Safe Haven

Perhaps spiritual progress is actually measured by what you do when you realize, "Hey, this is real!" Prior to that moment, or, we might say, the ever more conscious appreciation of that reality, we will have done numerous spiritual practices, either out of duty, or out of some small awareness of faith or hope. But once the lights come on, so to speak, we do those things with the desire that our love would increase. Such is the prayer that is always answered. I could have leapt on the altar today. What an impious scene that would be! I didn't leave my apartment that way. There's just something about Jesus, as they say. I can hear him, almost as if he's talking, in the Gospels this week. As Jesus approaches Jerusalem anew in a sense, we are reminded that there is no middle ground. We either have ears to hear, or we don't. Lord, give us as much love as we are able to receive, and give us grace to receive more. Amen.

There's a song I love by that name. Bruce Robison wrote it; it's a song about the heartbreak and loss of a divorce. It's quite possibly the saddest song I've ever heard. But it has a humorous second life for me, sort of teasing somebody who really should lighten up. You just sing the last line of the chorus, in the general direction of the sourpuss: "I don't know why you gotta be/Angry all the time." (This is definitely another one of those country songs Confirmation Sponsor Guy should listen to, and appreciate.) Country superstar Tim McGraw recorded the song as well, but his voice is too clean to really make you believe him. Bruce Robison sounds like he's been crushed by life, and that's what you need for a song like this. Kelly Willis sings the background vocals, and you can almost believe she is the wife. Truly haunting stuff. Anyway, I've alternately wanted to sing the last line of the chorus in the general direction of the angry electo...

I remember the day Jesus called out to me from the altar. It is possible in theory to believe that every attempt to celebrate the Supper is a valid and equally fruitful one, at least until Jesus, in a Catholic church, tells you in fact you are wrong. But that's another story. A non-practicing Catholic friend has gone to Mass with me the past several days. How bad is our catechesis? Well, when the Church's children think that the state of grace and keeping the commandments is something only priests and nuns do, we have a problem. More than that, though, who is Jesus? To our great detriment, it is possible to know exactly who Jesus is, and why that's important, but make a gravely sinful choice, from weakness or other fault. Yet it must be said that knowing who Jesus is--having faith, in other words--makes everything easier. My brethren, why do we start with the stuff that doesn't matter? The first and best answer to the question, "Why do you do what you do?...

I realize every time I see Dr. Bryan Cross interacting on the internet about some papal statement or document, whether I agree with Dr. Cross's analysis or not, there is a very good chance that I do not understand all the nuances of whatever has been said. That is to say, there are 3 things that go into apprehending whatever is being said: 1. The true teachings of the Catholic Church on any matter touching faith and morals (to which the universal catechism provides the most ready access for even the educated layperson) 2. The specific context into which the pope is speaking, and the purpose for which he has spoken and 3. The judgments of prudence which led to the pastoral decision to speak, rather than not. I have a Master's degree in Catholic theology; if anyone should at least begin to say that he could speak intelligently in interpreting Pope Francis, it would be someone like me. The reality is this, however: I can't remember the last time I could say that I understood...

I heard my three favorite words in combination yesterday. No, not those three! But as I reflected a little more on the mystery of Christ, and his goodness to us in the gospel, I realized that "I absolve you..." means the same thing as "I love you." I think about the possibility of just going through the motions as a Catholic, and strangely, all I can do is laugh at the mercy of God. Once you understand the story of redemption, there is nothing mechanical about our sacramental system! I think it means that the true work of evangelization is to teach the biblical story. Once people understand at a heart level what the basic message of the Bible is, everything the Catholic Church teaches and does makes too much sense. Just think: the age of the Church is by definition the outworking of the blessings of the New Covenant! They already know the rules, to some extent. They think they know what "Catholic guilt" is. Who forgot to teach them about Catholic love?...

Even if every single person in the GOP leadership is a craven, unprincipled, lying hack, (I don't believe this, but stay with me) who rolls over to get their belly-rubs from Obama, the answer is not Trump. Do your best to convince me that this is not the stupidest campaign in the history of the country; you won't. I kept waiting for some sense of normal, some personal thought of, "This is a real campaign, that I could see myself supporting." It never came, because there is nothing there. Nothing.  We have reached the point where winking and nodding at fringe theories and websites becomes dangerous, not because they are wrong, though they are, but that the people who consume them are so consumed by rage that they can't reason. At all. The lesson for the much-maligned establishment is this: you cannot control mindless rage. The lesson for the rest of the alleged conservative movement is that anger is not always morally appropriate, and the people are not always righ...

If this is the end for him, I wanted people to know all along why I have so vocally supported him. Firstly, and most importantly, he's completely pro-life/anti-abortion. It took a tremendous amount of guts to go on 60 Minutes and other places and say he didn't believe in exceptions, because that's a person we kill, and there is no "sweet spot," morally or otherwise, in that case. Secondly, I think that, if we as a party have decided that the minimum wage cannot or should not be raised (which I believe is morally dubious, mind you) the only thing close to a defensible compromise position would be tax credits aimed right at married families, and that's what Rubio has suggested. Senator Paul may be right that it will be very expensive. Ideologues may well be correct that it's a clever redistribution tool, to give money to people who haven't paid it in taxes. Well, yes. If the economic hazards of the marginal working-class are such that emerging from it ...

Why do Catholics support a strip-club owner for president? Because they are Catholics in mortal sin, that's why. It's the same reason why they feel they can support pro-abortion politicians in the Democratic Party, though that plainly violates our principles governing the dignity of human person. We see a lot of immorality, on a range of issues, precisely because Catholics don't think or live like Catholics. Granted, if we did, the Republican Party might be more centrist on economic issues. But for all we know, the GOP might have become the abortion party. The reason it didn't is because white Protestants realized that the Catholic Church had been right on abortion all along. Ask the much smaller percentage of Catholics who attend Mass at least once a week for whom they intend to vote. To paraphrase Saturday Night Live, the answer sounds like a Miami law firm.

It's often hard to be contemplative right in the moment of receiving Holy Communion. I need the moments after, and even then, my ability to focus is questionable. But it means something that He wants to be with me, and I with him. I tell him every day that I am not worthy to have him come under my roof, and yet he does. Suppose we are all Zaccheus, hoping to catch a glimpse, but Jesus wants to stay for dinner. I think we have no idea the love waiting for us. When you put it in a biblical metaphor, you get "wedding" or "endless party." That tells me that we lack the ability to describe the joy that awaits, as if youthful revelry is a pale shadow of what we're made for. It fits. The most fun I've had the last 5 years is in celebrating the chance to receive the sacraments. Those sacraments are pledges of the future glory.

Entrepreneur Bob was tired. It's not the sort of day you skip to the park with a picnic lunch. Cloudy and cold, it seemed as if the seasons have been arguing over whose turn it is. We didn't talk much, and that was fine by us. When we got to Mass, I thought I could actually sense the angels during the consecration. As I approached for Holy Communion, I saw a whole row of old people. I let them go first. What a sight we must have been! Like the poor invited to the rich man's feast, because his honored guests were too good to come. I don't have much to give you, Lord, but I heard there was a banquet.

A friend gave a talk on the Eucharist last night. There were many interesting and informative aspects, but I realized--as I sat there unexpectedly moved by the love of God--that I wanted the Eucharist. And perhaps more than receiving Him in Holy Communion, I was thankful that the Sacrifice of the Mass is offered so widely. For it is the sacrifice of Calvary, re-presented. It's not repeated; it's offered so that we may stand at the foot of the cross, offering our love and all that we are as best we can. It may be the last two coins we have, so to speak, but we will offer them. "For they offer it for themselves, and all who are dear to them, in hope of health and well-being." I understand why the priest says this. Our small gifts given to God rain down blessings upon everyone we know. It simply must be the Sacrifice of the Mass Our Lord was thinking of when he said, "After I am lifted up, I will draw all men to myself." I must continually improve my dispos...

If I said I was "concerned," that would be an understatement. I had trouble focusing during Mass today. I'm deeply convinced that we should all pay attention to the political process, and participate with fully-formed Catholic consciences. And in that, I forcefully reject any notion of making the perfect the enemy of the good. I gave the Lord every feeling of agitation and anger. I have to surrender. I have to trust. And I am. In that, I will grow. I may regard the advice to look for virtue elsewhere than in this sphere as nothing more than pious nonsense that shifts responsibility in the face of unreason, but perhaps people who say this are just tired. I'm tired, too. But He's there. He lifts me up when I don't want to go on. He reminds me that he's not going anywhere. I remember his voice on the day his vicar decided it was time to go. He spoke to me in the silence. That was the day I realized I was a child, and God the Father was my father. I was ...

There has to be a basic, "Don't vote for a fascist" clause, right? Clinton and Word-Salad both love abortion. They both will leave the redefinition of marriage in place, praising it all the while. Mrs. Clinton appears to have committed a whole series of felonies...and she'd still be the better choice. This guy only understands whatever pleases him. We'd be lucky not to die by a nuclear weapon launched by him or at him. I fear for the well-being of every person of color in this country, unless they happen to serve Mr. Trump his food and drink. I'm abstaining in the event of a Trump nomination. That is, unless explicitly instructed otherwise by ecclesiastical authorities.

I'm going to keep this one simple, because firstly, I am not all that smart, and secondly, the moral contours of the basic question are not in themselves complicated. Here we go: The Catechism of the Catholic Church states in paragraph 2406: "Political authority has the right and duty to regulate the legitimate exercise of the right to ownership for the sake of the common good." "The common good" is defined as, "the sum of those conditions of social life which allow social groups and their individual members relatively thorough and ready access to their own fulfillment." The above definitions presuppose that the common good and the right of ownership exist. CCC, 2406 also suggests but does not specify that there could be a right to ownership that is illegitimate. Therefore, political authority acts justly, prima facie, when it acts to secure relatively thorough and ready access to temporal goods, because that physical well-being, as an expressi...

Donald Trump may simply be a vicious, self-interested, ignorant buffoon, but it's about more than just him; it's about the resentment and hate that he's uncovering. Do you want to put your name on a party that puts his name on their brand? I'm not sure I can. In fact, I know I can't. If we don't beat him, and sanity doesn't eventually prevail, I'm leaving the Republican Party. I'm still ideologically whatever I am, but I don't want to have to explain why I did nothing, while evil triumphed. Lincoln wouldn't stay. Reagan wouldn't. And I can't. Call it sanctimony if you will, but I can't chase the votes of angry, disaffected blue-collar whites with a wink, either. Losing with your dignity is better than selling your soul to win. I definitely respect those folks who--on account of abortion and euthanasia--will do their duty, and vote against Clinton or Sanders. We're Catholics, after all. I just can't vote for the man. Fo...

Ever since I was 21 or so, I self-identified as a political conservative, and a Republican. A reasonable person could easily argue that I came by it a little emotionally, and not by reason. A big part of it was simply wanting to hear an opposing view, unwilling to concede as a starting point that "liberals" are more intelligent, more informed, more compassionate than everyone else. I maintain a visceral distaste for smugness, though of course I am a hypocrite. I can be very unfair if I don't like someone, or some thing. Anyway, the most basic question concerns the goodness of government as such. If governments of people hold power because those under its influence lack the force to overthrow it, or the willingness, one should say that that government is a permissible evil. Short of that position are countless others, advocating for more or less intervention according to preference. These are the questions that have altered the moral landscape for me. They now require ...

I think we're going to see a Rubio wave. 6 or 7 wins would not be crazy. He will be the clear second choice at the very worst, and the pressure on Ted Cruz will be immense. He will have to decide how long staying in the race will help the party. The media will be at least a week behind the new reality, and this benefits them, because "Actual Electorate, Now Paying Attention, Finds Broadly Acceptable Nominee" is way less interesting than, "Rubio Rises From The Dead." Marco Rubio will be the Republican nominee for president of the United States of America.

Some things are worth doing, even if you feel like dirt. Because you're not dirt, metaphysically anyway, and you are loved, even if you don't believe it. Even if you act like you don't want it, you do. God knows this, which is why we're always drowning in mercy. Go on. Go toward the love. Even if you hate yourself, go on, because your shame is the enemy's tool for keeping you away from God. I sat there, realizing that I didn't want to go to Mass. I was ashamed to go. Entrepreneur Bob couldn't make it, and so I could have stayed home. No one would have minded, and a scarce few would have noticed. But I said to myself, "I don't stop doing what I always do, simply because I made a mistake." Sins, which in the grand tapestry of God's covenant mercy will be forgotten, cannot separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We may indeed have to decide what that means to us, but when all is made manifest, no one will be able to deny it.

Just recently, I said here we should bring back the moralists in politics. By that, I meant that politics is both worthy and compelling to people when the relevant discussions are cast in moral terms. A possible danger is that we are all emotivists, motivated and polarized by feelings into tribes that never disarm, and never cooperate. Our polarization is quite in evidence. But empathy and civility are not simply desirable, and affectations for gaining power; they are tools to till the discussion space for a constructive moral discussion. Then yesterday, a man named Matthew Continenti (sp?) argued that America's conservative party has abandoned the realm of moral argument entirely. I think he's right, and I hope it doesn't stay that way. When he asked, "Where are the moralists?" I said to myself, "Here I am; send me!" That moral case cannot be made up of issue positions like badges of tribal loyalty, but a comprehensive case that arises out of a cohere...

We know that the Holy Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, if indeed by faith and baptism we have been born again, for that is what God said through St. Paul and St. John, recorded in the Scriptures. But have you ever been afraid? And more than afraid of our failures or a bad outcome, but the sort of fear that doubts the love of God. If you have, you're not alone. Here is the good news: we contemplate the fatherhood of God, because only His love can free us from our wounds, our mistrust, and our pride. We could be misled, through terrible experiences and bad examples, about what it means to call the Father "Daddy." It could ever only be an analogy, because of our limitations. Nevertheless, if we have ever known a true father's love, or at least hoped for it, we know the Father loves us more. Infinitely so, but not less. What chains would fall off if we could trust Him? At the least to say, "I don't trust You as I should, b...