I’d expected to hear about charisms during Mass this morning.
I did, in the Bible readings. But the homily was about why killing innocent people isn’t a good idea, even if it’s legal.
And why we should see killing innocent people as a bad idea.
And help folks who maybe felt pressured into ordering a hit because it’s ‘for their own good.’
At any rate, The last-minute topic change was due to Saturday’s Friday’s light show outside the National Basilica in Washington, DC., which wasn’t part of the prayer vigil happening inside.
So far, Saturday’s Friday’s light show doesn’t seem to be a hot news item. Not for national-level traditional news media, anyway.
- “Cardinal Gregory Responds to Pro-Abortion Light Show Projected On National Basilica”
The Tablet (January 21, 2022) - “O’Malley: If Roe falls, ‘arduous task of creating pro-life culture’ remains”
Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service (January 21, 2022) - “Archbishop: Church, its people stand ready to help expectant mothers”
Mark Pattison, Catholic News Service (January 21, 2022) - “Pro-abortion rights message projected on Catholic National Shrine”
Paul Bedard, Washington Secrets Columnist, Washington Examiner (January 21, 2022)
I’m not happy about the light show.
That’s partly because I think human beings are people even if my country’s laws limit their “…unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness….”
Which I’ll grant is “unconstitutional.”
It’s in the Declaration of Independence’s preamble.
Meanwhile in Minnesota, Masks Back On
The other surprise at Mass was a letter from our Bishop.
It’s a response to “…the fast-spreading omicron variant….” Seems that this particular iteration of the COVID-19 virus is expected to peak in central Minnesota in the next two to six weeks.
Bishop Kettler says we’ll be wearing masks during Mass again.
I’m not ecstatic about that, since it’s cold outside, and my glasses will fog up if I’m wearing them and a mask.
But I see the ‘masks back on’ rule change as a common sense response to a very real threat to public health. And one way I can act as if loving my neighbor is a good idea.
I’ve talked about this sort of thing before.
- “Atlanta Spa Shootings: Remembering Dignity”
(March 18, 2021) - “Couney’s Baby Incubators vs. the Progressive Era”
(February 8, 2021) - “Life and Death, Laws and Principles”
(January 22, 2021) - “New COVID-19 Vaccines: Goodish News, Ethical Issues”
(December 16, 2020) - “Faith, Feelings and a Viral Video”
(January 22, 2019)
