Archive for September 30, 2010

The president not the only one behind when it comes to appointments

Posted: September 30, 2010 by datechguy in catholic, politics
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It looks like the prez is going to have to wait for some of his appointments a bit longer:

By scheduling pro-forma sessions on Mondays and Fridays, lawmakers can take away Obama’s ability to make recess appointments.

Obama had 115 executive- and judicial-branch nominees pending on the Senate’s executive calendar as of Wednesday afternoon.

Bad sign for the president considering the incredible majorities he has in both houses. But as Father Z reports the Washington is not the only place where there are a lot of open seats waiting to be filled:

There are at present quite a few important curial positions and sees around the world which usually have cardinals… but don’t.

At the time of this writing, I believe there are 103 voting cardinals (men who have not turned 80 years old). By the end of November two more cardinals will hit 80 (Tumi, Pujats), bringing the number of voting cardinals down to 101. By the end of next February, four more (Panafieu, Vidal, García-Gasco, Ruini – sadly) – 97. By the end of April two more (Keeler, Sebastiani) – 95. So, an American and two Italians will have dropped from the list, leaving 10 Americans and 15 Italians as electors.

I won’t even pretend to know the inside baseball of the Vatican but with an elderly pope, the men who are elevated to cardinal now will have a lot to do with the direction of the church for decades.

Day 4 More Colbert but no Doj on Morning Joe

Posted: September 30, 2010 by datechguy in internet/free speech, media
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They are still talking Colbert on Morning Joe. I have yet to see them mention the DOJ scandal this week, Washington post front page not withstanding.

Politico right now is saying that Democrats regret having him up there, I think the administration doesn’t regret it at all. Mission accomplished!

Remember the worst media bias is not the actual report, it is choosing what stories get reported (re: Time and Militia this week) and those that do not (DOJ scandal).

The Pope and the Church quietly move forward

Posted: September 30, 2010 by datechguy in catholic
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While everything is election election election in the US things continue to get interesting in England:

Anglo-Catholicism within the Church of England is evaporating like a cloud of incense rolling down the nave. Those Anglicans who have decided to take advantage of Pope Benedict XVI’s historic offer of special privileges within the Roman Catholic Church are already constructing a network of Ordinariate communities that will bear fruit in new Catholic parishes. Crucially, they are led by two “flying” Anglican bishops, the Rt Rev Andrew Burnham of Ebbsfleet and the Rt Rev Keith Newton of Richborough.

When you have media that thinks in terms of winning a media day vs the Church that looks at things in terms of centuries there really is no contest at all is there?

Update: The Anchoress points out this isn’t just going on in England:

On the heels of Pope Benedict’s well-received visit to the United Kingdom came the announcement last week of the CDF’s appointment of Archbishop Donald Wuerl, of Washington, as its delegate, “to guide the incorporation of Anglican groups into the Catholic Church in the United States.”

Yeah. It’s a big deal. And today, NETNY, Brooklyn Diocese-run channel that broadcasts, among other things, the nation’s only daily Catholic news program, scored an interview with Wuerl that helps clarify what the Ordinariate means for both Anglicans and Catholics, and how many Anglican congregations and parishes will be proceeding toward full Communion with Rome, and what the process will look like.

This is not about individual “conversions” but about how whole parishes may be incorporated into Communion with Rome, while maintaining their heritage, their liturgy and music (and anyone watching the gorgeous Evening Prayer at which Pope Benedict participated while in England will understand their desire to maintain it). Wuerl does a good job of laying out the basics.

This development will make many liberal in the US go Kryten

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