Ann Coulter's Man O' the Year
And it is former Alabama Supreme Court Justice Roy Moore.
The ACLU began its onslaught against then-Etowah County Circuit Court Judge Moore in 1995, when an ACLU lawyer, apparently depressed that he was not chosen to play Mrs. Claus in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade that year, wrote a letter to all the state judges in Alabama protesting their practice of having a prayer in the courtroom every few weeks. (Obviously you can't have prayer in court: It might distract all the people holding their hand over a Bible and swearing before God Almighty to tell the truth.)
Everything had been going just fine in Alabama -- no defendant had ever complained about the practice -- but upon receiving a testy letter from the ACLU, all the other Alabama judges immediately ceased and desisted from the foul practice of allowing prayer in court. Judge Moore did not.
Friday, December 19, 2003
Thursday, December 18, 2003
Chutzpah
The city of Palm Beach is ordered to submit a formal argument in defense of its position that a Jewish menorah ceases to have any religious significance when it is placed next to a Christmas tree. I expect Palm Beach will engage in an extensive distortion of the Supreme Court's ruling in Lynch v. Donnelly.
The city of Palm Beach is ordered to submit a formal argument in defense of its position that a Jewish menorah ceases to have any religious significance when it is placed next to a Christmas tree. I expect Palm Beach will engage in an extensive distortion of the Supreme Court's ruling in Lynch v. Donnelly.
Bias Against People With Religious Beliefs
Trial lawyers recommend against selecting as jurors in personal injury cases, individuals with "personal responsibility biases." People with such biases are apparently not compassionate enough.
"It is helpful to divide the jurors into two groups: the personal responsibility group and compassion-altruistic group," Wenner wrote. "Jurors who are extreme on the personal responsibility bias, or who have a high need for personal responsibility, will strongly favor the defendant. In contrast, jurors who are extreme on the compassionate-altruistic bias, or who have a high need for compassion, will strongly favor the plaintiff." (...)
"The personal responsibility jurors tend to espouse traditional family values," Wenner continued. "Personal responsibility jurors often believe that when someone harms you,
the best response is to turn the other cheek. A lawsuit is viewed as revenge and unproductive ... often, these jurors have strong religious beliefs."
Trial lawyers recommend against selecting as jurors in personal injury cases, individuals with "personal responsibility biases." People with such biases are apparently not compassionate enough.
"It is helpful to divide the jurors into two groups: the personal responsibility group and compassion-altruistic group," Wenner wrote. "Jurors who are extreme on the personal responsibility bias, or who have a high need for personal responsibility, will strongly favor the defendant. In contrast, jurors who are extreme on the compassionate-altruistic bias, or who have a high need for compassion, will strongly favor the plaintiff." (...)
"The personal responsibility jurors tend to espouse traditional family values," Wenner continued. "Personal responsibility jurors often believe that when someone harms you,
the best response is to turn the other cheek. A lawsuit is viewed as revenge and unproductive ... often, these jurors have strong religious beliefs."
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
WWJD
A lot of Catholic anti-war types have been posting inane comments in the blogosphere about the alleged moral inconsistency and hypocrisy of United States policy toward Iraq and Saddam Hussein. More specifically, some people are implicity suggesting that since the U.S. at one point in time actually provided military support to Saddam (how much and why, they never say) we ought not to be claiming any kind of moral victory in his toppling and capture.
In response to comments like this, I'll usually say that it's a good thing that geopolitics isn't religion, and rhetorically ask if we should just go ahead and put Saddam back in power with a written apology. However, since the remarks are coming from Christians, Catholics in particular, I think a more apropos and effective response would be to rhetorically ask if Jesus should also be condemned for moral hypocrisy since He effectively enabled someone whom He knew was going to act in an evil manner (Judas).
A lot of Catholic anti-war types have been posting inane comments in the blogosphere about the alleged moral inconsistency and hypocrisy of United States policy toward Iraq and Saddam Hussein. More specifically, some people are implicity suggesting that since the U.S. at one point in time actually provided military support to Saddam (how much and why, they never say) we ought not to be claiming any kind of moral victory in his toppling and capture.
In response to comments like this, I'll usually say that it's a good thing that geopolitics isn't religion, and rhetorically ask if we should just go ahead and put Saddam back in power with a written apology. However, since the remarks are coming from Christians, Catholics in particular, I think a more apropos and effective response would be to rhetorically ask if Jesus should also be condemned for moral hypocrisy since He effectively enabled someone whom He knew was going to act in an evil manner (Judas).
Pope Sees "Passion" Film
And he approves of it. (Link via Drudge) I wonder if the ADF will now dare to call JPII an anti-Semite. Stay tuned.
And he approves of it. (Link via Drudge) I wonder if the ADF will now dare to call JPII an anti-Semite. Stay tuned.
First Time for Everything
Because of concerns about spreading the flu, the Archdiocese of San Francisco has instructed all of its parishes to temporarily restrain from offering the Communion chalice and asking parishoners to only receive the Eucharist in the hand. I happened to be attending a Novus Ordo Mass in San Francisco when this announcement was made, and as such, it was the first time in my five years as a Catholic to receive Communion in the hand. The experience was a little unsettling for me, if only because I was incredibly self consciece about leaving any particles of the Eucharist in my hand. I was at least comforted by the fact that the priest who read the Archbishop's letter took the time to mention that not receiving Communion on the tongue would be a sacrifice for many of us.
BTW, note that the article I linked to states in the first paragraph that the Communion wine symbolizes Christ's blood. Just one more example of mainstream journalistic inaccuracy and sloppiness.
Because of concerns about spreading the flu, the Archdiocese of San Francisco has instructed all of its parishes to temporarily restrain from offering the Communion chalice and asking parishoners to only receive the Eucharist in the hand. I happened to be attending a Novus Ordo Mass in San Francisco when this announcement was made, and as such, it was the first time in my five years as a Catholic to receive Communion in the hand. The experience was a little unsettling for me, if only because I was incredibly self consciece about leaving any particles of the Eucharist in my hand. I was at least comforted by the fact that the priest who read the Archbishop's letter took the time to mention that not receiving Communion on the tongue would be a sacrifice for many of us.
BTW, note that the article I linked to states in the first paragraph that the Communion wine symbolizes Christ's blood. Just one more example of mainstream journalistic inaccuracy and sloppiness.
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
From Our Bulging "I Sure Am Glad I Believe in an Authoritative Magisterium" File
Clergy in New Joisy argue that the Bible supports "gay marriages."
While opponents of domestic partnership quote the Bible to denounce the legitimacy of gay relationships, Holzbaur argues the message delivered by Jesus Christ is "radical inclusively" of all people and to "love your neighbor as yourself."
"It definitely is all on how one interprets Jesus' message," Holzbaur said. "The biblical scholarship I follow looks at not only the written word but the time the scriptures were written.
"The Bible at one time was used to promote and approve of slavery, and we no longer believe that is true," Holzbaur continued. "It's been used to keep women in a place of submission, and that is no longer true. We believe that God is still speaking."
Clergy in New Joisy argue that the Bible supports "gay marriages."
While opponents of domestic partnership quote the Bible to denounce the legitimacy of gay relationships, Holzbaur argues the message delivered by Jesus Christ is "radical inclusively" of all people and to "love your neighbor as yourself."
"It definitely is all on how one interprets Jesus' message," Holzbaur said. "The biblical scholarship I follow looks at not only the written word but the time the scriptures were written.
"The Bible at one time was used to promote and approve of slavery, and we no longer believe that is true," Holzbaur continued. "It's been used to keep women in a place of submission, and that is no longer true. We believe that God is still speaking."
California Prisons Go Kosher
Bring on the gefilte fish!
Nolan said that in California, the response until now had been for prisons "to offer another helping of mashed potatoes" instead of a balanced diet to an inmate whose religion does not permit eating pork.
Bring on the gefilte fish!
Nolan said that in California, the response until now had been for prisons "to offer another helping of mashed potatoes" instead of a balanced diet to an inmate whose religion does not permit eating pork.
Capitalisms Roots in Catholicism
A most intriguing article by uber-theologian Michael Novak.
It was the church more than any other agency, writes historian Randall Collins, that put in place what Weber called the preconditions of capitalism: the rule of law and a bureaucracy for resolving disputes rationally; a specialized and mobile labor force; the institutional permanence that allows for transgenerational investment and sustained intellectual and physical efforts, together with the accumulation of long-term capital; and a zest for discovery, enterprise, wealth creation, and new undertakings.
A most intriguing article by uber-theologian Michael Novak.
It was the church more than any other agency, writes historian Randall Collins, that put in place what Weber called the preconditions of capitalism: the rule of law and a bureaucracy for resolving disputes rationally; a specialized and mobile labor force; the institutional permanence that allows for transgenerational investment and sustained intellectual and physical efforts, together with the accumulation of long-term capital; and a zest for discovery, enterprise, wealth creation, and new undertakings.
Monday, December 15, 2003
False and Stupid Syllogisms
While sitting on the bus yesterday, I overheard the following syllogistic conversation a young lady sitting next to me was having with someone on her cell phone: "Halliburton has big time contracts with the U.S. military in Iraq. Vice President Dick Cheney used to own (?!) Halliburton, so that's why we bombed Iraq."
In order to illustrate how stupid I thought this mindless lib was, I was real close to sarcastically asking her if she thought all Germans were Nazis because the Nazi Party came out of Germany, or if all blacks lack buoyancy because you never see any black Olympic swimmers. Fortunately, the impulse in me to be obnoxious subsided; plus, she got off the bus soon after I sat down next to her.
While sitting on the bus yesterday, I overheard the following syllogistic conversation a young lady sitting next to me was having with someone on her cell phone: "Halliburton has big time contracts with the U.S. military in Iraq. Vice President Dick Cheney used to own (?!) Halliburton, so that's why we bombed Iraq."
In order to illustrate how stupid I thought this mindless lib was, I was real close to sarcastically asking her if she thought all Germans were Nazis because the Nazi Party came out of Germany, or if all blacks lack buoyancy because you never see any black Olympic swimmers. Fortunately, the impulse in me to be obnoxious subsided; plus, she got off the bus soon after I sat down next to her.
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