And this afternoon...

The American Spectator : Miss Teen Delaware

OK, not a new story, but just read Ben Stein's piece on it after lunch today and a few things he said immediately reminded me of my response to the story I posted about this morning, as an example:

This girl was apparently a good student...Yet she somehow thought it was a good idea to do a porn video and when asked why, answered, “I thought it might be fun and I need the money.”

What a mess...

This morning I came across this article "Surrogate offered $10,000 to abort baby" on CNN.com.  As I read it, I certainly was encouraged by the surrogate's desire to do good, to protect life, and to bring this child into the world and give it a chance despite the challenges.  But, at the same time I could not help but think that this whole mess, the reaction of the genetic father and his wife, the fleeing to another state, the enticement to murder with cash, and the legal battles are all simply the product of the horribly wrong practice of in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, man trying to play God and separate marriage from sex and sex from reproduction.

Reaction to Pope Benedict's Resignation, predictable

The response to Pope Benedict's announcing his resignation is not surprising at all.  Among the faithful Catholics the responses are prayer and thanks, along with the typical human questions and thoughts on who his successor might be.  While the non-Catholic and dissenting Catholic responses fall primarily into two groups.  One group is seizing the moment to dwell on priesthood scandals from 30-50 years past.  The other group is publicly hoping that finally the Church will change, let go of its outdated morality and join the 21st Century, because it is doomed if it doesn't embrace modern values.

For the moment, I'm not interested in discussing the priesthood scandal and Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger's, role in the matter.

Reflection on society

I'm so saddened by the loss of life in Connecticut last Friday.  It's a tragedy, committed by a sick and/or evil man.  I pray for the victims, the living, the dead, the emotionally wounded, the physically traumatized.  But, not just those in that small New England town.  But those victimized by violence rooted in what seems to me to be an ever increasing lack of respect for human life.

It is a tragedy.  It was an awful, hateful, cowardly act.  It breaks my heart.  But the response troubles me.