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by Fr. Paul Scalia Other Articles by Fr. Paul Scalia Truth or Consequences 08/26/06 Our Lord’s beautiful Bread of Life discourse does not end on a happy note. In response to His teaching, many “of [His] disciples who were listening said, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it?’” (Jn 6:60). It is the only instance in the Gospels of people rejecting our Lord’s teaching in such large numbers. “Many of His disciples returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied Him” (Jn 6:66). They left because they could not accept our Lord’s teaching on the Eucharist. More...

When leftists start caterwauling about civility, it reminds me of when my kids were young. When my daughter Anna was 5 and my son, Jonathan was 4, World War III broke out in our household at least once a day. Anna’s modus operandi, as she explained it to her grandfather, was: "I hit Jonathan. He hits me. Then I tell Mommy." In essence, that’s the leftists’ civility scam: They hit us. We hit back. Then their media lap dogs begin howling about incivility and yapping about the decline of gentility in the political debate (which, if I’m not mistaken, started...

PROPOSALS INVITED TOWARD A MORE CIVIL DISCOURSE RE RELIGIOUS FIGURES AT ODDS WITH VARIOUS SENSIBILITIES The current thread regarding Pat Robertson is but the latest in a long tradition of certain flavors of evangelical Christian and particularly Pentecostal/Charismatic religious figures being thoroughly shredded by what--90% or more of the posts--usually in the harshest, most hostile, even demonizing wording possible. It seems that when folks are perceived to be in such Pentecostal/charismatic categories, all bets are off, no holds barred--the most viscious attacks are the minimal Standard Operating Procedure. Instead of exhorting one another in Christian Love, the worst attitudes normally...

Is America Still Red Vs. Blue, or Purpler? By ERIN McCLAM, AP National Writer1 hour, 41 minutes ago Dial back to a year or so ago, to the wrenching, vicious, partisan escapade that was Campaign 2004, to a time when we were told by a thousand pundits that America was deeply, hopelessly divided. And it felt that way: Family dinners became shouting matches. Bush and Kerry signs were snatched from yards. Blue and red were at war. But 12 months have passed since then, ample time for the nation to relearn the principles of civil discourse. We have had time...

While some ends may justify some means, in very extreme circumstances, it is still unavoidable that the means we choose will inevitably also transform, to some extent, the ends we achieve. So, personally, I normally overwhelmingly prefer civil means and civil discourse to their uncivil twins. For the United States, similarly, I believe civil means and civil discourse has served us most well in building a peaceful, prosperous union. I have faith that most of the American people feel likewise. A recent poll, from Democrat electoral consultants Democracy Corps, shows a stable attachment to Republicans since 2004 (43 percent), but...

Up to the Challenge A CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll released after last night’s speech by President Bush shows a very positive response to his message. 74 percent had a “positive reaction” to Bush’s speech. 63 percent now feel Bush has a “clear path” for Iraq, compared to 56 percent before the speech.

Here's the link to an inevitable, IMO, attack on President Bush's Yalta comments from an insignificant wannabe "journalist" seeking some modicum of relevance in a world that has left him behind: http://www.lmtribune.com/05102005/opinions/254342.php

COSTA MESA – Singer Don Henley drew a chorus of boos from fans at the Pacific Amphitheatre after he made several political comments between songs during his concert Thursday night, becoming the latest performer to elicit such a negative reaction ... Henley, referring to that incident Thursday night, began a sentence with, "Given what my good friend Linda Ronstadt ," but was silenced as the amphitheatre erupted in boos. He responded: "Whoops - Orange County," adding, "We used to be able to have civil debate in this country Not anymore." ... Henley then suggested his next song could be a...

“We have been too nice. We have been too polite”. So says long time DNC strategist Ann Lewis in talking about the lack of a coherent message to run against the Democrats personal devil, George W. Bush. Lewis and the DNC, who post a weblog titled “kicking ass” on the home page of the DNC website as something to be proud of, are just part of a surging liberal enterprise clawing its way to the forefront of the American political scene. Feeling minimized and unheard, the strident liberalism of the late 1960’s is reborn today with a vengeance. The resurgence...

I think I know why so many liberals hate Ann Coulter. She plays by their rules Ann is a friend of mine, an occasional drinking buddy, and frequent guest on my radio show. She was kind enough to acknowledge me at the beginning of her latest bestseller. I knew her back when she was hated by only a lot of liberals, not all of them. So, it's been fun watching Boulder's reaction to her recent performance at the University of Colorado. I was in the packed house at Macky Auditorium and heard her message that the war against terrorists is...