Frank Bruni on New Contract for Catholic School Teachers in Cincinnati: Would Pope Francis Sign the Contract?

In the New York Times today, Frank Bruni looks at the new six-page contract for Catholic teachers in the Cincinnati archdiocese (the previous one was two pages), which is all adither about "libido and loins." The contract solemnly informs you that you will endanger your job as a "teacher-minister" in a Catholic school if you show any "public support" for "a homosexual lifestyle." In response, Bruni notes, the following is happening:

Frank Bruni on Pope Francis's Gay Panic and the "No-Fly Zone of the Heart" Reserved by Catholic Leaders for the Gays

Frank Bruni at New York Times on Pope Francis's gay panic:

Carla Hale Story Goes National Through Frank Bruni Column in New York Times: "Consider the Selectiveness of the Church's Outrage"

Carla Hale's story is getting national attention today through Frank Bruni's column in the New York Times. He notes a point I stressed in a recent posting about the stories of both Carla Hale and Timothy Nelson: the scouring of obituaries for damning information by the temple police who are determined to keep the gays in their demeaned place in the Catholic church: "The problem is he is a homosexual. He was recently married to another man. He does not hide this or keep it silent," the anonymous letter that resulted in the removal of Nicholas Coppola from ministries in his parish in New York said.

Frank Bruni Talks Hubris and Cosseted Clerical Castes, Michael Sean Winters Talks Tortellini

In a pull-no-punches statement yesterday entitled "Catholicism's Curse," New York Times columnist Frank Bruni brings the devastating critique of Catholic clericalism that has been growing by leaps and bounds since the abuse crisis broke wide open a decade ago into the mainstream of American public discourse. And National Catholic Reporter columnist Michael Sean Winters is furious as a result: he's furious about what Bruni may well accomplish via his mainstreaming of the intra-Catholic critique of clericalism.

Hope in the Air as Christmas Arrives: Gun Control and Gay rights

Two signs of hope on Christmas eve:

Frank Bruni on Sarah Palin's Religious Worldview: Wanted No Part of Sin, Plunged into Politics Nonetheless

Well, in the never-mind category: I'm so sorry I conflated Sarah Palin and Michelle Bachmann in what I say below--after I had thought I'd read Frank Bruni's article.  I'm leaving the mistake as is, with this preface, as a reminder to myself of how wildly wrong my brain-finger connection can be sometimes, when it thinks one thing and then types another.  I'm very sorry for the silly mistake.  Palin has been on my mind due something I mention in the final sentence.  Thanks to those who pointed out the mistake.

Frank Bruni is another writer I've learned to like (I'm echoing the opening of my posting just a moment ago about Thomas Harrington).  I've followed his op-ed pieces at the New York Times with interest after having discovered his autobiographical work Born Round a few years ago.  As someone who went from being so slight as a boy that I was sometimes described as no bigger than a bar of soap, to someone who began to round out with puberty and who has struggled to constrain the roundness ever since, I can sympathize with Bruni's account of his battle to maintain his weight, especially as a food maven. 

Dolan and Donohue Again: Religious Bullies Joined at the Hip Continue to Attack SNAP

Last week, I wrote that Dr. Donohue of the Catholic League appeared to have USCCB insider information when he told the media recently that "the bishops have come together collectively" to fight the group Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests.  Dr. Donohue was referring to the legal hardball games that attorneys working for Catholic officials are playing in Missouri. 

Santorum's Catholic Conundrum: Recent Commentary

I have an inkling that most readers of Bilgrimage read widely at various news sites, so I am probably carrying coals to Newcastle when I offer you the following summary of recent links discussing Rick Santorum's Catholicity--and how little solid support he has among Catholic voters as a whole.  Still, in case some of you may have missed some of these articles, here's a listing of recent links to pieces that, in my view, make valuable contributions to the discussion:

Frank Bruni on the Anthony Bourdain-Paula Deen Dust-Up: Unsavory Elitism

I think Frank Bruni is right on target with his critique of the unsavory cultural elitism that underlies Anthony Bourdain's recent attack on Paula Deen.  First, a disclaimer: I've never watched either of these food authorities on television, and never read anything either has written, though I've read articles about both.

The Baroque Sensibility and Looking Upward for Hope in Cultural Crisis: Why Super Congresses Fail

As Thomas S. Harrington reminds us at Common Dreams today, the people who do the talking on whom all of our lives depend occupy a very narrow space.  They come from elite places and inhabit elite niches in our society.  They think the same when it comes to the core principles on which their decision-making is premised, regardless of their partisan affiliation.

Commentary on Role of Catholic Bishops in Marriage Equality Debate: Widespread Recognition of Shoddy Legacy

Interesting commentary this morning at many blog and news sites on the role of the Catholic bishops of the U.S. in opposing civil rights for LGBT citizens: