A missed teaching moment

 I don't know how many of you saw this article on the NCR site:  2 Catholic school teachers fired over student journalist's pro-choice essay | National Catholic Reporter (ncronline.org)

"The Dec. 16, 2021, issue of the student magazine Elevate had just published when Maria Lynch, a faculty journalism adviser at Regis Jesuit High School received an email from Principal Jimmy Tricco:  "Provocative piece for sure, which makes for good conversation," Tricco wrote in reference to "The Battle for [Our] Bodies," an opinion essay that a female student at the Catholic school in Aurora, Colorado, had written in favor of abortion rights."

"...Less than a week later, Tricco and the school's human resources director notified Lynch in an email that she was being fired for "poor judgment" and "personal misconduct" that they said had brought scandal to the school and "seriously damaged" its reputation. They also accused her of "not supporting the Mission and faith dimensions of Regis Jesuit High School."

Pope, too, watches Mass on TV!

 I didn't think he watched TV at all. But he did watch a Mass.

Pope praises Salesians after watching Mass on TV

ROME — Like millions of Catholics around the world, Pope Francis has watched a televised Mass and joined his prayers to those of the celebrants.

After reciting the Angelus prayer Jan. 30 with visitors in St. Peter’s Square, the pope offered greetings to the men and women of the Salesian order, “who do so much good in the church.”

On the eve of the feast of St. John Bosco, founder of the Salesians, he told the crowd, “I followed the Mass celebrated in the shrine of Mary Help of Christians (in Turin) by the rector major, (Father) Ángel Fernández Artime. I prayed with him for everyone.” The Mass was broadcast live at 10 a.m. on Italy’s main public TV station, RAI 1.

Pope Francis grew up in a family that was close to the Salesians and, in the late 1940s, when his mother was ill, he and his brother were enrolled at a Salesian boarding school.

The Complexities of Corn Production

Interesting National Geographic article: The story becomes more and more complicated as you read further on.

U.S. corn production is booming—but not for the reasons scientists hoped

The Corn Belt, which spreads across the middle of the United States from Indiana to Nebraska, is in many ways a marvel of modern agricultural science: It grows more than a third of the world’s corn and produces 20 times more than it did in the 1880s on just about double the land area.

Historically, most of those gains in yield have been achieved through improved farming methods and selective breeding of corn. In recent decades, genetic engineering—which allows more precise tinkering with genes than conventional plant breeding—has been thought to have increased yields a lot. Most of the American crop is now genetically modified in one way or another. 

But according to a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, over the past 15 years, the primary driver of growing corn yields has been another factor entirely: the longer growing seasons and mild weather promoted by climate change.

Day of Prayer for Peace

 Pope Francis has issued a heartfelt call for a World Day of Prayer for peace on January 26:

As a Russian invasion of Ukraine looms, Pope Francis calls for a world day of prayer | America Magazine

“I am following with concern the increase of tensions that threaten to inflict a new blow to the peace in Ukraine, and call into question the security of the European continent, with wider repercussions,” he told pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, January 22."

"...In this tense and volatile situation, Pope Francis today called for prayers worldwide. He began by saying, “I make a heartfelt appeal to all people of good will, that they may raise prayers to God Almighty, that every political action and initiative may serve human brotherhood, rather than partisan interests.”

"Then, in unusually strong words that appeared to be directed to both Russian and Ukrainian leadership, Francis said, “Those who pursue their own interests, to the detriment of others, disregard their human vocation, as we were all created as brothers and sisters.”

"...Commenting on this statement, a Vatican source who asked not to be identified because he was not authorized to speak on the subject told America that the risk is that a false move or provocation by the Ukrainians could provide an opening for the Russians to invade. Such an invasion would create an extremely dangerous situation that would be very difficult to control, he added."

"Pope Francis concluded his remarks today saying, “For this reason, and with concern, given the current tensions, I propose that next Wednesday, 26 January be a day of prayer for peace.”

The Silence of Noah

 This is the introduction to an article at Sojourners.  It shines an interesting light on current christianity and its priorities - highlighted in what we argue about.

"Why Was Noah Silent at the End of the World?

Finding the courage to argue with those who claim to speak for God. 

 

 NOAH'S ARK IS a strange children’s story.... I’ve sat on the floors of many church nurseries playing with babies and Noah’s ark toys and questioned its appropriateness. I’ve thought about Noah and his family closing the door and being sealed inside. I’ve thought about them hearing the sound of rain and the people banging desperately on those closed doors. I’ve thought about the cries and the banging becoming quieter and quieter, about the gut-wrenching silence as the voices were swallowed by the sound of rain. 

 

Women Lectors and Catechists

Pope Francis confers ministries of lector, catechist on lay women and men

Highlighting the importance of the Bible in the life of faith and the role of lay women and men in sharing the Gospel, Pope Francis formally installed eight men and women in the ministry of lector and eight others in the ministry of catechist.

Of course, lay men and women have been serving as readers in our parishes since the Council, and as catechists for centuries. What was new in yesterday's ceremony is that for the first time, women were installed with a liturgical rite as lectors, and catechists were installed with a liturgical rite as catechists to permanent lay ministries similar to permanent ordained ministries. How will these permanent roles effect the life of the church?  Like deacons, installed lectors and catechists can exercise their roles beyond the parishes and dioceses to which they are assigned. And their roles within the parish do not cease when a new pastor or bishop comes along.

God's Word

This is my homily for today, the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time, Cycle C.  The readings for today are here. 

As a note: Pope Francis has designated this Sunday each year to be celebrated as Sunday of the Word of God.  To celebrate it, we do a more elaborate Gospel procession, during which the deacon brings the Book of the Gospel from the altar, where it sits during the first part of mass, down into where the congregation is seated.  He processes up and down the aisles, with the book elevated.  Prior to the pandemic, we would have had altar servers bearing candles as part of the procession, but there were no servers at the masses I served at this weekend.  After the Gospel is proclaimed (from the ambo as usual), the Book of the Gospels is then 'enthroned' on a lectern facing the people, open to the Gospel passage of the day.

Here is the text of this weekend's homily.

Sad week for our community

We don't have very much violent crime in our town, at least not the kind leading to someone's death.  Unfortunately last Sunday (Jan. 16) a local man was killed in his home, in what was an apparent robbery 

Thich Nhat Hanh’s final mindfulness lesson: how to die peacefully

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Thich Nhat Hand through his connection with Merton or his simple yet profound small books. I had not followed his recent history.

Thich Nhat Hanh’s final mindfulness lesson: how to die peacefully

he International Plum Village Community of Engaged Buddhism has announced that Thich Naht Hanh passed away on January 22 in Huế, Vietnam. We are republishing this interview with one of his senior disciples. It first appeared on Vox in March, 2019.

Thich Nhat Hanh has done more than perhaps any Buddhist alive today to articulate and disseminate the core Buddhist teachings of mindfulness, kindness, and compassion to a broad global audience. The Vietnamese monk, who has written more than 100 books, is second only to the Dalai Lama in fame and influence.

Nhat Hanh made his name doing human rights and reconciliation work during the Vietnam War, which led Martin Luther King Jr. to nominate him for a Nobel Prize.

He’s considered the father of “engaged Buddhism,” a movement linking mindfulness practice with social action. He’s also built a network of monasteries and retreat centers in six countries around the world, including the United States.

In 2014, Nhat Hanh, who is now 93 years old, had a stroke at Plum Village, the monastery and retreat center in southwest France he founded in 1982 that was also his home base. Though he was unable to speak after the stroke, he continued to lead the community, using his left arm and facial expressions to communicate.

In October 2018, Nhat Hanh stunned his disciples by informing them that he would like to return home to Vietnam to pass his final days at the Tu Hieu root temple in Hue, where he became a monk in 1942 at age 16. (The New York Times reports that nine US senators visited him there in April.)

As Time’s Liam Fitzpatrick wrote, Nhat Hanh was exiled from Vietnam for his antiwar activism from 1966 until he was finally invited back in 2005. But his return to his homeland is less about political reconciliation than something much deeper. And it contains lessons for all of us about how to die peacefully and how to let go of the people we love.

When I heard that Nhat Hanh had returned to Vietnam, I wanted to learn more about the decision. So in February I called up Brother Phap Dung, a senior disciple and monk who is helping to run Plum Village in Nhat Hanh’s absence. (I spoke to Phap Dung in 2016 right after Donald Trump won the presidential election, about how we can use mindfulness in times of conflict.) 

Dr. King in Montgomery: Our God is marching on

One of the e-newsletters which hits my inbox every day is called The Morning Dispatch.  It is published each morning from The Dispatch.  The Dispatch is a digital-only, center-right news and commentary outlet.  

Usually, The Morning Dispatch includes a rundown of top stories, each item consisting of a brief summary and further links, and then a deeper dive on one or two topics of significance.  Usually, those topics are contemporary news items.  For example, last week, it reported on President Biden's speech in Georgia.  

But today, The Morning Dispatch's feature story was a little different: it consisted of excerpts from one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches.  The newsletter explains that the text in question was

 ... a speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Montgomery, Alabama just weeks after hundreds of nonviolent protesters were violently beaten by state troopers while walking across the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 that legally prohibited race-based discrimination had been signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson months earlier, but black would-be voters continued to be disenfranchised at staggering rates in much of the South, where poll taxes, literacy tests, white-only primaries, and overt intimidation had guarded the ballot box for decades. In 1964, for example, just 6.7 percent of eligible black voters in Mississippi were actually registered to vote, according to the United States Commission on Civil Rights. 

The “Bloody Sunday” march—and King’s speech—played a key role in building momentum for the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which Johnson signed into law that August. By 1967, nearly 60 percent of eligible black voters in Mississippi were registered to vote. In November 2020, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, that percentage had risen to 83, compared to 79 percent of eligible white voters in the state.

Before I get to the speech itself, let me add a couple of remarks of my own.  Even though demographers would consider me a member of the Baby Boom cohort, I'm a late Boomer - born in 1961.  I'm sufficiently young that many/most of the social and cultural markers of the Boomer generation's formative experience came before I was born, or at least before I was old enough to understand the world around me.  That includes phenomena as trivial as Elvis, Bob Dylan and The Beatles, and as profoundly important as the Vietnam War - and the Civil Rights movement.  I understand that, for virtually everyone else who comments here at NewGathering, the Civil Rights movement is part of your lived history.  For me, it really wasn't - I missed its heyday.  I was alive during some of it, but I was a very little kid during that time.  The first thing I remember, coincidentally, is all the rioting that was touched off by Dr. King's assassination.  So when it comes to that era, I don't have personal memories.  Whatever I know, I've learned the way we learn about any historical subject: school, books, articles and older people's reminiscences.

I've heard Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" speech several times.  But I hadn't known of this Montgomery speech until now.  It's magnificent.  Speaking as a preacher: this is preaching.  Excerpts of the speech are below the break.  These excerpts appeared in today's The Morning Dispatch newsletter; I understand they got it from the website of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute of Stanford University.

Co-morbidities and US Covid Hospitalizations: Updated!

A twenty-two minute video today from Dr.Campbell on why the US Covid Hospitalizations are so high:

 

First, he gives a lot of data to raise the question of why the high (and going higher) US hospitalization rate with Covid.

Then, he debunks the standard reason (these are incident) and reformulates the categories into:

1. Hospitalizations solely due to Covid (i.e., no comorbidities)

2. Hospitalizations with comorbidities (having Covid tips the comorbid patient to seek emergency help).

3. Incidental hospitalizations (someone injures themselves, goes to the hospital and is found to have Covid too)

He maintains because of American poor diet, etc. we have too many comorbidities, and suspects most of our cases are in Category 2. 

He says he was surprised that he could not find bread without added sugar on the shelves of grocery stores when he visited the US.

Abhorent’: Disability Advocates Slam CDC Director for Comments on ‘Encouraging’ Covid Deaths

Auto-driving personalities

Tesla continues to perplex by positioning automation and safety as trade-offs rather than complements.

A positive in the house

One of my kids is COVID positive.  So we're all isolating at home for the rest of the week.  

I guess I should be freaked out, but I'm not.  She is basically asymptomatic.  We're all fully vaccinated and boostered (which I guess is now a verb).  Another kid and a parent were COVID-positive last year and came through without a hitch (although my mom had the "brain fog" for a while).  Rightly or wrongly, my psychology regarding Omicron (and I'm assuming she's infected with Omicron) is that it's not going to make her as sick as previous variants may have.  So I'm treating this as a (very minor) inconvenience.  If we need to purchase anything, we'll have it delivered.

Texas researchers offering a "no strings attached" vaccine

 I thought this was some promising good news, especially for the developing world where conditions don't always exist to utilize the mRNA vaccines with their low temperature requirements:

Texas scientists develop a ‘people’s vaccine,’ offer it free to the world – People's World (peoplesworld.org):

Validation / vindication for Sr. Jeannine

Sister Jeannine Gramick of New Ways Ministry recently received a hand-written letter from Pope Francis.  Let us hope it is the last letter she receives from the Holy See.

A Somber Anniversary

It was a year ago today when the Capitol Insurrection took place.  Many of us were watching in horror as it played out on live television.

Chicago's Cardinal Cupich had a  good  article today on his re-reading of the statement he made last year on the day "...that the world watched in horror as a violent mob attacked the US Capitol in a coordinated and deadly  attempt to overturn the legitimate results of a presidential election":   Thread by @CardinalBCupich on Thread Reader App – Thread Reader App

The Next Big COVID Variant

 Looks like it might not be over yet. 

The Next Big COVID Variant Could Be a Triple Whammy Nightmare

Many of the same epidemiologists who have breathed a sigh of relief over Omicron’s relatively low death rate are anticipating that the next lineage might be much worse.

Fretting over a possible future lineage that combines Omicron’s extreme transmissibility with the severity of, say, the previous Delta lineage, experts are beginning to embrace a new public health strategy that’s getting an early test run in Israel: a four-shot regimen of messenger-RNA vaccine.

Omicron features around 50 key mutations, some 30 of which are on the spike protein that helps the virus to grab onto our cells.

Some of the mutations are associated with a virus’s ability to dodge antibodies and thus partially evade vaccines. Others are associated with higher transmissibility. The lineage’s genetic makeup pointed to a huge spike in infections in the unvaccinated as well as an increase in milder “breakthrough” infections in the vaccinated.

Assuming the decoupling (of hospitalization and death with infection) is happening, experts attribute it to two factors. First, Omicron tends to infect the throat without necessarily descending to the lungs, where the potential for lasting or fatal damage is much, much higher. Second, by now, countries have administered nearly 9.3 billion doses of vaccine—enough for a majority of the world’s population to have received at least one dose.

All that is to say, Omicron could have been a lot worse. Viruses evolve to survive. That can mean greater transmissibility, antibody-evasion or more serious infection. Omicron mutated for the former two. There’s a chance some future Sigma or Upsilon lineage could do all three.

When it comes to viral mutations, “extreme events can occur at a non-negligible rate, or probability, and can lead to large consequences,” Michael said. Imagine a lineage that’s as transmissible as Omicron but also attacks the lungs like Delta tends to do. Now imagine that this hypothetical lineage is even more adept than Omicron at evading the vaccines.

That would be the nightmare lineage. And it’s entirely conceivable it’s in our future. There are enough vaccine holdouts, such as the roughly 50 million Americans who say they’ll never get jabbed, that the SARS-CoV-2 pathogen should have ample opportunities for mutation.

“As long as we have unvaccinated people in this country—and across the globe—there is the potential for new and possibly more concerning viral variants to arise,” Aimee Bernard, a University of Colorado immunologist, told The Daily Beast.

Israel, a world leader in global health, is already turning that expectation into policy. Citing multiple studies that showed a big boost in antibodies with an additional dose of mRNA and no safety concerns, the country’s health ministry this week began offering a fourth dose to anyone over the age of 60, who tend to be more vulnerable to COVID than younger people.