August 2009 Archives

Disclaimer: The following is a political reflection and not a theological or moral reflection.

The concept of health care as a "right" has surfaced frequently throughout the discussions of the health care bill. I think some aspects are being missed.

I do not deny that people have a right to health care. But I have different conception of this than others do. People have a right to health care as they have a right to bear arms, that is, a right of access: Government cannot prevent you from obtaining health care. But just as a right to bear arms doesn't mean the government is obliged to subsidize guns for me or ensure that I obtain a gun no matter what my financial resources are, I do not see a right to health care as one that requires the government to pay for it, or to require an insurance plan, or any such thing. It means that my right to purchase health care shall not be impeded, nothing more, nothing less. Likewise, the First Amendment does not require government subsidy of newspapers (or websites) for those who can't afford it, nor does it require government subsidy of churches. This is the nature of rights.

All of this reminds me of the travesty I heard about on the radio. The government is actually subsidizing cell phones for those who can't afford it. Cell phones! People in third world countries are perishing for lack of clean water, people live in shacks without toilets in abject filth, and here we are, taxpayers paying for people's cell phones. To be honest I'd sooner pay for someone's car than their cell phone. At least a car is (often) necessary to work. Next thing you know we'll be paying for HDTV upgrades and cable service.

ZENIT had an interesting article about the image of Our Lady of Guadalupe and how there is no scientific explanation for it. It includes a story of how it was copied onto similar material and stored under similar conditions but the copy faded and disintegrated within eight years — unlike the 400-something years the image has remained intact.

Part of me is glad that the Catholic Church is not receiving this kind of attention, and part of me is upset that we haven't merited it. It pertains to the opposition the efforts the Mormon Church marshaled in favor of the marriage amendment to the California constitution. I find the tenor of this article forboding. Of course it's a hatchet job, but it seems to me it's an especially insidious one. Gay right activists are portrayed in favor of Truth, Justice, and the American Way, and the Mormon church is portrayed as defensive and almost embarrassed. This is not two political forces locked in combat, this is the righteous forces of Civil Rights cornering the 2000s equivalent of segregationalists. I fear it will only get worse.

I wonder if the person who said "civil rights have nothing to do with religious principles" would think that the Reverend Martin Luther King would share that opinion, or even the abolitionists and suffragettes.

Pro-life former senator Rick Santorum is said to be testing the presidential waters in Iowa. I think he would prove to be an excellent candidate and I look forward to seeing how this all turns out.

The pope has had a webcam installed at his summer residence so people can see him taking a stroll. No indication of how long you have to wait for this or what the chances are of catching him. The location is www.vaticanstate.va.

The pope has been big on embracing technology (YouTube, Facebook, etc.). For someone who likes to write his encyclicals in longhand, I hope these are things that express genuine interest and are not publicity stunts foisted on him, but somehow I have my doubts. You know, when people who are not hip try to act hip in order to impress younger people?

Today I got, from a religious order in Kansas City, MO I've never heard of before, a 52-minute chant CD, cellophane-wrapped in full jewel case, posted in a padded mailer, together with a solicitation for funds. I'll tell you, any order that would waste money like this is not an order I want to give to. I think this is the most lavish unsolicited premium I've ever received. I mean, I've received DVDs and CDs before, but they've all been on the cheap, and typically they serve a purpose like informing you about the apostolate or showing who they serve. Or maybe the premium will be from an organization I have an established relationship with.

I don't even like Gregorian chant.

I will listen to it just because it would be a waste not to. Then I can put it next to the Palestrina CD a friend sent me that I never listen to.