tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-262627372011-04-21T18:02:09.056-07:00"Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the one that is to come."<br> - Hebrews 13:14<br>"Strengthen in faith and love your pilgrim Church on earth."<br> - Eucharistic Prayer III<br>"The Church as a whole and all her Pastors, like Christ, must set out to lead people out of the desert, towards the place of life, towards friendship with the Son of God, towards the One who gives us life, and life in abundance." - Pope Benedict XVINate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comBlogger711100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-70289911654316240592008-12-01T23:31:00.001-08:002008-12-01T23:36:16.492-08:00

When you say Chanel, it means glory. Many women envy other women who can grab an authentic Chanel handbag at the boutique without even battling her eyelash for the price. Envy grows even more when their striking outfits are finally complemented by that Chanel purchase in a chic, dramatic flair. And here you are just a sucker for all things glory!Die no more! These days, you can get the same glory

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145388260998800712006-03-27T15:54:00.000-08:002006-04-18T12:29:23.856-07:00

My college classes start tomorrow morning. I'll have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and soon I will have a part-time job on the alternating days. This is not to mention that I also plan to have a social life of some sort! This all adds up to the probability of much less blogging which will probably be restricted to weekends or the very limited free time I'll have through the week. And since I

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145482310505222292006-03-26T19:41:00.000-08:002006-04-19T14:31:50.513-07:00

http://www.charliewilson.com/blox.asp (D-Bridgeport) is running for Congress in Ohio's 6th congressional district, a seat that's been vacated by Rep. Ted Strickland (D), who is running for governor. St. Sen. Wilson has repeatedly been endorsed by http://www.ohiolife.org/, which adds a twist to the usual debate between pro-life Republican Catholics on the one hand and pro-choice Democratic

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145722839643602572006-03-26T17:09:00.000-08:002006-04-22T09:20:39.653-07:00

"Confession is good for the soul." Interesting piece of trivia: This often repeated quote is actually an English proverb from the mid-17th century.I went to confession before Mass yesterday for the first time in about a year. I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't intimidated; I've built up a lot of sins to confess over the past year, both mortal and venial. But it was still very liberating to hear

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1146267354463716582006-03-24T22:22:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:35:54.473-07:00

I finished reading Truly Our Sister and By Little and By Little some time ago, although I didn't get a chance to write reviews for either of them. The former did impact posts I wrote for Sollicitudo Rei Socialis and the Christian Alliance for Progress, and the latter also inspired another post I wrote for the Christian Alliance for Progress. I suppose you could read those posts to get a glimpse

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1146267423249669372006-03-24T00:23:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:37:03.256-07:00

From Gerald Augustinus (The Cafeteria is Closed): Apparently, this week must have been Hate the Pope Week and someone forgot to send me the memo. This time it's a column in the San Francisco Chronicle written by a former Catholic, Gustavo Arellano, who apparently could deal with the sex abuse scandal that rocked the Diocese of Orange but who couldn't take the election of Pope Benedict XVI to the

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1146267462142761462006-03-23T23:37:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:37:42.143-07:00

Today was my birthday -- I'm 22. It was a pretty good day; nothing spectacular, but the really exciting birthdays are 16 (driving), 18 (voting), and 21 (drinking). The next exciting birthday will be my 25th, when I will no longer be eligible for the draft. After that, I'm pretty sure birthdays just get depressing!

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1146267565026425752006-03-22T17:26:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:39:25.033-07:00

From Gerald Augustinus (The Cafeteria is Closed): The National Catholic Reporter has an editorial online about the ban on gay adoptions by Catholic Charities of Boston and the general "boosting" of "the anti-gay troops." I don't really want to discuss the gay adoption ban since it's been discussed endlessly already. Actually, I'd rather discuss NCR's subtle demonization of Pope Benedict XVI:There

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1146267614153606312006-03-22T17:18:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:40:14.153-07:00

From Domenico Bettinelli: The Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity has explained the pope's reasoning behind dropping the papal title "Patriarch of the West" -- although, I must confess, I don't think I understand any better after reading the explanation than I did before reading it. If anyone does get it, feel free to clue me in.

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1146267660930979262006-03-22T00:48:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:41:00.936-07:00

Many of you have probably already heard that the Diocese of Arlington has authorized two indult Tridentine Masses to be celebrated in different regional locations within the diocese, and that the bishop has also authorized young women to serve at the altar along with young men if the pastor believes that such is pastorally wise after consulting his parishioners. This is a first in the Arlington

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1146267713291324192006-03-21T17:40:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:41:53.293-07:00

From Gerald Augustinus (The Cafeteria is Closed): Apparently, the apostolic exhortation that Pope Benedict XVI will publish in response to the most recent meeting of the Synod of Bishops, tentatively scheduled for release in October, will deal with a "reform of the reform" in regard to liturgical norms. The exhortation will apparently encourage greater use of Latin in the liturgy (but not in the

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1146267757128184212006-03-21T17:28:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:42:37.130-07:00

This time from Susan Rose Francois at Musings of a Discerning Woman:Back to a serious blog post, but this is important. I went to the hospital this evening to visit a friend from church and her daughter Gigi. Gigi is 4, almost 5 year old, and is in the pediatric ICU with encephalitis, an inflammation of the brain.When I taught the Sunday pre-school Gigi was always one of my favorites. She is

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1146267793336107452006-03-21T17:18:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:43:13.336-07:00

Catholic Carnival LXXI (that's 71) is up at A Song Not Scored For Breathing. My post on the labor riots in France and labor rights in general is featured.

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1146267838933209322006-03-20T21:53:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:43:58.936-07:00

Christopher Blosser (Against the Grain) reports that Stephen Hand, the editor of TCRNews, has received tragic news about his son:Today my family and I were given heartbreaking news, that my son's cerebral cortex, which controls cognition / thinking, has been damaged beyond human hope due to having been deprived of oxygen "for apparently a long time" sometime between Sat 12:30 AM and 1 PM (an 11.5

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1146267924148693192006-03-20T21:50:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:45:24.150-07:00

...and the mainstream media only counts seven, were there really eight priests laicized?

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145241168300010642006-02-28T15:38:00.000-08:002006-04-16T19:32:48.306-07:00

From Damien's Spot: According to Catholic News Service, Cardinal William Levada, the prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, used a recent homily for the installation of a new rector at the Pontifical North American College to take up his predecessor's favorite pastime: gay-bashing. Not only did Cardinal Levada say that the new instruction against the ordination of gay

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145241250530060802006-02-27T01:26:00.000-08:002006-04-18T11:53:23.096-07:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that we've introduced a new guest blogging program at Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, in which a blogger from another Christian Church or a non-Christian faith community will contribute a post at the end of each month. This month, Jo Guldi from CrossLeft has been kind enough to debut our guest blogging program for us, offering a post in which she discusses the recent

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145242438449495582006-02-26T22:50:00.000-08:002006-04-16T19:53:58.460-07:00

In a couple of previous posts, both of which were rather lengthy, I made some comments related to Judaism and Islam.The comments related to Judaism, in part:If Jesus had opted for the "lesser of two evils," Christianity as we know it would not exist. Jesus would never have found the strength to challenge the deep systemic problems within the Judaism of his day. He would never have found the

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145242591450304862006-02-26T20:09:00.000-08:002006-04-24T15:44:10.080-07:00

On February 10, I posted about a new bill in the Ohio House of Representatives: H.B. 515, the Adoptive and Foster Children's Protection Act, which would ban GLBT Ohioans and anyone who resides with us from adopting or fostering children. It was cosponsored by ten representatives, all of them Republicans, and is just another example of Republicans trying to promote their warped vision of family

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145242733312009412006-02-26T17:49:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:48:41.633-07:00

You Are BostonBoth modern and old school, you never forget your roots.Well educated and a little snobby, you demand the best.And quite frankly, you think you are the best.Famous people from the Boston area: Conan O'Brien, Ben Affleck, New Kids on the Blockhttp://www.blogthings.com/whatamericancityareyouquiz/What American City Are You?

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145228669221194422006-02-25T21:50:00.000-08:002006-04-16T16:04:29.230-07:00

I'd say that I'm in my first day of recovery from the flu, since today I can do basic things like a normal person without feeling winded, nauseated, or otherwise debilitated. While I've been sick, pretty much the only thing I've been able to do is lay around, watch TV, and read. I've just finished reading Matt Taibbi's Spanking the Donkey: Dispatches from the Dumb Season. I highly recommend it;

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145229470678483132006-02-23T22:04:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:48:02.020-07:00

I mentioned a couple of days ago that I had the flu and that I would probably be blogging more as a result, since I didn't have much else to do. What I wasn't anticipating was that I would feel so bad that I wouldn't even feel like blogging -- but that's exactly what happened. So that's where I've been for the past couple of days. There will likely be light blogging until I'm feeling better, and

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145229523551368932006-02-22T02:18:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:49:16.453-07:00

Michelle Strausbaugh (Behind the Surface), one of my fellow contributing editors at Sollicitudo Rei Socialis, disagrees with my position on the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act and its constitutionality. I have the utmost respect for Michelle and her opinions, and I'm fine with the fact that we disagree over some issues; I doubt any two people agree over every issue, and I have always hoped for a

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145229557652384392006-02-21T16:49:00.000-08:002006-04-16T16:19:17.663-07:00

The Supreme Court today agreed to hear Gonzales v. Carhart, a case on the constitutionality of the Partial Birth Abortion Ban Act passed by the 108th Congress in 2003. Three lower courts have ruled that the ban is unconstitutional because it does not include an exception for the health of the mother, even though nine years of congressional investigations have revealed that partial birth abortion

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145229618103695782006-02-21T14:19:00.000-08:002006-04-16T20:11:39.750-07:00

I'm honored to announce that the Christian Alliance for Progress has invited me to be one of their full time bloggers; this will make me the first Catholic and the first gay man asked to frequently contribute to the Alliance's blog. My assigned day of the week will be Tuesday, and I'll be starting next Tuesday. I can't express how humbled I am to join the Alliance's contributing bloggers -- many

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145229650504983942006-02-21T13:20:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:46:29.923-07:00

I'm unhappy to report that I've caught the flu. The up side for my readers is that I'll likely be blogging more this week, since that's about all I'll have to do with my free time. I try to look on the bright side.

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145229695428304662006-02-20T16:09:00.000-08:002006-04-16T16:21:35.430-07:00

Karen (Kinesis) reports that the Episcopal Diocese of California has selected its nominees for the next diocesan bishop. Their resumes are available here. It turns out that one of the nominees is a gay man (Very Rev. Robert Taylor) and another is a lesbian woman (Rev. Bonnie Perry). Integrity USA has released a statement (it's in PDF format), and there is also a non-PDF version of the statement

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145229767354935382006-02-19T22:22:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:45:53.756-07:00

So far, I've been silent on the firestorm over the anti-Muslim cartoons published in the Danish press. The reason I've been silent is that until now I've seen no reason to involve myself in the controversy; many of my liberal readers will likely disagree over one part of my opinion, while many of my conservative readers will likely disagree over another -- because my opinion is neither liberal

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145229852426213312006-02-19T20:22:00.000-08:002006-04-19T14:33:58.123-07:00

Fr. B (Bartimaeus' Quest) drew my attention to an article from The Tablet, discussing the recent installation of "liberal" +George Niederauer as Archbishop of San Francisco. Although I suspect that Archbishop Niederauer is not quite liberal according to my standards and is probably more of a moderate, there are some encouraging signs for the many GLBT Catholics who live and serve in the

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145229913045873972006-02-19T16:38:00.000-08:002006-04-24T15:45:33.113-07:00

A friend of mine from the Esoteric Theological Seminary forwarded an article to me entitled, "Hopes for the Pope." Although I didn't agree with the whole thing (I thought that excommunicating American bishops and cardinals who support the war on terror was a bit extreme, for instance), I especially liked the parts about declaring a worldwide effort to end capital punishment and opening the

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145229948392617032006-02-18T18:25:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:48:48.516-07:00

Reading I: Isaiah 43:18-19,21-22,24b-25Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 41:2-5,13-14Reading II: 2 Corinthians 1:18-22Gospel: Mark 2:1-12- - -In today's Gospel, Jesus reveals a different kind of paralysis: the paralysis of sin. It is sin that paralyzes us and prevents us from moving toward God and closer to one another. It is sin that breaks up our partnerships and marriages, freezing us in place and

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145230002743280032006-02-17T22:25:00.000-08:002006-05-04T12:11:37.473-07:00

From Chuck Currie: Rev. Dr. Bob Edgar, the General Secretary of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the USA, is urging Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to comply with a UN report which calls upon the United States to bring all Guantanamo Bay detainees to trial or release them, to close Guantanamo Bay, and to refrain from torture and other violations of human rights. Rev. Edgar's

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145230048275918542006-02-17T21:26:00.000-08:002006-05-01T16:53:54.430-07:00

As Lent approaches (it is now less than two weeks away), I find myself trying to prepare myself spiritually for the penitential season. It seems kind of odd to prepare for Lent, I know, since a major part of the Lenten Season is preparation for Easter, and yet the importance of Lent itself almost demands some preparation. I sometimes feel like every liturgical season is a season of preparation;

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145230463660473182006-02-16T17:32:00.000-08:002006-05-01T16:53:48.070-07:00

On February 10, I mentioned the Let the People Decide Clean Campaign Act (H.R. 4694), introduced in the House of Representatives by several Democrats. H.R. 4694 would require public financing of congressional campaigns, itself a positive reform, but it would also require a prohibitively large number of signatures for third party and independent candidates -- making it practically impossible for

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145230094952601102006-02-15T17:27:00.000-08:002006-05-04T12:01:50.616-07:00

I recently finished reading Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis by former President Jimmy Carter. I would recommend the book to anyone who is concerned about the direction America is going in, and even those who think they aren't concerned about it. Although I did not agree with everything President Carter had to say (I shuddered when he referred to "sexual preference"), the former

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145230581098148902006-02-14T21:35:00.000-08:002006-05-04T12:01:34.366-07:00

Voting has begun for the 2006 Catholic Blog Awards, and it will end at noon on February 21. In the meantime, here are my endorsements. * Most Informative Blog: Happy Catholic * Most Humorous Blog: Dyspeptic Mutterings * Most Bizarre Blog: The Curt Jester* * Best Presentation: Against the Grain * Best Design: Sollicitudo Rei Socialis** * Most Devotional: Flos Carmeli * Best Group

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145230682600105942006-02-14T16:36:00.000-08:002006-04-16T16:38:44.473-07:00

Democrats lose Hackett; Democrats lose spine; Democrats lose credibility; Democrats lose 2006 election. (http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/14/0135/82714)For the record, I do not and will not support the candidacy of Rep. Sherrod Brown for the Ohio Senate seat -- if for no other reason than the strong arm, elitist politics used to make him the candidate. If and when the Green Party has a

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145230854812644382006-02-14T14:38:00.000-08:002006-08-18T10:54:24.480-07:00

I received something in the mail today from Fr. Frank Pavone and his Priests for Life(http://www.priestsforlife.org/) organization. Upon opening the letter, I discovered that it was a screed against Frances Kissling and Catholics For a Free Choice(http://www.catholicsforchoice.org/), along with a survey asking some carefully crafted and loaded questions about abortion, hoping to present his

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145230930197000342006-02-14T13:03:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:48:46.813-07:00

I just wanted to wish all of my readers a Happy St. Valentine's Day.Before the feast of Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to pass from this world to the Father. He loved his own in the world and he loved them to the end . . .So, during supper, fully aware that the Father had put everything into his power and that he had come from God and was returning to God, he rose from supper and

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231021548807582006-02-12T22:24:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:50:14.370-07:00

Damien Scott(http://damiensspot.blogspot.com/2006/02/lets-make-deal.html) asks the amusing question: "Come on, guys! Let's do a little informal marketing survey. Share! What was the selling point for you when the homosexual agenda agents showed up at your school to sign you up?"For me, the selling point was that I would get to date guys -- but not just any guys, mind you. Guys like Ryan Reynolds

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231095359746742006-02-12T16:43:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:49:39.016-07:00

Via Dappled Things: John Heard(http://donjim.blogspot.com/2006/02/promiscuity-is-tiresome.html), AKA Dreadnought(http://johnheard.blogspot.com/2006/02/dreadlust-rebours-or-promiscuity-is.html), has an interesting reflection on St. Augustine and the boredom of lust. In and of itself, the reflection is good -- but it assumes too much about gays and lesbians, who are depicted as constant horndogs.

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231202455835332006-02-12T16:26:00.000-08:002006-04-20T15:41:44.883-07:00

From HuffPo: Dr. Deborah Lynn, psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, has an interesting take on the Terri Schiavo case which made headlines last year. She discusses Terri's case focusing on reports that Mrs. Schiavo was bulimic. It's an interesting article and discusses the horrible situation that Terri and her family went through last year from a perspective I haven't heard before.For the record, I

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231304357335802006-02-12T15:52:00.000-08:002006-05-01T18:19:04.196-07:00

I already mentioned that this week is Sexual Responsibility Week, but Damien Scott informed me that it is also Freedom to Marry Week. I've added an icon to my left sidebar for this event as well.

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231420630796262006-02-12T01:48:00.000-08:002006-05-06T15:51:02.306-07:00

From Daily Kos(http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2006/2/11/215710/033) and The Telegraph: The Pentagon is preparing for bombing raids against Iran's nuclear sites as a "last resort" option to prevent the Iranian government from continuing its nuclear program, which may or may not include the development of nuclear weapons. Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-CT) are among the

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231501156684502006-02-11T20:51:00.000-08:002006-05-04T12:01:04.436-07:00

Reading I: Leviticus 13:1-2,44-46Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32:1-2,5,11Reading II: 1 Corinthians 10:31--11:1Gospel: Mark 1:40-45- - -This Sunday, we are confronted by a clear dichotomy between exclusion and inclusion. The Book of Leviticus instructs the Jewish priesthood on what to do about lepers in the community. The short answer: Get them out! But Jesus sees the Kingdom of God differently. By

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231616206020862006-02-10T19:15:00.000-08:002006-04-16T19:55:14.936-07:00

From Equality Ohio(http://www.equalityohio.org/) and the Akron Beacon Journal(http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/news/state/13839462.htm): Rep. Ronald Hood (R-91) has introduced a bill into the Ohio House of Representatives which would prohibit an adoptive or foster child from being placed in a home in which homosexual, bisexual, or transgender people reside. The bill is H.B. 515 http://

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231686483755472006-02-10T18:53:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:56:09.406-07:00

From HuffPo: Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Ann Coulter had some delightful things to say about Muslims, Bill Clinton, and five of the nine Supreme Court justices. The most abhorrent part, perhaps, is the reference to Muslims as "ragheads." Tying for a close second are her (humorous?) references to assassinating Bill Clinton and letting the five liberal and

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231717950105312006-02-10T17:54:00.000-08:002006-05-04T12:00:55.826-07:00

From Michael Moore: Cindy Sheehan announced yesterday that she would not run for Congress. Sheehan had been considering a run against Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) because Sen. Feinstein was one of the senators who voted to authorize the Iraq War, and although Sen. Feinstein has since been critical of the Iraq War, she has not done anything concrete to oppose it. In her announcement, Sheehan said:

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231785303458702006-02-10T17:02:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:57:19.720-07:00

From the Green Party(http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2006_02_09.shtml): Democrats in the House of Representatives have introduced a new bill, the Let the People Decide Clean Campaign Act (H.R. 4694), which would mandate public funding of congressional campaigns in order to eliminate the corruption associated with private funding. While I favor public funding of political campaigns, the problem with

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231897273915352006-02-09T00:56:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:51:07.403-07:00

Apparently, there's been some kind of an uproar over the fact that speakers at Coretta Scott King's funeral dared to refer to such issues as nonviolence, race, and domestic spying, even though these all directly related to the life of Coretta Scott King and her husband, Martin Luther King, Jr. What's really shocking the Right -- and it is universally the Right which is criticizing such statements

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145231933390110612006-02-08T21:58:00.000-08:002006-05-01T18:21:21.986-07:00

I finally finished Stephen King's Dark Tower series. Overall, it was an excellent series; my favorites were probably Wizard and Glass and Wolves of the Calla. I also liked the last book in the series, also called The Dark Tower, but I wasn't quite satisfied with the ending. I can't say why without also giving too much away, but I think a lot of people reading the ending would agree with me that

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145232038372088932006-02-08T20:52:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:52:08.980-07:00

From TalkingDonkeys: More than 85 evangelical Christian leaders have come together to form the Evangelical Climate Initiative, addressing the morally imperative issue of global climate change. They have signed a statement called "Climate Change: An Evangelical Call to Action." Although written by and primarily for evangelical Christians, the statement is rooted in biblical teaching that should

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145239838815837652006-02-07T23:09:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:51:48.090-07:00

I have a post up at Sollicitudo Rei Socialis(http://socialconcern.blogspot.com/2006/02/catholic-state-of-our-values.html) on the Catholic State of Our Values, kind of a response to President Bush's State of the Union address but really more of a reflection on our own Catholic values. It reads, in part:Like America itself, the American Catholic Church has been lamentably divided, and American

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145239892976092222006-02-07T21:10:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:51:58.386-07:00

Derek (LutherPunk)http://lutherpunk.blogspot.com/2006/02/worst-has-happened-again.html and his wife have lost another unborn child. Please be sure to pray for them and their family. Eternal rest grant unto their child, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him or her. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240046140988682006-02-07T17:38:00.000-08:002006-05-04T12:00:30.603-07:00

From http://www.huffingtonpost.com/katrina-vanden-heuvel/its-ken-mehlman-who-ha_b_15257.html and The Nation: Katrina vanden Heuvel, editor of http://www.thenation.com, says that it is Ken Mehlman and not Hillary Clinton who has anger management problems. She writes:Do Clinton's conclusions reflect anger, or an accurate assessment of an administration which has gutted the treasury, eroded the

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240123547439612006-02-07T17:14:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:54:37.293-07:00

From Eschaton and http://thinkprogress.org/2006/02/07/lowery-standing-ovation/: Speaking at the funeral of Coretta Scott King, Rev. Dr. Joseph Lowery received a standing ovation. What for, you ask?We know now there were no weapons of mass destruction over there. [Standing Ovation] But Coretta knew and we know that there are weapons of misdirection right down here. Millions without health

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240154339569162006-02-06T21:49:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:59:17.346-07:00

I've deleted the News & Information category; it was too broad and encompassed just about everything I post. Just wanted to let everyone know.

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240196401699432006-02-06T21:25:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:57:49.073-07:00

Pope Benedict XVI has published his Message for Lent 2006, which echoes some of the themes of his encyclical Deus Caritas Est and frames the Lenten practice of almsgiving within the encyclical's perspective. Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten Season, falls on March 1 this year.

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240246258185792006-02-05T22:25:00.000-08:002006-05-04T11:52:19.836-07:00

Pittsburgh beat Seattle 21-10. It was an amazing game, I don't think I've ever screamed, shouted, and yelled so much in my life!

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240285424340012006-02-05T17:27:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:49:10.306-07:00

According to RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) "seems to have a lot of anger." I don't think that Sen. Clinton should run for President and I won't support any future presidential bid (primarily because of her pro-war position), but gee -- I wonder what she might be angry about? And I wonder why approximately half of the American people are mad along with her? I'm mystified.

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240328543107152006-02-05T14:08:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:49:04.050-07:00

As the nation mourns the passing of one of our most beloved civil rights leaders, Coretta Scott King, it is important to remember that Coretta Scott King didn't just fight for black civil rights. For one thing, it's important to remember that King was an advocate for nonviolence long before she met her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. But it's also important to remember that Mrs. King was an

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240365309598662006-02-05T13:36:00.000-08:002006-04-16T20:23:58.103-07:00

From HuffPo and Yahoo News: Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is calling Attorney General Alberto Gonzales' defense of the NSA Spy Program "very strained and unrealistic," adding that the congressional authorization to use force in the war on terror "never mentions electronic surveillance." Sen. Specter said that he believes the administration is in

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240483508611922006-02-05T12:37:00.000-08:002006-04-20T15:39:59.146-07:00

I was tagged for this meme by Geek Boi - Uncensored:Remove the blog in the top spot from the following list and bump everyone up one place. Then add your blog to the bottom slot, like so.1) Anastasia2) LutherPunk3) *Christopher4) Geek Boi - Uncensored5) Nate NelsonNext select five people to tag1) Michelle2) BLS3) Joe4) Rachel5) MattWhat were you doing 10 years ago?I was eleven. So whatever I was

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240537289936222006-02-05T12:21:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:49:47.156-07:00

Amusing piece in Newsday about Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D?-CT) and Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) "cozying up" at a conference in Munich. Seems that Sen. Lieberman hopes that Sen. McCain's presidential campaign days aren't over. Fascinating. The only thing I found encouraging was Sen. Lieberman's insistence that his presidential campaign days are over.

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240584153776942006-02-05T11:50:00.000-08:002006-04-16T20:14:51.036-07:00

For those of you who haven't heard, 18-year-old Jacob D. Robida is suspected to have committed a hate crime at a gay bar in New Bedford, MA. Robida allegedly walked into the bar, asked if it was a gay bar, and then proceeded to attack several customers with a hatchet and then a gun. Three men were injured, at least one of whom is now in critical condition. * Read the Human Rights Campaign's

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240629013440322006-02-04T20:53:00.000-08:002006-04-28T16:50:00.200-07:00

Betty Friedan has died. Friedan was the author of The Feminine Mystique, which has become a manifesto for modern feminism. Kathleen Reardon has a touching tribute to Friedan over at HuffPo.

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240663642768142006-02-04T17:58:00.000-08:002006-05-04T12:00:19.303-07:00

From Matt Hill: Defending its decision to join human rights abusers like Iran and Zimbabwe in opposing the admission of two international gay rights groups to the United Nations' non-governmental observers (NGO) group, the U.S. State Department says that it rejected the International Lesbian and Gay Association and the Danish Association of Gays and Lesbians because it feared potential support

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240708332987672006-02-04T17:24:00.000-08:002006-04-21T18:12:12.956-07:00

From Wildhunt(http://www.wildhunt.org/2006/02/there-is-spiritual-power-in-union-new.html): Arbitrarily enforcing its dress code, a Starbucks in New York tried to force employee Suley Ayala to remove her pentagram necklace, a symbol of her Wiccan faith -- even though other employees were not asked to remove their religious symbols or other jewelry, and even though Starbucks had forced employees to

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240755693383792006-02-04T16:57:00.000-08:002006-04-21T18:08:36.420-07:00

Muslim WakeUp!(http://www.muslimwakeup.com/blog/archives/2006/02/mona_eltahawy_a.php) reports that its own Mona Eltahawy is in Qatar for the Doha Debates, discussing the state of the Arab media. Ms. Eltahawy takes the position that the Arab media can learn lessons from the Western media, and apparently 70% of the Doha Debates' attendees agree with that position. I think that's a positive

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240857252803992006-02-04T15:44:00.000-08:002006-04-25T15:36:36.766-07:00

TalkLeft(http://talkleft.com/new_archives/013929.html) points us to a horrifying tidbit in Time Magazine: But on the same evening that President Bush was lauding democracy and freedom, there was one other person in attendance whose rights were infringed upon. The man, who did not want his identity revealed after the disturbing incident, was a personal guest of Florida Democrat Alcee Hastings. He

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26262737.post-1145240905125112822006-02-02T17:16:00.000-08:002006-04-25T15:36:40.063-07:00

You knew I couldn't stay away. I've just got too many opinions on too many things, so it's back to blogging. I hope you like the new and improved blog, and I hope you'll like the content that follows. I'll be reviving "The Lisping Lector," and a lot of my content will be gay-related -- I'm calling it Lisperation Theology. Of course, there will be a healthy dose of miscellaneous Catholic affairs

Nate Nelsonnoreply@blogger.com