Man Fined for Cheering Gay Neighbor's Death
OK, it wasn't very nice, but how 'bout recognizing a little free speech? Oh yeah, this happened in Germany.
Friday, May 09, 2003
Thursday, May 08, 2003
Why Aren't More Catholics "Disappointed" With Bill Bennett?
Generally because we aren't Protestant.
[T]he U.S. Catholic bishops' conference, which has pronounced on virtually every major social problem over the past few decades, has never addressed [legalized gambling] - though individual bishops and groups of bishops have sometimes opposed legalized gambling in their cities and states.
By contrast, both liberal and conservative Protestant church officials have issued repeated denunciations of legalized gambling.
They agree that it's a serious social problem and a sinful practice that builds upon greed and deceit, destroys families, exploits the poor and fosters crime.
...
The catechism of the Catholic Church says wagers "are not in themselves contrary to justice" but "become morally unacceptable" if they deprive people of basic needs.
"The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement," the catechism warns.
Generally because we aren't Protestant.
[T]he U.S. Catholic bishops' conference, which has pronounced on virtually every major social problem over the past few decades, has never addressed [legalized gambling] - though individual bishops and groups of bishops have sometimes opposed legalized gambling in their cities and states.
By contrast, both liberal and conservative Protestant church officials have issued repeated denunciations of legalized gambling.
They agree that it's a serious social problem and a sinful practice that builds upon greed and deceit, destroys families, exploits the poor and fosters crime.
...
The catechism of the Catholic Church says wagers "are not in themselves contrary to justice" but "become morally unacceptable" if they deprive people of basic needs.
"The passion for gambling risks becoming an enslavement," the catechism warns.
Graham Openly Criticized for Anti-Islam Remarks by Fellow Evangelical Prots
Paul Marshall, senior fellow at the Center for Religious Freedom, a human rights group, said anti-Islam comments serve only to antagonize people. "Exactly what is to be achieved by that except boosting the ego of who said it?" he asked.
Going off on a tangent, one thing I'm sort of curious about is whether the average Muslim in the Middle East makes any kind of a distinction between Christianity and the Catholic Church. In other words, would an average Middle Eastern Muslim automatically associate an Evangelical Protestant missionary he sees or hears about with the Catholic Church? Hmmm...
Clairification: I'm reading what I wrote above, and I seem to be suggesting that the Catholic Church, of which I am devout member, isn't Christian. What I meant to inquire on was whether the average Muslim in the Middle East was aware of any other kind of Christianity aside from that which (fully) subsists in the Catholic Church.
Paul Marshall, senior fellow at the Center for Religious Freedom, a human rights group, said anti-Islam comments serve only to antagonize people. "Exactly what is to be achieved by that except boosting the ego of who said it?" he asked.
Going off on a tangent, one thing I'm sort of curious about is whether the average Muslim in the Middle East makes any kind of a distinction between Christianity and the Catholic Church. In other words, would an average Middle Eastern Muslim automatically associate an Evangelical Protestant missionary he sees or hears about with the Catholic Church? Hmmm...
Clairification: I'm reading what I wrote above, and I seem to be suggesting that the Catholic Church, of which I am devout member, isn't Christian. What I meant to inquire on was whether the average Muslim in the Middle East was aware of any other kind of Christianity aside from that which (fully) subsists in the Catholic Church.
Tuesday, May 06, 2003
Dobson on Bennett
"We were disappointed to learn that our longtime friend, Dr. Bill Bennett, is dealing with what appears to be a gambling addiction. One of the reasons Focus on the Family continues to be strongly opposed to any form of gambling is because it has the power to ensnare and wound not only its victims, but also those closest to them. 'Gaming,' as the industry euphemistically refers to itself, is a cancer on the soul of the nation.
However, if Bennett was a recreational masturbator, Dobson's opinion would seemingly be different.
"We were disappointed to learn that our longtime friend, Dr. Bill Bennett, is dealing with what appears to be a gambling addiction. One of the reasons Focus on the Family continues to be strongly opposed to any form of gambling is because it has the power to ensnare and wound not only its victims, but also those closest to them. 'Gaming,' as the industry euphemistically refers to itself, is a cancer on the soul of the nation.
However, if Bennett was a recreational masturbator, Dobson's opinion would seemingly be different.
Monday, May 05, 2003
Happy Now Leftys and Moral Relativists?
Statement from William Bennett (via Drudge): 'A number of stories in the media have reported that I have engaged in high stakes gambling over the past decade. It is true that I have gambled large sums of money. I have also complied with all laws on reporting wins and losses.
Nevertheless, I have done too much gambling, and this is not an example I wish to set. Therefore, my gambling days are over...'
Much has been said about this issue on various other Catholic blogs, but I'm basically of the position that as long as his gambling isn't endangering the well-being of his family, and he isn't knowingly contributing to any illegal enterprises, William Bennett should not be disqualified from being a respected public moralist. But even if Bennett's gambling was problematic, his status as a public moralist should still be secure as long as he takes responsibility for the wrongs he has done, and he doesn't repeat them. We could only have hoped so much out of Bill Clinton who, at last check, still has yet to explcitly admit that he had an extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky, publicly lied about the affair ever occurring, and committed criminal perjury about it during his testimony in a civil trial. Under such circumstance, "Slick Willy" is absolutely precluded from ever telling anyone what is and isn't right.
Statement from William Bennett (via Drudge): 'A number of stories in the media have reported that I have engaged in high stakes gambling over the past decade. It is true that I have gambled large sums of money. I have also complied with all laws on reporting wins and losses.
Nevertheless, I have done too much gambling, and this is not an example I wish to set. Therefore, my gambling days are over...'
Much has been said about this issue on various other Catholic blogs, but I'm basically of the position that as long as his gambling isn't endangering the well-being of his family, and he isn't knowingly contributing to any illegal enterprises, William Bennett should not be disqualified from being a respected public moralist. But even if Bennett's gambling was problematic, his status as a public moralist should still be secure as long as he takes responsibility for the wrongs he has done, and he doesn't repeat them. We could only have hoped so much out of Bill Clinton who, at last check, still has yet to explcitly admit that he had an extramarital affair with Monica Lewinsky, publicly lied about the affair ever occurring, and committed criminal perjury about it during his testimony in a civil trial. Under such circumstance, "Slick Willy" is absolutely precluded from ever telling anyone what is and isn't right.
"Cuomo-ism" Filters Into Marriage Issue
In case you don't know what "Cuomo-ism" is, it is named after former New York Governor Mario Cuomo who made famous the intellectually dishonest belief of being personally against abortion but favoring a woman's "right to choose".
According to this poll, there is one county in New Jersey where a majority of Catholics seem to be personally against homosexual "marriages", but favor its offical recognition on a state-wide level.
In case you don't know what "Cuomo-ism" is, it is named after former New York Governor Mario Cuomo who made famous the intellectually dishonest belief of being personally against abortion but favoring a woman's "right to choose".
According to this poll, there is one county in New Jersey where a majority of Catholics seem to be personally against homosexual "marriages", but favor its offical recognition on a state-wide level.
How do You Prevent People From Smuggling Bombs and Boxcutters Onto Airplanes?
Make 'em all fly nekkid. (Link via Drudge)
Make 'em all fly nekkid. (Link via Drudge)
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