How Strong Is A Seamless Garment?

Abortionist George Tiller was shot dead this morning while attending church. A suspect is in custody.

Dr. Tiller has been an outspoken proponent of legalized abortion and operated a very active abortion clinic. He was a financial contributor to the campaigns of pro-choice politicians. He was in the top 3 of the pro-life movement's list of public enemies.

I am sure that many, but not all, in the pro-life movement rejoiced at the news of Dr. Tiller's murder. After all, they can argue that his murder will result in thousands of babies not being aborted.

This has the potential to develop into an interesting siutation. What if Dr. Tiller's assailant is convicted and sentenced to death? How will those that are now rejoicing about the murder of Dr. Tiller react?

Always The Bridesmaid

Professor Miguel Diaz got the job that was meant for me!

http://cnsblog.wordpress.com/2009/05/27/new-ambassador-pick-is-theology-professor/

Losing a Friend

Perceptive readers of this blog know that I have a dog named Archie. Archie's first canine friend was Scruff, the pet of my wife's brother and his family. Scruff was a springer spaniel. While the family loved him, Scruff spent most summers at his human grandmother's home about 30 minutes away. Grandma Rosie spoiled the dog - the dog enjoyed eggs and bacon for breakfast, got kiddie meals at McDonald's and celebrated birthdays.

For the past few months, Scruff was showing signs that he was 15 years old. He was often confused. Scruff visited us a few weeks ago. He was very confused and wandered the house at 3:00 am. When my relatives left, we knew it was likely the last time we sould see Scruff.

Over the Memorial Day weekend, Scruff and his family visited the family cabin in the northwoods. Late in the afternoon, Scruff did not come back from his walk around the property. My relatives spent a couple of hours looking for him. They got in a canoe and went down the river a little ways. The found Scruff on a large rock on the side of a river. It appeared that Scruff had a stroke and just died on the spot without a struggle.

Those of you that have had pets know the sense of loss one feels at times like these. It is comforting to know that Scruff had a good life and died doing what he liked to do.

Strategery

The dust seems to be settling after President Obama's visit to Notre Dame. Cardinal Francis George, President of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has offered praise to the President for mentioning conscience clause protections.

Here is what all of this comes down to: politics. Based on comments he made related to conscience clause protections (health care providers cannot be forced to do things that violate their consciences - perform abortions, distribute condoms/birth control, etc.), President Obama is forcing the GOP into a tough position. It appears that he is initiating dialogue by offering concessions. Should GOP leaders fail to respond, the party will be seen as far too rigid by many members. Should the GOP enter a dialogue and consider possible concessions, the far right extreme members of the party may leave. Either way, the GOP will lose some supporters. While those supporters certainly won't go the the Democratic Party, any loss of GOP members will only help the Democrats maintain control of the White House and the Capitol.

Let's see what happens.

Bird Hunting

Bird hunting season has started.

While walking the dog this morning, I spotted a small flying creature that I have not seen for several months. These creatures are making their way into our area and will soon be everywhere. They will be easy to spot and to hear.

This morning, I killed two of them. I saw them flying. They were getting very close. They landed.....on my arm. There are now two fewer mosquitoes in the world.

Pain, Pain, Go Away

While lying in bed this morning facing one direction, I turned my head in the opporite direction to see if our dog was in the room. SNAP! Something went "out of whack" in the area between my shoulder blades.

This has happened before. There is usually a brief period of intense pain and then things work theie way back. I followed the usual routine and went to work. I had to drive about 80 miles to a meeting. I noticed that, whenever I had to shift into 5th gear, I had extreme pain in my back - so bad that I would gasp.

While driving back, the pain was still pretty bad - maybe a 7 or 8 on a scale of 1 to 10. So, I called the chiropractor and drove straight to his office. He knew what the problem was right away - one of my back ribs twisted out of position and was having a difficult time working its way back into proper position. The pain I was experiencing was similar to the pain one might feel as a result of a broken rib - sharp pain when breathing, moving the arms, twisting the torso. The chiropractor gave me an adjustment that brought instant relief - for about 10 minutes. The pain returned.

So, here I sit. I feel a bit of pain when I type each letter. Still, I could be much worse. I know my pain will go away. My wife just heard from a friend whose brother-in-law just killed himself. My wife's friend has a son with severe depression - he has attempted suicide. The family has a history of suicide. The pain that my wife's friend has over the loss of her brother-in-law and the fear of the mental stability of son will not go away.

It is all a matter of perspective.

The Prodigal Son

Mehmet Ali Agca attempted to kill the Pope in 1981. Nearly 30 years later, he is asking to be baptized by the Pope.

There is a possibility that Agca may be released from prison in January of 2010. Through his attorney, Agca has expressed a desire to be baptized a Roman Catholic and that he hoped the Pope might baptize him in St. Peter's Basilica.

Many pundits have expressed that this may be a publicity stunt devised by Agca and/or his attorney as the date for his potential release draws near. That may very well be the case. However, if Agca is willing to go through the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults (RCIA), he should have the opportunity to become a Roman Catholic.

If he were to be baptized by the Pope, it would certainly send an incredible message about forgiveness and help us recognize that no individual is ever forsaken by God. God reclaimed St. Paul. Why couldn't the same thing happen with Agca?

To see a Los Angeles Times story about Agca's desire to convert, go to: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=7573306. Note: Read the story somewhat carefully. Does it seem to give the impression that one must have to have a questionable mental state in order to want to convert to Christianity?

Be Careful About What You Wish For

Yesterday afternoon, the phone in my office rang. I have caller ID that helps me identify junk calls or calls that I know are going to be wasteful of my time and the time of the caller. I didn't recognize the number. In the second between picking up the phone receiver and putting it to my ear, I had the feeling that this was going to be a difficult conversation.

The woman said that she was trying to get help for her teenage son with reading difficulties. His school refuses to recognize that he has a disability. He really struggles with reading. While he is a high school freshman, he reads at a third grade level. Because of this, the woman said he is often the target of bullying. The woman began to cry and said that her son was a very good kid that just needs some help. Even though she was crying, she would not stop talking. I had to abruptly cut her off in an effort to ask some targeted questions that might help me develop some recommendations for her.

She said she had been everywhere and nobody would help her. She said her family was not in the position to afford a private reading tutor. Then she said it. For the first time in nearly 8 years of working closely with parents of special needs children, a parent said to me, "I wish I had never had him".

How does one respond to that? Not being one to coddle, I mentioned to the mother that, while I understood her frustration, her statement was incredibly selfish. Advocating for other people is not about the "advocators", but about the "advocatees". What about her son - the "good kid that just needs some help"? I shared with her that I serve as guardian for 14 people with developmental disabilities. Advocating for them never gets easier - it only becomes increasingly difficult. But what are the options? I cannot let them simple become "cogs" in the human service system. Each one is a person - an individual that, while having some challenges, has many skills that, if given appropriate support, can flourish in their community. The problem is not with her son. The problem is with the human service system. I'll take hundreds of her sons over the inefficient human service system we have.

No Win Situation

According to a recent report from ZENIT (http://www.zenit.org/article-25888?l=english), many Jewish people are upset with Pope Benedict for not going far enough in denouncing the Holocaust in recent presentations. When the Pope said it was horrific that millions of Jews were killed, some people expressed outrage that he didn't say 6 million Jews were murdered. Some even questioned whether or not the Pope was a willing member of the Hitler Youth. I hope His Holiness doesn't respond as I did to a situation 25 years ago.

While in college, I worked in an office that produced videos for use in classrooms. I had a good relationship with my boss. I said something to which she replied "Oh, you are so German". Actually, I am half-German/half-Irish. However, I do have a very German last name.

A new employee whom I had never met or to whom I had talked, a Jewish man, overheard my boss' comment. He immediately went into a rant about how my ancestors murdered his ancestors. People in the office where aghast and did not know what to do. Unfortunately, this man would not let up. For about 15 minutes, he kept hounding me about my ancestors killing his ancestors. Finally, I reached the boiling point. I just wanted him to leave me alone so I could do my work. I finally said, "If what you say were true and your ancestors were anything like you, then my ancestors would have done the world a favor." Well, he stopped his rant. I was just somewhat sorry about saying what I did. I certainly abhor the Nazi atrocities. Some of my relatives, like many German citizens, may have very well paricipated in some of the atrocities. We cannot and should not forget the Holocaust. The Holocaust is a historical and society weight than can hold us back or pull us forward.

Habemus Ambassadoram

So, the Obama Administration is having a tough time finding the appropriate person to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. I know that the position is not elected. However, I would not be opposed to someone other than myself initiating a write-in campaign for Joe Lunch Box. It would be in error to assume that Joe does not have ties to the Vatican. As happens for so many people that enter the "15 minutes of fame", a grainy photo of an event from Joe's past has emerged. Just as A-list stage actors have Broadway and the others have Off-Broadway, A-list religiosi have the Vatican and the others have Off-Vatican. Below is a photo of "the Pope of Off-Vatican". Some claim that the figure in the photo bears a striking resemblance to Joe Lunch Box.

Fightin' Bob

Father Bob Cornell passed away on Sunday, May 10. http://www.jsonline.com/news/obituaries/44754852.html

I first knew Father Bob as my Congressman. Yes, I barely remember the person Father Bob beat in the election. However, the first Congressman I really knew and to whom I paid some attention was Father Bob. He was my Congressman during the time that I was becoming aware that the world was bigger than my neighborhood. I remember the news reports on the Vietnam War. I remember seeing news reports about cars lined up for miles to get gas. I remember seeing news reports about the new Polish Pope. I remember seeing news reports about problems in Iran. Father Bob served just two terms in Congress. During this four years, all of the above events occured.

Father Bob was one of just two Catholic priests that have served in Congress. He was a liberal to the hilt. He beat an archconservative and then was beaten by an archconservative. He seriously considered running for Congress again (and would have likely regained his seat). However, Church leaders informed him that a Catholic priest serving in elected office was frowned on.

Although discouraged, Father Bob pressed on like nothing much changed. Even though he was no longer a Congressman, he still showed up at all of the parades and events. It seemed everyone knew him - maybe more because he was an active priest and teacher than because he had been a Congressman. He still wrote articles and letters to the editor of all of the regional papers. Father Bob's impetus for his actions was his faith, not his political party.

I had the opportunity to get to know Father Bob when I was a novice at St. Norbert Abbey. He was always full of many stories and jokes - most of which had nothing to do with his having been a Congressman. He did not really care if people knew he was a Congressman. He was a priest, confrere, friend and teacher. Those roles always had priority for him - and they served him and others well throughout his life, including the four years serving in Congress.

Father Bob just won the big election.

Unknown Risings

The space shuttle Atlantis and U.S. postage stamp price have two things in common today. They both rose and hardly anyone knew about it. I was watching a national news program and learned that the Atlantis launched earlier today from Florida. Part of the mission involves fixing the Hubble Telescope. Apparently, this mission is riskier than most shuttle missions.

I'll put in my two cents on the postage stamp increase - which is two cents. 44 cents is a pretty good deal to send a document across town or across the country. The poor United States Postal Service is suffering the impact of the world wide web. In the past, a book of stamps might have lasted a month in my household. Now, the same book of 20 stamps lasts about 6 months. My wife and I now pay most of our bills online. We renew subscriptions online. Perhaps letter carriers will go the way of the men that delivered ice to homes for the ice box.

Trouble Is Brewing

In a little over a week from now, Pope Benedict will make a Papal visit to the Holy Land. When this trip was first rumored several months ago, I had some concerns about the possibility of a terrorist act(s) related to the visit. Radical fundamentalists could certainly target two primary enemies - Christianity and Judaism.

Catholic Blogger Patrick Madrid (a well-known author) recently posted that an Israeli security chief expressed concerns about the Pope's safety during his upcoming visit. Radical Islamic terrorists have been distributing pamphlets calling for the assassination of the Pope when he is in the Holy Land. Let's hope and pray this does not happen. If it did, it could very well lead to a conflict of epic proportions.