Category Archives: politics

We are all the Secular Right now, but what does that mean?

This blog began in the fall of 2008 somewhat on a lark. This was during a period when the American Right was beholden in many ways to the Religious Right. By “many ways,” I mean more in symbolics and rhetoric … Continue reading

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Castro: The Pope and the Dictator

To Pope Francis, Castro’s death was “sad” news, kind words indeed from someone who the former dictator would once have described as “social scum”. Meanwhile, just two or three weeks ago the pontiff was being quoted favorably on Telesur (a … Continue reading

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Germany: “Everything about this mosque made me feel uneasy”

Cross-posted on the Corner: One obvious concern about Angela Merkel’s decision last year to, so to speak, throw open the doors to Germany was the obvious risk that potential jihadists were among those that she was  welcoming into the country. … Continue reading

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The God of War

Crux:  Ahead of his day trip to Assisi to participate in a World Day of Prayer for Peace, Pope Francis said that the gathering of women and men religious from around the world is not a “spectacle” but simply a … Continue reading

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Pope Francis: the Man with the Answers

Cross-posted on the Corner. AP: Pope Francis has encouraged Europeans to welcome refugees, calling authentic hospitality “our greatest security against hateful acts of terrorism.” Francis Saturday spoke to alumni of Jesuit schools in Europe who were in Rome for a … Continue reading

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Trump on God

CNN (from last year): “Well I say God is the ultimate. You know you look at this?” Trump said, motioning toward an oceanfront golf course that bears his name. “Here we are on the Pacific Ocean. How did I ever … Continue reading

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ISIS, God and The Devil

Austen Ivereigh’s defense of Pope Francis’ response to ISIS appears to be, well, evolving. Just the other day, he was arguing this: [ISIS] is a wholly modernistic creation, a vehicle of power, the “technocratic paradigm” of domination and exploitation, applied … Continue reading

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The Avoidance of Uncomfortable Reality

Cross-posted on the Corner. Crux: Pope Francis on Sunday defended his avoidance of the term “Islamic violence” by suggesting the potential for violence lies in every religion, including Catholicism. “I don’t like to talk about Islamic violence, because every day, … Continue reading

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“On A Relentless March”

The news that some in the Democratic Party might have tried to ‘out’ Bernie Sanders as an atheist was neither particularly surprising nor particularly shocking. Atheism doesn’t play well with the electorate. What’s more, to the extent that a candidate’s … Continue reading

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Father Hamel: An ‘Absurd’ Killing?

Cross-posted on the Corner. I posted something yesterday on Pope Francis’ disconcerting (there are other adjectives) response to the murder of Father Hamel in Normandy earlier this week, specifically with reference to this comment: “I only want to clarify, when … Continue reading

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