That's right, $600 million.
Robert Wilson, an investor-turned-philanthropist, is an atheist. However, he loves to invest in underpriced opportunities. So a few years' back he donated $20 million to a fund that supports the Archdiocese of New York's Catholic schools.
Lord Palmerston, the 19th century British Prime Minister, famously said that in politics there are no permanent friends or permanent enemies, only permanent interests. Benedict XVI would probably concur on the strength of his experience in Madrid the last few days, where liberal and secular currents in Spanish society have voiced outrage over the blatantly pro-papal line emanating from -- of all places -- the government of Socialist Prime Minister José Luis Rodr'guez Zapatero.
On this day we celebrate the feast of Our Lady, Mother and Queen.
My Queen! My Mother! I give myself entirely to thee; and to show my devotion to thee, I consecrate to this this day my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being, without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am thine own, keep me, guard me, as thy property and possession.
--The Catholic Girl's Guide, edited by the Rev. Francis X. Lasance, Benziger Brothers, 1906.
Washington Public to get first glimpse of King memorial, The site is opening Monday morning without fanfare to kick off a week of celebrations ahead of Sunday's official dedication.
Phoenix diocese cathedral won't allow girl altar servers, Altar duties called part of priesthood prep
Illinois Catholic Charities loses ruling on foster care, Judge rules state is not obligated to renew agencies' contracts
Philadelphia priests gather amid abuse crisis, Many clergy feel uninformed by church, group says
From the front page of The Washington Post:
A statement on the Georgetown team’s Web site said the two sides met Friday morning following “heated exchanges in an exhibition game Thursday evening.” The statement said Georgetown Coach John Thompson III and Bayi Coach Adi Jiang and their team members “shared a very cordial and friendly meeting.”
If there is any clear mandate in Christianity, it is the call to care for our planet, for the natural world that God has entrusted to us. But for decades now, scientists have been warning us about the dangers of climate change, and the fact that human activity is the major cause of it. It is a consensus endorsed even by the Vatican.
Enter Rick Perry. He announced on the campaign trail that he does not believe that climate change is caused by human action. I’m not sure what planet he is living on, but he seems to have missed the entire scientific consensus on this issue.
Just think. What sort of military do we need to defend our borders? Tanks, aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines are particularly ineffective against terrorists. Nuclear weapons use would turn global warming into a nuclear winter which won’t solve anything. The oceans and the sheer size of the nation are effective deterrents to invasion.
If we started the Department of Defense off at zero, imagine where you would put the money.
Myself, I would spend a bundle on information gathering – spying, if you like. And then I’d spend three bundles addressing the needs the spies uncovered: nation-building, job creation, trade opportunities.
But even for me, it is difficult to say: disband the DOD; toss the guns; pitch the nukes; bring the boys home. People would say, that’s crazy talk. But what is crazy, what is true mental illness, is the stockpile of nuclear weapons; the continued building of newer fighter planes designed to dogfight with Russia MIGs; the plans for new aircraft carriers to deploy the fighters. I could go on.
Early this week in the Guardian, Lesley Crawley offers a comparison of the sexism she faced as an engineer and the sexism she now faces as a priest in the Church of England.
Crawley describes enduring catcalls, lewd gestures, and blatant displays of pornography by her male co-workers in the factory where she was an engineer. She writes:
On this day, Pope Benedict XVI is continuing his Apostolic Journey to Madrid on the occasion of the 26th World Youth Day.
Click here for live broadcasting from Vatican Television Center.
Illinois judge rules against Catholics on foster care
WYD Pope laments 'amnesia' about God
Religion debate raised anew in Nicaragua campaign
Philadelphia Archdiocese releases report on suspended priests
Catholic Medical Center in Manchester becomes third New Hampshire hospital to lay off employees and cut back on programs as a direct result of state budget changes.
Forth Worth, Texas Local Catholic churches warned of threats to priests
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