Free Republic

Okay, I agree.

However, there is a good argument to be made that any undergraduate major should be concentrated in science or engineering.

The really intelligent students will have no problem with the math, and those who wish to obtain a B.A. would have the option of pursuing a real liberal arts education on top of all the hard science.

I discern and understand what you say, Father.

If a Catholic dines with Masons, and comports socially with Odd Fellows, and goes fishing camping and hunting with both sorts, carrying the appearance of impropriety but not ever engaging to initiatory conjugation with them, does then a Catholic require the script of a Bishop to declare an objective lack of disloyalty?

I know, it sounds like a devil’s question, Father. But I am a lawyer, not a. . . (memento Domine, familulorem, famulrarumque tutarum et omnium circumstantium. . . ).

Jesus offered the water of life to the Samaritan woman (and her “husband”) in John 4. I acknowledge that we now cannot call up Jesus on Skype to obtain a quick objective judgment.

To wit, Father: If the former “husband” from an obviously invalid saecular “marriage” is a remorseless killer, feared by all, and objective judgment and a Bishop’s signature on an annulment must be obtained to remove a legalistic impediment, and due process requires the consent of the of violent former “spouse,” could a Bishop perhaps grant a special dispensation? Perhaps only the Bishop of Rome?

Dominus vobiscum.

Sometimes a sarcasm disclaimer actually saves a few moments. I appreciate your thoughts, and I thank you.

I would like to delve still deeper into this area of controversy, though not for reasons involved in any of your examples.

I agree with you.

It is my understanding regarding Cann. 1055-1165, an invalid marriage is null ab initio. The formal annulment process merely provides a canonical certification of such nullity.

So if a previous marriage is null ab initio, why must, in every case, a lack of certification thereto impede the valid marriage covenant?

More recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor are from Pueblo than anywhere else. President Eisenhower suggested that there was something in the water there which promotes valor.

There’s a museum for those heroes, along with larger-than-life bronze statues, at the Convention Center there. Every one of those men still live today, I believe.

Other effective tools in the WOD would involve eliminating the entire 5th Amendment, the 6th Amendment, and the 8th Amendment. Too many protections there for drug dealers. We just know that they are usually guilty anyway, so why not eliminate all of the costly formalities?

Also, eliminating the 3rd Amendment and quartering troops in private houses would be quite an effective deterrent against drug dealers.

Only Libs would be against such reasonable, common-sense measures to control the scourge of drug dealers.

This has been the country’s oldest and grandest parade, even ante-dating the Declaration of Independence. It really is not a parade, though, in the strict military (formal British) sense of the word. It is more correctly described as a religious procession.

Now the times, and the semantics, have changed. The current tax-exempt status of the event seems to open the “back door” for the homosexual activists to crash the party. If it is a public religious procession, then the homosexual inclusion trumpets blasphemy.

If the parade becomes a private religious procession, however, it will surrender its tax-exempt status and likely lose much public and municipal support. As a private event, though, I think that any blasphemous elements could be excluded.

I do not think it would be wise to eliminate tenure for professors ordinary. Any academic discipline which requires critical thinking is subject to critique from political enemies, and tenure protects the liberty of thought and expression necessary for sound intellectual inquiry and discourse.

As for professors extraordinary, or Adjunct Faculty as they are called today, this article makes an important point: they are willing to trade their skills for pittances, and they are free to do so. Such practice is a tremendous disservice to their own worth and self-interest.

In an age when the half-witted opinions of actors and salesmen effectively control public discourse, when Chuck Norris and Ted Nugent have become our Professors of History, Philosophy, and Law, why should anyone want to become a professional teacher?

Would it not be much better for these self-sacrificial post-doctorate losers to “go Galt,” and drive truck, or scrub toilets, hoarding entirely to themselves that which Voltaire called the “sweet smile of reason?”

These recent dialogues regarding Reverend Victoria Osteen and her little husband have really become quite thought-provoking, Amen?

My lovely wife watches the Osteens’ self-love TV program, as well as Andy Stanley and his father, Dr. Charles Stanley. She and I also do attend the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, Amen?

I much prefer the Latin Mass, perhaps because I am an over-educated conservative reactionary elitist. However, I can drink deeply of what Dr. Charles Stanley preaches. I can also appreciate what Andy Stanley teaches. I consider them Christian psychologists, though, but truly bible-based, Amen?

Victoria Osteen studied some Psychology, but never even graduated from college. Joel Osteen has no formal theological or even philosophical training. There seems to be no veritas, no gravitas, and no spiritual substance to what they say.

I simply cannot respect the Osteens’ presumptuous authority to tell me about the Gospel or the Lord, Amen?

“They” will simply and legally render virtually all owners or possessors of virtually all firearms instant felons, just like in New York.

I know there’s that semantic stumbling block of “convicted” in the Sheriff’s statement, but such Constitutional protections of criminals seem to be falling ever more out of favor lately.

Don’t believe me? Look at any thread on this forum mentioning “Amish,” “Youth,” “Gentle Giants,” “Death Penalty,” et cetera. No “innocent,” little “proven,” but plenty of “guilty.” As that way of thinking becomes increasingly normal on the left as well as the right, we’ll see an increase in strict-liability instant felons.

Ere any court convenes, criminals are condemned.

Instant felons, such as those in New York, are technically FELONS even without formal convictions. I support this Sheriff but it’s been a warm summer, and there are various fevers going around.

I would never dare criticize learned theologians such as Victoria Osteen. Her education speaks for itself, and her erudite biblical exegeses have obviously won many converts to the gospel. Reverend Osteen courageously teaches the difficult mysteries of faith, even when such truths are bitter or unpopular.

You teach that Jesus is a creature? I was not aware that theologians of Protestant denominations have eliminated the Nicene Creed. When did that happen?

“Begotten, not made, one in being with the Father. . . through Him all things were made.”

Thank you for posting. I feel a fraternity with St. Augustine for many reasons, and my Mother does share a like kindred with St. Monica.

Is Augustine so different from the man described in Luke 15:11-32? As Tolkien affirmed, though in some other context perhaps, “all who wander are not lost.”

Spirant in me spiritum sanctum, ut omnes cogitationes sanctas. Fac in me O Spiritus Sanctus, hoc opus, etiam ut sint Sancta sanctorum. Eripe me O Spiritus Sanctus, quam sancta, quam amare. Confirma me, O Spiritus Sanctus, et quod omne sanctum defendere. Custodi me, O Spiritus Sanctus, sanctus, quod sit semper. Amen.

Perhaps you are correct. Time to review Professor Philip Hamburger’s new book “Is Administrative Law Unlawful?”

The prospect of eliminating most or all of those bloated government welfare programs, with the concomitant reduction of costs in administering those programs, seems appealing at first glance.

The promise of increased personal responsibility, both for former welfare recipients as well as for former agency employees, hints at beneficial outcomes in market dynamics.

Tim Tebow had every opportunity that John Elway had, but it’s too bad that he blew it.

At least John Elway made sure that Tebow received over ten years of high-level coaching, training and development just like he did. And, at least now we see Elway praying in public, quoting the Bible, starting his own Christian foundation, and doing acts of charity for kids.

Er, um, rather. . . yeah. Right.

“The characters are outstanding - and one of the most powerful moments I’ve ever seen in any TV series is in one of those episodes.”

Season 1, Episode 13 “Heart of Gold.” The scene where Inara breaks down sobbing following Mal’s night with Nandi in the brothel.

To me it means the perfection of European civilization prior to the first world war.

Well, actually you do get mentions of other things sacred, such as: Jesus; God; Christianity; Love; sacrificial self-giving; Catholic and apostolic faith; the Cross; the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass; the Eucharist; the Church; the kingship of Christ; St. Margaret Mary; prayer, and missionary activity.

The author did, however, leave out J.S. Bach’s ‘Toccata and Fugue in d minor’, and W.A. Mozart’s ‘Requiem.’

Well, no technique seems to be effective in quelling these riots. The heavy hand seems resented by the community, and has been condemned by the highest offices in the land. The kid gloves of the State Patrol are used to slap them right back in the face. Wrangling the journalists smacks of tyranny.

For the authorities to restore order in Ferguson would require the earnest implementation of. . . authority. However, that is the one thing that has (incredibly) been made implausible by the anti-authoritarian propaganda matrix in this historical event. It’s like some kind of double-reverse psychology in action.

So, I reckon that the optimal answer is that the authorities should not attempt to restore order in Ferguson. Let the looters and destruction and violence continue to occur under cover of “peaceful protests.” The authorities really have no duty to protect persons or property, and it appears that in any instance where they attempt to do so the DOJ will find a Section 1983 Civil Rights violation.

Many of the good people and families of Ferguson are going to have to leave sooner rather than later, if they are able to do so.