July 3, 2009
Selling one’s soul to the Devil is full of ironies, like the fact that Malta (which recently broke with the EU in UN voting in opposition to “reproductive services” language…language called for by Obama) is staunchly Catholic in a direction quite contrary to Kmiec’s recent pandering. Perhaps the country will rub off on him.
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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Barack Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals for key administration posts:
- Jonathan Addleton, Ambassador to Mongolia
- Gayleatha Beatrice Brown, Ambassador to Burkina Faso
- Earl M. Irving, Ambassador to the Kingdom of Swaziland
- Douglas Kmiec, Ambassador to the Republic of Malta
- Fay Hartog-Levin, Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands
President Obama said, “I am confident that these fine individuals will represent our nation abroad with distinction, and strengthen our diplomatic efforts to meet 21st century challenges. I look forward to working with them in the months and years ahead.”
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Posted by T. Ambrose Nazianzus
May 26, 2009
By tonight, every Catholic blog will have a post on President Obama’s Supreme Court Nominee choice. This is so, undoubtedly, because Catholic bloggers do not have much else to talk about (spirituality? theology? philosophy?). So instead rehashing the information provided by the Drudge Report, which the Creative Minority Report does here (On a side note-how is this blog in the running for “Most Hilarious” religious blog? I suppose there isn’t much competition on that end), I’ll just let you read the link that I have provided. All-in-all, I am not terribly concerned with this choice for a couple reasons: 1) It won’t change the Court’s composition-by all accounts, she is an intellectual lightweight who will demonstrate how “empathy” and “law” do not work in tandem. 2) Perhaps she’s Catholic? She might prove to be a sleeper agent? 3) there is the City of Man, and the City of God. Render what is Caesar’s to Caesar, and what is God’s to God. I need not tell you all what side for which Pres. BH Obama is batting. Its a moot issue, and complaining about “fairness” will hardly prove productive.
On that note: I have notice an increasing tendency among bloggers to worry increased religious persecution and marginalization.
I say good! Bring it!
Are we forgetting Christ’s promise that the “gates of Hell” will not prevail against God’s Church? Are we forgetting the powerful testimony of the martyrs? This latest incarnation of worrying, due in large part to Obama, would be ridiculed by Church Fathers such as Athanasius, or Origen (ok, he’s not quite a Father, but still). One of Athanasius’ “proofs” for the efficacy of Christ’s Incarnation were the sacrifices that Christians had made. Or, to paraphrase an Apostolic Father, Ignatius of Antioch, “if Christ didn’t die, then why am I dying for Christ?” We Christians are far more satiated by the comforts of the world than we’re willing to admit, and our own inability to perceive religious discrimination and persecution (which was promised by Christ, if we remember Matt. 4-5) as tools we can use to both evangelize and strengthen our faith, may indicate a greater lack of faith than I had original believed.
Once the martyrdoms ended, people fled to the desert for trial. Once the monastery become too lush, itinerate, poor preachers came preaching poverity and charity. Christianity has always taken the hard way, as a return to spiritual fervor. Perhaps a return to form, namely persecution, is the way to go?
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Posted by T. Ambrose Nazianzus
January 10, 2009
I usually find the screeds posted on other Catholic blogs to be exaggerations or misreadings, or overly sensitive readings. However, I too found Doug Kmiec’s eulogy for Fr. Neuhaus to be both about himself, and a pro-Obama puff piece, with Fr. Neuhaus as ancillary to the subject. That, I believe, is not how a good eulogy is done.
And so, for the first and last time here, I’m going to put the matter as colorfully and bluntly as possible.
Go **** yourself, Doug Kmiec.
That is all.
I’ll take this opportunity to offer an apology to the Holy Trinity…and Fr. Neuhaus. Ora pro nobis.
Editors Note: I’ve had a chat with Prof. Kmiec since this was originally posted, and he was kind enough to fill me in on details. To that end, I want to clarify two points: this post was written out of frustration with Kmiec’s eulogy itself, and not with him as a person. I will not remove it, as I still take issue with the eulogy, though I have censored the profanity in respect for Fr. Neuhaus’ memory. I may address Kmiec in far more constructive terms. I’ve mentioned some of my issues with his piece above. This is not a statement, however, concerning the genuineness of his feelings for Fr. Neuhaus. I will not doubt the sincerity of his sense of loss…one which he shares with the rest of us. One can only wish, however, that his eulogy had more distinctly reflected this.
4 Comments | News and Opinion | Tagged: Doug Kmiec, First Things, Fr. Neuhaus, Obama | Permalink
Posted by T. Ambrose Nazianzus
August 5, 2008
Apparently, some folks who have decided to take on Obama (by, you know, criticizing his stances by using their Constitutional right to free speech), are finding themselves locked out of their blogs, having been informed that they were flagged as spam.
This happened recently on Blogger, though it has officially stated that this has happened to several blogs across the board (it has something to do with their automatic spam detection system…or something). The CMR had a little article on it.
Here is the article that covers this phenomenon, which I got from Drudge.
Of course, it could be nothing, or worse, mere paranoia. Considering that I’m still up and running (though safe, since my readership is small), I don’t put much stock into it. If it is true, however, and Obama supporters are curtailing free speech through these means, then we should be very nervous about allowing this man (and his followers) access to real power. We might find ourselves locked out of the debate.
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Posted by T. Ambrose Nazianzus
July 23, 2008
As we can see, Saul had his thousands (an Obama rally in Oakland, I believe):
While David had his ten thousands (WYD ‘08 with Benedict XVI):
And perhaps, hundreds of thousands (World Youth Day in Cologne ‘05 with Pope Benedict):
Any Questions?
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Posted by T. Ambrose Nazianzus
July 23, 2008
The Democratic National Committee has placed two people on L Street between 18th and Connecticut, to solicit folks to sign up to vote, or to donate, or something. Its a strategic place to do it, as L and K Streets in DC are the home of nearly all of the major law firms, lobby shops, and possible tourist traps in DC. They always ask if you want to help the Democrats stay in office, or lately, support Obama.
Here are a several clips that demonstrate why I won’t be supporting Obama.
(Note: I have a very optimistic friend who calls himself a progressive, and when confronted with the “Born Alive Infants Protection Act,” likes to bring up the war. Its a valid point. I’m not a particular fan of the war. I’m also not a fan of abortion. I’m also not a fan of live birth abortions. But Obama is. What does Alan Keyes have to say about this? And here is his voting record set to techno music.
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This is something that’s been bothering me, and I’m curious if its just the natural reaction of people to a charismatic force…especially one with rhetorical flair. I apologize if it offends anyone.
However, I’m gravely concerned with the almost Messianic status Obama has to people, who don’t particularly recognize any Messiah (Jewish, Christian, or otherwise). They seem to put their hopes on a purly secular outcome (i.e. State as God), or if not, then upon a purely human one (Human as God). Human action guide by the Spirit is necessary to help our world, but when we take God out of the equation (or start redefining him to fit our needs), he takes on a more sinister role (again, State as God).
To that end, I find that Obama rallies look familiar to something, namely, don’t they resemble this? I mean… It looks similar to me.
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Posted by T. Ambrose Nazianzus
July 21, 2008
As I’ve been praying the Liturgy of the Hours, I’ve found that the prayer the sticks with me most is the Canticle of Zachariah, otherwise known as the Benedictus. Its is by far the most hopeful thing I’ve read, and (perhaps this hyperbole) also one of the most life-affirming things as well. Here it is:
- Blessed be the Lord the God of Israel
- who has come to His people and set them free.
- He has raised up for us a mighty Saviour,
- born of the house of His servant David.
- Through His holy prophets God promised of old
- to save us from our enemies, from the hands of all that hate us,
- To show mercy to our ancestors,
- and to remember His holy covenant.
- This was the oath God swore to our father Abraham:
- to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
- Free to worship Him without fear,
- holy and righteous in His sight all the days of our life.
- And you, child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,
- for you will go before the Lord to prepare His way,
- To give His people knowledge of salvation
- by the forgiveness of all their sins.
- In the tender compassion of our God
- the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
- To shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,
- and to guide our feet into the way of peace.
This is change that I can believe in; not secular change, that tends to fall apart in death, but the eternal change wrought by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through him, all people have access to sanctifying grace and the ultimate freedom that is promised in God alone. Only a people filled with the Holy Spirit can begin to affect change in the world. In a sense, we are the change that we’ve been waiting for, but only when we begin to work that change in the name of Christ (and not the name Obama).
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Posted by T. Ambrose Nazianzus
July 16, 2008
The Creative Minority Report looks into claims that Obama is actually a “secret Catholic.”
Its been theorized that Obama’s allure is the fact that he can be all things to all people, because he actually does not have a definite position of his own (or if he does, he’s not talking about it…on purpose). It now appears the Obama’s latent Catholicism is finding expression in the minds of others.
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Posted by T. Ambrose Nazianzus
June 27, 2008
First, I like the Messianic feel to this. Descending from the cloud in a flash of light. The second coming, perhaps?
Second, if everyone votes for Obama, because they believe in his ability to change Washington, does that mean that anyone really had the ability to change Washington, or was it merely a forgone conclusion?
You decide, not because I’m curious, but because you are as well.
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Posted by T. Ambrose Nazianzus
June 26, 2008
I’ve been reading Newman’s Apologia pro via sua, lately. I’m just covering the section where he talks about “Liberalism” in the Anglican Communion (the end result of which can be seen here, though apparently its been played down here). Namely, to quote:
The liberal idea that the human reason is the supreme judge of all truth, even revealed truth, John Henry Newman believed, would inevitably lead to a weakening and eventually to the destruction of faith and of all real religion. Liberal Christians might continue to profess religion, but their religion would become a mere humanism veiled only by the externals of religion.
Its with this in mind that I have come to understand Fr. Pfleger. It becomes painfully apparent that he’s placed his own “reason” above that of the Church, and his own theological ideology above our Tradition (as mentioned here, Pfleger’s rhetoric veers into liberation theology). The Church, with individuals like Mother Theresa and St. Francis, is full of wonderful examples of faith aimed at helping and alleviating the poor. But Pfleger has tossed himself onto the altar of media consumption, and his continued presence on that altar only affirms his own pride and vanity, in hypocritical contrast to his thin veil of humility (humility doesn’t write a sermon called, “Ain’t Nothin’ like a Comeback,” and it does not needlessly accuse someone of “white priviledge”).
I’m loathed to blame Vatican II for this, but the children of said council, who gleefully tossed the Church’s long tradition out the window, have to answer for their progeny, some of whom are willing to let humanism dictate all aspects of their faith. To put it bluntly, Pfleger should be defrocked immediately. Let there be no question how I think on this issue.
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Posted by T. Ambrose Nazianzus
