David Gibson on Newt Gingrich: How Far Is He Willing to Go?

David Gibson has interesting commentary at Politics Daily now about Newt Gingrich's attempt to position himself as a presidential challenger to President Obama in 2012, by ramping up his rhetoric about the president's threatening foreignness (an imagined threat, of course, but one easy to manipulate in many Americans' minds).

Celebrating the Gay and Lesbian Heroes of 9/11

Who knew that the LGBT community supplied so many heroes during the 9/11 events in 2001?

I didn't, for one--not until I saw a link to this wonderful memorial page at After Elton today.

Joe Conason on GOP's Islamophobia: "Latest Product of the Same Old Manufacturing Process"

Chilling commentary by Joe Conason today at Salon, about how the Republican party has managed to leverage Islamophobia as a political wedge issue in this fall's election cycle.  And about the price the whole world will likely pay as cynical attacks on Islamic people and Islamic citizens of the U.S.--for the political gain of a few--lay the groundwork for more retaliatory attacks by Muslim extremists.

Cooking to Save the Planet: Pasta with Cauliflower and Walnuts

It's cauliflower and broccoli season, as summer turns to fall.  And as good firm heads of fresh cauliflower begin to flood our local markets, we often cook a version of this cauliflower pasta dish for supper.  Simple, rich with good vegetables, olive oil, parmesan cheese, and walnuts--and therefore healthy.  And delicious.

Tom Doyle on the Catholic Clerical Sexual Abuse Situation: A Dark and Destructive Force Rooted in the Institution Itself

As with everything Tom Doyle writes, his review (and trenchant analysis) of the story of clerical sexual abuse in the Catholic church from 1984 forward in the latest Voice of the Faithful "In the Vineyard" newsletter is absolutely on target.* And it's dynamite.  Doyle notes that the dark heart of this story--a narrative heart we miss when we view it as some eruption of temporary "crisis" in the church--is human beings.

Simple Gifts, Human Kindness: The Possibility for Hope as Strangers Break Bread Together

I blogged Saturday about an unexpected gift that came Steve's and my way on the eve of the 9/11 commemoration--the Israeli film "The Band's Visit."  Watching the movie rekindled our hope about the possibility of continuing to reach across various ethnic, social, and religious boundary lines and to make authentic connection with the human beings across those boundary lines.

Singing in a Strange Land: Claire Bangasser on Grieving the Fate of Vatican II

  

I'd like to draw attention today to the latest posting at Claire Bangasser's wonderful blog, A Seat at the Table.  Claire writes about the grief that many of us experience now, as we look back at what we saw happening with Vatican II, and the church we now see in front of us all these years later--after the restorationist regime of John Paul II and Benedict not only stopped Vatican II's reforms in their tracks, but turned them back.