It helps that Fr. John Neuhaus has exited. More power to Berrigan types!

diane says, " no intention to offend "... oh, lets !! when the catholic powers offend, we should raise our voices high to make sure everyone knows how horrific this action is. Jesus was not docile, let us not be either. picking on the poor is the lowest of the low, and would rank as one of the greatest sins in anyones book. hey vaitcan, what does " canon law " say about abusing the poor? you guys seem to know alot about abuse, so you should have an answer !

When will you be coming back to your old stomping ground of Durham (Triangle) NC? You have may fans.

I thought the funny part of the report was the "surprise" of the Anglican leaders. What cave have they been living in?

I'd prefer full communion as a way for the Vatican to honor Anglicans and Lutherans (liturgical) churches.

"The idea of witchcraft is hardly new, but it has taken on new life recently partly because of a rapid growth in evangelical Christianity." LA Times article

Sobering.

Seeing who did it does not surprise me. He's one of the fundamentalist take-over leaders. He's a real "chicken Hawk."

I wish Molly Ivins was here!

God forgive them. They have no idea just how from the peace of Christ they are.

I found my head shaking long before I finished the first paragraph. Sad.

Good for you, Diana. The answer to the theological reflection: "Where is God in this?" is simply "No where."

Frightening.

Wretched.

Scary, scary, scary!

It is unbelievable to me, that in the 21st century, we human beings have not figured out the war and violence get us no where.

I often bemoan what is on television and movies. There are few of either that do not involve someone brandishing a gun or blasting the life out of another human being. For a Christian "sanctuary" to be invaded by more of this imagery is outrageous no matter what the perpetrators intent may have been!

Read your article. Well put!

This is so sad. I wonder if any of the students refused to participate- and what happened to them if they did protest, especially if they did so peacefully? And will even one of them find a true Christian teacher as they "take the hill?".

It's a stretch, that's for sure. Ugh. But when I thought about it a few minutes, I realized that it's simply a gimmick. I think the pervasive marketing and advertising mentality has influenced those who put this "program" together more than the military metaphors that they came up with.

And one thing I've noticed about evangelism "programs" based on marketing and advertising gimmicks. They rarely work, and they often backfire.

i would like to think of it as a gimmick, but recent shootings and violent behavior by people professing Christian values underscore the dangers of turning metaphorical language of spiritual warfare into literal images of warfare.

Jimmy, I share your concern about the promotion of violence and certainly reject this militarization of the Gospel. My point was that the prime motivator behind this campaign likely arose from our society's pervasive immersion in advertising sloagneering and gimmickry, not from a deliberate desire to make evangelism sound like a military campaign. That probably came later as they developed the "marketing" campaign.

Back to the Middle Ages.

Hey, when will you be back in the Phoenix Metro area?

Bummer...will miss. But will be in St Loius at a Cards game!

Excellent. Thank you.

Phil, I've lost my own comments on the captcha! I always write in Word and copy into captcha.

A wonderfully irenic piece. It's easy to forget in our own pursuits of justice and frustration at its impediment that we forget we are also to be peacemakers. Thank you for the reminder.