Pope Francis: A New Center of Gravity
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on March 13th, 2013 11:08 pm by HL
Pope Francis: A New Center of Gravity
E.J. Dionne, Washington Post
WASHINGTON — In winning election as Pope Francis, Jorge Mario Bergoglio defied the papal pundits, even though they should have seen him coming. His rise marks the decisive shift within Roman Catholicism toward Latin America and the developing world. In theological terms, he represents continuity, yet he is the first non-European pope in more than 1,000 years, and also the first Jesuit.He is a doctrinal conservative who battled gay marriage in Argentina and fellow Jesuits who were more liberal. But he also rebuked priests who denied baptism to children born out of wedlock and has spoken…
Silly People Try to Ban Progress
John Stossel, FOX Business
Celebrities are now upset about fracking, the injection of chemicals into the ground to crack rocks to release oil and gas. With everyone saying they want alternatives to foreign oil, I'd think celebrities would love fracking.I'd be wrong. Lady Gaga, Yoko Ono and their group, Artists Against Fracking, don't feel the love. Yoko sang, “Don't frack me!” on TV.Stopping fracking is the latest cause of the silly people. They succeeded in getting scientifically ignorant politicians to ban fracking in New York, Maryland and Vermont.Hollywood gave an Oscar to…
America’s Decline: It’s the Trade Deficit
James Hoffa, Detroit News
As a proud American, it's difficult to watch vital government programs cut mindlessly because of sequestration.And as a proud Michiganian, it's painful to anticipate Detroit's emergency financial manager because of the city's troubles.I'm afraid sequestration won't solve America's fiscal problems any more than a takeover will put an end to Detroit's difficulties.
A New Pope on a Pilgrim’s Path
Daniel Johnson, Wall Street Journal
The election of Pope Francis may prove to be not only a turning point for the Catholic Church, but for all humanity. For the first time in a millennium, the most venerable institution on earth will be led by a man from outside Europe, the Argentine son of an Italian.Jorge Mario Bergoglio told the multitudes after the announcement of his elevation on Wednesday that he would lead them on “the path of love”—a reference, surely, to Francis of Assisi, the great 13th-century saint from whom he has borrowed his pontifical name. The daring novelty and profound symbolism of the new…
The New Pope: Bergoglio of Argentina
Rachel Donadio, New York Times
VATICAN CITY "” With a puff of white smoke from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel and to the cheers of thousands of rain-soaked faithful, a gathering of Catholic cardinals picked a new pope from among their midst on Wednesday. The name of the new pope, the 266th pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church, by tradition would not be revealed until he appeared on a balcony on the front of St. Peter's Basilica. "Habemus papam!," members of the crowd shouted in Latin, waving umbrellas and flags. "We have a pope!""It was like waiting…
