Life in Saudi Arabia

Yara, an American businesswoman who lives and works in Saudi Arabia (her husband’s home) was arrested and humiliated by Saudi religious police for daring to sit in a Starbucks with her co-workers when the lights went out in their office.
Remember that the Saudis are our friends and allies–which is why our embassy is refusing [...]

Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston Settles Sex Abuse Case

The Houston Chronicle reports that a settlement has been reached between the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston and the victims of seminarian Juan Carlos Patino Arango.
Meanwhile, demonstrators were recently protesting outside the cathedral against the archdiocese’s handling of accusations against Fr. Stephen Horn.

Bush Administration Slaps Vets in the Face

The Bush Administration is arguing in court that veterans have no specific rights to health care, and certainly should not expect mental health benefits for combat induced problems. We get to decide what medical care is given, if any, to veterans, they say.
“Veterans need to know in this country that the government thinks all their [...]

Tết Nguyên Đán

Tomorrow is Tết Nguyên Đán, Vietnamese New Year. We can expect the sound of fireworks in our neighborhood tonight.
It’s also the 30th anniversary of the Tet Offensive.

Dreher on “The Gay Priest Problem”

Rod Dreher looks at “The Gay Priest Problem” in the Catholic Church. He quotes Richard John Neuhaus quoting Phil Lawlor:
Lawler adds: “Homosexual influence within the American clergy was not in itself the cause of the sex abuse crisis. The corruption wrought by that influence was a more important factor.” He very gingerly addresses a theory [...]

Waning Interest in “Bodies”?

In Framingham, Massachusetts, the corpse show, “Bodies … The Exhibition,” has closed a month early because of lack of attendance.
Meanwhile, in California, legislative action is afoot to start to put some restrictions on these exhibits, led by a San Francisco Democrat who likens them to “grave-robbing.” The legislation will require the exhibitors to prove that [...]

Courage in the Church of England

The Church of England’s Diocese of Manchester has put up a webpage, CorpseShow.info, to fight the growing industry of showing plasticized corpses as macabre entertainment. Such shows are banned in parts of the UK, including Scotland. There are charges now that his shows are resulting in a decrease in the number of bodies donated to [...]

The Election

OK. Now the media is free to speak of front-runners. And on the Republican side, the posturing and speculation and prognostication by journalists over the past many months is showing itself to have been in vain. Rudy was their darling. He was the crowned “front-runner” before any votes were cast. “Let him that thinketh he [...]

Ash Wednesday

“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to [...]