Catholic Witness -- More

1. NDU is apparently completely unaffected by Mary Ann Glendon's presumably unprecedented declination of their honor. Ho-hum, just another day at the Golden Dome. So they just issue a two-line press release, and claim blandly that they will find some other worthy recipient to re-gift the award to. Let's see, who would fit in with the tenor of the event -- Doug Kmiec? Joe Biden? Caroline Kennedy? Nancy Pelosi? Tom Daschle? Kathleen Sebelius? Is Mario Cuomo still alive? What about Justice Roger Brooke Taney? Really, what Catholic with any self-respect would accept the award under these circumstances?

2. This is a long but excellent summation of the significance of Ambassador Glendon's decision.

3. Some interesting background on the Catholicity of the students at NDU. There's way too much puffery in the article, and no hard questions about the Catholicity of the faculty (McBrien? Never heard of him!). I can see this article being sent to nervous Cathoilc parents in next year's recruitment package to allay their fears and ease the transfer of tuition funds to the university's accounts. Still, it's nice to see orthodox Catholic kids being given positive treatment in the media.

4. On the other hand, we have the sad case of Gov. Sebelius, who has conformed herself to the Culture of Death, and who now will be rewarded by Caesar for it.

5. Kathryn Jean Lopez on the bizarre approval our culture gives to porn, despite the clear harm it does to people.

6. Fascinating account of Cardinal George's recent conversation with the President. The President, like most politicians, insists that he agrees with everyone, and everyone agrees with him, even when they actually disagree.

7. The Brave New World advances further. Now there's a clinic in the UK that is storing humans in the embryonic stage of development, so their parents can use them as spare parts. Utilitarianism marches on. Oh, but don't worry, we can trust Congress not to consider funding the cloning of human beings. Not.

8. Some people have claimed that I'm unduly partisan, and that I never agree with the Administration. Well, here's something I agree with: "Biden conceded his loose tongue makes him ripe for parody and said good-naturedly that 'much of the ridicule of me is well deserved.'" I certainly agree with that.

9. Another fallen warrior who fought the good fight -- John Marchi, long time State Senator from Staten Island. See here and here.

10. Blogged yesterday about Mary Ann Glendon, and also about John Marchi -- "Public Catholicism As It Should Be".