In the context of my two recent entries on gun control, some bloggers have argued that am I elevating my own personal opinion to the level of Church teaching simply because I quote the US bishops on the topic, and further suggest that it might be prudent to listen to them (I should clarify that I am referring to Zippy in the comments, not the author of the post itself). The main point of his argument is that when I refer to the bishops’ “teaching” on gun control, I am in error, for there is “no magisterial teaching on gun control”.
Why We Should Listen to the Bishops
June 30, 2008
81 Comments | 
America, Bishops, Culture of Life, Gun Control, USCCB, Violence, War and Peace, war | 
Permalink
Posted by Morning's Minion
Electing not to vote?
June 30, 2008Great post today, M.Z., which gives some perspective on the positions of various VN contributors in the face of continuing accusations from around the Catholic blogosphere. I did want to clarify one thing, though:
Henry Karlson, Michael Iafrate (Catholic Anarchist) and Policraticus have clearly stated they aren’t supporting the two major party candidates.
Just to be clear, I have not defined my intentions as clearly as, say, Policraticus. I am not supporting either candidate in the sense that I will not endorse either one of them. This does not necessarily mean that, when push comes to shove, I will not vote for one of them, or for a third party candidate. I have said, and I still believe, that not voting is a valid position for a Catholic, especially for those of us concerned about the pseudo-religious insistence on the “duty to vote” for whatever reason (usually the romanticized “self-sacrifice” of soldiers). Had Clinton won the Democratic nomiation, I was firmly committed to abstain from the absurdity that that lineup would have represented.
But I am not, nor have I ever been, an absolutist when it comes to voting. I find both positions problematic: to insist one has a duty to vote or to insist that Christians may never vote is to elevate voting to a level of importance that it does not deserve. Indeed, voting is mostly just a game. Rhetoric of “change” is simply that: rhetoric. As the saying (sometimes attributed to Phillip Berrigan) goes, if voting could really change anything, they would make it illegal.
25 Comments | Abortion, America, Anarchism, Culture of Death, Election, Michael Iafrate, Politics, The State, Violence, Voting, Vox Nova, War and Peace | Permalink
Posted by Michael J. Iafrate
Beginning the Politics of Fear
June 30, 2008Courtesy of Joe Lieberman. When your pal is trailing in the polls, resort to scare tactics.
22 Comments | Election, Policraticus, Politics | Permalink
Posted by Policraticus
This Fourth of July Weekend: No Separation Between Temple and State
June 30, 2008Buddhist Temple on the National Mall:
So, it seems there is to be no wall of separation between temple and state. Only between the church and state.
17 Comments | Culture, Dialogue, Henry Karlson, The State | Permalink
Posted by Henry Karlson
Consistency in Ad Hominen Dismissals
June 30, 2008A) Bunch of aging hippies and
B) Bunch of know nothing aspiring academics
are not consistent.
Ideological blindness often keeps people from recognizing that the typical writer on this blog is younger. Such should be obvious from the lack of discretion often shown in entering particular arguments. I believe the median age on this blog is close to 30. Going through Gerald Campbell’s bio, I’m guessing he is the senior member of the blog and a bit of an outlier age-wise.
Since these things come up from time to time, I figure it would be a good time to review some things for the casual reader. The pelvic issues as some label them don’t come up all that much on this blog. There have been about 45 posts with divorce in them and 25 or so posts addressing gay marriage. Most of those are tangential treatments. I’m not aware of any issues over the Church’s teaching over contraception. Abortion has been addressed in 220 posts and is certainly the most contentious issue on the blog. All contributors agree that the legal sanction of abortion is an abomination. Several contributors believe that correcting this abomination through law is unachievable as society is presently constituted, and therefore a wider approach needs to be taken toward evaluating the efficacy of any candidate’s approach to abortion. In other words, the reduction of incidence of abortion should take precedence over attempts to limit the scope of legal abortion given societal realities at this time. I and other contributors do not find this sufficient, but I also don’t feel the need to reiterate my previous arguments on every occasion I’m given the opportunity.
From what I understand, I and Gerald Campbell are the only ones to have endorsed Obama for President. Henry Karlson, Michael Iafrate (Catholic Anarchist) and Policraticus have clearly stated they aren’t supporting the two major party candidates. Although he hasn’t formalized it, I’m pretty sure Jonathan Jones will be endorsing McCain. I don’t anticipate Blackadder will be endorsing Obama, and likewise I don’t anticipate Mornings Minion endorsing McCain. RCM and Katerina haven’t declared to the best of my knowledge. My memory simply fails on who the other contributors are considering, if they are considering anyone.
117 Comments | Uncategorized | Permalink
Posted by M.Z.
Talk By Michael Sean Winters
June 30, 2008Michael Sean Winters, author of “Left At the Altar: How the Democrats Lost the Catholics and How the Catholics Can Save the Democrats,” will be speaking at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington DC this Tuesday. The talk, including a book signing, will take place in the North Conference Room (enter through the garage) at 7pm on Tuesday, July 1. I know nothing about the book, but it–and the talk– promise to be fascinating. Winters blogs over at America magazine. See this entry on his book, and the related Washington Post story. If you are in the area, come on by! And say hello to me!!
12 Comments | Morning's Minion, Politics | Permalink
Posted by Morning's Minion
