Little light on posting here, of late, and if you came here looking for it I’m sorry to disappoint.
I’m kind of burned out, what with all the reading and writing I’ve been doing. Columns and blog posts for Inside Catholic, two short sci-fi stories finished up in the past week (one submitted to Analog for possible publication), blogging for my day job on the ethical questions surrounding embryonic modification (without crossing moralistic boundaries not suitable for a blog intended to generate business; if you want a link, e-mail me as I try to keep work and personal blogs from interacting) and pounding through Michael Flynn’s long, complex, but very good novel Firestar, which I’m about 500 pages into now.
I’ve got a post up at IC this morning about a Fr. Z-translated interview with Virgilio Card. Noè, former papal MC for Pope Paul VI and Pope John Paul II, who offers his interpretation of what Paul VI meant when he said “The Smoke of Satan has entered the Church.” (Hint: it has to do with liturgy.)
I’m finding myself wondering, though as yet unable to comment with coherency, about China’s response to the earthquake. I’m trying to process how a regime that so blithely kills its own people finds the urgency to try to save them during a disaster. Is it just good PR, or is there really a sincerity on the government’s part? If the Olympics weren’t coming, would China be making the effort it is now? Would they be willing to accept foreign aid as they’ve just made provisions for?
I also need to do research on a column I’m planning to pen for IC about capital punishment, taken from a personal perspective. This month marks the first anniversary of the murder of my mother-in-law, Mamie Gong, and the guys who did it are, as I understand it, on track for death row once the trial gets going. I need to brush up on Evangelium Vitae, but I’d also like to know if any of you have read anything helpful on the Capital Punishment Issue that I should reference. My current feeling on it is that while I’m not a big fan, I see cases where it’s useful, and I won’t bat an eye if these guys go to the chair. I will, however, pray for their conversion and for the repose of their souls. Catholicism is just chock full of bitter irony, ain’t it?
That’s all I’ve got for now, other than a headache I hope I can chase away with the four ibuprofen I just took. One of these days if I don’t stop thinking about so many things at once, I’m pretty sure my head is going to just explode.
On the China earthquake: every regime (except maybe that junta in Burma) needs to make a show of coming to the aid of citizens when disaster strikes, to keep the population from going into revolt. And from the reporting NPR did yesterday, it sounds like in many cases (particularly in outlying areas) the Chinese governmnet’s response has been just that: largely show.
oh wow its been a year already? I hope Jamie’s doing okay, give her a hug for me.
Hey Steve - happened to stop by -
On the capital punishment issue - I remember Dr. Asci talking about the new Cathechisms - remember how the first version came out (a translation from the French?) and then the official one was published a few years later? I guess one of the very few changes that was made was that the wording on capital punishment was changed, because it the first version was too wishy-washy on the subject. I haven’t read it in awhile, but my understanding is that we are only allowed to use capital punishment when we don’t have the adequate facilities to contain a criminal. You can totally check me on that one, but that’s my memory of the green Catechism…. You guys are in my prayers this weekend, please give Jamie and the kids a hug for me!
Hello Steve,
In regards to the capital punishment issue-you may find this helpful. Written by Cardinal Avery Dulles
http://www.catholicculture.org/library/view.cfm?id=4099