Outside The Asylum

We heard the most challenging Gospel on Ash Wednesday, traditionally the most challenging gospel of the year, on the very night we mark our foreheads with ashes, we're admonished not to do things just to be seen. Part of that gospel also encourages a tradition of anonymous almsgiving, "Let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing". Americans have gotten really good at anonymous almsgiving, our income tax structure actually supports it, from 501c3s that allow you to give without ever meeting the person you are giving to, to even the taxes themselves that go to big government programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit, Temporary Aid to Needy Families, WIC, and food stamps. The challenge however, is to actually see, meet, and understand the needs of the less fortunate. I put it forth that we can't do that anonymously, avoiding contact with those we give to. We need to get into the trenches and give back.

An article in the Atlantic , strangely bearing a dateline of next month, gives us a glimpse into the theology of ISIS- and how it differs strongly from the Muwahiddun of Al Qaida. Salafism- literally the "Faith of our pious forefathers", by which they mean the army and generals of Mohammed, is very much the attempt to roll back 1400 years of Islamic history to a form of government and religion that hasn't existed since the 7th century A.D. While Al Qaida was aiming for this all along, nobody in Bin Laden's circle expected to see a new Caliph for several centuries. Salafism, on the other hand, is a radical form of Sunni Islam which entered a branch of Al Qaida after bin Laden's death with the teachings of Zarqawi, that insists that many sins are really signs of apostasy- and that apostasy is worthy only of death: Maqdisi wrote to his former pupil that he needed to exercise caution and “not issue sweeping proclamations of takfir” or “proclaim people to be apostates...

Those caught up in the sexual revolution are always telling me oral consent is all that matters to make any sexual act licit. Those who are believers in scientism are always telling me that anecdotal evidence is not to be trusted. The problem is, these two groups often overlap. And what is oral consent other than anecdotal evidence? After all, an anecdote is a short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature. And a claim of oral consent is most certainly interesting, but not particularly definitive. This is why I have said that without written consent, such as a marriage license, one should stay abstinent. Anything else, is too risky. The end result is if consent is not written, it is not consent. Thus sex should be restricted to situations where there are contingency plans. Contingency plans like "In sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, as long as we both shall live" No Father wanting the best for his Daughter shou...

I can no longer say I am a Marxist of the Reinhard variety for this cardinal has now embraced heresy. And once again, it's the Jesuit magazine America calling for an end to the sacrament of Marriage as we know it.

Why is this not taught in high school? You have until 2026.  The United States is reaching the end of this 250 year imperial cycle.

Catholic News World : Novena to St. Joseph Cupertino and Special Prayer for Exams - Patron of Students, Pilots and Disabled : I must learn more about St. Joseph Cupertino- I have a feeling he could be a powerful patron for me. But I'd add something to the novena: If, following the prayer on the first day of the Novena, you read aloud the material for your upcoming examination into an MP3 file, and then for the following eight days, you say the prayer then listen to the MP3 file, you will find that you will pass  your examination.