavy-duty spirituality in the morning of its annual Justice Day on Saturday, Oct. 2, at Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica, and sometimes raucous explanations of programs it funds in the afternoon.In the morning Paul Simoneau, from Knoxville, Tenn., quoted Blessed Mother Teresa, Benedict XVI and St. Augustine in an effort to convince the 70 human-developers on hand that they ain’t nothin’ if they ain’t got the spirit, no matter what else they do.
In the afternoon a man from the St. Toribio Center rolled out facts and figures about the plight of the undocumented, at one point telling his listeners he would not tell them how to vote but they should ask him later about it. . . . .
Not so sure about these bishops and how they toss about “justice,” here substituting it (making it a stand-in) for charity. (Actually, citing the pope on this philosophical issue.)
They should read Hayek on the point, specifically on “social justice,” which he called a “mirage.”
Wheeling Jesuit U. has a president, businessman Richard Allen Beyer. He takes office Jan. 2. He lives in
Reston, Va., currently is a corporate vice president and member of the executive committee at Trimble Navigation Ltd., which has global sales of $1.2 billion and provides global positioning solutions.
In addition to his business experience, Mr. Beyer also has 16 years in higher education, including board governance and financial modeling. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Olivet College in Michigan, later became chairman of its board and now is a trustee emeritus.
He is on the board of trustees at the American University in Washington, D.C., and the board of directors at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges.
Margaret “Mimie” Helm, WJU board chairwoman, said,
“He brings a clear business mind to the position, a strong work ethic and a genuine respect for higher education and, most importantly, the Jesuit identity in higher education.”
He said,
“I am honored to become the new president of Wheeling Jesuit University,” said Mr. Beyer. “The institution’s commitment to educating the whole person, for the greater good, via its traditional Jesuit values, very much appeals to me.”
He’s the first non-Jesuit to be president. He succeeds Rev. Julio Giulietti, SJ, who was removed after two years in office without stated reason by fellow Jesuits (WJU trustees) with the subsequent approval of the WJU board of directors and the Maryland Province provincial, Rev. James Shea, SJ.
His departure and the manner of his unexpected removal was greeted with consternation and protest by a substantial representation of WJU students, alumni, and others. Giulietti is currently director of Loyola University of Chicago’s Vietnam Center.
Explaining why she bounced Juan Williams, the NPR CEO, the divine Vivian Schiller, wrote in a memo to staff:
This isn’t the first time we have had serious concerns about some of Juan’s public comments. Despite many conversations and warnings over the years, Juan has continued to violate this principal [sic]. . . .
Egad, hitting below the belt! Actionable stuff!
During school hours?
I’m shocked (shocked!) to read this account of Chicago chancery non-cooperation with ChicagoCatholicNews.
As usual, [Cardinal] George would not respond to questions. . . . . [W]e called the press secretary of the cardinal — and she hung up on us before we could even explain the article. . . . . The cardinal wouldn’t return calls. . . . .
On three matters — ex-priests being urged to get laicized, Mother Teresa‘s relics coming to Chicago, monsignor-designates refusing the honor — there was no comment, including the hang-up (slam went the phone, startling the secretary), which amazingly was a feel-good about the relics.
The other two were provocative items, dying for confirmation, explanation, or outright (indignant, if necessary) denial — standard go-get-’em reportorial stuff. It’s what newsies do, making themselves socially useful (unless mean and/or green and/or full of spleen) and perhaps of interest to their readers.
But touchy, touchy lies the head that wears the red hat and turf-protective are his aides-de-camp. Slam that phone down! Communicate your undying disapproval! Hope and pray the caller goes away! Who needs him?
Try this on for size, from James Bovard:
“To blindly trust government is to automatically vest it with excessive power. . . .
I disapprove of splitting the infinitive, but let that pass and read the rest here.
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.
Blithe Spirit 