Author: SDH

Email for this website: sthand@email.com Stephen Hand, editor. Reporter, Assistant News Director and News Director for several radio stations in New York and Connecticut. Paralegal. PCA in Retirement. Contributor for various Catholic newspapers and publications.

Pope Francis Fires Conservative U.S. Bishop. Updated.

Tuesday Update: 11/14/23 Bishop Strickland Calls for Prayers for Pope Francis, Warns of Forces Corrupting Catholic Church WSJ: Texas Bishop Joseph Strickland, a vocal critic of the pope, has “warned of ‘blasphemies emanating from Rome’”(WSJ 11/12/23) “Ousted Bishop Speculates on the Reasons the Vatican Removed Him. National Catholic Register: ““I really can‘t look to any… Read More Pope Francis Fires Conservative U.S. Bishop. Updated.

SDH

Philosopher of Science and Mathematics John Lennox on the True, False & Anthropomorphic in A. I. Research

John Lennox is Emeritus Professor of Mathematics[2] at the University of Oxford and an Emeritus Fellow in Mathematics and Philosophy of Science at Green Templeton College, Oxford University. He is also an Associate Fellow of the Saïd Business School and a Senior Fellow at the Trinity Forum. Upon completing his doctorate, Lennox moved to Cardiff, Wales, becoming a reader in Mathematics at the University of Wales, Cardiff. Lennox teaches science and… Read More Philosopher of Science and Mathematics John Lennox on the True, False & Anthropomorphic in A. I. Research

SDH

Aldous Huxley, Sex, and Corporate Psychological Manipulation

It was Aldous Huxley who, very early, saw sexual decadence combining commercial interests with political manipulation in the emerging media. And he knew what that would mean for a culture. “Aldous Huxley in his 1932 dystopian novel Brave New World depicts a culture in which pleasure is compulsory and engineered to eliminate intellectual challenge and to… Read More Aldous Huxley, Sex, and Corporate Psychological Manipulation

SDH

Pope Francis has called for an immediate halt to the conflict in Gaza

No food, no water, no electricity, no escape as attacks intensify overnights Pope Francis repeated his call for a ceasefire in Gaza and called on Hamas to release hostages, invoking God, in a series of tweets addressing the conflict on Sunday. “In God’s name, I beg you to stop: cease using weapons,” Francis said. “I hope that avenues will… Read More Pope Francis has called for an immediate halt to the conflict in Gaza

SDH

Man as Image of God?

… or of Scientistic Transhumanism? Eva Vlaardingerbroek and millions of young people around the world are waking up to the threats of scientism, what Vlaardingerbroek rightly calls the “poisoned chalice of history”. Note: Living in New Time. Christians believe history is going somewhere. If man (m/w) is not allowed to flourish as the Image of… Read More Man as Image of God?

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Credo: Compendium of the Catholic Faith. Athanasius Schneider.

“For the first time in over fifty years, a Catholic bishop has published his own comprehensive presentation of the Faith–what to believe, how to live, and how to pray as Christ taught. Sure to be a classic for generations to come, Credo: Compendium of the Catholic Faith offers a clear and readable summary of Catholicism… Read More Credo: Compendium of the Catholic Faith. Athanasius Schneider.

SDH

How the Left Defines “Democracy” in One Paragraph

USA Today: “If you care about democracy, or about abortion rights or about the lives, freedoms and well-being of LGBTQ+ friends and loved ones, this past week was important… If you see former president and current criminal defendant Donald Trump and his MAGA movement as a dishonest, disingenuous threat to America, if you believe religion… Read More How the Left Defines “Democracy” in One Paragraph

SDH

Progressives Scramble to Explain Absence of LGBT in Final Synod Document

Vatican synod ends without clear stances on women deacons, LGBT. AMERICA MAGAZINE : Gerard O’Connell “… There was a section on truth and love where the document talks about controversial issues and how to address them. In that section, the term L.G.B.T. doesn’t specifically appear. What do you see [that] is addressing that issue? Because… Read More Progressives Scramble to Explain Absence of LGBT in Final Synod Document

SDH

Pope Francis waives statute of limitations in cartoonist Rupnik case

“… will face a canonical process over allegations of sexual, psychological, and spiritual abuse against women religious, the Vatican announced Friday, in an apparent about-face. The Vatican has not formally specified the charges Rupnik will face, and the Vatican’s press office has declined questions on its statement. null The Holy See press office said Oct. 27… Read More Pope Francis waives statute of limitations in cartoonist Rupnik case

SDH

Jeffrey Sachs. Who he is ideologically and Why It Matters

Update: Without prejudice to the objectionable personal belief system of Jeffrey Sachs, noted below, there appear to have been developments in the political significance of Sachs: + Insider turned political heretic, Jeffrey Sachs, in discussion with Tucker Carlson (August 2024) ~~~ Pope Francis names Jeffrey Sachs to Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences —May 2023:  Sachs on… Read More Jeffrey Sachs. Who he is ideologically and Why It Matters

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Genocidal Hamas

If the West has too often acted unjustly throughout the world —and it certainly has— this fact can never make genocidal Hamas right. “Hamas never wanted peace with Israel.” The Christian Post. “It was — and is — the mission of Hamas to obliterate Israel, not make peace with Israel. As noted in an October… Read More Genocidal Hamas

SDH

‘The left has really let us down.’ Why many American Jews feel abandoned.

“The left has really let us down.’ Why many American Jews feel abandoned Like many American Jews, Jonah Goldman sides politically with the left, including its push for the rights of Palestinians. During college, he was active in J Street, the liberal Jewish advocacy group that opposes the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories and lobbies… Read More ‘The left has really let us down.’ Why many American Jews feel abandoned.

SDH

Cardinal Müller: Latest Vatican Guidance on Divorce-Remarried Communion Represents a ‘Rupture’ With Church Teaching

Solène Tadié Vatican October 17, 2023 NCRegister. “Eight years after a footnote in one of Pope Francis’ signature documents appeared to open the door for divorced-and-remarried Catholics to receive Communion while remaining sexually active, a new round of public conflicts over its doctrinal legitimacy has exposed just how unsettled the issue remains at the highest levels… Read More Cardinal Müller: Latest Vatican Guidance on Divorce-Remarried Communion Represents a ‘Rupture’ With Church Teaching

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Israel and Palestine Today. Dershowitz–Finkelstein.

The Palestinian Argument Today. Context, 2004. Dershowitz: The Case for Israel and Palestine. Debate: Norman Finkelstein vs. Alan Dershowitz (2003). Image Source: Politico “The Dershowitz–Finkelstein affair was a public controversy involving academics Alan Dershowitz and Norman Finkelstein and their scholarship on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict in 2005. Shortly after the publication of the book The Case for Israel, by Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz, Norman Finkelstein… Read More Israel and Palestine Today. Dershowitz–Finkelstein.

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How Modern Art Took a Dump on Christian Western Civilization

Or, there are many ways to resent and persecute that which is hated. Originally Titled: Modern Art. The Goldsmith Company Lecture David StarkeyGoldsmith Lecture2017 The Inquiring Mind writes “Starkey is in great form in this lecture where he excoriates conceptual art “For the inaugural Goldsmiths’ Company lecture, Dr. David Starkey spoke on the subject of… Read More How Modern Art Took a Dump on Christian Western Civilization

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Massive Intelligence Failure on Israel’s Part

— France24 Report. “Ground incursions expected”. — Israel’s high-tech spies and $1bn Iron Dome defences failed to stop Hamas massacring civilians in ’embarrassing failure’ — 12 Hours Later. Developments. — Some 300 dead and counting — Regional Leaders React. RFJ Jr. Calls for “Sustained Military Campaign” in Response to Unprovoked Hamas Attack on Israel. Kennedy… Read More Massive Intelligence Failure on Israel’s Part

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Pope Benedict XVI Laments Blurring of Genders. 2008.

Calls for “an ecology of the human being”. BBC: “Pope Benedict has called for “an ecology of the human being”. Pope Benedict XVI has suggested that the need to save mankind from a destructive blurring of gender roles is as important as saving the rainforests. He explained that defending God’s creation was not limited to… Read More Pope Benedict XVI Laments Blurring of Genders. 2008.

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Cardinals Send ‘Dubia’ to Pope Francis Ahead of Synod on Synodality

Edward Pentin.Vatican.October 2, 2023. VATICAN CITY — Five cardinals have sent a set of questions to Pope Francis to express their concerns and seek clarification on points of doctrine and discipline ahead of this week’s opening of the Synod on Synodality at the Vatican.  The cardinals said they submitted five questions, called dubia, on Aug.… Read More Cardinals Send ‘Dubia’ to Pope Francis Ahead of Synod on Synodality

SDH

If We Say

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all iniquity. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his… Read More If We Say

SDH

Sign of the Times: The Traditional Family.

Era of the Traditional Family Over in America Recent Survey Suggests| National Catholic Register “The family used to be the core unit of society. Increasingly, it’s now a lifestyle choice. And troublingly, the Americans who could benefit most from the stability of marriage and family life — working-class individuals and those without a college degree —… Read More Sign of the Times: The Traditional Family.

SDH