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Last year a male faculty member at a Catholic high school in Washington State was fired when administrators learned that he was married to a man. An unmarried woman was fired from a Catholic middle school in Montana when the principal discovered that she was pregnant. Two unmarried teachers were fired from a Catholic high school in Massachusetts after they revealed to the principal that they were in a relationship and that the woman was pregnant. They immediately lost their health insurance and were denied letters of recommendation from the principal.
These situations raise difficult questions for the administrators of Catholic schools, who are charged with promoting their institution's Catholic identity. On the one hand, the four employees mentioned above were reported to be well qualified and good at their respective jobs. On the other, all four were publicly exposed as being in violation of Catholic teaching and in breach of the morality clause in their contracts.
Unlike situations regarding sexual contact with students or the nonperformance of duties, the situations described above are difficult to adjudicate because there are no clear-cut moral principles to guide right action. This is especially true regarding the treatment of married gay and lesbian teachers in Catholic schools. After all, it is only recently that most schools have this population in their ranks.
The modest goal of this essay is to elucidate principles that ought to guide discussion of these challenging issues. These cases are especially difficult because, unlike Catholic colleges and universities, Catholic elementary, middle and high schools teach children who may be encountering these moral questions for the first time. These teachers have a responsibility to create an environment in which students can learn how to live a virtuous life. This article focuses on the moral duties of school administrators. The moral responsibility of individual teachers is also a fertile area for inquiry, but that is a subject for another article.
Asking the Right Questions
Two points should be made at the outset. First, ethics is done well when it asks and answers the right questions. We begin, therefore, by setting aside a question that is often asked but that is irrelevant to this article: "Is the church's official teaching correct regarding the morally illicit nature of gay marriage?" That is an important question that should be discussed and debated in Catholic households, parishes, colleges and universities. But it is a not a question to be asked by Catholic school administrators in their role as administrators. While individuals within institutions have the right to dissent from church teaching as individuals, they do not have the right to unilaterally alter an institution's values and conscience. For instance, if a Catholic school principal believes that the church's social teaching is wrong in its critique of liberal capitalism, this does not empower him or her to alter the curriculum so that students learn the economic philosophy of Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek instead of reading Paul VI's encyclical "The Development of Peoples" or the U.S. Catholic bishops' letter "Economic Justice for All."
Second, we need to expose an error in logic. It does not necessarily follow that because a teacher has violated church teaching, and his or her contract, that he or she should be terminated. Many teachers violate their contracts without being fired. The question is not simply: Did the teacher violate the contract? Instead it should be: Does the violation of the contract disqualify the teacher from educating students in a Catholic context?
In his words and writings Pope Francis has demonstrated the importance of returning to the foundations of the faith as one engages the moral details of a case. A central theme in Francis' writings is that the disciples of Christ should see the world as it relates to God (see especially "The Light of Faith"). Francis applied this logic when responding to a question regarding homosexuality, and answered with a rhetorical question of his own."Tell me: when God looks at a gay person, does he endorse the existence of this person with love, or reject and condemn this person?" Francis rightly noted that Christians first are called to see the gay person or the unmarried pregnant woman as a person who is loved by God. This foundational pillar of the faith has moral implications, as St. Thomas Aquinas helpfully explained using an analogy in the Summa Theologiae: "When a man has friendship for a certain person, for his sake he loves all belonging to him, be they children, servants, or connected with him in any way." The analogy is then extended to God. If one loves God, one also should love all of God's friends. Who are God's friends? Everyone: gays, lesbians, couples who conceive out of wedlock, children, the poor and so on. Therefore, in order to love God one also must love all people. (Of course, we have deeper and more substantial relationships of love with friends and family.)
Forming the Whole Student
In Catholic schools, the moral priority rests with the good of the students. Schools exist for the students, not the faculty. The unique mission of Catholic schools is to educate and form the whole student—academically, spiritually and morally. As a rule, Catholics give special priority to the needs of the vulnerable in a given community. At their meeting in Puebla, Mexico, in 1979, the Latin American bishops wrote that the option for the poor applies to the materially poor, but also to all children. Thus, while justice must be rendered to the faculty and staff, justice is primarily conditioned on what is best for students. The rights of faculty and staff are limited by the rights of students to receive a high quality Catholic education. This is not to claim that the rights of faculty and staff are to be ignored but that these rights must be placed in their proper context.
With the heart of the Catholic tradition in mind, we now can begin to discuss the moral resources that have proven to be helpful in the adjudication of difficult cases.
Counsel. The first and most important step that administrators, or anyone else for that matter, can take when discerning the right course of action in difficult situations is to "take counsel." I use this word in a moral sense, not a legal one. Aquinas argued that the prudent agent should take "good counsel" in the determination of what ought to be done in cases in which there is reasonable doubt regarding the right course of action. Counsel is especially useful in new cases, where there is no codified moral wisdom upon which to draw.
By sitting together with others one can overcome one's own limited perspective. Members of the group might attend to realities that may have escaped one's own notice. Following Aquinas's practice, when appropriate the principal should gather together a diverse group, made up mainly of other administrators. In cases in which scandal is a threat, one should also seek the counsel of the local diocesan bishop. Because of the newness and complexity of the situations facing Catholic school administrators, it would be wrong to fire a faculty member without first seeking counsel from various constituencies, including the school's attorney. While the administration of a school is not democratic, the best of Catholic tradition supports decisions that are made in a manner that emphasizes dialogue and participation.
Casuistry. Once a group has been assembled, there are a number of tools they can employ to adjudicate difficult cases. The first is casuistry. While a distorted version of casuistry was lampooned and fell out of favor centuries ago, the essential approach of casuistry—the comparison of cases—remains a very useful method. It enables the agent to discover the moral solution to a quandary by comparing and contrasting the case in question to a paradigm case about which there is wide moral agreement regarding the right action.
How might casuistry aid in the adjudication of the scenarios presented at the outset of this essay? Administrators could, for instance, compare and contrast the case of the unwed pregnant couple to cases that have led to termination of employment, like sexual contact between a faculty member and a student. They could also look to cases in which an offending faculty member was retained, for example after an especially angry outburst. What were the common factors in the cases of termination? Were they incidents in which students, faculty or staff were directly abused somehow? Were they cases involving illegal actions on school grounds? Or were they cases in which the faculty member's action could scandalize children? What were the common factors that led administrators to retain faculty members who had violated their contracts? Were their actions morally blameworthy but with little or no effect on students? Were faculty members retained if their offense consisted of a momentary lapse of judgment, as opposed to a habitual character trait? Finally, is the case of the unwed pregnant couple closer to cases involving termination or to those in which the faculty member was retained?
Virtue ethics. Perhaps the most useful and important tool is virtue ethics. The cases outlined above are quandaries precisely because administrators are concerned about the effects that the presence of married gay persons and unwed parents will have on the moral character of students. Thus, the overriding question that administrators must ask and answer is: What are the formational effects on students if the school dismisses or retains the faculty person under consideration? This question can be answered only by those who know today's students well. As Pope Francis acknowledged in January in his remarks to leaders of religious orders of men, it is a challenge to "proclaim Christ to a generation that is changing" in its attitudes toward marriage. He also cautioned that the church should "be careful not to administer a vaccine against faith" to those who live in nonconforming relationships or hold views that conflict with church teaching.
The moral formation of students transpires more through the example set by teachers and administrators than by the students' abstract knowledge of the moral doctrines of the church. This fact is clearly acknowledged in recent papal writings. Pope John Paul II underscored the importance of that effect in "The Mission of the Redeemer" (No. 42), when he noted that "people today put more trust in witnesses than in teachers, in experience than in teaching, and in life and action than in theories." The primacy of action does not undercut the importance of educators; rather it points to the need for educators to be witnesses as well, as Pope Francis argued in "The Joy of the Gospel": "We need to remember that all religious teaching ultimately has to be reflected in the teacher's way of life, which awakens the assent of the heart by its nearness, love and witness" (No. 42). And who among us is a suitable witness for a faith that calls us to universal love, mercy and justice? Recall that even Pope Francis responded, "I am a sinner," when asked who he was.
Still, administrators must discriminate between those imperfect people who can serve as witnesses for young people and those who should not. The dividing line may be found in the concept of scandal. Genuine scandal involves leading others to believe that immoral actions and ways of life are actually morally licit. Scandal is important because it has the potential to malform the conscience and character of young people. But not every immoral action or mistaken belief is scandalous. Unfortunately, it is notoriously difficult to discern what might "give scandal." Does an unmarried pregnant teacher undermine the church's teaching on premarital sex in the eyes of students, or does she provide a quiet witness to the value of bringing all children, even those conceived in less-than-ideal situations, into the world? Does the presence of a married gay man on the faculty undermine the church's teaching on matters of sexual ethics, or is this outweighed by the man's practices, for example, of love and mercy toward the suffering, the sick and the unborn? These are some of the difficult but essential questions that administrators must ask and answer.
Justice for Faculty and Staff
While most of this essay has focused on justice toward students, one cannot ignore the legitimate claims of faculty and staff. I highlight two here.
Promulgation. First, if certain offenses are worthy of termination they should be promulgated as such in the teacher's contract or handbook. The Diocese of Cleveland recently released a revised teacher contract listing prohibited behaviors in detail, like procuring or supporting abortion, having sex outside of marriage and drug use. While one can debate the substance of the morality clause, schools owe teachers this level of disclosure so that they can make informed decisions regarding their employment.
Harm mitigation. While in some instances administrators may find it necessary to terminate a faculty member's contract, they should attempt to mitigate the harm this causes. Recently, the just war tradition has added the category of jus post bellum or "justice after war" toward those who have been defeated. Administrators ought to exercise jus post terminationem, which normally would include such support as an extension of health insurance benefits, severance pay and a letter of recommendation to future employers regarding the faculty member's teaching ability and character.
Catholic schools should be institutions of love and mercy, and the temporary support of terminated faculty members and staff is one way the school can witness to its mission. Many of these cases involve innocent third parties who are harmed when the offending faculty or staff person is fired. The expecting couple in Massachusetts were fired and lost health insurance precisely when it was most necessary. In "The Joy of the Gospel" (No. 213), Pope Francis lamented that "it is also true that we [the church] have done little to adequately accompany women in very difficult situations, where abortion appears as a quick solution to their profound anguish."
The lack of accompaniment of unmarried pregnant women by Catholic schools is scandalous and may create situations in which abortion presents itself as an option. This does not require administrators to retain persons who have violated their contracts. It does require schools to avoid abandoning those who were once a part of the academic community. Because of their Catholic identity, schools have responsibilities not only for their students, but also for the lives and well-being of the children, born and unborn, of their faculty and staff. This concern for innocent third parties clearly extends to the children of gays and lesbians.
How do we teach and model the Gospel to a generation that is changing? And how can Catholic school administrators balance all the competing interests in a just way? Therein lies the quandary for those who administer schools that have been built in the name of Jesus Christ.
Thank you for a thoughtful essay on a hard topic. I agree wholeheartedly with much you recommend, especially your second point at the outset, that a violation of Catholic teaching does not necessarily constitute a reason for firing a person. Your focus on formation, virtue and justice are a welcome addition to a debate too often framed in terms of legalisms.
But I want to ask about your first point at the outset, that it is not the task of school administrators as administrators to assess magisterial teaching. I disagree. In Catholic tradition, the conscience is bound by a just law, while a law that is unjust may (or must) be violated in the name of the common good. It was Augustine who declared an unjust law to be "no law at all," a stance endorsed by Thomas Aquinas, and which was the foundation of Martin Luther King, Jr's "Letter from a Birmingham Jail." Indeed, it is only BECAUSE the particular magisterial teachings you cite are in question that people are troubled by firing teachers because of them. No one would seriously question whether a teacher who was convicted of murder or who publicly advocated white supremacy should be fired from a position in a Catholic school. The administrator's task begins with asking which teachings are unequivocally just, and which are amenable to reasonable dissent.
Even here there are two levels of discussion. There are teachings which might be argued to be unjust in application, e.g., firing women pregnant out of wedlock when no such penalty is applied to the men involved. This is an exercise of epikeia, of discerning that enforcing a usually just rule would result in injustice. (This as well as the inducement to abortion is scandalous.)
But the question of married LGBT faculty is different, istm. Here the challenge raised to magisterial teaching is more fundamental--many question whether the teaching itself is just. If civil marriage equality fits under the Church's teaching of non-discrimination against LGB people, (the magisterium says no, while most Catholics say yes on this one,) then it's not just a matter of the administration tolerating bad behavior in light of other good qualities the faculty member may bring, but of calling out a teaching which is unjust from the start.
If administrators believe in their own consciences that the teaching itself is unjust, then they have a responsibility to stand unequivocally with those teachers, against a law which is "no law at all," in the name of all the goods you mention which great teachers bring to Catholic schools. If they agree with magisterial teaching that civil marriage equality is "a multi-faceted threat to the very fabric of society," (as the USCCB has written,) only then can they evaluate whether teachers engaged in such behavior may continue to be on their faculty. Given the harsh rhetoric the bishops have used, though, it's difficult to find a middle ground on this one. Administrators, even qua administrators, are still answerable to conscience.
Question for Tom O ?
How many if any bishops can you name that has ever turned over a pedophile priest to the lawful authorities ? I just read on MSN that Bishop Carlson the former bishop of Minneapolis and now Archbishop of St. Louis did not even know that it was criminal for a priest to molest a minor. Did you happen to read it ?
For Dan Daly, if you think a Catholic School is going to give compensation for a teacher fired because of violation of a moral clause in their contract there might be a bridge for sale cheap in Brooklyn.
Recently I have been thinking about Jesus the Good Shepherd who told the story of leaving the 99 behind to go after the one....no utilitarian He....It seems that the present policy of the Church holds on for dear life to the 99 and will not venture out to save the one lost....
Paul – your first question for me was more aptly part of a string below and I addressed it there. But, I like the fact that you brought up the Good Shepherd. It is definitely a great example to follow. Jesus shows how a Good Shepherd cares for the 1 who is lost, even while he has the 99 safe and sound. All Catholics (and especially the Bishops) should never be content to just take care of themselves, but we must constantly reach out to those lost in their sin, even when the outreach and evangelization is not welcomed and even rejected. That is the example of the many missionaries in the past, including the great Jesuit martyrs whose teaching was rejected in a most emphatic way. That is why the Church must never give up reaching out to those who prefer a sinful life, or deny their sin and think they are ok without the fullness of the faith. No doubt, the evangelizers will be rejected by many, but some can be reached. In any case, obeying the command to go out and preach the Good News is a good in itself. It does not require even good prospects for success. That is in God's hands, in His grace.
I am familiar with employment contracts. As such, if any teacher understood that gay marriage for a teacher was grounds for immediate dismissal, I see no legal issue here. Nevertheless, it raises many questions. Should employment contracts for Catholic elementary and high school teachers clearly spell out grounds for dismissal? If so, what should be the criteria for determining what type of so-called immoral behavior should be grounds for dismissal? What about any Catholic teacher who is divorced and remarried or those who admit to practicing contraception? The list goes on.
I do feel strongly that children of gay couples should be permitted to attend Catholic elementary and high schools. Should we deny a Catholic school education of the Gospels to such children? What about children of heterosexual parents who believe that gay marriage is not sinful?
There's seemingly not much wiggle room left in the church or its institutions. Sad! No space, no time, no place to experience life and grow in grace.
Jesus was most certainly merciful to the person caught in adultery, but at the same time he also demanded a change of behavior.
Hi Prof Daly,
Your article sheds light on the Ethics in upholding Catholic School's Identity. Thanks for the recommendations that you have proposed.
Living a life of Love in Christ should manifest both the balance between Justice and Mercy without compromising the two principles that He thought us -- Live a life of virtue and love.
Thoughtful article. It does raise additional questions about how to handle other situations, such as my granddaughter had in her Catholic middle school, where students know an unwed teacher is living with her boyfriend. Also, what does it say to gay and transgender students, when teachers whose sexual orientations they share are dismissed?
I applaud the focus on the students that Mr. Daly takes. However, one of the approaches he suggests for making decisions in such cases is casuistry - the comparison of cases. Using this approach, administrators might make very different decisions about two scenarios which seem alike to students who don't know all the details or who don't know how the administrators "compared" them to other situations. How would one explain those different decisions to students?
This is an excellent article, in my view, as it puts the formation of Christian children first, and emphasizes mercy in dealing with teachers who have failed publicly. I would think that in any individual case, mercy and forgiveness, without abandoning the truth, should always be the guide. The children will be far less scandalized by someone committing a sin than by someone who teaches that a wrong is a right. The new contracts with their doctrinal stipulations seem necessary because 1) courts and lawyers seem to demand them to protect the school from bankrupting litigators, and 2) there is confusion as to what the Church teaching is in moral matters.
Teachers who cannot agree to witness in accordance what the Church teaches should go, for the sake of the Church's mission and the teacher's own integrity. But, any firing should be done delicately, with careful discretion shown regarding references and health insurance.
In general, we have this problem today because Catholic priests and faithful laity have not presented the fullness of the faith in such a way that all know the true parameters of an authentic Christian life. It all starts with more consistent witnessing of the Catholic way of life, and consistent preaching from our clergy and laity. We all have some responsibility for this confused state of affairs.
The examples of the porn star, stripper etc...are nothing like the cases in Daly's article. An engaged women gets pregnant...really ? Since I think gay marriage is a commitment to love and honor and is far better than promiscuity I have no problem with the second case although under the present Catholic myopia on the subject I can see why they would get fired. I know Pope Francis said a lot of things when he was Archbishop in Argentina but I think he is more circumspect as Pope. As far as concern for children I applaud the epiphany that has come over the male bishops and priests in regard to the children. It is a long time coming.
I was thinking of the Francis who said, "who am I to judge?"
So, I think we agree that removal of teachers for certain public external activities is the just thing to do. We just might disagree on what those activities are. As to your example of the engaged women, I too would try to handle this without a dismissal. Perhaps, a temporary leave of absence. Catholics should be particularly supportive of pregnant women, given the secular culture's propensity to promote child killing (abortion) for any inconvenience. Still, with epidemics of teen pregnancies and venereal disease, it is important that children be exposed to credible role models who demonstrate the full Christian meaning of sex and marriage.
Here is what Pope Francis said yesterday about the Christian family: "Families are the home Church where Jesus grows. He grows in the spouses' love and in the children's lives. For this reason, the enemy attacks the family so much. The devil does not want it. He tries to destroy it, to prevent love from becoming free. Families are the home church. But married people are sinners like everyone else, they do not want to go in faith, in its fertility, in children and the faith of their children. May the Lord bless the family, and make it strong in the face of the crisis by which the devil wants to destroy it."
Paul - it is a cheap shot to suggest the bishops are only recently concerned for children's welfare. That is beneath you. It suggests a bigotry of sorts, casting a whole group as such. Certainly the opposite of a non-judgmental attitude you think you have.
a cheap shot ???
I know you have heard of the worst crisis the church has faced since the Middle Ages....it ruined the lives of countless children, and cost the laity billions in lawsuits....Francis has it right....child abuse is a vicious crime and knowingly covering it up is complicity in this vicious crime.
For fifty years the bishops swept this under the rug....so it will take some time before credibility on this issue of protecting children will be restored. When I was in Catholic grammar school an abusive priest used the school to troll for child victims.
Sad to say he wasn't the only one.
I regret writing this in a way because I have known many loving and dedicated priests.
Paul - Bigotry a when one extrapolates from the crimes of some to the whole group. So, if you went from the high rate of crime in the minority community to say blacks are criminals, that would be an example of thoughtless bigotry. That is what you are doing re the bishops. Why is it that so many people who claim to be tolerant and non- judgmental leave their principles at the door when it comes to bishops? It completely undermines their arguments and exposes their true colors.
The cover-up of priest sex abuse by the Bishops has proven to be systemic so it is not extrapolating from some to the whole group as you say. Your analogy to blacks is invalid. Why is it ok for you to generalize about priests and laity who do not listen to the Pope on the slavery issue and the sex issues and I cannot generalize. If you don't know how extensive a policy was in place to protect the "reputation" of the church rather than to seek justice for the victims of sex abuse then we really have no basis for further communication. You and I are living on different planets....my planet is earth....what is yours ?
Paul - if your logic was correct, you would be surprised Pope Francis was suddenly having an epiphany about caring for children, as he falls into the class of bishops. But, even for other bishops, do you really mean to claim that none or few of them cared at all about kids? Do you think they are like nazis or something? I am surprised you have the chutzpah to use the phrase "who am I to judge?"
Do you know of any bishops who turned over priests to police who admitted or was discovered as a pedophile. If so could you name any. Thanks, I just read today on MSN that a Bishop Carlson now Archbishop of St. Louis in 1984 said he did not know that having sex with a minor was a crime. He also was told by his superior if there ever was a conversation on this subject with lawyers he was to respond, "I cannot remember." So much for my bigotry eh....???
Paul. The Vatican reported to the UN that 848 priests had been defrocked and 2,572 other priests had received lesser punishments, but I cannot tell who first blew the whistle on their crimes. It may well have been mostly the victims going directly to the police, since most accusations only surfaced several years/decades after the event. I agree that, by today's standards & knowledge, several bishops acted way too slowly before the 2002 Dallas meeting that put the zero tolerance directive in place. But, since then, I think Bishop Finn is the only bishop in the US that has been proven/charged with not informing the police in a timely manner, and even he was the person who did call the cops before anyone else. (If you have read the details of Bishop Finn's case, could you really say he cared nothing for kids. He immediately removed the suicidal priest for a psychiatric evaluation after getting counsel from someone in the police force. Bad judgment indeed but he was hardly out to get the kids.). I looked up the MSN article you referred to and I cannot tell if Bishop Carlson cared nothing for kids either.
This case in the Twin Cities is certainly a strange one. Not only is the alleged victim in prison for raping a girl, but he apparently is still in some sort of ongoing relationship (?sexual) with Tom Adamson - the very person who is accused of abusing him. Only, now it is not considered abuse because he is over 18 (still is abuse to me, even if consensual).
As to going from a single case to the whole class, you can track the murders in the black neighborhoods of Chicago online (http://homicides.redeyechicago.com/date/2014/04/). There were over 30 in April alone. But, despite the frequency, far greater than the reports of bishops, I think it would be wrong to claim that Chicago blacks didn't respect life or love their families. It is the extrapolation I disagree with, especially since the zero tolerance was put in place. By the way, I am still awaiting the Vatican's report on Archbishop Wesolowski. Pope Francis' commission and his new team's credibility will be judged by how they handle this case.
Comparing the black violence in Chicago to the American Bishops to me is a stretch on many levels. Bishops are reported to be better educated than blacks in inner cities. Also I think we should hold the bishops to a higher standard. I think part of the problem with Bishops not wanting to make a criminal case out of sexual acts (rape would be an exception) is that as males and celibates with no practical experience of sexual intimacy, they do look as sex as a physical act having little or no consequences outside of the act itself except with the obvious case of generation of offspring. In fact to a male celibate there is no reason for the sexual act at all except to have children and to allay that demon concupiscence. (the last a concession to our fallen human nature) Since physical sexual acts were not thought to have lasting consequences it was easy to wipe out this time shortened sin with a good confession. Bless me father for I had sex with a minor. Say three our Fathers and Three Hail Marys and go now in peace.
Again I think until the Magisterium males begin to understand the nature of the sexual person and get off the act centered morality, they will not be a major force in the ethics of sexuality.
Really Bishop Finn is your example of a Bishop who acted. I will say you are a true defender of the home team no matter what. You never can answer my questions beyond Bishop Finn as to who has turned immoral priests to the lawful authorities. I think my generalizations then are completely valid. Fight on Tim.
I think there are duplicate answers here, Paul. Archbishop Chaput turned 30 priests over to the police in the famous case a few years ago and I think over 1/2 have been cleared of child abuse. In any case, he reported another this year, who is being investigated (I think the accusation stems from a few decades ago). I gave the example of Bishop Finn to show that EVEN he was the first to report to priest to the police (I think most people don't know that). In any case, I am glad you found one Chicagoan to go against a sweeping conclusion about blacks there. But, we have taken this conversation far enough. I think you agree that innocent people should not be judged automatically heartless or guilty just because others in their group/class acted badly.
I can name one black from the south side of Chicago who has managed to stay out of jail. He lives in a big white house in Washington D.C.
Comparing the black violence in Chicago to the American Bishops to me is a stretch on many levels. Bishops are reported to be better educated than blacks in inner cities. Also I think we should hold the bishops to a higher standard. I think part of the problem with Bishops not wanting to make a criminal case out of sexual acts (rape would be an exception) is that as males and celibates with no practical experience of sexual intimacy, they do look as sex as a physical act having little or no consequences outside of the act itself except with the obvious case of generation of offspring. In fact to a male celibate there is no reason for the sexual act at all except to have children and to allay that demon concupiscence. (the last a concession to our fallen human nature) Since physical sexual acts were not thought to have lasting consequences it was easy to wipe out this time shortened sin with a good confession. Bless me father for I had sex with a minor. Say three our Fathers and Three Hail Marys and go now in peace.
Again I think until the Magisterium males begin to understand the nature of the sexual person and get off the act centered morality, they will not be a major force in the ethics of sexuality.
You are a truly despicable human being.
David, this sort of character attack is beyond the pale and will not be tolerated on the blog. We will suspend your account if necessary.
David - I do not know you so I cannot be sure of your character or intentions, but I am not impressed with your taunts or personal insults. Perhaps, you are very immature or just new to this blog, but it would be helpful if you kept your comments to ideas or controversies and not persons. Intolerance & insults are easy and so are common on the internet, but this blog is trying to leave those tactics behind, even as it deals with controversial issues within the Catholic faith community. Or, take your own suggestion and try silence.
I'm sorry I said that, but YOU are the one that's always ready with the cheap shot ("pedophiles" ring a bell?) or the swerve from logic to vindictiveness. I've read page after page of your fact-defying paeans to tradition-at-all-cost, and I'm part of the human cost you don't care about at all.
So forgive me for my passion.
And PLEASE get a hobby.
David - Passion is no excuse for denigrating intellectual opponents. And your interpretation of my posts suggests you don't hear or listen to contrary arguments very much. I do not equate pedophilia to adult homosexuality. The former is rape of an innocent. I was using the "orientation" analogy to show how supposedly scientific theories about human nature can cross over into political ideologies. I am a doctor and I have been part of the scientific community most of my adult life. I am well acquainted with the benefits and the hubris of science. I don't know your arguments because you haven't to my knowledge posted any, apart from an amen or two to others who recommend departing from orthodox Church teaching.
I love the Church because it is Christ (His mystical body and the source of His Eucharistic body & blood) and I love its teaching because it saves, even faulty and failing people. I want the best for all my debating friends and enemies, including their (and your) salvation. A false teaching does not save, no matter how much one wants it to. I interpret the teaching as best as I can but I do not claim any of the teaching as my own. If and when I am wrong, it is because I haven't understood the Church's teaching to its full extent. I accept there is development of doctrine that doesn't reverse the established teaching. But most development is of my opinions - to get closer to the Church. She is my mother, not my political party. And, I am willing to subordinate and abandon even my cherished theories & interpretations to the Lord, as expressed by His Church. You asked before if I was a convert. Well, I was baptized as a baby and my conversion continues. We can often think we are faithful but our conversion is a life-long process. It takes reflection and some loss of ourselves every day to remove our sinful obstacles to the light, to be accepting of His Grace. God Bless.
I grew up in South Carolina, where we were about 2% of the population. I grew up defending our faith, day after day, and year after year.
After all that, I woke up to the fact that LGBT people are DESPISED, myself included, in my own beloved Church! And this is all due to a morality that was formulated when people thought that tiny humans swam in a man's semen, women were basically just incubators, and father-daughter INCEST was preferable to masturbation or homosexual acts (because, of course, THAT was "open" to saving those precious beings in the "seed"!)
Oh, and because of Biblical verses about ritual purity, a city where the entire male population turned out to RAPE two ANGELS, and Paul's bizarre notion that the often abusive, class-based same-sex activity he noticed in the Greco-Roman world was the result of heterosexual males turning to idolatry! Nowhere NEAR our current science-and-experience-based understanding of homosexuality as an immutable, psychosexual orientation.
In other words, mindless ignorance.
Apparently you have not heard of the worse crisis the hierarchy has faced since the Middle Ages. You blame the laity for not following the Vatican on the question of slavery and accuse me of a cheap shot. Are the laity also responsible for the abuse of children by priests and the cover-up by bishops ? Not only were the children of the laity the victims, the laity have shelled out billions in lawsuits because the Magisterium turned a blind eye. Thank God Pope Francis is not shy in calling child abuse what it is.....a vicious crime. So how dare you say my comment was a cheap shot....Why don't you lift your head out of the ground....your see no evil, hear no evil, say no evil is embarrassing for an intelligent man like you are.
My gosh, Paul. I can't believe you have already forgotten my past posts on this. Do you really think before you write - that I deny the child abuse or the settlements? Please read my 7-point recommendations on the crisis you say I deny (http://americamagazine.org/issue/cardinal-sean-o%E2%80%99malley-sexual-a...). Why on earth would I be making any recommendations for a problem you think I deny?. There is no doubt that the child abuse crisis involved lay members of the Church at every step - the doctors & psychologists who recommended the pedophiles back into practice, the lawyers who gave bad advice, the teachers and administrators who looked the other way, those who knew and didn't go to the police. There were in addition priests and sisters who didn't step up. Yes, the chief blame for the failures in governance were at the episcopal level in some cases, but certainly not all 5,000+ bishops. And there was no back-room conspiracy meeting where they all decided to "get the kids." Perhaps, you believe in a grand conspiracy that plotted and executed a cover-up, while thinking the laity knew nothing. But, I try to stay within the realms of reality. And I suppose you deny that the vast majority of child abuse in Catholic communities is perpetrated by the laity?
A "cheap shot" was a very kind way of describing the intended bigotry. Can a woman who has an abortion love another child? Or, would you call it an "epiphany" if she claimed she did? And, since over a fifth of women have abortions, would you feel justified in saying "women" do not love kids? You need to understand human nature better, with its capacity for love & reform, despite past failings and imperfections - "judge not, so you not be judged."
To connect it back to this post's topic, the schools need to have strong standards of teaching, of discipline and enforcement to prevent further child abuse.
The Catholic Church should not be a shaming, toxic, environment. Listen to Pope Francis....he is an important part of the Magisterium you claim to support.
Paul - I agree the Church should not be a toxic environment, especially for children. Teachers have a particular obligation since they are caring for other people's children. For example, would you not fire a teacher who 1) became a porn star on the side, or a stripper, 2) made a public defense of sex with minors, 3) became a KKK member, or joined a well-known anti-catholic or anti-jewish group? What do you think Pope Francis would do in these situations?
FYI - here is what Pope Francis said about gay marriage when it was being pushed in Argentina: "[T]he Argentine people will face a situation whose outcome can seriously harm the family," he wrote to the four monasteries in Argentina. "At stake is the identity and survival of the family: father, mother and children. At stake are the lives of many children who will be discriminated against in advance, and deprived of their human development given by a father and a mother and willed by God. At stake is the total rejection of God's law engraved in our hearts."
He went on to describe it as a "'move' of the Father of Lies who seeks to confuse and deceive the children of God" and asked for lawmakers to "not act in error."
"Unlike situations regarding sexual contact with students or the nonperformance of duties, the situations described above are difficult to adjudicate because there are no clear-cut moral principles to guide right action. This is especially true regarding the treatment of married gay and lesbian teachers in Catholic schools."
I disagree that this is the case. The situation is comparable to any other in which an employee willingly persists in a situation of grave sin. An employee who divorced his wife to marry another without benefit of an annulment would be an example - an invalid and sinful state of life which willingly provides as contrary a witness to the Gospel and the Faith as a homosexual relationship under any title.
As for the advice on seeking "counsel," what about the counsel needed by the teacher? In that regard I'm reminded not of Aquinas but of Jesus, who told the woman caught in adultery to "go and sin no more." I don't hear that in this article, only "weigh a grave betrayal against positive contributions (that many others in a school might also be making) and other factors, and consider possibly overlooking it.
The Church needs to reformulate its teaching on the sexual person. Until it does, very few people will listen. I completely disagree with the opinion stated above.....let the guilt machine be destroyed.
AMEN, Paul!
Let's just agree that you reject the teaching of both the Old and New Testament on marriage and sexuality and move on. Pax.
Well, yes, Mr. Donovan, we DO reject certain "teaching" of "both the Old and New Testament" on marriage and sexuality, because we do not believe that those "teachings" have yet "DEVELOPED" in conformity with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, the Founder of the Catholic and Apostolic Church. (And please remember that "development of doctrine" is a "teaching" of one of the Doctors of that Church.) We believe that the Holy Spirit will lead the Church to a greater understanding of Christ's mercy regarding sexual identities and human sexual nature itself.
Now, regarding this:
While individuals within institutions have the right to dissent from church teaching as individuals, they do not have the right to unilaterally alter an institution's values and conscience. For instance, if a Catholic school principal believes that the church's social teaching is wrong in its critique of liberal capitalism, this does not empower him or her to alter the curriculum so that students learn the economic philosophy of Milton Friedman and Friedrich Hayek instead of reading Paul VI's encyclical "The Development of Peoples" or the U.S. Catholic bishops' letter "Economic Justice for All".
It seems to me that what is being advocated here is brain-washing, rather than bringing children to a clearer understanding of traditional morality through use of reason to discern its efficacy and intrinsic value. Children--particularly young adults--are people possessed of reason and some ethical discernment informed by conscience, and, instead of being "conformed" to norms of behaviour, they have a right to rationally consider the alternatives to that behaviour. If they're not treated with that amount of respect for their dignity as rational creatures, my experience as an educator tells me that they will rebel, and that that "rebellion" is instinctive, normal and healthy.
As for the sacking of teachers who are involved in "same-sex-relationships," I think a great distinction should be made between those who ADVERTISE--especially to Catholic students and their parents--that they are, as opposed to those who respect Catholic mores and values sufficiently to remain discrete regarding those relationships. Those who are "outed," it seems to me, should be treated merely as sinners who have strayed, and once the relationship is betrayed to public view, they should be chastised, and then assumed, by virtue of their previous discretion, to have "reformed" themselves, and the case should be closed, as a matter of charity and ordinary human decency and respect for individuals'--even Catholic school teachers'--privacy. It seems to me that, in these changing times of greater understanding of the etiology of homosexuality and its "normalcy" in history and in nature, that this is the tack that is most in conformity with what Pope Francis has recently declared regarding it.
Robert - I could agree in part with your pastoral approach regarding someone in a "same-sex" relationship, but a "marriage" would be a public stance that would indicate a more fixed opposition to Catholic teaching. Similarly, a Catholic could have a private abortion and repent, or have a private affair and repent, but someone who took the public stance of a marriage (say through divorce) or joined Planned Parenthood or an abortion clinic would be making a public stance.
But, I find your opening paragraph on the development of doctrine most problematic. If I am understanding you correctly, you are saying that a Catholic can reject any teaching of the Church as long as he has a belief that the specific teaching is not "yet" in conformity with the teachings of Jesus, as the individual understands it. That approach would rank the private interpretation of Scripture as more reliable than the Magisterial teaching of the Church. Isn't that what the whole Protestant revolution was about? One is not being faithful to the Church Jesus founded and left for us, but to some idea of a future church. It eviscerates the meaning of faithfulness. There is no teaching that could survive this approach. The multiplicity of Protestant churches and contradicting belief systems are a testament to that.
Why the quotes around "same-sex" and "marriage?"
Marriage is a secular action, recognized by the state, and which imparts secular, civil rights, benefits, authorities and responsibilities on the contracting parties.
31 states plus D.C. allow marriage equality or comparable status (civil unions and domestic partnerships), and recognition of other states' marriages, and represent 62% of the total US population of 316 million and 63% of the states plus D.C. *
*6 state decisions have been stayed or are pending appeal.
If you notice I have not used, nor do I intend to use, the term "matrimony." That is the purview of churches and not the state.
This is a matter of moral theology, which can be legitimately assumed to be always "developing," and always "led" by the Holy Spirit to greater conformity with the "Truth." In fact, there is much to be said for Protestant theology UNTIL it denies DOGMA--"dogma" such as the Real Presence, "dogma" such as "salvation by Faith AND Works." Those things are not "moral theology" but matters of much more fundamental Catholic theology. Catholic MORAL theology once accepted slavery, the child-marriages of European royals and aristocrats, and capital punishment, before it "developed." I suggest that you read John Henry Newman's "Letter to the Duke of Norfolk" and learn from it the primacy of conscience OVER the "teachings" of the Magisterium as they relate to moral decision-making. My conscience tells me that the love of two homosexuals MAY be as chaste and as self-sacrificial as that of two heterosexuals, and that, because marriage in the United States is more informed, culturally and legally, by Protestant acceptance of divorce--thus secularizing traditional "sacramental" marriage (making it, by definition, NOT "eternal")--that, then, according to the American Constitution, "gay" people have an absolute, fundamental right to what can only be called "civil marriage." And, yes, of course, I would resist forever any demand that that marriage be "sacramentalized" by a Catholic priest. Sorry, but my CONSCIENCE rules my opinions in this matter, and I stay in the Church, whether you like it or not, because I ACCEPT Roman Catholic dogmatic theology.
I have gone over this controversy on this blog many times in the past and hesitate to get into it again, except to say three things. 1) I have read Newman's letter, and I agree one must follow one's conscience in one's personal conduct but there is no doctrine that one's conscience is a sound guide to correct doctrine - which is self-evident wherever two people come to different doctrines using their conscience. Catholicism has a different charism for that, handed down to us from Christ. 2) The teaching of the Church on morals is just as solid or loose as on faith. There is nothing in Scripture, Tradition or the Catechism that justifies a different standard for these two areas. If one goes, both have to go - hence the decision of the Protestants in the 16th century. 3) I have no desire to see you leave the Church, as implied in your last sentence. In fact, I would love to see more enthusiasm in the pews for attracting our separated brethren back into the fold - never by diluting the truth - but by openness via personal relationships and friendly disputation. And I think the moral teaching of the Church, and its steadfast faithfulness to the Scriptures, are attracting more converts today than anything else (as Peter said to Jesus after a particularly hard teaching: "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life"). Jesus didn't confine His teachings to doctrine. Most of the Sermon the Mount was moral teaching. And He said "If you love me, you will keep my commandments." and He endorsed the whole Old Testamant ("For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."), contra Marcion.
I think nearly every convert to Catholicism has wrestled with both the faith and moral teachings of the Church. And, as is evident on this blog, the wrestling does not end within the fold. Conversion is a lifelong journey, even for Catholics.
It is common practice for employers to make the corporate Values known to the employees. Is this any different? If you understand the Values and it doesn't suit you then you really need to work elsewhere so both parties can be happier. I worked for a company that mistreated me, so we parted ways. Now I work for myself. I have a former employee who is a friend but also a thief. I still like the guy and worry for his future but he isn't going to work for our company again.
John, the main value of the Catholic corporation is to mirror the God of mercy....the decisions cited by Daly do no reflect His mercy and therefore are contradictory to the Corporations raison d'etre. Your comment then simply "begs the question."
Loved the quotes from Pope Francis. in this article....also John Paul II. Jesus Christ was mentioned as the last word in Dan Daly's article. Firing someone is akin to stoning in the Gospel. So far there are more people who are scandalized by firing people in the situations cited than those who are not. The church should give as much concern for the "scandal of the strong" as they do for the "scandal of the weak." The issues the author raises cry out for a better understanding of the way people develop and make choices in their lives. The church teachings contained in the Catechism are not the way most of the laity see faith in a loving God. Recently Cardinal Kasper has written a book outlining what the main attribute of the Christian God is ....Mercy....The laity understand in a way the male celibates (who write the catechisms) may not that abstinence before marriage between a loving man and woman is not the way most couples interact before the wedding. So the woman got pregnant....get over it.
Keeping the children of gays out of Catholic Schools????.better to close the school down before Jesus Christ comes back (the Second Coming) and burns it down....Gays as teachers....but estimates as high as 50% of priests are gay. When is the Church going to stop lying to itself ?
Here is another example of the Church lying to itself that has to do with the image of the Catholic School: birth control....very few if any of the parents of the children are practicing Natural Family Planning NFP. Yet the American Bishops have used the Magisterium's teaching on Humanae Vitae to claim that Obama care violated religious freedom by forcing Catholic institutions to fund contraception....as if 95% of fertile Catholics at some time or other didn't use them. This is an example of the Church lying to itself. The issue of Gays in school, or a couple having intercourse before for marriage is similar. Do I make myself clear ? Probably not.
Daniel Daly's thoughts remind us both that the wholesomeness of the environment we offer our school children is essential and that teachers, arguably somewhat secondary in importance with regard to their opportunities as school employees, deserve dignified management even when they are either negligent or defiant about their contract obligations. But the children must always come first.


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About the ProductThis graphics card is based on a R600 GPU and includes 1024MB DDR3 memory on 512-bit memory interface, and 320 stream processors shaders. The card features 740/1650 MHz core/memory clock speeds, 106GB/s memory bandwidth, and integrated AMD Xilleon HDTV encoder. Comes with TV-Out and dual DVI connectors. DirectX 10 API and pixel shader 4.0 technology support. CrossFire and HDCP capable.
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Casper & Mickey - Boynapped
Models: Casper Ellis and Mickey Taylor
Studio: Boynapped
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BUNK BED Paper Patterns DETAILED STEP BY STEP DIY PLANS So Easy Beginners Look Like Experts BUILD KI
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NOTE: This auction is for woodworking plans, NOT furniture. ATTENTION: This set of paper plans will be sent via USPS (U.S. Mail). This is a complete set of plans for my favorite Twin over Full, Full over Queen, and Queen over King Bunk Bed. Thats right; ALL SIZES (Twin, Full, Queen, and King)!!! The Bunk Bed Upon Completion features: Attractive and decorative Design. Level, Sturdy, and Strong Design that supports an ADULT. Step by Step and easy directions with diagrams for every step. Blueprint like patterns; Larger Diagrams for those important Steps. Height (top mattress 66-1/2) that will fit standard room height (8). Height (bottom mattress 17) that provides the perfect amount of room. Designs to make for both Standard & XL Twin; Full; Queen; and King sized beds. Complete Materials List & Pattern Dimensions that use the least $ of bldg. material! Designed by an Experienced Expert Wood Worker with over 20 years of experience! Continued Technical Support from Me WoodPatternExpert; 20 Years of Experience! My instructions with easy to follow patterns and directions are designed as a construction project for the beginning woodworker. Extensive attention is given to speed and ease of construction, with a minimum of tools. A great Bunk Bed can be built with just a skill saw, and drill. Directions are aimed at the beginning woodworker, but should not bore even an experienced carpenter. WARNING: Everyone Will Love This Bunk Bed Design. Just about everyone who sees it will want you to build one or more, for them. (That's the reason I decided to write these plans.) Unlike most plans out there, you will be able to understand these! I have looked at others and I guarantee they are not as good as my plans!
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A burglar who struck on both sides of the Susquehanna River, and who allegedly tried to dig his way out of Dauphin County Prison, won't be seeing the outside of a jail yard for quite some time.
Dauphin County Judge Andrew H. Dowling assured that Thursday by sentencing Andthony R. Spears, 26, of Harrisburg, to 15 to 30 years in state prison for several 2010 break-ins on the East and West shores.
Deputy District Attorney Andrew Jarbola sought an even longer sentence, calling Spears an unrepentant criminal.
"I think he has shown clearly that he cannot conform to being a law-abiding citizen," Jarbola said.
Spears was convicted of burglaries of two occupied homes in Lower Paxton Township as well as a break-in at the Magical Incense Shop in Mechanicsburg.
Besides those crimes, Dowling revoked probation sentences Spears received on convictions dating from 2008 for burglary and theft from a motor vehicle. Jarbola said Spears also had a 2006 burglary conviction in Ohio.
Spears, who has been in prison for more than 2 1/2 years since his latest arrests, said nothing before being sentenced. Public Defender Elizabeth Ruby stressed that the occupants of the homes Spears burglarized weren't injured.
"The victims weren't even disturbed in their sleep," she said.
That was just luck, Jarbola replied.
Spears is still awaiting trial on his alleged escape bid from the prison.
He was charged with attempted escape last month after investigators said he used a broken steel rod from a desk chair to dig through the concrete wall of his cell. He hadn't made much progress when his would-be tunnel was discovered.


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Where Curves Meet Water
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
CurvesMeetWaterlake tahoetahoe bluebluewaterlakecurvesforestlandscapenaturetreeskaren huttonnevadamountainscloudsgraniteboulderdaylight
From LAKE TAHOE
Softly Tahoe
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
TahoeSunsetlake tahoetahoebluesunsetpasteltreesgreenmountainswaterlakecloudskaren huttonnaturelandscape
From LAKE TAHOE
Lake Tahoe, California
When light falls a certain way,
beauty rises to greet it.
lightlight fallingverticallake tahoecaliforniawatertreesmountainscloudssnowfallsilhouettereflectionkaren huttondramaticwarm
From LAKE TAHOE
A Brilliant Ending
Lake Tahoe, California
Nothing says "This was an AWESOME day!!" like a light show and final curtain dropping with a flourish.
lake tahoesunsetcalifornialakewatermountainstreeslightgoldenlandscapeawesomekaren huttonoutdoorswarmdramaticcloudssnowfall
From LAKE TAHOE
Stones & The Lake
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Each move reflected by the other,
partners forever.
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From FINE ART COLLECTION
Tucked In
Big Bend, CA
Tucked inside of its perfect little spot,
the little red house was home.
The weather would freeze,
the river would rage,
the wind would blow,
the snow would mount,
And the little red house was home.
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From TRUCKEE AREA
One Morning At the Lake
Donner Lake, Truckee, CA
That morning at the lake should've been like any other. But it had an extra something, like a perfect recipe created by a puissant master chef; made even more perfect by a special ingredient the chef would never divulge.
She took a picture, to ensure she would never forget what Magic looked like.
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From TRUCKEE AREA
Fire On The River
Even in the deep, chilly throes of of winter,
Warm was never far away.
Mother Nature weaves contrast better than any artisan.
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From TRUCKEE AREA
Afternoon At The Lake
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
After a snowfall... it's opera night in the daytime!
Gallery: Landscapes/Lake Tahoe & Truckee
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From LAKE TAHOE
West Shore Wonder
West Shore Cafe, Homewood, CA
This image pretty much happened by accident. It was taken on the West Shore of Lake Tahoe, California one evening last winter.
I'd been out photographing new snow all day, mostly on the East Side. We've been having a drought for 5 years, so having snow to photograph at all was beyond thrilling for a whole host of reasons!
I have a wonderful print client (a married couple) who had recently bought several of my photographs and I wanted to create a special thank you for them. I pondered for awhile. At one point some weeks before, they'd asked me if I had any images from the West Shore Cafe. It was their special place... and had even been married here. At the time, I'd never even seen the West Shore Cafe... and being a landscape photographer, it wasn't on my radar.
My clients had been married in summer... but I got to thinking that a snow shot of the pier where they'd said their vows might be a lovely gift. They had stood at the very end of this very pier.
I got to the west side of Lake Tahoe just in time to realize the sky was going to turn all kinds of awesome colors! We'd been having very ordinary sunsets for weeks. This was like a gift from the heavens.
I waited till the West Shore Cafe turned its lights on... and made several compositions before the colors in the sky faded into the dark evening. My feet were frozen when I finished - it was nearly 0 degrees F - but I didn't care. I'd gotten the shot I dreamed of.
My clients were completely surprised and ecstatic! They couldn't believe I'd done this for them. For me, it felt amazing to be able to give this moment to two such lovely and generous people. It wouldn't have meant as much to anyone else.
I feel that I was given certain gifts in life... and that sharing them in this way was part of fulfilling part of my soul's mission.
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From LAKE TAHOE
Snowy Day At the Pier
Tahoe City, CA
A snowy day at the pier is like a powdered sugar carnival.
Gallery: Landscapes/Lake Tahoe & Truckee
SnowDayAtThePierlake tahoecaliforniatahoe citypierbranchessnowwinterwhitebluelakewatermountainscoldcloudslandscapenaturekaren hutton
From LAKE TAHOE
The Other Side
Tahoe City, CA
What wonders, what glorious adventures await, beckoning, on the other side?
Gallery: Landscapes/Lake Tahoe & Truckee
TheOtherSidelake tahoetahoe citycaliforniawintersnowpierbranchessnowcoveredcoldbluewhitetreewaterlakecloudsmountainskaren hutton
From LAKE TAHOE
Tahoe Snow Day
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
There is nothing quite like snow sitting next to the emerald green of Lake Tahoe in winter!
Gallery: Landscapes/Lake Tahoe & Truckee
TahoeSnowDaylake tahoenevadabluegreenwhitesnowwitnerwaterlakemountainssierra nevada mountainsevergreengranitelandscapenaturekaren hutton
From LAKE TAHOE
Snow Dreams
Truckee, CA
What do trees dream of when the snow falls?
Gallery: The Artful/Abstractium
SnowDreamin'karen huttontruckeedonner state parkdonner lakeevergreentreesforestcaliforniasierra nevadamountainssnowwinternaturelandscapeabstract
From ABSTRACTIUM
Sisters In The Sun
Truckee, CA
Like true sun worshippers, they bathed in it.
No matter the weather.
Gallery: The Monochromes
SistersInTheSunmonochromeblack and whitetruckeedonner state parkevergreensnowwinterlightkaren huttonnaturelandscapetreesforestmountainssierra nevadacalifornia
From THE MONOCHROMES
The Golden Morning
Donner Lake, CA
The day started out well, but ran a little hot and cold.
Gallery: Landscapes/Lake Tahoe & Truckee
TheGoldenMorningkaren huttondonner lakereflectionwatergoldensunrisemorningsnowwinterpiertreesforestmountainssierra nevadafujfilmfujixt1
From TRUCKEE AREA
The Tree King
He was young, but everyone acknowledged that he seemed to have wisdom beyond his years.
It was as if he was touched by something greater than himself, which was handy since he was next in line to lead.
His favorite times were when he stood upon the carpeted rostrum and pretended to address The People. It made him shiver just a little.
And the sun shine a little brighter.
TheTreeKingforestsierrassierra nevadapacific crest trailcalifornialandscapenaturekaren huttonsunlightsunsetlakereflectionwatermountainsoverviewgrand
From THE FORESTED
The Tree Queen
The all-spark ignited.
The Tree Queen and gazed lovingly over her domain and smiled.
It was the beginning of Grace in her land.
From SUNSETS AGLOW
The Okanagan Crossing
Lake Okanagan, Kelown, B.C.
Like the gentle arc of an idea
Effortlessly spanning the shores of Here and Transformed.
TheOkanaganCrossingcanadakelownabritish columbiab.c.bridgelakesoftblack and whitekaren huttonbnwlandscapemountainswater
From THE MONOCHROMES
Bonsai in the LIght
Bonsai Rock, Lake Tahoe, Nevada.
Bonsai Rock is a natural formation that has little fir trees growing out of it. Hence, the Bonsai aspect.
Most any photographer who comes to this area flocks to it. If you Google "Bonsai Rock, Lake Tahoe"... you'll see pretty much the same shot from everyone. I've certainly made my standard image of the place, but wanted to explore another view. One that was clearly the Bonsai (meaning, showed the tree), but that made a viewer stop and think about what they were seeing.
So one day, I half-walked, half-slid down the steep hill further down, then picked my way carefully through the granite boulders back along the shore.
I explored this angle through my lens a number of different ways, but liked the way this composition suggested, rather than told the whole story. I think of it more as of an intimate landscape... the light gently caressing the tiny tree and granite surface, the playful textures in the water, the large mountain looming in the background... and those colors. Yum!
It tells the story of this rock, without revealing everything. It leaves something to the viewer's imagination... which is something I love.
BonsaiInTheLightbonsai rocklake tahoenevadalandscapekaren huttongranitewaterbluemountainswaterscapelake
From LAKE TAHOE
Leading Back
You left a trail back to you that even I couldn't miss.
Thank you for that.
LeadingBackbonsai rocklake tahoenevadaeast sidepinksunsetwaterlong exposurelakemountainsgraniteboulderskaren hutotnkaren huttonlandscapeverticalearthnaturalfujiblue hour
From LAKE TAHOE
Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Sky, storms, warmth, lake and the beautiful, beautiful trees. A sweet little 3-shot panorama to bring it all home.
lake tahoenevadakaren huttonlandscapetreeslaketahoegraniterocksbouldersstormmountainspanorama
From LAKE TAHOE
Twinkle Due
Lake Tahoe, Nevada side.
The lure of the becoming-night sky, the warm air, the intoxicating aroma of pine trees and dirt and outdoors... all beckon you not leave! It cries: "Stay!" And tugs at your heart and soul.
Never stop loving this place.
TwinkleDueLake Tahoetahoenevadakaren huttonlakeblue hourbluepinkstarstreesmountainslandscapetravel
From LAKE TAHOE
California's Donner Summit, Donner Lake down below. Summertime thunderstorm pattern. Sunset. If anyone wants to know why I love living in these mountains, this would be my answer. Questions?
9-shot panorama, Fuji X-T10
DonnerSummitPanodonner summittruckeecaliforniasunsetdonner lakekaren huttonpanoramawarmmountainstreeslakewaterreflectioncloudspinksummer
From FINE ART COLLECTION
Ice Picnic
Ice shards for lunch, anyone?
IcePicniclake tahoecaliforniapiersnowicewaterstormymountainssierraskaren huttoncoldpicnic tableblue
From LAKE TAHOE
Briskly by the Shore
Even a windy, brrrrrr day in the Sierras can't keep Tahoe from being blue.
BrisklyByTheShorebluelake tahoetreescaliforniawatermountainslandscapecloudscoldwindykaren hutton
From LAKE TAHOE
Happy Stillness
Within the curves, the lines, the breath, the minuscule movements of stillness... you find the inexorable rhythms of life.
From THE WATERS
Gushing Over You
At the end of the day..
the year...
the millennia...
I'll still be gushing over you.
From THE WATERS
Shades of a Slope
I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for lines and shapes and the way light falls across them in certain conditions to create designs all their own, like some artistic overlay.
It's like the one time you can actually see the gesture of light, caressing the very thing it touches. I love gentle caresses of light. sigh.
From THE MOUNTAINS
Line UP
I don't know what it is about trees in a row, but I find them completely irresistible.
Especially when they go all architectural-looking in winter with a little snow mixed in on the mountains for contrast.
It's just all lines, shadows and light... leaving so much up to the imagination.
LineUPeastern sierrassnowmountainstreesblack and whitestartcloudsmonochromkaren huttoncalifornia
From THE MONOCHROMES
Double or Nothing
She always knew she had to give it her all
But that morning, as nature whispered sacred secrets into her ear...she realized the true deal was double or nothing.
From THE MOUNTAINS
Mists Of Silver Lake
Not so long ago, I stood here on the shore of Silver Lake in the eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Took a week, got away from the hum of computers, emails and the madding crowd.
Went into nature.
Got up at 5am and beat the sun to the day. More than once.
Hoped for golds, pinks, purples and brilliance, but got mist.
Magic, flirtatious mist though… so all was well.
Had breakfast at the oldest trout fishing retreat in the Eastern Sierras.
Last seats, end of the counter.
Followed whims.
Captured starlight.
Came home. (Reluctantly)
Still do.
From THE MOUNTAINS
She thought about all the time she spent trying to remember.
Stuff to pick up, bring with, find, people's names.
It took up a good chunk of the day.
Then she remembered New Zealand.
Which took no time at all. She wondered why that was...
From THE MOUNTAINS
Final Witness
Is Grandeur still Grand if it has no witness? And if no one's there to vouch for it, how would you know for sure that the moment had, indeed, been "Grand?
Luckily, that night there were at least two witnesses.
And "Grandeur" most assuredly did happen.
From THE MOUNTAINS
Last Call
Any further contributions to the day
will simply have to wait until the dawn a new one.
Dream on that! And make it good... :D
From TRUCKEE AREA
The Lazy Chilly River - split
TheLazyChillyRiversplit tonewaterriversnowkaren huttonwinterlandscapetreesmountains
From THE MONOCHROMES
Lake Tahoe Glow
Sunset: That moment when we wave good-bye to the day, and light bathes us with the soft caress of infinite blessings.
I love that moment.
From LAKE TAHOE


text: science How Does Psychological Distance Affect Us? By Rebecca McInroy • Jun 6, 2014 The idea of distance conjures up many images in our minds. We might be thinking of how wonderful it will be when we are retired and have time to spend with our loved ones, do some traveling, or play 18 holes of golf on a weekday. Or perhaps when we think of distance, we think of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and how far away the conflicts are from us. For Art Markman and Robert Duke, how we process distance is particularly important, because it clues researchers in to how we think and make decisions as a result of distance. Astronomers Set Out to Find the Sun's Long Lost Sibling - And Succeeded By Matt Largey • May 9, 2014 Ivan Ramirez/Tim Jones/McDonald Observatory When Ivan Ramirez started his search about a year ago, he really didn't think he'd find much. "We expected it to be either one or zero," says Ramirez, an astronomer at UT-Austin. Ramirez and his crew were looking through thousands and thousands of stars – all in order to find just the right one. "We're looking for the stars that were born with the sun," he says. "Because our sun, like most other stars, was born in a cluster – probably a thousand to ten thousand other stars. We know that there are a few that we can detect that are nearby, but it's been a really tough job to do." These Sound Engineers Used One Weird Trick to Bend the Laws of Physics By Matt Largey • Mar 24, 2014 flickr.com/tessawatson Update: Listen to this story on WBUR's Here and Now. Original story (Feb. 28): You know how on cop shows, suspects get interrogated in a cramped room with a mirror on one wall? And on the other side, there's a prosecutor or other cops watching through the glass. Those mirrors are kind of an illusion done with lighting. But the effect also illustrates perfectly how difficult it can be to break a pretty fundamental law of nature. A group of engineers at UT has figured out how to bend – if not break – that law when it comes to sound. Listen: What's Going On Inside the Adolescent Brain? By Rebecca McInroy • Jan 31, 2014 There's endless questions we could ask about how the brain works. A particularly interesting one: what's unique about the brain during adolescence? During adolescence our brains are wired differently than adult brains will be – and for good reason. In adolescence our brains are in a process of development – so we're less inhibited, allowing us to take the risks we need to learn about the world. In addition, the difference in brain physiology has other ramifications on behavior and needs. Ignoring them can make life more difficult for kids and parents. Find an Insect Like This? Don't Kill It – It's Killing Your Cockroaches By Laura Rice • Jan 21, 2014 flickr.com/DocJ96 Story originally published Jan. 2, 2014. It's that time of year when insects want to get out of the cold and into your house. Most people aren't big fans of sharing their space with these creepy-crawlers. But if you see one particular insect – you're better off not grabbing the bug spray. How Do Infants Understand and React to Music? – UT Professor Investigates By Laura Rice • Jan 6, 2014 Laura Rice, KUT News For many people, most days would not be complete without music. Whether it's exercising to your favorite playlist or jamming along to the radio on your way home for work. But how much do infants get out of music? And are there types of music that babies prefer? A professor at the Children's Research Laboratory on the University of Texas at Austin campus is trying to find out. With Jell-O and Lasers, UT Scientists Build Tiny Cages for Bacteria By Matt Largey • Dec 5, 2013 Jason Shear/UT Editor's note: This story was originally published Nov. 19, prior to being rebroadcast on WBUR's Here and Now. When you think of bacteria, you might think about a bunch of mindless, single-celled bugs blindly roaming the world in complete ignorance. But over the past few decades, scientists have found bacteria are much more complicated than that. Now, a group of scientists at the University of Texas at Austin has come up with a new way of studying how bacteria interact with the world – and each other. You see, scientists have a couple of problems when it comes to studying bacteria. 'The Coolest Thing Ever': How A Robotic Arm Changed 4 Lives By Joe Palca • Nov 28, 2013 Three engineering undergrads at Rice University gave a teenager with a rare genetic disease something he'd always wished for: the ability to turn off the light in his room. It may not seem like much, but for 17-year-old Dee Faught, it represents a new kind of independence. Under the Microscope: How Feasible is Greg Abbott's DNA Protection Plan? By Ben Philpott • Nov 20, 2013 Veronica Zaragovia, KUT News The closer we get to next year's March primaries, the faster the campaign promises fly. Republican gubernatorial frontrunner Greg Abbott recently made a splash by releasing an extensive list of items he says he'll push for once elected. One proposal in particular stood out a bit: safeguarding your DNA. The proposal is a part of Abbott's "We The People" plan. It also includes things like gun rights, campaign ethics and blocking the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. But DNA is item number one. UT Austin Receives $9 Million Gift For Engineering and Science Program By Kate McGee • Nov 5, 2013 flickr.com/bill78704 The University of Texas at Austin's Institute for Computational Engineering and Sciences (ICES) program has received $9.3 million from the O'Donnell Foundation. The foundation has donated more than $135 million to the university over the past 30 years. The money will go towards student fellowships, faculty teaching and recruiting for the program, which combines the study of math, engineering and science disciplines to tackle real world problems, specifically areas like applied mathematics, software engineering and computer visualization. Texas Astronomer Finds Most Distant Galaxy Yet By Matt Largey • Oct 23, 2013 V. Tilvi, S.L. Finkelstein, C. Papovich, and the Hubble Heritage Team A team led by a UT Austin astronomer has identified and measured the distance to the most distant galaxy found so far. The galaxy — designated z8_GND_5296 — is so far away from Earth that the light we are now able to see from it was emitted more than 13 billion years ago. So we're seeing it as it was in the distant past. "We're seeing it very close to the Big Bang. About 700 million years after the Big Bang," says UT astronomer Steve Finkelstein, who led the project. He says ultimately, far, far away galaxies like this one may help us understand things closer to home. "We want to study very distant galaxies to learn how galaxies change with time, which helps us understand how the Milky Way came to be." Who Controls Your Destiny? By Rebecca McInroy & Alicia Choina • Oct 11, 2013 flickr.com/asoundtrackforeveryone So how do we define Locus of Control? Essentially, it's our positioning of ourselves within our perception of the world and the way that we perceive our power and influence. We can either feel in control of our lives – which is reassuring – or we can feel subjected to forces outside of our control – which we are then forced to endure. When that happens, we can feel stuck. Feeling stuck, with no other options, often leads to prolonged periods of stress. That in turn can depress our health – physically, mentally and emotionally. But since we construct our perceptions of reality, we have the option to shift our locus of power. That way we can then redefine the source of power in any circumstance – taking it when needed, or giving it up when needed. (In some stressful circumstances, having less control over the outcome of a situation can actually be preferred.) How Texas Lost Its Chance at Finding the 'God Particle' By Matt Largey • Oct 8, 2013 Wikimedia Commons Update: Scientists Peter Higgs and Francois Englert have been awarded the Nobel Prize for physics for their quest for the Higgs boson – the so-called "God particle." The European Organization for Nuclear Research proved its existence last year with a massive particle accelerator. But as KUT reported shortly after the particle's discovery, some Texas physicists say the discovery could have been made here years ago. Original story (July 4, 2012): Scientists in Switzerland announced overnight the discovery of what appears to be a particle that's long been hypothesized, but never proven. It's a bittersweet moment for some Texas physicists. UT Engineering School Graduates Record Number of Minorities By Emily Mathis • Sep 16, 2013 flickr.com/cockrellschool The Cockrell School of Engineering at the University of Texas has been ranked third in the country for graduation rates among minorities, according to Diverse Issues in Higher Education. In 2012, 41 percent of the school's graduates, or 441 students, were minorities. Efforts by the Equal Opportunity in Engineering program at UT contributed to the gain. Program director Enrique Dominguez cites the organization's close involvement in the academic progress of minority students. How Advertising Works On Your Brain By Rebecca McInroy • Sep 9, 2013 Don Draper from Mad Men may have been unaware of the neuropsychological reasons that he intuitively constructed advertisements the way he did, or he may not have cared, but there are reasons. Have you ever found yourself in a shopping isle at the grocery store, mindlessly putting products into your cart? Why do you prefer one brand over another? Why does one item seem to just call out your name? Effective advertising might be the reason. Listen: 'Bending' Sound Makes It Difficult to Hear Firefighter Alarms By Matt Largey • Sep 5, 2013 KUT News Virtually all firefighters rely on a simple device designed to alert their fellow firefighters when they need help. It's called a Personal Alert Safety System, or PASS. It's basically a sensor that measures whether the person wearing it is moving. If they're incapacitated or immobilized, the PASS sets off a 95 decibel alarm to draw the attention -- and assistance -- of other firefighters. Five Things You Should Know About Brain-Altering Software By Laura Rice • Sep 3, 2013 Laura Rice, KUT News Technology is improving – and fast. The next frontier for some software designers is the human brain. William Hurley, or "whurley," is the co-founder of Austin-based mobile studio company Chaotic Moon. 1. Brain-Altering Software Already Exists: "Currently there are things that are considered brain-altering software. Sites like Lumosity and things like that where you do brain training and different activities." Why You're Not as Good at Multitasking As You Think By Rebecca McInroy • Jul 31, 2013 Do you take pride in your ability to divide your focus and energy into more than one task at a time? Do you think you're a good multitasker? Chances are, you're probably not. This Austin Scientist is Scanning His Own Brain Over 100 Times By Matt Largey • Jul 1, 2013 Russ Poldrack At 7:30 a.m. on pretty much any Tuesday over the past eight months, you'd find Russ Poldrack lying on his back in front of the MRI scanner in his basement lab at UT, waiting to scan his brain. Poldrack, a neuroscientist, runs the Imaging Research Center at UT-Austin. I meet him on the morning of his 58th scan. Video: Georgetown Teens Win International Rocket Competition By KUT Staff • Jun 21, 2013 Three Georgetown teens have won an international student rocketry competition, beating out two teams from France and the United Kingdom. This morning at the International Rocketry Challenge, Daniel Kelton and brothers Mark and Matthew Janecka launched their rocket, successfully propelling it to 750 feet in the air within seconds and landing their cargo, a single egg, safely at Le Bourget Airport in Paris. Pages« first ‹ previous 1 2 3 4 next › last »


text: Gallery Back Save Best of sport in 2012 facebook SHARE twitter TWEET email google-plus linkedin reddit More The highs and lows of 2012 on and off the playing field. Previous slide Next slide Australia's Sally Pearson celebrates after the women's 100m hurdles final in London. Photo: AFP She's definitely not the sportswoman of the year, but Black Caviar captured our hearts like few others in 2012. Photo: Sebastian Costanzo Thorpey's comeback was a flop. Photo: Getty Images Kurt Tippett hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Photo: Getty Images Michael Clarke's produced 'Playstation' statistics in 2012 - where it looked as if he was playing everyone on the easy level. Photo: AFP We're tipping Joel Parkinson was 'stoked' about his success in 2012. Photo: ASP See you later, Casey Stoner. Photo: Reuters Giants ... then Eels ... then Waratahs. Where to next? Photo: Getty Images Bianca Elmir made a costly mistake. Photo: Jay Cronan of More Galleries Previous Next A-League Round 2 - Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City NRC: Canberra vs Perth WNBL: Canberra Capitals vs Dandenong Rangers Sharks party goes on Action from 2016 Grand Final Melbourne Storm versus Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Stars come out before the game. Before the Game 2015 AFL Grand Final Parade


text:
Starting October 28 AirLib Express will add three more domestic routes to be operated on a daily basis with MD-83s:
It looks like AirLib Express would be doing quite well. What about the financial situation of the AirLib group. I heard AirLib would make losses on nearly all of their longhaul routes to the Caribbean and to Réunion. What about their flights to North Africa (Algeria and Libya) and their plans to add flights to West Africa (Abidjan, Dakar etc.)?
Best regards


text:
The Usos outdid their previous piece de resistance, successfully defending the tag team titles in what was WWE's best match of the week.
Their stellar performance against The Wyatt Family at Battleground joins Dolph Ziggler's non-title win and Xavier Woods' metamorphosis as the most satisfying offerings to come out of a WWE ring as July nears its end. A strong hint of a future SummerSlam match and a bout that never was delivered the opposite sensation.
A disappointing pay-per-view opened with one of the year's most exciting tag team matches before trailing off.
The future beyond that event promises an underwhelming match with plenty of hype and a new group being the path to relevancy for a few struggling midcarders.


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Uganda: Credit Crisis Threatens Agoa Exports
Uganda: Credit Crisis Threatens Agoa Exports
Kikonyogo Ngatya
16 February 2009
Kampala UGANDA'S tariff and quota-free exports to the US under the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) may be suspended due to massive job losses by American workers, an American scholar has predicted.
Prof. Nelson Kasfir from Dartmouth College told a public lecture at Hotel Africana in Kampala that president Barack Obama was likely to encourage job creation in the US by suspending AGOA imports.
"A 600,000 monthly job loss in the US is big. The alternative is likely to be reverting such jobs under AGOA to American citizens," Kasfir said.
This would mean, Kasfir said, that jobs currently created offshore to produce such exports are created in the US to benefit its citizens.
Uganda is among the 40 African countries exporting products to the US under AGOA, which was enacted under president George Bush's administration. Textiles, crafts and other produce are exported to the US under the initiative.
The public lecture under the theme "Yes We Can, But Will He?: Obama, America and Africa," was organised by the US embassy.
But Lisa M. Heilbronn, the public affairs officer at the embassy, said Kasfir's observations were his personal opinion, not the US government's.
Also, observers noted that the US was trying to put into perspective a realistic expectation in Africa from Obama's administration.
Kasfir said the US policy towards Africa may not change dramatically, although he anticipated Obama may enable Uganda access the $8b from the Millennium Development Fund for infrastructural development ahead of the 2011 general elections.
Uganda failed for the last eight years to qualify for the grant due to corruption.
"In the 2008 annual AGOA report to Congress, AGOA continued to have a positive impact on US trade and investment with sub-Saharan Africa," he added.
The US trade representative, Susan Schwab, said AGOA had helped increase two-way US-African trade, promoted greater diversification of exports from AGOA countries and reinforced African economic reforms.
"African champions must break the chain that links African ideas to European ones and listen to the voice of the ancestors without European interpreters."
-Jacob Carruthers, "Mdw Ntr"
Ma ku Mbôngi, ka matômbulawanga za ko.
"The community's political institution does not borrow foreign dialects to discuss its' political matters or to educate its' members"
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