Social Darwinism?

The heart of social Darwinism is a pair of theses: first, people have intrinsic abilities and talents (and, correspondingly, intrinsic weaknesses), which will be expressed in their actions and achievements, independently of the social, economic and cultural environments in which they develop; second, intensifying competition enables the most talented to develop their potential to the full, and thereby to provide resources for a society that make life better for all. . . .

There are very good reasons to think both theses are false.

more: http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/04/08/the-taint-of-social-darwinism/?scp=1&sq=social%20darwinism&st=Search

A Newly Venerable New Yorker

Pope Benedict XVI has given his approval for Father Felix Varela to be given the status of “venerable” — which means that he could be beatified with the recognition of one miracle granted through his intercession, and canonized with the recognition of a second.

Born in Cuba in 1788, he was ordained a priest at age 23. In 1821, he was elected to represent Cuba in the Spanish Parliament. Among the laws he proposed were one calling for the abolition of slavery and another calling for self-rule for Spain’s colonies in the Americas. After his exile from Cuba in 1823 -- the king of Spain was not amused by Varela's proposals -- he worked for 30 years in the diocese of New York, as vicar general and advocate for Irish immigrants.

More at Wikipedia.

A Quote for Easter Monday

Life is stronger than death.

Good is stronger than evil.

Love is stronger than hate.

Truth is stronger than lies.

Pope Benedict XVI, at the Easter Vigil

Easter is celebrated as an octave, an eight-day festival in which each day "is" Easter.  Easter Monday is a holiday in Italy and in parts (at least) of Germany.  The Italians call it Pasquetta, or Little Easter.

He Is Risen

X P I C T O C    A N E C T H

Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.

A blessed Easter to all!

 

"Why do you seek the Living One among the dead?"

"Mary!"

"Rabbouni!"

Art from the Maesta' of Duccio di Buoninsegna

Waiting . . .

James Martin, S.J., on Holy Saturday:

Most of our lives are spent in Holy Saturday. In other words, most of our days are not filled with the unbearable pain of a Good Friday. Nor are they suffused with the unbelievable joy of an Easter. Some days are indeed times of great pain and some are of great joy, but most are…in between. Most are, in fact, times of waiting, as the disciples waited during Holy Saturday. We’re waiting. Waiting to get into a good school. Waiting to meet the right person. Waiting to get pregnant. Waiting to get a job. Waiting for things at work to improve Waiting for diagnosis from the doctor. Waiting for life just to get better.

But there are different kinds of waiting. There is the wait of despair. Here we know--at least we think we know--that things could never get better, that God could never do anything with our situations. This may be the kind of waiting that forced the fearful disciples to hide behind closed doors on Holy Saturday, cowering in terror. Of course they could be forgiven; after Jesus was executed they were in danger of being rounded up and executed by the Roman authorities. (Something tells me, though, that the women disciples, who overall proved themselves better friends than the men during the Passion, were more hopeful.) Then there is the wait of passivity, as if everything were up to “fate.” In this waiting there is no despair, but not much anticipation of anything good either.

Finally, there is wait of the Christian, which is called hope. It is an active waiting; it knows that, even in the worst of situations, even in the darkest times, God is at work. Even if we can’t see it clearly right now. The disciples’ fear was understandable, but we, who know how the story turned out, who know that Jesus will rise from the dead, who know that God is with us, who know that nothing will be impossible for God, are called to wait in faithful hope. And to look carefully for signs of the new life that are always right around the corner--just like they were on Holy Saturday.

Bullying

Paul Moses on Pax Christi's Good Friday Way of the Cross across 42nd Street and through Times Square:

One of this year’s more striking meditations came from students at the Christo Rey High School in East Harlem who spoke at the fifth station – Simon of Cyrene is forced to help carry the cross — about bullying. “Like Simon, we are called to help carry the cross of those who are bullied,” as one student said. But as the students pointed out, bullying is too often condoned by inaction – and then those who condone it are surprised when the victim does not want to become a Facebook “friend.”

In many ways, bullying was the theme of all the meditations on that ultimate act of bullying that is recalled on Good Friday. For many of the issues raised during the morning walk involved misuse of power – racial profiling of law-abiding minority youths stopped by police and frisked; human trafficking; abusive treatment of immigrants. Bullying.

Why Is This Friday "Good"?

A four-minute homily from Cardinal Dolan on Good Friday.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh visited Capitol Hill last autumn for a lecture and an overnight retreat for members of Congress.  The New Republic's account is here.  A snippet:

Last year’s congressional retreat was Hanh’s second. The first, in 2003, was attended by nine members. Among them was Ohio Democratic Representative Tim Ryan, who sits on a cushion and meditates for 45 minutes in the morning before leaving for work. “My thoughts will carry me away ... and then you just try to come back to your breath,” Ryan told me. “Because the only moment you have is the present moment.” He continued, “The best thing you can do for your future is to be here in the present, and that will affect the decisions that you make, because you’ll be making them based on clarity, on what’s going on right now.” Ryan was raised Catholic, and he hasn’t left the Church, but meditation has “changed everything” for him. “It helps me resolve conflicts better than I used to,” he says. “You don’t hold onto [things] as much. If someone says something nasty to you, you let it go.” Ryan is now writing a book called A Mindful Nation: How a Simple Practice Can Help Us Reduce Stress, Improve Performance, and Recapture the American Spirit.

No Greater Love

Sgt. Dennis Weichel, 29, died in Afghanistan last week as he lifted an Afghan girl who was in the path of a large military vehicle barreling down a road.

Lt. Col. Denis Riel, a spokesman for the Rhode Island National Guard, said Weichel embodied values that can’t be taught. “I have heard nothing but incredible stuff about this kid, selfless beyond our core values that we live up to,” Riel said. “As I hear more from family and others, he was the living embodiment of the Army’s core values: courageous, selfless and loyal. All values we expect from our soldiers. We mourn all combat deaths, but this one is a significant loss.”

Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee has ordered flags in the state to be flown at half-staff until Weichel’s burial.

more: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/03/hero-u-s-soldier-gives-life-to-save-afghan-girl/

Quote for the Day

Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn of Vienna, confirming the election to a parish council of a gay man living in a "registered partnership":

I thank the many candidates for the parish council elections. By their candidacy they showed their concern for the Church and the Faith. Thus they witness to the vitality of the Church. In their diversity they reflect the diversity of the life and faith journeys of today. Thus there are many parish councilors whose lifestyle does not in every way conform to the ideals of the Church. In view of the life-witness that each of them gives taken as a whole, and their commitment to the attempt to live a life of faith, the Church rejoices in their efforts. She does not thereby call the validity of her ideals into question.

More details here: http://www.commonwealmagazine.org/blog/?p=18270