Tony Snow

Gone at 53 after a three year fight with colon cancer. What a pity. A very humorous and good-natured pundit both before and after his stint as press secretary. Former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow Dies at 53 – washingtonpost.com When Bob Woodward of The Washington Post disclosed internal White House maneuvering to push … Read more

Archbishop Burke, new head of Church Court, imposes sanctions on a Sister of Charity

This is off ZENIT, a Catholic news service. The Archbishop is leaving the Archdiocese of St. Louis to assume the role of the new prefect of the Apostolic Signature, the Church’s supreme court, based in Rome. Archbishop Burke Disciplines Sister of Charity She Participated in Attempted Ordination of Women ST. LOUIS, Missouri, JUNE 27, 2008 … Read more

Follow-up to the 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that the Second Amendment exists

As I wrote Thursday here Tom Faranda’s Folly: Today’s 2nd Amendment Supreme Court decision on handguns, “I have no interest in guns … but I do have an interest in the constitiution.” I sent the above posting around to a small email group I correspond with, and the only gun owner on the list (an ardent Democrat) … Read more

Catholic Bishops on the death penalty

This is off the Catholic news service ZENIT, from a few days ago. Florida Bishops Urge Rethinking of Death Penalty Ask Governor to Halt Execution of Child Murderer TALLAHASSEE, Florida, JUNE 26, 2008 (Zenit.org).- Nine bishops of Florida sent a letter to Governor Charlie Crist urging him to stop executions in Florida, beginning with the … Read more

More on heart disease with no symptoms

Still in the news because of Russert (and perhaps George Carlin's death?). Readers Questions: Heart Disease Without the Symptoms – Consults – Medical Research — Health – New York Times Blog …  however, we have come to understand that the disease plays tricks on us. As fatty plaques form in the wall of an artery, … Read more

Charitable giving in 2007

Even with the hysteria, about bad economy, recession, blah, blah, blah, charitable giving reached record heights last year, topping 300 billion. Despite Economic Dip, Giving Rose in 2007 – washingtonpost.com In overall U.S. charitable giving, religious congregations received the biggest windfall from donors, the Giving USA study found. Religious groups collected $102 billon, or one-third of … Read more