There has always been a bunch of social justice oriented leaders in the Roman Catholic church and some of the Sisters can be particularly mouthy.

When I first got out of college, I freelanced for the local Catholic paper, and I interviewed a nun who was active with the UN in building womens' and children's shelters in (I think) Turkey. (I don't remember very well, since this was 1994-ish.)

After the interview was officially over, we were talking more about it, and she said something about "family planning," or some such, and I said to her, how is that effective in such a perilous part of the world -- these women aren't in situations where the rhythm method is practical, and the Church doesn't allow any other contraception.

The nun said something along the lines of, yes, the Church doesn't allow other contraception, so we can't actively promote it, but if we have boxes of condoms sitting prominently on the counters and the women take them, well, that's the women's decisions.

And I thought, right on, sister. Right on.

And I thought, right on, sister. Right on.

Heh. What an awesome nun.

Just to make life more interesting, C-FAM (Catholic Institute on the Family and ... I forget) has it in for those radicals, Girl Scouts.

God forbid (no pun intended) that young women be taught to have actual autonomy and self-actualization when it comes to their sexuality! The world will end if young women learn it's okay to figure out and express what you want sexually!

Well yes ... plus the fact that the materials weren't handed out. sigh.

Interesting theory:

Curse of the Best Actress Oscar

Not that all men are insecure simps, but I think that a lot of men have a problem with their wives/SOs being more famous than they are, particularly if they are in the same profession. Many actors I know are fundamentally attention whores and want to the be "star" in the relationship*. With most couples, it's not a problem, but when your relationship is scrutinized by thousands of people and everyone is talking about how great your wife or girlfriend is, a lot of actors can't handle it.

OTOH, it takes a lot of work and time to be the best at what you do, and it may be that the relationship doesn't work because the dedication to the profession sublimates the relationship. Hmm.

Thoughts?

This is the real pro-life stance, and we as Catholics are all for it."

I don't think you can ignore this part of it though. I wish I had more of the quote. They're saying that there is more to being pro-life than stopping abortions. I don't agree with them about not funding abortions, but I can work with someone "Pro Life" if they are well and truly for promoting healthy lives. That is something we very much agree on. If they're trying to broaden the scope of "pro-life" and say that part of being committed to our religion here, folks, is building a society where people can be healthy that's fantastic. Knowing what little I know about badass nuns I suspect this is the case. I don't see how it is helpful to go to an automatic place that is reductionist about their aims.

People can be loudly religious about taking care of each other too. National Health Care is about the most Christian thing I can imagine.

(Unlike Mary Matalin last night on Colbert... no, sweetheart, Jesus did NOT say, "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day..." Heh. Just because you're a Republican doesn't mean Jesus will say anything you want him to. And you were kind of abusing Lao Tzu anyway -- or are you suggesting we fund a whole bunch of commie-style job training programs?)

Well yes ... plus the fact that the materials weren't handed out. sigh.

Right, the materials weren't handed out, and it's not cool that the conservative group (I already forgot the name; clearly I need more coffee) is a group of big fat lying liars who lie. I'm on board with that.

But I think the more insidious notion -- though hardly a new one -- is the idea that Oh, dear God, young women can't learn that it's okay to have sexual agency! The world will END!

I'm fed up with that shit. I know too many women my own age who have enough issues with it, and I feel like, let's end this bullshit right now. Young women need to know that it's cool to figure out what you like and don't like, and ask for it when and if they decide they want to start getting intimate with other people. Liberate the donut, and seize the cruller! (If you're into crullers; if not, seize ALL the donuts!)

This is the real pro-life stance, and we as Catholics are all for it."

I don't think you can ignore this part of it though. I wish I had more of the quote. They're saying that there is more to being pro-life than stopping abortions. I don't agree with them about not funding abortions, but I can work with someone "Pro Life" if they are well and truly for promoting healthy lives.

Man, I tried to have a similar conversation before the election with a friend who was single-issue voting on abortion. I said that if you looked at the 2 candidates' platforms, there is no way that McCain's was truly more "pro-life" than Obama's. No fucking way in hell.

And all she heard was abortion, abortion, abortion. Because pre-born life is the only life that matters, apparently. All the post-born life? Well, fuck it, y'all. Once's it's out, let it fend for itself.

So I gave up. It ain't my job to convince people whose viewpoints are no better than wolves.

And all she heard was abortion, abortion, abortion. Because pre-born life is the only life that matters, apparently. All the post-born life? Well, fuck it, y'all. Once's it's out, let it fend for itself.

Yep yep yep.

I added more above. I can't think of anything more "Christian" than some form of National Health Care. Seriously.

There was something in the paper within the past week or so where the author was pointing out that, statistically, when health care is available, the number of abortions goes down.

One of the author's points was that when health care is available, women can get birth control ... which, unfortunately, is also a no-no to many of the "pro-life" people.