Posted on 04/13/2007 6:54:57 AM PDT by Frank Sheed
Two years into his reign, Pope Benedict XVI is finally poised to make a major mark on American Catholicism with a string of key bishop appointments and important decisions about the future of U.S. seminaries and bishops' involvement in politics.
Benedict's election on April 19, 2005, shook liberals and comforted conservatives who expected a doctrinal hard-liner. So far, they have found an easier hand - and someone who has not made the United States much of a priority.
When Benedict has gained attention, it has mostly been on the world stage, focusing on the re-Christianization of Europe, Islam and mending relations with Orthodox Christians. He also has stressed universal themes of faith and reason.
``The last two years have been much quieter years as far as the papacy is concerned because you have a very different personality'' than John Paul II, said Monsignor Robert Wister, chairman of the church history department at Seton Hall University's School of Theology.
``Many Americans were surprised - some happily, some disappointed - that he did not turn into the pit bull of dogma. He is taking a very pastoral approach, and I think people resonate very positively with that.''
Yet America's turn may be coming. At the top of the list is a looming generational shift among the nation's bishops, whose decisions at the local level greatly affect Catholics in the pews and can carry national weight. For instance, church leaders recently closed parishes in Boston and New York, while the St. Louis archbishop has clashed with a heavily Polish parish over control of its assets.
Key appointments are expected in New York, Baltimore and Detroit, where cardinals have reached retirement age - 75. And retirements or appointments are likely in at least seven other archdioceses...
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Having a nice Cessna Turbo Skylane or even an older Beechcraft Queen Air would be awfully nice too...
With the advances in ballistic recovery systems even for larger business jets, the probability of high speed dirt poisoning from engine failure is mitigated quite nicely.
You’ve obviously never been on Minnesota lakes during the 4th of July madness... ;-)
I’m hoping their offspring will eat their geriatric class... Maybe if we stopped feeding them, they’d turn on each other that much more quickly...
In that case...
Last Post? ;-)
Maybe as you see yourself. However, others see more of the real you than you realize. Obviously, Mr. Bear sees you as something to be cherished. So do I!
Nah...just slow...
Ok, amend that... at this point, I'm coming down with some serious "short timers" attitude.
LOL!
Reminds me of the military!
(I get that way when it’s time to move, only not quite so much any more. :o| )
Probably be slow all weekend...
Already a mad rush out of town on the local freeways. It’d be nice if everybody else left, and I could have SoCal to myself this weekend.
I've got my wife's laptop that I'll leave up and running until the 1st when I take back my Time-Warner modem and cable TV box. Then I'm pretty much off line unless the one or two hotel stops my Dad and I plan on making have free internet access.
Packing....Have fun with that!
Gotta go—another mission this morning. };o(
My son always asks, “If everyone leaves town on holidays, where do they go?” It makes sense in a twisted sort of way...
I’ll be here all weekend, too.
It sounds like you have it all under control. Half the battle is getting organized. Is your Dad with you now, or is he coming later?
Hang tough, rottie.
If it weren’t for men like you, other men would not be honored. I appreciate you and what you do.
{{{{{rottie}}}}}
Ah, yes, well, in my case, that would be the loss of about 15 pounds. :-0
I like the PAL-V, in concept; we’ll have to wait and see what reality makes of it. An unnamed bureaucrat somewhere doubtless has a spanner in their desk drawer with which to foul up the works.
Now, if we can find him in time, we can blast him before he can do any damage.
Obviously, my position is that bureaucrats ought to be listed as a game species.
I like the PAL-V concept and it's Earth-bound cousin the Carver. Seems to be a lot more feasible as a commuter solution than the Air-Scooter, Trek Aerospace's Sprintail, or the Moller Skycar.
Oh, yeah, absolutely. And, hey, ya gotta consider that, with yer average bureaucrat, it wouldn't matter which end you actually hung on the wall; nobody'd know the difference. Heck, you could hang BOTH ends and claim you'd bagged two.
We will too. It's Northwest Folklife time!
I’m going to try and get some more stuff sorted and into tubs on the patio in the morning, and after that, I’m going to veg out on movies for the rest of the weekend.
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