Some Things Never Change

Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto was assasinated a few hours ago. Unfortunately, many people around the world will see this event as "par for the course" for that part of the world.

It takes special people to bring about major societal changes. Look at what Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela did for South Africa. Look at what Martin Luther King, Jr. did for the United States. Where do these people come from? If we knew, there would be no opposition to human cloning.

Rather than view the assasination of Benazir Bhutto as nothing unusual, we should hope and pray that someone arises from the ashes of Pakistan to bring about positive change in the country. Stability in the region benefits all of us.

How ironic that such an event happens two days after Christmas.

Cardinal Lorscheider

On December 23, 2007, Cardinal Aloisio Lorsheider, the Archbishop Emeritus of Aparecida, Brazil, met his eternal reward.

Cardinal Lorscheider's life was filled with pretty amazing events. When his fellow Franciscan, Leonardo Boff, was called to the Vatican red carpet for promoting liberation theology, Lorsheider accomanied him.

In 1978, Cardinal Lorscheider was the "Popemaker" in the first conclave. When the vote was deadlocked between conservative Cardinal Siri of Genoa and progressive Cardinal Benelli of Florence, Lorscheider actively promoted Cardinal Luciani of Venice as a compromise. Luciani went on to become Pope John Paul I. Because of his leadership, Lorsheider received several votes in both the 1978 conclaves. Pope John Paul I claimed to have voted for Lorsheider.

In 1994, Lorsheider was held hostage for several days by a group of government protesters. He negotiated a peaceful resolution.

Lorscheider was the spiritual leader of the most Catholic and one of the poorest countries in the world. May he rest in peace.

Eye in the Sky

We all know what the Catholic Church did to poor Galileo. How dare he have the audacity to claim the the earth might not be the center of the universe. Pope John Paul II publicly forgave Galileo and apologized for the Church's treatment of the poor guy. Well, better late than never.

Ironically, the Vatican has one of the most active astronomy labs in the world. Until now, the main lab, run by those crazy Jesuits, has been located in an old building on the grounds of Castel Gandolfo, the summer residence of the Pope. The lab will be moving to another location at Castel Gandolfo - in a large and revamped building that was previously used as a convent. It will still be run by the Jesuits.

The Vatican astronomy lab is considered one of the best in the world and has working relationships with numerous other labs, including one in Arizona.

Thanks, Galileo!

The Gun is Pointed At Your Head

By now, most of us have had at least some exposure to the candidates for U.S. President. As I have mentioned before, I am not really happy with the pool of candidates. Bishop John McCormack of Manchester, NH, has publicly stated that it is our moral obligation to vote. Bishop McCormack's statement is one of the best that I have seen coming from the hierarchy. He recognizes that the choices are very difficult. He does not state how to vote. However, he clearly indicates that we must vote - as difficult as the choices might be. His statement is an excellent and quick lesson in civics and morality. His statement, courtesy of Catholic News Service, is below.

Despite hard choices, Catholics must vote, New Hampshire bishop saysMANCHESTER, N.H. (CNS) -- Catholics must not seek to avoid difficult decisions about political candidates by choosing not to vote, Bishop John B. McCormack of Manchester said in a new document on "Conscience and Your Vote." The bishop's diocese covers the entire state of New Hampshire, where the first primary in the 2008 presidential campaign is to take place Jan. 8. The Iowa caucuses are to take place five days earlier. "Some candidates advance proposals that fail to mirror the commitment of the church to the protection of all human life," he wrote. "In many cases, these same candidates advance other policies and proposals that can be supported in light of church teaching. "This frequent mixture of laudable and unacceptable positions causes great perplexity," Bishop McCormack said. But "in order to sustain a healthy democracy, all citizens have a moral obligation to vote," he added. "Deciding not to vote therefore is an unacceptable solution, even to this difficult situation." The bishop's five-page document is based largely on "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship," approved by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops in November.

Death Penalty for the Death Penalty

On Monday, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed into law a proposal that would replace the death penalty with life in prison without parole. This marked the first time in 40 years that a state has abolished the death penalty. See the AP story at:

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gYppYSKRwPNEaUjbxFuUGpS_iouQD8TJV44O2

As expected, many people are lamenting the abolition of the death penalty. If somebody killed someone close to me, I would want that person to die a horrible death. My desire, however, would be based on passion and not on reason or ethics. Many killings are described as crimes of passion. Passion is an extemely volatile emotion and not one on which justice should be based.

Also, there is no reason for the death penalty. It is no more a deterrent than is life in prison without parole. People will argue that society should not pay to keep murderers in prison. Well then, we shouldn't pay for the prescriptions of old people - they are going to die soon.

Ah, but the old people in need of the medications are innocent. The murderers are not. This stream of logic (or lack thereof) brings me to ethics. The argument against abortion and euthanasia is that all life should be allowed to proceed until natural death. Abortion and the death penalty are not natural deaths. Ah, but those murderers are guilty!!!! Who are we to be the ultimate life arbiter? Don't pro-life people say that only God can play this role? Yes, we can determine whether or not someone committed a crime, but we cannot and should not determine whether or not someone is to live or die. Leave that role to God.

They Aren't All Bad

Major league baseball has been rocked by the Mitchell Report indicating that numerous baseball players, including mega-stars, have used performance enhancing substances. This shouldn't be too surprising. Many professional athletes are very selfish and greedy. They have learned that their athletic gifts have resulted in a lifelstyle where they don't need to worry about the consequences of their actions on and off the field.

However, not all professional athletes fit the standard category. Professional basketball player Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets has given millions of dollars to programs in the Baltimore area that target at-risk youth. Professional football player Warrick Dunn of the Atlanta Falcons has a foundation that has enabled over 50 single mothers to own their own homes. After learning that his contract would not be renewed, professional baseball player Geoff Jenkins of the Milwaukee Brewers paid for a full-page ad in the Milwaukee paper thanking the fans for making it possible for him to enjoy many years playing for the Brewers.

So, we shouldn't make the mistake of assuming that all professional athletes are selfish cheaters. There are some very decent people in professional sports.

Does God Have a Sense of Humor?

A funny thing happened to me on the way to church. Actually, I am not kidding. Three of the funniest situations I have been in have happened in preparation for religious services, including two funerals.

Earlier in the week, our parish hosted a communal penance service that included the opportunity for individual confessions. I like to go to these services - they really tend to be quiet and prayerful. Anyway, when I arrived about twenty minutes early, our pastor was greeting people in the gathering space. When he saw me, he blurted out "Oh, look who is here. Now we will be here all night!" I think some of the people in the gathering space were waiting for me to express shock. However, I chuckled. Some people might have been offended by being the target of such a comment. However, the pastor and I have a pretty good relationship that involves kidding each other. The key to such humor is for the people involved to be on the same wavelength.

That event reminded me of another situation that took place many years ago during the wake (yes, and Irish wake) for the father of a college friend. Right in front of the open coffin, I ran into another college friend whom I hadn't seen for many years. This guy was pretty crazy in college. Much had changed in our respective lives. He first told me that he got married. Then he told me he had a daughter and was expecting another child. He then looked at me, sighed and said "Hell, I ought to crawl in there (the coffin) with Jack!"

The third event happened at the funeral for my grandmother (100% German, so no Irish wake). My grandmother pre-planned her funeral. For some reason, my grandmother always seemed to work with businesses that might not have always been on the "up and up". For example, the attorney that drafted her will was kicked out of the bar between writing her will and the time she died. The funeral home she chose was run by two Italian brothers. Yes, they seemed to have many connections. When we didn't know what to do with my grandmother's car, they took care of it without having to do anything with the state division of motor vehicles. Anyway, the funeral plans were fairly elaborate for a simple old widow. They included a limosine for the family. However, there was not enough room in the limosine for all of us to ride together from the church to the cemetary. Thus, I offered to ride with Vince in the hearse. As soon as I sat down in the passenger seat of the hearse and buckled up, I mentioned to Vince that it was my first time in a hearse. Vince looked at me and replied "And it won't be your last." I laughed all the way to the cemetary.

Not only does God have a sense of humor, but He shares it with us - even during difficult times.