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 ...
Oh my gosh, they walk around the house here at night in the city, my gosh what a smell.
It took three tomato juice baths before he was tolerable again. And he was not welcome on anything that had fabric for a week.
Eeek! This reminds me of an occasion when my grandmother had a possum eating the food she put out for her outdoor cats. My uncle put a live trap out for her, and caught a mother skunk and several babies!
Somehow, he managed to deport them all out to the farm without being sprayed.
There are many small patches of woods and wild lands that are just big enough to support a surprising amount of wild life in the heart of the city.
We don’t usually get skunks in our subdivision, but they’re common on the roads around this time of year.
Gol-lee it’s hot in here in the afternoons! The orchids love it, and Wednesday is basking, but I’m going to have to turn the AC on if we get more than a couple of 90+ days at this point.
When I lived in Texas, the weather was so mild most of the time that I always kept my bedroom window open just a little.
Since we were on the edge of the wild, we had raccoons testing our aptitude in garbage can security, snakes checking to see if our screen doors really had a seal, and skunks to remind us that we are NOT all powerful!
Thanks! I like them, but I’ve always been afraid to lose one in the wall, like my sister’s kids did. I guess I was lucky my kids never had a desire to own one....:o|
Gerbils don’t mind being in a cage - especially if there’s a cat “out there.” It’s the kids who lose them!
Ah. My son was a a cat person, until he got off on his own. My daughter was never one much for critters, but she now has a cat (toothless) and a “dog.”
I’ve told my kids they can have whatever pets they want (with approval of their landlord!) when they leave home. Since Anoreth is thinking of the military, I’m emphasizing that it’s easier to find someone to take a mouse or fish, when you move, than a cat or dog!
You may want to remind them, too, that cats and dogs often require large pet deposits to be paid in order to get into most places these days. Here, it’s $200 per pet, and the pet has to weigh 20 pounds or less and be no more than 20” high.
Yes, one reason we bought our first house was because we kept having to pay “cat bribes” for Agnes!
It used to be that a letter from a doctor saying the pet was for health reasons (high blood pressure or heart disease) would waive the deposit, but not any more. Unless it’s a “service animal,” the deposit has to be paid.
I can understand to a certain extent, but....I’ve seen some adults who were a lot harder on a house/apartment than any animal ever could have been.
I gotta go, kiddies. Take care y’all!
| You Are 76% Texas |
 |
I defy definition.
So you’re a Texas Transplant?
Got here as fast as I could.
Neither do I. Because I'm one of the 95% of Seattleites who don't even have it. I love this climate...
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