Defending the 12th century since the 14th; blogging since the 21st.

Catholicism, Conservatism, the Middle Ages, Opera, and Historical and Literary Objets d'Art blogged by a suburban dad who teaches law and writes stuff.


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"Too modest" -- Elinor Dashwood

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"Hat tip: me (but really Cacciaguida)" -- Diana Feygin, Editor, THE YALE FREE PRESS

"You are my sire. You give me confidence to speak. You raise my heart so high that I am no more I." -- Dante

"Fabulous!"-- Warlock D.J. Prod of Didsbury

Who was Cacciaguida? See Dante's PARADISO, Cantos XV, XVI, & XVII.


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Media are overplaying the "Holocaust denial flap" angle, naturally -- but it is one of the angles to the story, and, on the whole, I think it's a good idea to bring the Pontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei under the jurisdiction of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, as the Holy Father has now done.

For one thing, Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos, though a devoted and energetic friend of the re-mainstreaming of the Extraordinary Form, was also a little bit like a 13-year-old boy with a laser-blaster. More than once he articulated the status of SSPX-adherents as more legit than it actually is, and if he wasn't actually responsible for the under-vetted action in re Williamson (the fact that no one in the Curia of the rank of archbishop or higher is aware of Google, or else thinks it's a number, probably had more to do with it), he sure didn't do backflips of regret over it.

Also he's 80. Five years past retirement age.

The CDF under Cardinal Levada has been doing a good job (contrary to some people's fears when this, Pope Benedict's first appointment, was made). Time to let CDF supervise PCED.
posted by Cacciaguida at 9:02 PM

 
USA Today says: Top Republicans puzzled by Palin's abrupt resignation.

You know somethng? Top Republicans puzzle easily.

Besides that, the article simply doesn't back up its hedder. It devotes its second and third grafs to Sen. Chuck Grassley -- who has been puzzling top Republicans since he first took his Senate seat in 1979. After that, it cites various Republicans who are backing Palin up and seeking her out as a campaigner.

Only at the end does the piece find three Republicans whom it can quote as something other than Palin backers. Only one of them -- Karl Rove -- is credible, as speaking from a detached point of view (he hasn't been hired by any other candidate yet, has he?) The other two are Mike Huckabee, Palin's obvious bitter rival for the Evangelical vote, and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, a scratch-your-eyes-out Palin-hater ever since Palin beat Murkowski's daddy in a gubernatorial primary.

But of course, we sophisticates all know to laugh when Sarah blames the media....
posted by Cacciaguida at 1:38 AM