23 years ago today, on the feast of St. Therese of the Child Jesus, Pope John Paul landed in Boston for his first visit to the United States after his election. As a Cardinal Archbishop and professor of theology, he had already been across the river in Cambridge where he had lectured to the eminences of Harvard Divinity School, but now he was coming to his own. And his own received him in a big way, filling Boston Common with a hundred thousand souls, a big crowd for a city of 500,000. We college pals who arrived on foot at 7:30 am — making a little pilgrimage of it — were rewarded with a place close enough so that we saw the Pope — that is, if we had our glasses on — and that was enough for us. He told us as the rain poured down on us all, Catholics and catechumens alike, and even a few Evangelicals: “Do not be afraid to follow Christ!”
Month: October 2002
Townsend in trouble
Like most Virginians, I believe that Maryland exists to make Virginia look good. High taxes, low morals, bad crime, and the most pro-abortion politicians outside of Massachusetts — they’re all there. Squishy, feel-good Catholic parishes? Got plenty. Want to start a business? You must be some kind of oppressor. Don’t want to join a union? Go talk to Bruno in the alleyway for a little while and see if you change your mind.
But there is a ray of light from that side of the Potomac: Kathleen “The Middle Name I Use Is Kennedy” Townsend is not looking like a winner this year. She may yet pull it out, and in a state where the Democrats control the political machinery, I wouldn’t bet against her. In the meantime, at least she’s not being handed the governorship. As a convert, I have never understood the Svengali-like hold the Kennedys have on Catholics above a certain age. Yes, I understand JFK was the first Catholic president (his tastes in women were certainly catholic, as well as his taste in “election coordinators” in places like Illinois), and I know that Catholics saw his election as validating their existence. Aside from some members of the family who stick to charitable work, most Kennedys have been public nuisances. Has any other family done so much to promote abortion on demand? Or family-destroying welfare programs? Or contraception and loose morals?
Remember: whenever a Kennedy goes to jail or loses an election, an angel gets his wings.
Conversion
A long-time Lutheran joined the Church at my parish on Sunday. His wife was Catholic and after 50+ years of marriage he finally decided to become Catholic. I almost had the choir sing “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God” just for the sake of irony.
Well, I guess that makes
Well, I guess that makes up for it
OK, I admit it: I was holding Pop Greggy’s episode of ungentlemanly behavior (toward Miss Stimpson) against him, but after reading his new Rodgers and Hammerstein song, I’m willing to relent, grant him an indulgence, and say all is forgiven.