Michael CSP

Getting old and dependent

2006-10-16T14:12:00.000-07:00

One of my housemates here at the Paulist residence has just been admitted to a nursing home. He is well into his 80s and has been falling. Mentally and spiritually, he's fine but age has taken its toll. He has left a large emptiness in our house and for me as a friend of his. We all say the same things about how it was the best thing, how it is good for him and how good the home is. All true but also the way for us who remain to stave off thinking about old age and its necessary limitations.

NY Clergy against the Cardinal

2006-10-15T09:03:00.000-07:00

An anonymous letter is being circulated among NY diocesan priests asking their support for what amounts to a NO CONFIDENCE judgment on Cardinal Egan. While Egan has done hard work on the financial disarray of the NY Archdiocese during his 6 year tenure, it is obvious, long before this letter, that he has alienated his own clergy. Most of that is due to his style of goverance. The reaction has been brewing over the years. Surely the priests behind this letter know that this may only prolong Egan's time in NY beyond his soon-to-be 75th birthday, but it would seem their effort here is to sour his retirement and link him publicly to the dislike and alienation of his clergy. That part of their objective may have already now been accomplished.

Beauty

2006-10-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

Today has been a spetacular day in NY. I was able to get out, walk, do some errands - things which I usually did without another thought. Now I am amazed at the steady progress of my recovery and my renewed ability to enjoy a beautiful day.

Unraveling at the GOP

2006-10-05T14:50:00.000-07:00

A conversation that must be going on everywhere that people are talking about Foley-Hastert-GOP: "Its the coverup." Why didn't the GOP chiefs get the sordid tale right out front, push Foley out and get on with it. Now the real story is the same old one: "What did they know, and when did they know it?" From Watergate, the Gulf of Tonkin affair, the Catholic sex abuse scandal, its the same old coverup that brings down the house and raises the ager of the people.

Ex-Rep Foley and the truth

2006-10-03T13:20:00.000-07:00

From what has already been revealed about the emails, it would seem that Foley knew what he was up to when he contacted these pages, and then resigned a few minutes after being exposed by ABC. But why is the GOP leadership so slow in looking into this whole sordid mess, especially since they appeared to have known a great deal about Foley's behavior for some months now? The Church dragged its feet. Psychiatrists approved resumed ministry for pedophiles after treatment. Now the House appears to be much the same as these others.

Woodward's Book and the whole package

2006-10-01T07:41:00.000-07:00

I am sure that the overall thesis of Woodward's opus is very close to the truth about the crazy denial at work in the Bush White House. Yet I am always dubious about Woodward's methods of quoting what he would imagine the principal saying. Since even the broken clock is right twice a day, I am sure some of it is on target. The response of Tony Snow and others in the WH would seem only to confirm that Woodward has hit pretty close to home - and the truth. How much better would be an Administration that told the truth.

Gotti Jr

2006-09-28T13:02:00.000-07:00

3 Strikes and you're NOT out. Gotti Jr gets another hung jury and can walk home. Of course they could do a 4th trial but the fear of ridicule might impede the prosecutors. This is our system and how it works. Yet far more egregious examples of American justice gone wrong flower at a national level with the wold watching our treatment of suspected terrorists at Gitmo and in places we don't even know about. Clean that up first and regain some of mankind's respect. Then we can deal with the televised melodramas of OJ and Gotti Jr.

Bill Clinton's Anger

2006-09-25T12:04:00.000-07:00

I did not see the TV piece in which Clinton reacts so strongly to efforts to blame his administration for the rise and success of terrorism but I see frequent efforts now to get the blame off from the Bush crowd to the previous crowd. The war in Iraq is the huge mistake and tragedy. Bush and Co. are clearly to blame for the decision to make war and then to make a whole series of horrible calls, despite being warned by so many like Europe, the Vatican, and their own intelligence analysts about what would happen. Republicans and Fox News know this and are trying to sell a false scenario to the US people in the run-up to these crucial elections. Will the US voters (that is the small number who bother to vote) buy these used goods, or see through the ruse? I think it can either way and the Big Lie often works effectively.

The IRS and churches

2006-09-23T07:40:00.000-07:00

Religious organizations should stay away from partisan politics, especially from endorsing specific candidates or parties, but one often gets the strong sense that such scrutiny is very selective. Obviously some prominanet religious figures and communities do endorse candidates and even allow their places of worship to be used by cadiates who deliver partisan speeches. The IRS needs to be even handed. Right now it does appear that anti-war and anti-abortion churches are most commonly singled out.

Spinach Terrorism

2006-09-21T08:16:00.000-07:00

I love spinach but now we are warned that we might get E. Coli from certain packaged brands. Sounds ominous but I don't where to put this scare on the chart of current scares. Planes, busses, foreigners, other germs and ourselves are all very risky. This modern, well connected world is truly a mixed bag - not of spinach, I hope.

Papal Apology

2006-09-18T08:53:00.000-07:00

Benedict's Sunday apology to wounded Islamic sensibilities will bring an end, one hopes, to this very unwise and harmful event and restore some respect between the Catholic Church and the vast world of Islam. It is good news that the Turkish officials see no need to cancel the upcoming papal visit. Not long ago, the Vatican' great expert on Islam, Archbishop Michael Fitzgerald, was moved to Cairo to relate to the Arab League. It would be a wise move now to bring him back to Rome, or at least to use his wisdom and learning in relations between the Vatican and Islam. That might be the Providential Good News ( especially for B16 and the Church) hidden in this sad event.

Medical update

2006-09-17T10:17:00.000-07:00

Back on May 15th, I went into Urgent Care at Sloan Kettering where they quickly saw that I was being attacked by life threatening infection. I was then put into an induced coma for over 2 weeks while they fought back the infection. From all the immobility I developed overall neuropathy and was almost unable to move any joints, even after coming out of the coma. From Sloan I went to to the Helen Hayes Rehab hospital where Physical Therapy got me up and walking something which I never expected to do again. On August 4, I returned to the Paulist House on 59th where I have been steadily improving. I am now able to walk and get around with a cane and feel stronger. Thanks to prayer, the love and care of family and friends, and excellent medical care, I have returned to the land of the living and thank everyone for all their incredible care and help. Keep me in your prayer.

Benedict XVI and Islam

2006-09-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

The strange 14th century text cited by the pope in his academic lecture in Germany comes in the midst of a very unclear talk which obscures more than enlightens his basic insight that a common use of reason can lead world religions such as Islam and Christianity to live in peace and to engage in healthy dialog. Moslems took atrong offense and Benedict lost a great opportunity to offer inspired leadership on a continent about which he is very concerned and on which there are severe tensions between native Europeans and new immigrants, especially those who profess Islam. The whole event is sad and sets good relations back about 100 miles after the wonderful respect John Paul II displayed to all religions and beliefs. The Pope may indeed be brilliant but he needs to consult much more with brilliant observers and believers in other religions, and stay away from the 14th century, for a lot of reasons.

Return

2006-09-17T07:59:00.000-07:00

I am beginning again after a long medical crisis and recovery. Thanks to many prayers and love, I am doing much better and getting around fairly well. I have also begun a new Blog, Michael CSP, which I hope will keep us in contact and allow me to reach out in friendship, and some opinions no doubt. More shortly.