Quote Of The Day

"The Amish do not carry health insurance. The government respects their principles. Christian Scientists want to heal by prayer alone, and the new health-care reform law respects that. Quakers and others object to killing even in wartime, and the government respects that principle for conscientious objectors. By its decision, the Obama administration has failed to show the same respect for the consciences of Catholics and others who object to treating pregnancy as a disease." -

--Archbishop Timothy Dolan of NYC, in response to the contraception/abortifacient mandate.

• Want to write to your representative about this? Here you go.
• Complain to the White House directly? How about here? (Warning: the process is slow.)

Completely nonhumorous reflections

Hi everyone. I'd like to update you on some things and explain my absence (physically and let's be honest, humorously)....

First, you may recall my sister in law Becky, who survived a massive and unexpected heart attack days after giving birth to her fourth child two years ago. Well, as fate would have it, she got pregnant again, and despite being told she should have an abortion by all sorts of medical people (not quite everyone, but lots), she did not: she carried the pregnancy through and now we have my newest nephew and future godson, Henry. (Amen, people!) Since the condition that caused the heart attack two years ago spikes with pregnancy hormones, she is in a danger zone right now, coming down from all those pregnancy hormones. Although she has beaten the odds, we would all appreciate prayers for her for a couple more weeks, that she would stay well. She has some beautiful reflections and pictures of baby Henry at her blog, if you want to pop over and send encouragement.

Second, the adoption process. Most of you know we are trying to adopt Alex, a 5 yr old boy with special needs, from Eastern Europe. We are close, very close to being done with paperwork--in fact, I thought we were done with the dossier, sent and everything, but then the fun-lovin' bureaucrats Alex's home country asked for three more documents. They are getting worked on. But soon. We hope to travel in March and I will be there three weeks (my husband slightly less). This adoption has felt a lot like a first trimester pregnancy, in that, I'm jittery (about the process, not the adoption itself): I don't like to share I am pregnant until 12 weeks, just in case I miscarry, and have to break bad news to everyone. Well, although most adoptions in Alex's home country are going well enough, a few have had some unnerving things happen, things we can't prevent (that is, not to do with our facilitators). So, I've been working on this a lot--almost every night for weeks--but not talking about it too much. Besides, there isn't much to say. Most people are asking at this point, do you know how he is doing in the mental institution (which he is in because the country places orphaned children with special needs there)? And the answer is no, we don't. We pray every day for him. But we don't know. So there isn't much to say, other than it is stressful. The adoption process is progressing, and we want it to be done.

Third, I am writing a whopper Theology text on Theology of the Body. It's very interesting and absorbing but I am under a real deadline here--I need most (let's say 3/4) done before we leave for Alex's country in order to get the book done this year. I'm 1/2 done writing a draft, and back into research. But all the research and writing is taking time to digest--I feel like I'm "chewing on it" from the time I step out of my office until the morning when I get back at it. It's not bad but absorbing, as I said.

Fourth, we're trying to rearrange the cramped house for more on pennies, trying to learn some Russian, my husband is up to his eyeballs in volunteer responsibilities, we have four kids. I'm not getting enough sleep. Life is busy.

Fifth, I'm not sure I can be funny about life in the Catholic Church right now. I've had a lot of ideas for potential posts, but no real time to develop them, and no real desire. It's probably just that I am really, really exhausted, and the things that get to me, instead of turning them upside down and presenting perspective through humor, I just sit and feel flat. I don't have the energy to puncture pretentiousness and provide a truthful lens. Which is too bad for me, because I enjoy doing this as a form of therapy and fun. You guys, probably no great loss. :-)

This is all to say I am, of necessity, taking a break. Prayers for Becky and prayers for our adoption process, and Alex, would be most appreciated. Maybe you can slide in a prayer for me and sic too. Thanks for reading and check back sometime...I do intend this to be a temporary break.

IC

p.s. Good reading while I'm gone: The Amused Catholic Ezine is a collection of mostly humorous blog posts....

Bumper stickers suddenly look subtle...

Caption Contest #110

Caption away in the midrash box.

UPDATE! We have a winner!
Paul Cat: On the count of three, everyone say "Crucify him!"

p.s. Paul also wins for the darkest caption ever composed on the Ironic Catholic. Congrats, I think.

Truth is Stranger #130: File Sharing is a religion...in Sweden

From the BBC, via The Deacon's Bench:

Sweden recognises new file-sharing religion Kopimism

A "church" whose central tenet is the right to file-share has been formally recognised by the Swedish government.

The Church of Kopimism claims that "kopyacting" - sharing information through copying - is akin to a religious service.

The "spiritual leader" of the church said recognition was a "large step".

...

The church, which holds CTRL+C and CTRL+V (shortcuts for copy and paste) as sacred symbols, does not directly promote illegal file sharing, focusing instead on the open distribution of knowledge to all.

It was founded by 19-year-old philosophy student and leader Isak Gerson. He hopes that file-sharing will now be given religious protection.

"For the Church of Kopimism, information is holy and copying is a sacrament. Information holds a value, in itself and in what it contains and the value multiplies through copying. Therefore copying is central for the organisation and its members," he said in a statement.

You know, just when you begin to despair regarding religion's intersection with modern culture, a group of wackjobs creates such an inane definition of a religion that all the major religious traditions' stock goes way (way, way, way) up.

But: is using Creative Commons now idolatry?

More here.

Working hard

...and kinda sick, and kinda avoiding the upwind skunk smells from Iowa* today (30 miles south of me), yada yada ya ya ya...

but there is funny (and thoughtful artsy) stuff at the Amused Catholic Ezine!


*p.s. nothing against Iowans. Just your event of the year going on today.

Kids Still Say the Darnedst Things (Aiii Yah! edition)

During family catechesis on the Solemnity of Mary, Most Holy Mother of God:

Me: See this picture of Mary? We call this one "Our Lady of Grace".

Chic #2 (9 yr old): Oh, look, Mom. She has a belt on in this one, so does that mean she's pregnant in this picture? (She's connecting with Our Lady of Guadalupe, FYI)

Chic #3 (6 yr old): Oh, I don't think so. I think this means she really likes karate!

(The symbolic possibilities abound....)

Blessed Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

...and Happy New Year 2012!

Truth Is Stranger #129: Let My Angora Goats Go! Or just get into the spirit of things and give birth already.

Animals must have their own interpretive takes on the perennial live nativities. But rarely are they so eloquently expressed....

First: a goat who thought he was signing up for the Exodus story.

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A goat that apparently didn't want to be part of a Minnesota Nativity scene has headed for greener pastures.

The 3-year-old Angora goat was supposed to have a supporting role at Bethlehem Church in Fergus Falls. Instead it escaped its leash Saturday afternoon....

More here on the lamb on the lam. (OK, it's a goat, but it should be lamb anyway.)


Second: "Uh Mom, what's that sheep doing?" "Hush, dear, sing Silent Night with us."

CINCINNATI (AP) — A lamb has been born unto a Cincinnati nativity display.

The Krohn Conservatory says that a night watchman oversaw the Christmas Eve delivery for a sheep that was part of the live-animal display. ....

More here. And at least they aren't naming the lamb "Jesus."

I Was Always A Little Jealous of Hannukah. Until Now.

And that's just the beginning of the...Hannukah Cake Wrecks.

And how has YOUR Christmas been?

We went to mass. Then: we wrapped, we ate, we unwrapped, we ate, we traveled, we ate, we visited, we ate, our car died, we drank, we fixed it, we ate, we came home.

Festive Octave of Christmas, everyone. Back at it.

Merry Christmas

Print of woodcut by Fritz Eichenberg, a prime artist of the Catholic Worker movement, 1954.

Dropping security blankets....

From Fr. James Martin via fb:

"Today on The Washington Post chat a reader mentioned something beautiful that I had never noticed: When Linus recites the story of the Nativity in 'A Charlie Brown Christmas,' he unexpectedly drops his security blanket. With the Word of God he has no need for any other security."

Spoken like a spiritual director, and Amen! On that note, I'll see you after Christmas (well, with a pre-set for Christmas Day). Blessed advent and blessed feast of the Incarnation, everyone.

Pre-Christmas Zinger

The couple, looking tired and overburdened from the many things they had to do to prepare for the holiday, scrambled onto the crowded elevator at the department store, trying (with only partial success) not to drop any of their packages. As the elevator door closed, the husband let out an exasperated sigh and said, "Whoever invented Christmas ought to be shot." From the back of the elevator, a quiet voice said, "Don't worry. We already crucified Him."

It was a mighty quiet ride down to the first floor.

(used with permission from Fr. Mark McKercher on facebook)