On a Rare Personal Note

Two head-hunting agencies have my resume in at two different places for contract work. I also have my resume in at a couple of web design companies. And... I have received a tip about another place to apply, kindly supplied by a reader (and fellow blogger).

Please say a prayer for me. And, if you too have a tip for a job possibility, don't be bashful about letting me know. I'm the bashful one, here!

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Mon. 12/16/02 06:46:53 PM
Categorized as Other.

Catholic and Enjoying It!

Mark Shea has a couple of blogs today I want to remark on.

Lidless Eyes Sometimes Peer Through Rifle Scopes:

.... The thing that makes the True Catholic Reactionary Dissent crowd so prima facie incredible to me is rather similar to what has always made Calvinism so prima facie difficult for me to believe. Calvinism in its purest forms has always impressed me with it's metallic logical perfection combined with a remarkable inhumanity. The most crushing conversation I ever witnessed with a Calvinist was the time a young seeker (who was waffling between Catholic faith and the persuasive logicality of Calvinism) asked the simple question, "Does God love me?" The Calvinist, after a great deal of puffing and blowing, was utterly powerless to answer that question. He wasn't sure if the Divine Computer has slotted the kid for Reprobation or Election in order to make the Heavenly Software run and so could give no answer. If you are saved then we'll know God loved you. If you aren't, then we'll know he didn't. But we can't know now whether God loves you or not. Catholics, of course, just said, "Hell, yes, God loves you!" They didn't even have to think about that one....

I, too, was witness to that exchange. The question put to the Calvinist — I will refrain from naming him, but I know his name — the question put to him by another participant was simple: "Does God love me?" The question was never really answered, and for the reasons Mark indicates. The whole exchange was stupefying.

Mark replies to a reader inquiring about the New York Post's defamation of the pope:

As far as I know, there's been no retraction. To retract such a statement, the editors and writers of the Post (and the pack journalists who unthinkingly regurgitate and perpetuate such quick and handy phrases "smoking gun") would have to have to time think and reflect on the data they have read wrongly and hastily interpreted for the sake of meeting a deadline. This would require more contemplation than your typical journalist has time or patience for.

In brief, don't hold your breath. The prejudice that the Pope must (somehow) be the "unindicted co-conspirator" in abuse and cover-up is a deeply rooted assumption in many sectors of American media culture far in advance of any evidence. Andrew Sullivan was dead certain of it in March 2002, based on nothing other than pure prejudice. Grace builds on nature, but prejudice builds on anything. So a tiny fragment of writing (badly misunderstood) constitutes the long-assumed "smoking gun" and those who are bound and determined to engage in the venerable American pastime of destroying heros will not easily give up the prejudice merely because the evidence is unbelievably flimsy. Nor will pack journalism give up an easy-to-remember slogan. The "smoking gun" will be a fixture of media jargon from here on in. It may pass into temporary disfavor while the Pope lives and it can be easily demonstrated that the NY Post's vaunted "smoking gun" was nothing of the kind. But once he's dead and memories of him fade, it will re-emerge. If Daniel Goldhagen can quote Mit Brennender Sorge and claim it is an anti-semitic text, anybody can do anything--especially in a culture as theologically illiterate and historically forgetful and ignorant as ours.

Our grandchildren's grandchildren will have to explain, over and over and over and over again, how the pope never told a cardinal to transfer child-molesting priests from parish to parish. I wonder how the publisher, the writer, and the editor(s) at the New York Post will explain that to God?

No-o-o-o-o-o!!!!!! You can't make me read it. You can't. You can't. You can't. ;)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Mon. 12/16/02 06:34:33 PM
Categorized as Religious.

Announcement of Latest Issue of The View from the Core

The View from the Core Volume 2.15, 12/16/02, is now available.

Front Page: Featured Webpages: 36 links posted, 8 new. Featured Websites: 134 links posted, 4 new.

Poetry: "Holy Places" (Herbert D. Gallaudet), "Now From the World the Light of God is Gone" (Robert Nathan), "Sonnet" (Francis Lyman Windolph), "Sad is Our Youth" (Aubrey Thomas de Vere), "The Inevitable" (Sarah Knowles Bolton).

Prose: "Adam Smith and Market-Based Order" (Arthur Herman).

Photography: September 11: The View From Space 4 of 6 (Images Courtesy Space Imaging):

Guest Column: "Holiday Shopping Advice for Men" (Bill Dunn).

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Mon. 12/16/02 01:11:25 PM
Categorized as Other.

Most Rev. Donald Wuerl to Go to Boston?

Say it ain't so!

I have now seen my bishop, Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh, mentioned twice as a possible successor to Cardinal Law as Archbishop of Boston. I think he would do magnificently, but I really don't want him to leave Pgh. Besides, he has accepted an invitation to preside at my parish's centennial mass... in 2004, I think. We ain't gonna let him off the hook! ;)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Mon. 12/16/02 12:24:14 PM
Categorized as Religious.

Dick Morris Agrees With Me, Too

About Trent Lott's (in)famous birthday-party remarks.

Re: Trent Lott is a Twit: But, what's all this fuss?

Today in the New York Post (emphasis added):

.... He made his comment about Strom Thurmond — for which he has apologized three times — just because he was trying to be nice to a 100-year-old man. Lott was 7 years old when Thurmond ran and was not a particularly active politician back then.

He didn't mean that Thurmond should have won in 1948. I'll bet even Thurmond, today, doesn't think he should have won in 1948. Lott meant that Thurmond's current agenda - less government, lower taxes and stronger defense - would have been welcome over the past few decades. He undoubtedly meant the same thing in 1980 when he also praised Thurmond....

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Mon. 12/16/02 12:14:07 PM
Categorized as Political.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

That song did not originate as a secret Catholic catechism.

I subscribe to an e-mail list on which was posted the following last week:

.... The Believed Meaning behind the Twelve Days of Christmas

The traditional Christmas Carol, The Twelve Days of Christmas, is unique among carols - in that it is entirely about receiving gifts - it seems to have nothing else to do with the Christmas season. It makes no mention of the shepherds at watch, or angels proclaiming the coming of the newborn King. In fact, it seemingly focuses on "getting" rather than "giving" and never once speaks of the Joy and peace that the Christ-Child has brought to mankind.

The song was composed in England during the 16th century, supposedly by Catholics who were forbidden by law to practice their faith. To teach their children basic doctrine, they used "nonsense songs" that would not raise the suspicions of the non-Catholics around them, but would remind the children of the important elements of their faith.

It has been called an "underground Catechism" by some. The "true love" mentioned in the song refers to God Himself. The "me" who receives the presents refers to every baptized person who is part of the Christian Faith. Each of the "days" represents some aspect of the Christian Faith that was important for children to learn....

This is not true. For an extended analysis, see The Twelve Days of Christmas.

I would like to add my two cents, though. From discussions I have had, it seems that some Catholics think it's fine (cute, sweet, instructive, whatever) to make this claim — whether it's true or not. That, I think, is a... short-sighted... position to take. Far too many people think Catholics are far too credulous and gullible. Let's not give them more ammunition, okay?

(Thanks to Gregory for reminding me about this.)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Mon. 12/16/02 10:16:48 AM
Categorized as Religious.

"Revisions in mass worry some Catholics"

At Veritas.

A fine, timely, and right-on blog by Chris Burgwald, Saturday.

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Mon. 12/16/02 09:53:07 AM
Categorized as Religious.

Lux et Tenebrae

Dylan, at his weblog newly-styled thus, makes me blush:

The estimable and highly esteemed poet, blogger & Catholic apologist Lane Core has recently proffered a translation of St John of the Cross made by the American poet who, if he still lives, must be well into his ninth decade....

Blushing, it seems, doesn't keep me from typing. ;)

Lane Core Jr. CIW P — Mon. 12/16/02 09:25:22 AM
Categorized as Other.