I think of myself as a fairly jaundiced academic, unlikely to be taken aback by shrill, politically correct rhetoric. But I guess I’m wrong, because the crude pronouncements of Robert Orsi, holder of the Grace Craddock Nagle Chair in Catholic Studies at Northwestern University, shocked me. . . . . Continue Reading »
In a new twist on the “drag your wife out to your public confession of adultery” meme, televangelist Marcus Lamb has his wife confess his adultery for him:The confession was apparently prompted to preempt extortionists who were threatening to break the news unless Lamb coughed up $7.5 . . . . Continue Reading »
Along with his other dilemmas, Pope Benedict is also said to have a “genetically modified crop dilemma.” As New Scientist explained editorially: In a statement condemning opposition to GM [genetically modified] crops in rich countries as unjustified, a group of scientists including . . . . Continue Reading »
This is the Dutch in a nutshell: If it is “transparent,” then it is okay. That opens the door to a lot of wickedness. Take infanticide. Dutch doctors kill babies born with terminal and disabling conditions. But rather than being ashamed, some are apparently proud because it . . . . Continue Reading »
A young friend writes: My soon-to-be-wife has expressed to me her frustration that, in most literature she has read, babies always seem to be portrayed as burdens, or at least they focus on the unpleasant experiences of caring for babies. She wishes she could find some “happy baby . . . . Continue Reading »
The following items are crossposted at Notes from a Byzantine-Rite Calvinist: The December issue of National Geographic Magazine carries an article, Kings of Controversy, exploring the debate over whether a united Israelite kingdom under David and Solomon ever existed or whether an overly fertile . . . . Continue Reading »
“It seems to me that at its root, Protestantism is a denial of the authority of the Church,” wrote a young Protestant friend (one apparently attracted to the Catholic Church) in an e-mail discussion. “I know that it’s couched in terms of . . . . Continue Reading »
MoJ’s Rob Vischer uses this story about the culture of marital infidelity in Russia to raise questions about the relationship between law and cultural norms in maintaining general public adherence to the practices constitutive of healthy family life. Do not laws, he seems to ask, that are . . . . Continue Reading »
The following is a transcript of part two of Gayle Trotter’s podcast interview with Ginger Pape, author of Repotting: 10 Steps for Redesigning Your Life. Click here to listen to part two.Gayle: This is Gayle Trotter. I’m here speaking with Ginger Pape about her . . . . Continue Reading »
The fate of an Afghan imprisoned for converting to Christianity may be the subject of a meeting between General David Petraeus and President Karzai. The prosecutor says he and another convert face the death penalty or life imprisonment. Delaying having children leads to more stressful lives for men . . . . Continue Reading »
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