Author: Joe Heschmeyer

How Can Vegetarians Not Be Pro-Life?

A while back, PETA continued their descent into self-parody by releasing a statement opposing Obama’s swatting of a fly. No, seriously. Ok, actually, the story’s a little more complex: PETA was asked by numerous reporters, and said some pretty mild stuff about Obama not being Buddha, but the media coverage would have you believe that… Continue reading How Can Vegetarians Not Be Pro-Life?

It’s A Poor Builder Who Blames His Instruments…

…while the Master Builder can build masterpieces with any set of tools. Or fools. In an ongoing discussion with one of my Calvinist friends a few weeks ago, he said, “I fear that the heirarchies of the Catholic church detract from the kingship of Christ, who I believe needs no prime minister and serves actively… Continue reading It’s A Poor Builder Who Blames His Instruments…

Contraception and Homosexuality

Archbishop Rowan Williams, the spiritual head of the Anglican Communion, had this to say on the topic of homosexuality and contraception: In a church that accepts the legitimacy of contraception, the absolute condemnation of same-sex relations of intimacy must rely either on an abstract fundamentalist deployment of a number of very ambiguous biblical texts, or… Continue reading Contraception and Homosexuality

Anglicanism: Rotting From the Top Down?

Anglican Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams has caught my attention lately. If you’re not aware, he’s the head of the Anglican Communion, including the Episcopal Church here in the US. The man is something of a tragic figure. He’s usually painted as a conservative who’s too diplomatic or weak-willed to impose his brand of orthodoxy… Continue reading Anglicanism: Rotting From the Top Down?

Was Judas at Jesus’ Right Hand at The Last Supper?

Over on Mark Shea’s blog, there’s been a lively, ahem, “discussion,” on how graphic (particularly, how scatological, more or less) Christ can be depicted devoutly. On the one hand, it seems blasphemous (or at least in extremely ill-taste) to talk about Jesus’ bodily functions. But on the other hand, it was St. Augustine who said… Continue reading Was Judas at Jesus’ Right Hand at The Last Supper?

Study Shows: “Population Bomb” Theory Rots Statisticians’ Brains

Imagine reading a lead-in to a story that said something like, “For people who are looking for ways to help the economy, here’s one radical idea that could have a big long-term impact, some economists say: Close your business.” To explain further, they might say something even more bizarre, like: “A study by economists at… Continue reading Study Shows: “Population Bomb” Theory Rots Statisticians’ Brains

Happy Feast of St. John Vianney!

Today celebrates the 150th anniversary of St. John Vianney’s death. It is this day that prompted Pope Benedict’s Year for Priests. Here are a few things that I find awesome about St. John Vianney, better known as the Curé of Ars: He could hardly speak Latin. He failed his entrance exam for the seminary the… Continue reading Happy Feast of St. John Vianney!

St. Francis De Sales on the Protestant Tower of Babel

St. Francis De Sales is a profound writer, whose Introduction to the Devout Life has been enjoyed by Catholics and non-Catholics alike. While it is specifically and unabashedly Catholic, the work’s broad themes — on the glory of God, our own sinfulness and insignificance, etc. — are powerful to almost any serious Christian. As Bishop… Continue reading St. Francis De Sales on the Protestant Tower of Babel

The Scottish Reformed on the “Marks of the Church”

Since we covered Calvin Friday, it’s only right to cover John Knox. Knox, along with five others, drafted the Scottish Confession of 1560. Like the other confessions we’ve examined so far, it’s Reformed, and much of the language tracks very closely with the previous two, particularly with the Confession of the English Congregation at Geneva… Continue reading The Scottish Reformed on the “Marks of the Church”