Just a round up

"Heteronormativity" and Special Privileges: I don't know what to think or to say, other than that I cannot escape the conclusion that something, somewhere, is horribly, horribly wrong.

University of Michigan researchers have decided that the love stories in Disney films and other g-rated family entertainment are to blame for "heteronormativity". That is to say, the depiction of beauty, happiness and romance associated with Male Female relationships is why children perceive heterosexuality and relationships as normal.

I always thought that was because they were the norm, in a mathematical sense: Less than 3% of the population is homosexual. (Kinsey's figure of 10% is long discredited!)

And on the other hand, in New York City, there is another of those "Gay Festivals" featuring public nudity, exposed genitals, floggings, electricity fetish torture etc. This is obvious violation of City and State laws concerning public decency, yet the City studiously avoided enforcing those laws. They make no such exception for Heterosexual practices.

How come less than 3% of the population is able to dictate and enforce their version of mores and morals on the rest?

TEC, ACNA and OCA: I just had to use the abbreviations! The Orthodox Church of America (which is an outgrowth of the Russian Orthodox Church, intended to unite the various Orthodox jusrisdictions in the US and end the bickering over "canonicity" and some of the rampant phylitism in this country) has severed it's ties with The Episcopal Church, and transferred them to the Anglican Church of North America. (That's the newly formed province, working in communion with the Southern Cone, who feel that the Episcopals have gone off the reservation theologically.) The OCA has decided, apparently, that TEC has gotten so foar off the track that it isn't worth engaging them in dialog. OCA also recognizes that many of the ACNA faithful have a faith very like that of the OCA, and hopes to bring them into communion with the Orthodox Church.

The Paraguayan Prsident: Former Bishop Fernando Lugo, who was removed from the episcopacy and became president-has a son. The revelation of this fact occurred during the mess of his deposition for running for political office. Now the mother of the child is saying that the ex-bishop raped her when she was 17, and that was the origin and substance of their relationship.

I don't know if I believe her or not. But I have to say my inclination is that if a man would abandon the Priesthood fro political power, it probably wasn't all that important to him to start with. And if he would father a child on a woman in diocesan employ, that strikes me as akin to rape at best. It is ethically impermissible to have sexual relations with subordinates or employees.


How innocuous seeming regulations can be used to repress Christians: Ms. Helen Slatter has quit he job as a nurse. The reason? she was told she could not wear her crucifix. The crucifix was worn under uniform. Yet she was told that it presented a danger of infection or could even be used as a weapon.

All this in a medical system with a very high infection rate due to lack of basic cleanliness--according to it's own evaluations--in a society marked by blatant anti-catholicism and a a growing anti-religious tone.

It didn't have anything to do with infection control or safety.