Thank you Barbara Boxer

and Sam Brownback for Getting Together

What? Are you kidding? On what issue?

The issue of a Priest in Vietnam. If you didn't read p.A10 of the NY Times today you might have missed a unique event. Barbara Boxer, California Democrat and Sam Brownback and 37 total US Senators petitioned the Vietnamese government for the release of a Priest who is being detained as a political prisoner for his non-violent writings against communism deemed propaganda against the government.

Rev. Thadeus Nguyen Van Ly was sentenced to 8 years in prison starting in March 2007.

Vietnam now finds itself of "particular concern" to the US Government for its infringements of religious freedom. The Senators' letter reads in pertinent part: "We request that you facilitate Father Ly's immediate and unconditional release from prison, and allow him to return to his home and work without restrictions on his right to freedom of expression, association and movement."

Today would be a good day to pick up the Times. Don't miss the cover story article on the doctrine police inspecting those liberal nuns at Berkeley in an "apostolic visitation" for potential deviancy from the strict lines on (a) married priests (b) the exclusive claim of catholicism as the only way to Jesus and heaven and (c) homosexuality- perhaps troubling in Berkeley and all a singular or collective "no no" for the doctrine police. And that's not an infringement of free exercise because???? A Berkeley sister, who is also a professor, views her service to Christ in a role other than strictly labor force for catholic schools. She wears street clothes, not a habit and wrote an email telling fellow sisters not to give the Apostolic visitors free rein of her house but seat them in the parlor like "uninvited guests." Wow- my question is- who exactly pays the bills for the house? Expect a worse show-down than since Savonarrola was kicked out of San Marco.

Someone needs to seriously tell the Apostolic visitation that Jesus' view of his kingdom is that "none should perish but that all should have eternal life." Kicking around people on doctrinal differences is about as Christian as the Ayatollah's vote tallying. This is America. We like our nuns in Armani suits. I don't think Jesus is offended either by a nun who dresses sharper than a burka-babe.

This Pope doesn't want to be accused of trying to set the clock back to ..oh about....1500
Jesuit Father Tom Reese recently wrote in America magazine that one third of the church has defected in America and no one seems to be wondering why exactly or taking it seriously in stock. The resignation that the core left must be the only true faithful is just wild.

The rule of Rule over Love is why. Jesus was an inclusive character who reached out to all the disaffected, disenfranchised, disenchanted, disgruntled, disabused and downtrodden.
Jesus loved the outcast. The church doesn't want to just make more of them. Trust me.

When the Catholic Church has lost Jesus as it's heart and core it has gored itself from its meaning- and that is what these inquisitional purges suggest to people who know and love the folks getting plainly harassed.