Papal pruning? A smaller but purer church may actually have more influence

WORLD ^ | 5/14/05 | Gene Edward Veith

[Campion]

Isn't Frank Sheed, like, dead?

He's not as dead as I am! :-)

[TAdams8591]

"American evangelicals, for all of their political activism, have not gone so far as to tell file clerks in Massachusetts to misplace the marriage records of gay couples, or a worker in an adoption agency to lose the application of homosexuals."

The Cardinal didn't say they should lose the paperwork, but that they should not process it and good for him!

[Frank Sheed]

"As a discussion lengthens, the probability of a comparison to Nazis or Hitler approaches one."

Mildy adapted from Wikipedia

[ninenot]

He won't be easily outwitted by liberals, no matter how intellectually superior they think they are.

First off, it's not likely one will find a liberal who is intellectually superior to B-16...

[St. Johann Tetzel]

OK, but in the case of Campion's Law, it would have to say,

:

"As a FR discussion lengthens, the probability of a libertarian or atheist FReeper comparing a Christian FReeper to al Qaeda or a Talibanic theocrat approaches one."

Doesn't quite meet my needs for a tagline...have to work on it some more.

[Frank Sheed]

Edmund, well done! Are you familiar with Henry Edward Cardinal Manning and his essays on Caesarism and Ultramontanism circa 1870? His arguments are just the ticket you need; they are masterfully done.

In sum, "Divus Caesar, Imperator et Summus Pontifex."

Kind regards,
Frank
Nisi Dominus Frustra!

[ninenot]

They didn't say what would happen to them if they did, however.

This is irresistable...

Dum deedle deedle deedle dum da-la-la (repeat)

Super-Cali-Fragilistic EX-COMM-U-NI-CA-TED!

When you are a heretic like little Fr. Reese was,

Then you find that Rome will put its special case of freeze-es

On your resume, and then you'll find that you-r cheese is,Dum deedle deedle deedle dum da-la-la (repeat)

[Frank Sheed]

"In long threads, the probability of a libertarian or atheist FReeper comparing a Christian to a proponent of al Qaeda or the Taliban approaches one."

[Petronski]

Super-Cali-Fragilistic EX-COMM-U-NI-CA-TED!

LOL

[ninenot]

The argument should not be about whether the Pope is a sovereign, or the religious affiliation of legislators.

This argument is about the nature of law.

Law which does not comport with (or which directly contradicts) moral law cannot be morally enforced. The moral obligation is what is at stake here, not a "religious allegiance."

Big difference.

[cyborg]

LOL!!!!!

[ninenot]

I expect a general persecution of Christians in the United States in my lifetime.

Do like I do: buy more ammo.

[Frank Sheed]

How dare you speak the Truth!

[ninenot]

Isn't Frank Sheed, like, dead?

He's not as dead as I am! :-)

Now, for crying out loud, we have "Who's Deader" contests.

[Campion]

Are you familiar with Henry Edward Cardinal Manning and his essays on Caesarism and Ultramontanism circa 1870?

I know who Cardinal Manning was, and some of his positions, but I have not read his writings.

Divus Caesar, Imperator et Summus Pontifex.

"Divine Caesar, Emperor and Supreme Pontiff", hmm.:-)

Have you ever read a rather remarkable American science fiction novel from the 1950's (of all things) entitled "A Canticle for Leibowitz"? It's a really rather profound meditation on these themes, against the backdrop of a post-Christian society drifting toward nuclear war.

Here's an excerpt:

He fingered the mound of faggots where the wooden martyr stood. That's where all of us are standing now, he thought. On the fat kindling of past sins. Mine, Adam's, Herod's, Judas's, Hannegan's, mine. Everybody's. Always culminates in the colossus of the State, somehow, drawing about itself the mantle of godhood, being struck down by wrath of Heaven. Why? We shouted it loudly enough -- God's to be obeyed by nations as by men. Caesar's to be God's policeman, not His plenipotentiary successor, nor His heir. To all ages, all peoples -- "Whoever exalts a race or a State or a particular form of State orthe depositories of power ... whoever raises these notions above their standard value and divinizes them to an idolatrous level, distorts and perverts an order of the world planned and created by God ..." Where had that come from? Eleventh Pius, he thought, without certainty -- eighteen centuries ago. But when Caesar got the means to destroy the world, wasn't he already divinized? Only by the consent of the people -- same rabble that shouted: "Nil habemus regem nisi Caesarem," when confronted by Him -- God incarnate, mocked and spat upon.

Sadly, the author of that beautiful Catholic book later left the Faith and took his own life.

[Campion]

Now, for crying out loud, we have "Who's Deader" contests.

Look, buddy, when there's a St. Ninenot, Priest and Martyr, on the calendar, then maybe you can play, too. Until then, it's just a bunch of sour grapes if ya ask me. ;-)

[Jim Noble]

also violating their oaths as doctors, which is to provide your patients information about with all options

Which oath is that?

I must have missed it.

[Frank Sheed]

Ah! Fascinating! We have no king but Caesar! No, I haven't read that. I'll have to make a note of it.

I mucked around with things like "Dune." I tended more to Russian classics rather than science fiction. Just got a new translation of the "Brothers Karamazov" I'm dying to delve into. I must see what he's done with the "Grand Inquisitor."

Frank

[Frank Sheed]

The Oath of Personal Injury Tort Avoidance!

[Alberta's Child]

You're absolutely right.