Spin, Spin, Spin, to What End?

1. Fr. Jenkins of NDU spins, spins, spins in a letter to the graduates, and still shows no signs of awareness of the problem. Disturbing line in the letter: "a Catholic university has a special obligation not just to honor the leader, but to engage the culture". Um, sorry, Father, but our "leader" is Jesus Christ, not a temporary office holder, and the obligation is not to "engage" the culture but to transform it in light of the Gospel of Christ (see Lumen Gentium 36). Meanwhile, alums are withholding donations to the tune of $14 million. The White House blithely dismisses all the opposition as if it's the work of one small marginalized group. Clueless, one and all.

2. Michael Novak offers the President better advice on what to say at NDU.

3. So now that NPR has run a story on the religious liberty dangers of same-sex "marriage", will the advocates stop accusing us of fear-mongering and lying? Will our legislators now take notice of the persecution and calumny of the Church that is to come? Such as when a government-funded agency in the UK denounces those who oppose homosexual adoption as "retarded homophobes".

4. So who cares about marriage anyway? Perhaps the 40% of American children, born out of wedlock, who are probably going to be growing up in a stable family that has both a mother and a father in their lives, might have a concern in this regard. Social engineering produces results, and the product isn't good.

5. The Nigerian bishops issue a statement in support of the Holy Father's position on HIV/AIDS and condoms.

6. Beautiful story of a mother who sacrificed herself by foregoing cancer treatment that would harm her unborn child. St. Gianna, please pray for her and her family.

7. Interesting reflection by Fr. James Schall on the problems with speaking of "rights" that are rooted only in man-made law, instead of in the natural law.

8. You don't often see someone excommunicate themselves by an openly schismatic act. Yet a deacon of the Diocese of Scranton, has announced that he will leave the True Church and risk his immortal soul by joining the Church of What's Happening Now. Please pray for his return to the faith.

9. The Anchoress, apropos of the Miss California flap, offers sound advice to all, especially to Christian women: don't take your shirt off, and don't let others use you as an object. Please.