What's Wrong with Sebelius

1. Here's a surprisingly decent summary from CNN of the situation with the Sebelius nomination, including the very disappointing endorsement from Catholic Sen. Sam Brownback. Here is an excellent presentation of the reasons that Gov. Sebelius is unfit to serve as HHS Secretary, and a good overview of the news coverage of the religion angle of the nomination. George Weigel weighs in at First Things.

2. Let's always remember the proper standard against which to judge Gov. Sebelius' record -- and the record of any citizen or public official, Catholic or not -- which was set forth by Pope JP II in Evangelium Vitae: "Abortion and euthanasia are crimes which no human law can claim to legitimize. There is no obligation in conscience to obey such laws; instead there is a grave and clear obligation to oppose them by conscientious objection."

3. When Rep. Jerry Nadler was in the minority, he was just a bit of a joke. Now that he's in the majority, his radicalism is more serious -- now he has introduced a bill to repeal part of the Defense of Marriage Act. At the same time, a lawsuit is being filed to overturn DOMA, and California's Prop 8 is under attack in the legislature and the courts. Gee, do you think there might be a movement afoot to attack marriage?

4. A California clinic has begun to offer "designer babies" -- children who have been genetically manipulated to fulfill the desires of their parents. Meanwhile a bill has been introduced in Georgia to rein in the IVF industry.

5. Another advance in stem cell research that does not involve destroying human life. Yet, curiously, embryonic stem cell researchers don't seem to welcome the developments. Could it be a guilty conscience?

6. This sums up pretty much everything that's tragically wrong with some women's religious communities, in a nutshell -- absurdly unbalanced opposition to the "visitation" that was ordered by the Holy See, claiming that it is "violence" and advocating resistance. You would have thought that those who are most enamored of the mythical "spirit of Vatican II" would welcome a little of the Council's "aggiornamento" or openness. Ironic.

7. Moloch has re-emerged, and has posted on his blog. He's happy with the way things are going in Washington and in the culture.

8. Posted yesterday at my official ArchNY blog on the new threats to human life and our Church from the 100% anti-life Administration, mainly the rescinding of the conscience protection regulations and the Sebelius nomination.