Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Monday, January 30, 2012
Problems with Catholicism
I was raised Catholic, but the Church's recent activity in the U.S. have soured me.
Example one: protesting a federal government ruling that Catholic-affiliated institutions (not churches) must provide employees with health insurance that covers birth control with no co-pay. The Catholic Church says that it's morally wrong to use birth control, a fact that 95% of Catholic women seem to disagree with.
This only strengthens the argument by David Morris recently that the Catholic Church is a refuge for totalitarianism, and that it disproportionately focuses on issues of sex and marriage when the gospels focus disproportionately on inequality and social justice.
I still like my church, but the Church needs to get its priorities straight. Inequality of wealth is nearing all-time highs in the United States, and I think Jesus would have spent more time protesting corporate greed that contraception.
Example one: protesting a federal government ruling that Catholic-affiliated institutions (not churches) must provide employees with health insurance that covers birth control with no co-pay. The Catholic Church says that it's morally wrong to use birth control, a fact that 95% of Catholic women seem to disagree with.
This only strengthens the argument by David Morris recently that the Catholic Church is a refuge for totalitarianism, and that it disproportionately focuses on issues of sex and marriage when the gospels focus disproportionately on inequality and social justice.
The Church does speak occasionally on issues Jesus most cared about — the plight of the poor and the needy and the weak and the immigrant. Last year, during the budget dispute, Archbishop Nienstedt wrote to Gov. Mark Dayton asking him to "not rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to those living in poverty." But he did not initiate committees to influence policies. He did not ask for special prayers at Mass, nor classes on inequality. He did not send teams into high schools to educate students about the dangers of inequality and the growing needs of the poor.
I still like my church, but the Church needs to get its priorities straight. Inequality of wealth is nearing all-time highs in the United States, and I think Jesus would have spent more time protesting corporate greed that contraception.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
Why Parents (Should Be Able To) Complain
I've got two kids now, and they are wonderful little rug rats. The oldest is almost three, and has all the delightful imagination, play, and mind-numbing challenges that come with that age. The youngest is 7 months, and she's 100% smiles and cheer, and also tons of work with her acid reflux and teething.
Sometimes I feel like I'm expected to enjoy every second of having kids, otherwise "why did I have them?"
That's why this blog post really hit home:
We don't only do things we enjoy all the time. Sometimes we do hard things because the moments along the way are worthwhile.
Sometimes I feel like I'm expected to enjoy every second of having kids, otherwise "why did I have them?"
That's why this blog post really hit home:
I think parenting young children (and old ones, I’ve heard) is a little like climbing Mount Everest. Brave, adventurous souls try it because they’ve heard there’s magic in the climb. They try because they believe that finishing, or even attempting the climb are impressive accomplishments. They try because during the climb, if they allow themselves to pause and lift their eyes and minds from the pain and drudgery, the views are breathtaking. They try because even though it hurts and it’s hard, there are moments that make it worth the hard. These moments are so intense and unique that many people who reach the top start planning, almost immediately, to climb again. Even though any climber will tell you that most of the climb is treacherous, exhausting, killer. That they literally cried most of the way up.
And so I think that if there were people stationed, say, every thirty feet along Mount Everest yelling to the climbers – “ARE YOU ENJOYING YOURSELF!? IF NOT, YOU SHOULD BE! ONE DAY YOU’LL BE SORRY YOU DIDN’T!” TRUST US!! IT’LL BE OVER TOO SOON! CARPE DIEM!” - those well-meaning, nostalgic cheerleaders might be physically thrown from the mountain.
We don't only do things we enjoy all the time. Sometimes we do hard things because the moments along the way are worthwhile.
Monday, January 09, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)