A Deo et Rege

Two Australian Catholic bishops are making calls for a “new” Church. The first one, Geoffery Robinson, wants to change Church teaching on Papal authority and sexuality (in other words the Pope won’t let people “have any fun”). The other, Pat Powers, wants to have a discussion on ending celibacy and ordaining women. Bishop Powers claims the laity want these changes. I’m sure many do. It’s times like this that I’m grateful the Catholic Church is not a democracy and that there are higher authorities than chattering laity and also checks and balances against aging bishops. Mind you, I’m not against having an honest discussion on these issues. I’m convinced that sound Catholic theology based on Scripture and tradition would easily win the day. However, in all my years of theological training and practice, “having a discussion” usually means “keep listening until you see it my way.” The Church does not need that kind of discussion.

Most of you probably thought this was an Episcopalian, huh? The conservative Anglicans among us can breathe a little easier. This utterly mistaken man who believes we can achieve better relations with Muslims by calling God “Allah” is actually a Catholic bishop in the Netherlands. His goal of achieving peace between religions is laudable, but I disagree with this method. His argument that Catholic liturgies regularly use “Allah” for God is also not convincing since in those places he lists, referring to God as “Allah” is culturally and linguistically proper. Calling God “Allah” in a Western country is totally foreign and has very non-Christian connotations. If we want to have dialogue between Catholics and Muslims, we can start by better understanding and engaging each other, not by changing our traditions to suit ecumenical pipe dreams.

President Bush’s new war adviser says that the USA should consider the draft. This means that men and women (yes, thanks to feminism, women will be certainly eligible for the next draft) in their late teens and early twenties could be called upon to fight for the USA or to serve in other capacities. As a teacher and new father it saddens and angers me to read this. However, as long as leaders in both parties continue to insist that the USA is the world’s policemen, there must be bodies to do the policing. I hope our President and Congress choose peace and reality in their foreign policy decisions rather than perpetual war and the inevitable draft that comes from it.

Now that the presidential primaries are near (at least by campaigning standards), one issue that frequently arises is health care. The media presents touching stories of average people angry or sad because they and their families do not have health insurance. The solutions range from universal insurance to more capitalistic plans like requiring families to buy basic health insurance. I think that most of these solutions miss the point about the high cost of health care and insurance. Health care is a commodity like anything else and subject to the laws of the market. If demand for health care is extremely high, then the cost is going to go up. If the insurance companies pay out a ton of cash to cover those who buy their policies, the premiums will rise. The current solutions all focus on getting more people insured rather than reducing demand in health care, which is kind of like saying the government should pay to fill up people’s tanks since oil prices are so high. I’ve been uninsured and had trouble with less insurance than I needed. So, I understand. I also recognize that short term solutions will require that we find ways to insure the uninsured. However, ultimately, health care costs and insurance premiums can only be reduced by reducing how much we use the health care system. Here are a few ways I want to discuss (based loosely on this article ):

1) Prevention- many diseases are completely preventable through adjustment in diet and activity; the odds of getting others can be greatly reduced in the same way. If Americans made healthy food choices, kept near their healthy weights (I’m talking health here, not looks), and followed even minimal fitness guidelines, health care costs and insurance premiums would probably be greatly reduced. A recent estimate predicts that 75% of Americans will be overweight by 2015. That doesn’t bode well for health care costs.

2) Reduce risky behaviors- Riding motorcycles without helmets. Not wearing seat belts. Smoking. Doing illegal drugs. All of these increase the chance of serious medical problems and even death and they raise the cost of health care for everyone. I’m fairly libertarian, so I’m not necessarily arguing for banning all these activities. However, individuals engaging in these activities should definitely pay more for their insurance premiums. I feel the same way about obese people. Even though it would affect people I love, they must bear more of the cost. If people have to pay more, then they would be more likely to stop the risky and unhealthy behavior. Money talks.

3) Self-Management- Americans view health insurance as free medical care, not something to be used as “insurance” when we get sick. If our otherwise healthy kids have a sniffle, it’s off to the doctor. If we are sore from working out, it’s time to visit doc. That small patch of poison ivy? Better not risk it. Call the doctor. Doctors are great, but they are not needed for everything. For example, there still is no cure for the common cold or the flu. For cases other than kids, elderly, and frail adults, all doctors can do is tell you that you need to rest and drink liquids. If the insurance company has to pay for a doctor’s visit to hear that and to pay for the antibiotics he wrongly prescribes to get you off his back, premiums will eventually go up. If we can use OTC medications, vitamin supplements, diet and exercise to treat an ailment, we should be obligated (morally) to do so.

These are just a few of my thoughts on health care. I now wait for the politician who’s willing to say to the people “you’re too damn fat, too damn immature, and too damn quick to visit the doctor. If you want more people insured and lower premiums, take some personal responsibility!” Ok, that last line was somewhat tongue in cheek. Still, I’d like our leaders to
address the underlying issues of our country’s crisis (even if not full blown yet) in health care.

I saw Tommy Makem in concert two years ago and loved it. In addition to playing great music, he was an all around entertainer, cracking jokes and telling stories. I was supposed to see him in concert again yesterday at the Dublin (Ohio) Irish Festival and imagine my shock when I visited their website on Thursday and noticed his concert had been changed to a “Tribute to Tommy Makem.” The tribute was well done with some great memories and renditions. However, it wasn’t the same without Tommy there. He will be sorely missed. Some of my favorite Makem songs include Red is the Rose, Willie McBride, Four Green Fields, and Bread and Fishes. I’ll leave you with a quote from the latter:

Sadly, I left them, in an old country lane
For I knew that I never would see them again
One was an old man, the second a maid
And the third was a young boy who smiled as he said:

We’ve the wind in the willows, and the birds in the sky
We’ve a bright sun to warm us, where ever we lie
We have bread and fishes and a jug of red wine
To share on our journey with all of mankind

Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in peace.

The Catechism notes that pride is a “capital” sin, meaning that it leads to other sin and vices (1866). I discovered this last week in the liturgy of the Word during the Sunday mass when I realized how lax I had become in listening to and focusing on the Scripture readings. I have a Masters degree in theology and have read the Bible and Bible commentaries numerous times; I even teach Scripture. Consequently, I’ve found myself drifting during the readings in the mass because I already “knew the stories” and with great pride, even if subconsciously, felt I had little more to learn. This approach may work if the Bible is simply great literature, but it is so much more. The Catechism notes:

In Sacred Scripture, the Church constantly finds her nourishment and her strength, for she welcomes it not as a human word, “but as what it really is, the word of God”. “In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them. (104)

and

And such is the force and power of the Word of God that it can serve the Church as her support and vigor, and the children of the Church as strength for their faith, food for the soul, and a pure and lasting fount of spiritual life. (131)

These amazing words from the Church certainly don’t describe my recent experiences during the mass. The Catechism describes the reading and hearing of Scripture as a conversation with God. I, on the other hand, felt that since I had studied the texts in depth, I had no need for further conversation. I had shut off the working of the Holy Spirit through the Scriptures in my life because I had a theology degree. Rather than becoming food for the soul and a source of my spiritual life, Scripture had become an academic exercise, something I knew of, but had little impact in my life. I certainly believe in the academic study of the Bible, but it must always be in concert with the truth that the Bible is the book of the Church and her members.

Fortunately, as Catholics, we are confronted with the Bible every single week. The Word of God is sharper than a two edged sword and it can cut through any level of pride or whatever else gets in the way of receiving the grace God wants to give us through the Bible. Each week God is talking to us through the Scriptures. What hinders us from listening?

I am finally a homeowner! Of course, it also means I have to wait for Time Warner to come out with the internet! So, as of today, I will finally be posting again.