The Affordable Care Act is to be tested again beginning March 23, 2016 in the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS), this time by the Roman Catholic Church's religious order of the Little Sisters of the Poor.
The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) has allowed that religious-affiliated organizations not to provide contraception to their employees, but requires such organizations to sign papers documenting their objection to this part of the Act. Such an objection would force the insurer or some other healthcare plan insurer to provide the birth control coverage. This alternative is also objected to by Little Sisters.
The furthering of an explanation of the issue by SCOTUS brings into the debate the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) as in the Hobby Lobby case. Provision by the organization (Little Sisters, in this case) of no-cost contraceptive to employees is a mandate of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Little Sisters' objection to the mandate on religious conviction is what will be argued.
Ave Maria University and the Anglican Chaplains Jurisdiction of the Anglican Church in North America have filed Amici Curiae brief for the upcoming court hearing.
In the "Summary of Argument" the amici curiae states that "The Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) Jurisdiction of the Armed Forces and Chaplaincy is part of the Anglican Communion, the world's third largest Christian Communion with over 85 million members. ACNA's endorser, Bishop Derek Jones, is a retired U.S. Air Force officer and decorated fighter pilot who served 27 years and helped lead the development of the joint military religious affairs doctrine.
"Ave Maria University ("AMU") was founded in 2003 in fidelity to Christ and His Church in response to the call of Vatican II for greater lay witness in contemporary society. ...
The amici curiae are organizations with extensive experience concerning the free exercise of religion in the United States. ..."
Any interested observer can see that the Little Sisters religious convictions would be violated if the HHS mandate is held. Also, one can see how a Christian military chaplain, an officer, would be placed in serious jeopardy of violating military conduct should the mandate be held by SCOTUS.
The court, in accepting this case, combined at least six other suits: (1) Roman Catholic Archbishop of Washington v. Burwell; (2) East Texas Baptist University v. Burwell; (3) Zubik v. Burwell; (4) Priests for Life v. Burwell; (5) Southern Nazarene University v. Burwell; and (6) Geneva College v. Burwell.
Five of the eight justices are Roman Catholic: Chief Justice John Roberts; and Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Anthony Kennedy, and Sonia Sotomayer.
Let us pray for ACNA Bishop Derek Jones, the leaders of Ave Maria University, and their legal counsel of record, Scott W. Haylord, Professor Law at Elon University, that their argument will be received as sound, reasonable to the Court, and faithful to their convictions. Therefore, finding in favor of the Little Sisters of the Poor and other dedicated Christians.
Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Donald Trump and University of Illinois-Chicago Event
On Friday evening, March 11, 2016, a presidential candidate was scheduled to deliver a speech in a building on the urban campus of the University of Illinois at Chicago. Things did not go right, or did it?
According to television news coverage, apparently the people who wanted to hear Donald Trump speak did not have that opportunity because an organized and successful disruption campaign trumped (pun intended) the scheduled political rally. Shouts of "we won, we won" were heard and reported by the media present on the streets. So, who won? Consider the following items.
Item #1: The University of Illinois-Chicago is one of most radical, left-leaning universities in Chicago if not the nation.
Item #2: "Former" anarchist and founder of the Weather Underground, Bill Ayers, is a "distinguished" professor at University of Illinois-Chicago.
Item #3: Bill Ayers and President Obama were/are friends, certainly they were former political associates. One can consider Ayers expert in rallying students toward radical-left purposes.
Item #4: Chicago has a history of violent demonstration. Many people remember the 1968 Democratic National Convention and the violent demonstrations outside the convention arena as well as some scuffles inside the convention center. Remember when reporter Dan Rather was shoved around?
Item #5: Donald Trump and his campaign leadership team, for certain, had to have been aware of the four items listed above.
Could it be that the Trump campaign concluded, well in advance of scheduling the rally at that particular venue, that such a disruption could occur? I think so.
One should understand that free speech was violated last evening - the Trump campaign was not allowed to exercise its First Amendment right to free speech.
What happened last evening occurred not in fascist Italy or Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s; it was staged in the United States of America, a continuing constitutional republic in the 21st century.
Keep in mind the end result of last evening's event as you read the definition of FASCISM from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
One can speculate that this organized disruption had the backing of or was instigated my the group known as move-on dot org. Certainly one can speculate collusion by George Soros and his million$ in that event.
I have written earlier in this blog of the inevitable result of a continuance of liberal-progressive policy/governance: eventually liberalism runs out of targets to attack and therefore is consumed by a strong-man, a dictator, a totalitarian.
Given the media coverage following last evening's disruption, liberal-progressive politics was on ugly display - and the demonstrators were true to their beliefs for all of America and the world to witness.
I believe that the Trump organization was brilliant in that it knew that a disruption of that magnitiude might very well happen. So again, who won?
According to television news coverage, apparently the people who wanted to hear Donald Trump speak did not have that opportunity because an organized and successful disruption campaign trumped (pun intended) the scheduled political rally. Shouts of "we won, we won" were heard and reported by the media present on the streets. So, who won? Consider the following items.
Item #1: The University of Illinois-Chicago is one of most radical, left-leaning universities in Chicago if not the nation.
Item #2: "Former" anarchist and founder of the Weather Underground, Bill Ayers, is a "distinguished" professor at University of Illinois-Chicago.
Item #3: Bill Ayers and President Obama were/are friends, certainly they were former political associates. One can consider Ayers expert in rallying students toward radical-left purposes.
Item #4: Chicago has a history of violent demonstration. Many people remember the 1968 Democratic National Convention and the violent demonstrations outside the convention arena as well as some scuffles inside the convention center. Remember when reporter Dan Rather was shoved around?
Item #5: Donald Trump and his campaign leadership team, for certain, had to have been aware of the four items listed above.
Could it be that the Trump campaign concluded, well in advance of scheduling the rally at that particular venue, that such a disruption could occur? I think so.
One should understand that free speech was violated last evening - the Trump campaign was not allowed to exercise its First Amendment right to free speech.
What happened last evening occurred not in fascist Italy or Nazi Germany in the 1930s and 1940s; it was staged in the United States of America, a continuing constitutional republic in the 21st century.
Keep in mind the end result of last evening's event as you read the definition of FASCISM from the Merriam-Webster Dictionary:
Fascism is "a way of organizing a society in which a government
ruled by a dictator controls the lives of the people and in which
people are not allowed to disagree with the government;
a very harsh control or authority.
One can speculate that this organized disruption had the backing of or was instigated my the group known as move-on dot org. Certainly one can speculate collusion by George Soros and his million$ in that event.
I have written earlier in this blog of the inevitable result of a continuance of liberal-progressive policy/governance: eventually liberalism runs out of targets to attack and therefore is consumed by a strong-man, a dictator, a totalitarian.
Given the media coverage following last evening's disruption, liberal-progressive politics was on ugly display - and the demonstrators were true to their beliefs for all of America and the world to witness.
I believe that the Trump organization was brilliant in that it knew that a disruption of that magnitiude might very well happen. So again, who won?
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Bernie is the logical successor to Obama, not Hillary
Bernie is the logical political successor to Obama, not Hillary
In previous posts I have explained how Progressive politics (if "successful") morphs over time into totalitarianism. The historical and logical movement of Progressivism is toward Socialism. Socialism eventually consumes itself. Therefore, in order to maintain control of government, the leaders at the "end" of the socialism experiment must become dictators. The term Democratic Socialism is an inevitable oxymoron. I use the word "inevitable" because Socialist political candidates are, at first, elected. That "first election" is the last or final election also.
The Obama administration has progressively moved the government of the United States into aspects of Socialism. Through his executive orders Obama has demonstrated his post-Socialism tendencies.
Unlike Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton has experienced the rewards of (crony) capitalism and has never yet shown or been able to implement socialism in the United States. Clandestine in her actions, a sleuth perhaps, I do not think Hillary shares Bernie's expressed socialistic beliefs.
Therefore, it is Bernie and his proposed policies that naturally flow from, or extend the policies of, the Obama administration.
BE CAREFUL IN YOUR VOTING AMERICA!
Monday, February 8, 2016
An Abandoned White Middle Class, an analysis
The question that this writer/editor is answering is "What is driving the populist movement in the 2016 election?" It is a relatively short article, but analytically astute.
"One can make an argument that over the long haul economic globalization will be good for all Americans. Perhaps, but in the meantime the gap grows. The top end of society is thoroughly committed. This leads to the following problem for politicians: The Democratic establishment must lie about its economic commitments, while promising to take care of the middle class, and Republicans can be frank about their free-market commitments, while having very little to offer middle class voters." R.R. Reno, FIRST THINGS magazine.
First Things article by R.R. Reno, click here
"One can make an argument that over the long haul economic globalization will be good for all Americans. Perhaps, but in the meantime the gap grows. The top end of society is thoroughly committed. This leads to the following problem for politicians: The Democratic establishment must lie about its economic commitments, while promising to take care of the middle class, and Republicans can be frank about their free-market commitments, while having very little to offer middle class voters." R.R. Reno, FIRST THINGS magazine.
First Things article by R.R. Reno, click here
Sunday, February 7, 2016
Madeleine, O Madeleine
Madeleine, O Madeleine
Lecture them Maddie, O
lecture them well,
Those young women who
don’t fall in line.
With party rhetoric
meant to overwhelm
Them, as if rotten
grapes fallen from the vine.
There is a place for all in her party,
Just one place actually,
for like schools of thought.
Diversity in this case is
not hearty
With branches
differently brought.
Religion and politics
dare mix
When politicians wax
wrecklessly with theology.
The many mansions in my
Father’s house is the fix;
Scolding and oppressing
young sisters tests Maddie’s own soteriology.
If “there’s a special
place in hell
For women who don’t help
each other,”
There’s a complementary
comparison as well.
Like the party, hell has
no diversity and will smother?
Madeleine, O Madeleine,
We know what you’re
thinking.
Your young women have
not fallen in line
And friend Hillary’s future is sinking.
Madeleine, O Madeleine,
hell hath no fury
Like a scorned candidate’s
pride.
Perhaps a young women’s
jury
Is saying farewell as William
mourns his desperate bride.
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Lord and Lady Carey of Clifton in Birmingham, Alabama
February 6, 2016
Two weeks ago I was contacted by The Living Church (TLC) magazine. A former Archbishop of Canterbury would be visiting Birmingham and had been scheduled to preach at the opening convocation of the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University. TLC asked me to cover the archbishop's visit and submit an article to be published. I accepted.
Since this assignment was a "last minute" activity I contacted the dean's office at Beeson. I asked for permission to interview the archbishop during his visit. Dr. Timothy George is the founding dean of Beeson and had made the decision to not encumber the archbishop's visit with interviews. I understood his rationale. If I were to interview, separately, the archbishop so would other reporters present.
I drove to the divinity school early on Tuesday morning, January 26, to make sure that I would have a good seat in the chapel. As I entered the chapel building Dean George entered. He asked if he could help me. I told him who I was and he remembered the call I made to his administrative assistant the previous Friday. I said, "Yes, you could help me." Dr. George a gracious gentlemen, said "Sure."
He then introduced me to his office staff and asked them to give me the "best seat in the house." And so they did. I took my notepad, digital recorder, and camera and placed them on the left side of the front left pew. Since the opening convocation service was more than two hours later, I stepped out of the chapel for a few minutes to talk with two seminarians that I knew.
After about fifteen minutes I returned to the chapel. Still mostly empty, four people stood in the chapel next to high pulpit - three women and one man. I could hear them talking but they were facing the chancel. Two of the women were Dr. George's administrative assistants, the third woman was Lady Carey and the gentleman was the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey. One of the administrative assistants, whom I just met minutes earlier in Dr. George's office, saw me and walked Lord and Lady Carey to me and made introductions.
Both Lord and Lady (Ellen) Carey are wonderful conversationalists and I had an easy go of it talking with them. I told the archbishop who I was in terms of canonical status ( I am a deacon in the Anglican Diocese of the South of the Anglican Church in North America - I went even further and told him that I am one of several deacons whose bishop-ordinary is ACNA's Primate, ++Foley Beach) and in my role as a reporter for TLC. I decided to then take a bold step.
"Archbishop," I said. "When these events at Beeson have concluded, would you be willing to talk with me in an interview?" He had no problem with my request. But then I said, "You probably know that TLC wants me to ask you one question in particular, don't you?" He smiled gently and responded, "Yes, I do."
TLC magazine and many others wanted to learn his perspective about the recent decision made by a gathering of the Primates (senior archbishops) of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Lord Carey told me that he would address that question after that afternoon's luncheon. And so he did.
The luncheon was held "uphill" from the Hodges Chapel. Luncheon guests probably planned to walk to the luncheon. But just prior to the convocation's end rain began falling heavily. A seminarian and I rode to the luncheon in my car but had to walk through the rain. Parking at Samford University is difficult if you have no special parking identification. I didn't. Approximately 80 guests attended the luncheon honoring Lord and Lady Carey. Salmon was served with sides and a dessert. It was an excellent meal.
After the luncheon with invited guests, which included the Dean of the Cathedral Church of the Advent of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama (TEC) and three bishops of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), Lord Carey spoke. He said that he has been asked to comment on the Primates' decision and will do so now.
Lord Carey told his audience that Justin Welby, the current Archbishop of Canterbury - the convener of the Primates' gathering - placed a telephone call to him about the upcoming gathering. "We had a personal conversation [in] which he set up [to me] what he was proposing to do - [and] what he was hoping to gain from our conversation. So, I was honored with that confidentiality and I am not going to say anything that's going to upset the process." That was that.
His only other comment was an observation that the Anglican Communion is presently acting like a federation similar to the worldwide Lutheran Federation. It will not be a communion in reality until its several provinces begin meeting and talking with each other again.
Lord and Lady Carey spent the remainder of the week as guests of the dean of the Cathedral Church of the Advent. The archbishop delivered several lectures during the week and presided over the services the following Sunday morning.
This Beeson event marked the third time that I had met and talked with Archbishop George Carey. My first meeting with him was in 1997 at The Club overlooking South Side Birmingham. He was honored with a dinner by the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. My wife Patricia and I were able to get a picture of us with the archbishop.
Some years later, probably around 2005, the archbishop was a guest preacher the annual noontime Lenten Services at the Cathedral Church of the Advent. Again, my wife and I met him and Mrs. Carey for the second time. I showed him the picture from years earlier. He signed the picture. I digitized it.
I just wanted to document this particular moment at Beeson in 2016 and a few other memories.
WENjr 2016
Two weeks ago I was contacted by The Living Church (TLC) magazine. A former Archbishop of Canterbury would be visiting Birmingham and had been scheduled to preach at the opening convocation of the Beeson Divinity School at Samford University. TLC asked me to cover the archbishop's visit and submit an article to be published. I accepted.
Since this assignment was a "last minute" activity I contacted the dean's office at Beeson. I asked for permission to interview the archbishop during his visit. Dr. Timothy George is the founding dean of Beeson and had made the decision to not encumber the archbishop's visit with interviews. I understood his rationale. If I were to interview, separately, the archbishop so would other reporters present.
I drove to the divinity school early on Tuesday morning, January 26, to make sure that I would have a good seat in the chapel. As I entered the chapel building Dean George entered. He asked if he could help me. I told him who I was and he remembered the call I made to his administrative assistant the previous Friday. I said, "Yes, you could help me." Dr. George a gracious gentlemen, said "Sure."
He then introduced me to his office staff and asked them to give me the "best seat in the house." And so they did. I took my notepad, digital recorder, and camera and placed them on the left side of the front left pew. Since the opening convocation service was more than two hours later, I stepped out of the chapel for a few minutes to talk with two seminarians that I knew.
After about fifteen minutes I returned to the chapel. Still mostly empty, four people stood in the chapel next to high pulpit - three women and one man. I could hear them talking but they were facing the chancel. Two of the women were Dr. George's administrative assistants, the third woman was Lady Carey and the gentleman was the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury, George Carey. One of the administrative assistants, whom I just met minutes earlier in Dr. George's office, saw me and walked Lord and Lady Carey to me and made introductions.
Both Lord and Lady (Ellen) Carey are wonderful conversationalists and I had an easy go of it talking with them. I told the archbishop who I was in terms of canonical status ( I am a deacon in the Anglican Diocese of the South of the Anglican Church in North America - I went even further and told him that I am one of several deacons whose bishop-ordinary is ACNA's Primate, ++Foley Beach) and in my role as a reporter for TLC. I decided to then take a bold step.
Hodges Chapel - Beeson Divinity School
Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama
Lady Ellen Carey, Deacon Woody Norman, Lord George Carey
"Archbishop," I said. "When these events at Beeson have concluded, would you be willing to talk with me in an interview?" He had no problem with my request. But then I said, "You probably know that TLC wants me to ask you one question in particular, don't you?" He smiled gently and responded, "Yes, I do."
TLC magazine and many others wanted to learn his perspective about the recent decision made by a gathering of the Primates (senior archbishops) of the worldwide Anglican Communion. Lord Carey told me that he would address that question after that afternoon's luncheon. And so he did.
The luncheon was held "uphill" from the Hodges Chapel. Luncheon guests probably planned to walk to the luncheon. But just prior to the convocation's end rain began falling heavily. A seminarian and I rode to the luncheon in my car but had to walk through the rain. Parking at Samford University is difficult if you have no special parking identification. I didn't. Approximately 80 guests attended the luncheon honoring Lord and Lady Carey. Salmon was served with sides and a dessert. It was an excellent meal.
After the luncheon with invited guests, which included the Dean of the Cathedral Church of the Advent of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama (TEC) and three bishops of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), Lord Carey spoke. He said that he has been asked to comment on the Primates' decision and will do so now.
Lord Carey told his audience that Justin Welby, the current Archbishop of Canterbury - the convener of the Primates' gathering - placed a telephone call to him about the upcoming gathering. "We had a personal conversation [in] which he set up [to me] what he was proposing to do - [and] what he was hoping to gain from our conversation. So, I was honored with that confidentiality and I am not going to say anything that's going to upset the process." That was that.
His only other comment was an observation that the Anglican Communion is presently acting like a federation similar to the worldwide Lutheran Federation. It will not be a communion in reality until its several provinces begin meeting and talking with each other again.
Lord and Lady Carey spent the remainder of the week as guests of the dean of the Cathedral Church of the Advent. The archbishop delivered several lectures during the week and presided over the services the following Sunday morning.
This Beeson event marked the third time that I had met and talked with Archbishop George Carey. My first meeting with him was in 1997 at The Club overlooking South Side Birmingham. He was honored with a dinner by the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. My wife Patricia and I were able to get a picture of us with the archbishop.
Some years later, probably around 2005, the archbishop was a guest preacher the annual noontime Lenten Services at the Cathedral Church of the Advent. Again, my wife and I met him and Mrs. Carey for the second time. I showed him the picture from years earlier. He signed the picture. I digitized it.
THE CLUB - Birmingham, Alabama
Patricia Norman, Archbishop George Carey, Deacon Woody Norman
I just wanted to document this particular moment at Beeson in 2016 and a few other memories.
WENjr 2016
J.I. Packer: Taking God Seriously short video
J.I. Packer became Professor of Systematic and Historical Theology at Regent College in 1979. In 1989, he was installed as the first Sangwoo Youtong Chee Professor of Theology. In 1996, he became Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology.
J.I. Packer has preached and lectured widely in Great Britain and North America, and is a frequent contributor to theological periodicals.
This video asks a simple question: Do you know what you believe?
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