Category Archives: Discursive Detours

A catch-all category

Corn Altar, Communist Crucifix, AI Pope Pic: Perspectives

About a week ago, in a discussion of what’s been happening in Vatican City, someone referred to the late Pope Francis as a “commie in a cassock”. I hadn’t run into that particular phrase, but I’m all too familiar with … Continue reading

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Pope Leo XIV: the 267th Bishop of Rome

My wife told me a few minutes ago. We have a new pope. His name, now, is Leo XIV. I gather that he’s the first Pope who is also an Augustinian, and the second from this side of the Atlantic. … Continue reading

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Electing a Pope: Current Events, Ancient Heritage

More than 130 Cardinals will start voting on who gets Simon Peter’s job — the job he had before becoming St. Peter — after Pope Francis, starting next Monday. “Conclave to elect new Pope to begin on May 7th” Lisa … Continue reading

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Remembering the Other American Astronomical Society

I’m a huge fan of science, but by training I’m an historian. Or a historian. Either way, as it turned out, the closest I came to being a professional historian was working as a researcher/reporter for a regional historical society … Continue reading

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UnitedHealthcare CEO, Another Killer, Doing Right or Wrong

I’ll start with something that should be flamingly obvious. Murder is a bad idea and I shouldn’t do it. (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2268-2269) By murder, I mean deliberately killing an innocent person. Which is what someone who apparently … Continue reading

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