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 ...
See Ya Tulip!
I'm a bit tighter when it's coming out of my wallet and I'm making the decisions. (Or even when it's not; I once asked about my travel expenditures and was told I was the most frugal traveler in the company -- but then again, I wasn't in Sales & Marketing.)
It's photoediting software, with the capability of editing "RAW" images. Most digital cameras record photos in JPEG format but many digital SLR cameras can also record in RAW format -- the file contains exactly what the image sensor saw plus a whole lot of other information. In my case the wrong settings messed up the presented image horribly, and only by being able to go in and modify the settings in the RAW image file could I get a presentable image.
It's a great capability, but works only with Nikon cameras with RAW capability, and... costs $150. (And runs only on Windows; my main photo-processing machine is the Linux box.) I'm not making any money at this yet (the photoshoot is a freebie for a fellow parishioner), so $150 feels a bit steep.
Good Night!
Morning!
The Offspring are all bickering!
Good Morning, T-C!
Tomorrow will be better. You’ll get to visit with your cat.
Good point. Sometimes I forget we have a cat!
Time share pets. That could make a good business enterprise.
Morning Kids! Everyone survive the weekend?
I dreamed of you and your family last night, Chick. There were only four left at home, and you just moved into a HUGH house!
It was pretty confusing, but when you were getting ready to run, someone was trying to sell us both health insurance.
*sigh* I was never able to run fast enough to keep up to you and kept running out of breath when I tried to talk to you. LOL!
(I didn’t say it was a “great” dream...just a dream!)
Howdy, Bob.
I must have survived...I dreamed!
Did you get a lot of packing done over the weekend?
A ton. Literally. Now it looks like we may need a second Truck. Put some stuff up on Craig’s list in an attempt to get rid of a few things. Got a bad feeling about this though... (/Han Solo)
I dunno, DC...I kinda figured you’d need a second truck, and I don’t even know what you have. *snort*
The one thing to remember is that except for photos and personal papers, everything else is replaceable.
You’ll get it all worked out, I’m sure!
Morning, all. Overslept, now at work, and I have stuff to do.
Ungh...I overslept, too. If my phone hadn’t rung, I’d probably still be in bed. I’m up and moving, but “awake” is not exactly what I am. I think.
Maybe I'll have two cups of coffee this week.
I keep thinking I need to go back to bed. I’m sure not much good the way I am...
It made me want to go back to bed too. Portabello mushrooms are the be all and end all of existence? Why wasn't I told?
Oh, cool. “The Attack Of The Mushroom People.” Starring absolutely nobody.
Does this mean that Al Gore is hard at work again....?
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