text:
Good will hunting.
Grant Gallicho April 19, 2011 - 5:24pm
In a thirteen-page letter [PDF], Cardinal Donald Wuerl, chairman of the USCCB Committee on Doctrine, explains his committee's rationale for taking on Elizabeth A. Johnson's Quest for the Living God (blogged abouthere,here, andhere). The wide-ranging letter--while acknowledging the theologian's "legitimate vocation"--re-emphasizes bishops' authority to teach, govern, and sanctify, comparing their role to that of a referee--"it's not the player who calls the ball out of bounds," Wuerl writes, "but the referee." (Mollie takes up that analogy below.)It's a strange document. The letter is addressed to "brother bishops," but it's framed as a response to Catholic Theological Society of America board members, who issued a statement criticizing the doctrinal committee's review of Johnson's book. The CTSA board, according to Wuerl, "seems to misread the legitimate and apostolic role of bishops in addressing the right relationship of theologians and bishops." The cardinal doesn't provide evidence for that claim. Read the CTSAstatement. It explicitly recognizes the "distinct vocations of the theologian and the magisterium."Why, then, does Wuerl spend several pages reminding the bishops of the scriptural and traditional grounding of their office? That is not in dispute. What remains to be seen is why the Committee on Doctrine issued a document that so badly misreads the work of a prominent theologian without bothering to ask whether they read her right.
As the CTSA boardpoints out, the bishops of the Committee on Doctrine failed to follow their own guidelines for handling disputes between theologians and bishops, as set forth inDoctrinal Responsibilities (1989). That document--overwhelmingly approved by the bishops conference--held that when such conflicts arise, "informal conversation ought to be the first step towards resolution." Of course, as Wuerl points out, the bishops weren't required to contact Johnson before condemning her book because the guidelines inDoctrinal Responsibilities are not "obligatory." Besides, "the statement makes clear that these suggested guidelines 'can only serve if they are adapted to the particular conditions of a diocese, its history, and its special needs.'" I don't know what that means or how the cardinal thinks it applies here."Our understanding of the faith...is not limited to the explicit teaching and preaching of the bishop," Cardinal Wuerl writes. "The bishop and the theologian have a special relationship that can and should be reciprocally enriching." He affirms theologians' "legitimate autonomy" while emphasizing that their work must be carried out "presuming" the "received faith of the church." A bishop's job is to set the "boundaries of the authentic faith." Sure, there will be times when the "legitimate academic freedom of Catholic theologians" leads to apparent conflict with pastoral obligations of the bishop.
Nevertheless, when good will is present on both sides, when both are committed to the truth revealed in Jesus Christ, their relationship can be one of profound communion as together they seek to explore new implications of the deposit of faith.The church, therefore, encourages a respectful dialogue between and among bishops.
Undeniably wise. Yet, reading the Committee on Doctrine's statement on Quest for the Living God, which accuses the book of "completely" undermining the gospel and the faith of those who believe it, I can't help wondering: where was the good will? Lost in the rush of composing and approving a response to a four-year-old book? When the Committee on Doctrine misrepresents important aspects a distinguished theologian's work, why would other theologians submit their work for an imprimatur? (Never mind that imprimaturs are handled locally, not by a USCCB committee.)Cardinal Wuerl writes that his committee "does not wish to stifle legitimate theological reflection or to preclude further dialogue, but it does want to ensure that the authentic teaching of the church...is clearly stated and affirmed." That's reassuring--and who would deny that a bishop's job includes clearly affirming church teaching? But couldn't the doctrinal committee have carried out its task more carefully--by, say, not ascribing to Johnson views she does not hold?Cardinal Wuerl concludes by expressing his committee's hope "that the discussion generated by its statement will help lead to renewal and foster a proper and fruitful relationship between the bishops and the whole theological community." Regrettably, I doubt this discussion will have such a happy ending. Doubling down on a bad bet rarely does.
Commenting Guidelines
I thought the concerns about dialogue were directly addressed in the document."Once a theological work is published, however, it is ipso facto open to response. It is like the ball that has been hit in a tennis match. It is already in play. If it is called out of bounds, it is not an adequate response to say that the referee did not enter into dialogue with the player beforehand. When a work is published and, particularly, if it is being used and accepted as authentic Catholic teaching, the bishop has an obligation to address it." (p. 9)When a ball is in play (i.e. when professors are already making their syllabi and bookstore orders for next fall), it's not the time to have an extended conversation with a theologian about her motives for writing the book. When the ball is in play, you just look at the book, decide whether or not there's a pastoral response necessary, and, if so, respond.
Thanks, Grant - some initial responses:First, he makes no mention of the already decided protocol on this in 1989 (okay, indirect reference to it) which was years of work between theologians and the USCCB. He makes it seem as if that work needs to be suppressed and started over.Second, he does come up with a new point that published books used in 1st/2nd year theology or late high school theology classes need to be scrutnized for orthodoxy? He gives no details and says that is work to be considered. Yet, such a statement re-opens the whole debate which the Land of Lakes compromise tried to encompass. It is as if theologians can only think/discuss within and with their own specialty but need some type of episcopal blessing before their work can be used by the folks in the pews or classrooms.Third, his constant imprimatur meme ..he paints too black and white; he oversimplifies, and he ignores the current reality of publishing, etc. What happens when a bishop gives an imprimatur and another bishop or USCCB doesnt agree? The complexity is always there.He skips over many of the CTSA points in their response and comes across as very defensive. Granted, bishops are teachers.but are they pastoral teachers or policeman teachers? The complexity around this is mind numbing. Again, he paints with a simplistic brush.His tennis analogy guess he doesnt know the sport. There are linesman who call balls in or out of bounds; the referee is there to adjudicate when there are questions, differences.His statement (like others) about poor catechesis since Vatican II is truly a meme (as defined by Ungidan). Any college teacher can tell you that he is painting again with a very black and white brush you get students are on a continuum in terms of catholic knowledge, experience, spirituality, maturity, etc. He basically slams the reality that more Catholic kids attended higher education since 1970 than at any time in our history.He makes no mention of the committee executive secretary's response and confirmation that he composed the statement on Sr. Johnson's book. We continue to have little transparency around who developed, reviewed, and contributed to the original Wuerl statement. Since his statement is directed to his fellow bishops - is this a move to head off episcopal division in terms of this book; the original statement; etc.?? If this is to his colleagues, why make a public statement - why not a private letter to them?
One thing that Card. Wuerl's statement does do well is show the scope of the problem. He is supposed to be one of the "smart" ones. The Church indeed is in trouble if this simplistic, reductionist, defensive statement is the best that our bishop's can do. Is it any wonder that Catholics around the world are leaving the Church in droves?
Alan: is it any wonder that Catholics of all stripes and persuasion who actually STAY in this church tend to be very "prudential" in what credence they give (if any) to the statements coming from individual bishops or the USCCB in general? And the US is one of the good coutries when it comes to Catholic attention to their church in any great degree. Can you imagine the credibility of bishops and their pronouncements in Europe? Good luck on any re-evangelization there so long as the clergy have the control, final approval authority and direction of the activities and events. Brrrrr.
Jimmy,The conviction that bishops are the Church's teachers is boilerplate Vatican Council II: "This sacred synod, following in the steps of the First Vatican Council, teaches and declares with it that Jesus Christ, the eternal pastor, set up the holy Church by entrusting the apostles with their mission as he himself had been sent by the Father (cf. Jn. 20:21). He willed that their successors, the bishops namely, should be the shepherds in his Church until the end of the world." (LG 18)
Kathy --Nobody is disputing this.
He thinks peer review is absent or ineffective among theologians -- perhaps meaning that they do not sufficiently act as watchdogs of Roman orthodoxy toward one another. He seems to want university theology courses to make up for what he sees as failed catechesis at lower levels -- but the best way to revive interest in faith among students is to introduce them to exciting debate. The catechesis the cardinal favors is as dull as ditchwater. On Monday I introduced the Bible as literature to an eager group of 20 Japanese students, yesterday I read a ghost story by Penelope Lively with another class, today I introduced a nililistic, sexually anarchic but Buddhist-themed novel of 1935 by Ishikawa Jun, tomorrow there is a class on "Kubla Khan" and another on "Madame Bovary" -- amid this exciting kaleidoscope of life and literature, the drabness of standard theology seems pathetic. And to add to the excitement, we expect another big seismic aftershock tomorrow.
"Nobody is disputing this." Clearly if no one was disputing "this" then every Catholic theologian would request an imprimatur before they had their book published. However, if a Catholic theologian is not required to be a Catechist, the Bishops should not be surprised when Catholic theology is not consistent with our Catholic Faith, nor should they be surprised when a theologian makes an analogy between The Blessed Trinity and three rocks that appear to not be of the same substance, are not ordered nor do they exist in unity, thus there can be no communion, nor can they be ONE. ( see cover of Quest For The Living God) In this case, the Bishops didn't even have to read the book, they only had to take a look at the cover.
. . . [T]he Bishops didnt even have to read [Johnsons] book, they only had to take a look at the cover.
Were in even bigger trouble than Id thought.
Is there a requirement that members of the Catholic Theological Society must be Catholic? Observant (however defined) Catholics? Just asking.Their website doesnt seem to mention any religious requirement: Active Membership is open to those who possess the doctoral degree in theological or related studies, and who are or have been actively engaged in teaching and research.http://www.ctsa-online.org/becoming_a_member.htmlOf course we can all think of several good reasons why membership in a professional association should not be restricted by religion. But when theres a conflict between the bishops and the theological society it would be useful to know more about the religious composition of the CTSA and how solid is the commitment of all its members to the Church.
"Nobody is disputing this. Clearly if no one was disputing this then every Catholic theologian would request an imprimatur before they had their book published."Why?
I have been following this discussion--in a number of different posts--ever since the USCCB Theological Committee, under the Presidency of Cardinal Wuerl, issued its'warning' or 'clarification' about Sr. Elizabeth Johnson's book, Quest for the Living God.I have been reading her book, and the more I read, the more I am reminded of the Jesuit Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and the suffering he endured--as an obedient and silent religious and priest. He died without ever seeing most of his lifelong work unpublished.He was effectively 'silenced' by the Church. Out of love for the Church, he accepted, indeed honored, the silence imposed.When he died on Easter Sunday 1955, because of his being "silenced", he was buried privately--without a public Priest's Funeral--at the Jesuit Cemetery in Poughkeepsie, NY.Although Sr. Elizabeth Johnson has not been "silence"--yet!--her faithfulness to Catholic Faith is certainly being questioned ... possibly by those who either have not read--or have not understood--what she has written. Out of respect and obedience, she has remained, for the most part, silent.The history of the Roman Church, when it comes to theologians, reveals a pattern of disputes between the "powers" and the "thinkers": Aquinas, for example, was suspect of heterodoxy because he dared to utilize Aristotelian thought forms to explain the Faith ... and was not accepted or recognized until after his death. What I hear in this latest response from Cardinal Wuerl is a retrenchment into the authoritarian attitude of another generation: when I cannot win by persuasion, I appeal to authority. As the French say, "Plus sa change, plus sa meme."
Jimmy, why so down on Europe? I can't imagine Cardinals Martini, Danneels or Kasper, or even Schonborn making such a statement in the first place. A more successful model of engagement with the world and teaching is surely modeled more on dialogue, less on the pulpit.Or maybe Cardinal Wuerl is just trying to help Sr. Johnson sell more books. Nothing sells like a good old-fashioned condemnation...ask Salman Rushdie. I'm reading Jurgen Mettepinningen's 'Nouvelle Theologie' at the moment and the list of those condemned is longer than just Theilard de Chardin and includes Yves Congar, Marie-Dominique Chenu, Henri de Lubac, Louis Charlier, Eduard Schillebeeckx...
Even Aquinas was condemned at one point.
Patrick --You seem to think that solidity of committment is a criterion of orthodoxy. Why? One can be totally sincere, passionately committed and wrong, and that goes for folks on both sides of our divide.I'm not a theologian, but it seems to me that having non-Catholics in the CTSA is a good way to make the teachings of the Church better known. And civil challenges from non-Catholics can lead at least to deepening of understanding of the Faith.
Ken,That's not what the French say.
Ann,I agree with your points. Commitment does not equal orthodoxy and ecumenical exchanges can be mutually beneficial. But in the name of transparency (who is against that?) I would like to know if there are members of the CTSA who have rejected the Catholic faith and/or no longer practice it. They may still be correct on any given issue but it would be nice to know if someone wants to gauge the sensus fidelium. Or perhaps a name change for the society would clear up any confusion: The Society for the Academic Study of Catholicism by Doctoral Graduates in Theology and Related Disciplines.
In the current NCR, there is an interview with Sr. Johnson where she lays out what she hoped to accomplish.I was impressed.Here in my high science cominity(wit hmost PHD's per cap) a fellow parishoner is trying to engage his fellow Catholicscientist on faith/sienc ediscussion - he ven put out a bibliography to stimulaye discussion.The issues here are several butone is the engagemen tof modernity (rather than the retrenchment currently in vogue among curialists and US Bishops. This is a seperate issue from the question of roles(theologians/bishops) some think is critiical.
A second issue is the one of the roles. i commented on this topic below that the Bishops are indeed the authentic teachers in the Church; but, that doesn't mean they can't screw up and I posit that is in fact more likely if they are trying to do so by power rather than rational argument and dialogue.Meanwhile, there is clearly a cleavage in the theological comunity with quite differenr views of exploerin gand engaging our faith in today's world.I think members of CTSA, who of its board members, as far as I can see, are loyal and excellent members of the faith who fon't question the faith of those who disagree, must be chilled not only by the Cardinal's approach, but also comentators like Mr. Malloy who obviously knows better.Gene is right -God help us!
Two things. One, I agree completely with Grant about the danger of "doubling down." Bad teaching is worse than no teaching, and if the bishops cannot be trusted to give an accurate reading of a book that, by their own admission, is aimed at non-specialists, how can they be trusted in more complicated matters? Poor use of authority undercuts authority itself.Secondly, on the imprimatur meme, I notice that Thomas Weinandy (secretary of the Bishops' Committee on Doctrine) doesn't seem to have an imprimatur on his "Jesus the Christ" which is clearly aimed at a non-specialist audience. If it does bear an imprimatur, it isn't printed on the copyright page as is customary. Is this a requirement only for those theologians already viewed as suspect by the powers that be?
A third is issue is Catholic education and educated Catholics.The question of Catholic education is indeed worthy of discussion given the complexities of available resources, the questions about charter schools at the elrmentary level, the issue of the goals and priorities of Catholic elementary and high schools, and the efforts of adult Catholic education and the extent to which it is indioctrination or formation.There is an apparent inference in some quarters that the drift of many young catholics is due to their ignorance (their fault) and not poor presentation of Catholic truths and also lack of credibility by teaching authorities.As to educated Catholics, one could start with the seminary issue (say as raised by Abp. Martin) and the attempt here by the US hierarchy to bring Catholic institutions of higher learning and periodicals -as advocated previously by Cardinal George - and IMO the Wuerl action is a piece of the same, to a univocal "ultraorthodox" (read maximal magisterilalism) approach.Returning to Sr. Johnson then, her view of engagement, questioning and growing is not sought out by our current hierarchy and, I would add, not conducive to "educated Catholics."
@Patrick, I get your point about being interested in knowing the affiliation of the Society members, but how ya gonna measure that without imposing a predetermined notion of orthodoxy to allow you to say who is "in name only" and who is "really" Catholic?There's a danger in pushing this approach (not that Patrick does) and we should learn from what's happening in another academic society--the Society for Biblical Literature. There's been huge controversy over whether one must be a believer to correctly study the Bible and it has spilled over into academic departments at secular colleges and universities--which are rapidly shrinking. We need vibrant and diverse Departments of Religious Studies/Theology at secular schools, I believe, as part of providing a well-rounded liberal arts education. We don't need academic societies (which are a vital part of the discipline's health and growth) limited to believers. I don't want Departments of RS/Theology or academic groups serving as satellite campuses for Bob Jones, Liberty, or Ave Maria. Frankly, I don't want the Catholic college departments running as exclusively apologetic courses of study, but I recognize they have a different needle to thread.
Mary --What you said.
Kathy: when someone says that they have the final word on what is in, out, up, down, right, wrong --- and then their actions do not lend credibility to their self-proclaimed authority, do you actually think that all of their claims will be given credibility in the long run?"He who molds public sentiment goes deeper than he who enacts statutes or pronounces decisions. He makes statutes and decisions possible or impossible to be executed." (Abraham Lincoln in debate with Stephen Douglas.)"If authoritative teaching is representative teaching, it must actually be received as authoritative and representative in the Christian community. It is not enough simply to claim that such teaching is representative. The community of Christians addressed by their teachers will either receive or not receive the teaching in light of their faith in Jesus Christ and of the scriptural witness to God's revelation in Christ. In the process of reception it becomes apparent whether or not the teaching was representative."(Wolfgang Pannenberg, The Present and Future Church, First Things, November 1991.)
"the argument from authority based on human reason is the weakest, yet the argument from authority based on divine revelation is the strongest. But sacred doctrine also makes use of human reason, not, indeed to prove faith...but to make clear other things that are not set forth in this doctrine." (Summa Theologica, part 1, question 1, article 8, reply 2)I have not read Sr. Johnson's book and I am weary of anyone described as a 'feminist' but coming down like a hammer on someone without offering a forum to better discuss the views and conclusions seems juvenile. Unless I am mistaken, judgements and verdicts are reserved for the end of trials.
Just a word of support for Patrick's point. If the question is about whether a theological society has a relevant interest in the Bishops' pronouncement on a particular matter of doctrine, it does seem important to ask whether that society is interested qua faithful believer or qua scholar. Of course the two are not always easily separable, but if I'm a scholar of Catholicism who has no interest in attending mass on Sunday or receiving the sacraments, it is hard to understand why my protest ought to be registered by those who are mostly concerned with the folks who fill the pews. On the other hand, if I'm a Catholic scholar who is committed to the mission of the Church in communion with the faithful, then one would hope that the shepherds of that flock would want to engage in dialogue with me. I have a feeling that most members of the CTSA belong to the latter group, and given that Wuerl saw the need to address, however unsatisfactorily, their concerns, it seems that he considers them to be "in" as well. But all that is not to say that it's not worthwhile to raise the question, and that if a particular group of scholars of religion claim not to care about actual faith commitments, then their opinion might be weighed differently when it comes to church matters. Of course, apropos of the SBL debate, this does not at all mean that such scholars are not good scholars and don't have extremely valuable insights to contribute to the study of religion and the understanding of the history, texts, and practices of a particular tradition, which one would hope might be of interest to believers and nonbelievers alike. And such scholars might even, and probably do, have a better understanding of such matters than some of the most ardent believers. It's just that such information may not always be relevant to the administration of doctrine, but then again, sometimes it might be. But, I don't think that it's clearly wrong of Patrick to raise the issue.
Eric,I am not sure that it is worthwhile to raise the question if there is no way to answer it. It seems to me raising the question is just saying, "Hmmm . . . you know, these people may not be real Catholics." I really think, as you seem to, that the majority of people who would join such an organization are faithful Catholics. (I am not sure that attending Mass every Sunday is a perfect measure of who is and who is not a faithful Catholic, either.) And in any case, their protest should be judged on its merits, not on the churchgoing habits of the people who wrote it. And the bishops' critique should also be judged on its merits, not on the fact that they are bishops.
"If the question is about whether a theological society has a relevant interest in the Bishops pronouncement on a particular matter of doctrine, it does seem important to ask whether that society is interested qua faithful believer or qua scholar" (Eric, 4:34pm)As you note, that's difficult to separate. I'd say impossible to evaluate the former without imposing a highly contested set of criteria, though I suppose "agrees with Bishops majority of time" is an option (a bad one, imho). I still don't see why it is a relevant or important question, given at least two of the three interests they address in their original statement: 1) did the bishops follow their own rules? and 2) did they get her book wrong? Neither of those questions requires one be a believer, much less a good one. I'll grant, the third interest they raise (implications for the vocation of theologian) may impinge on particular faith commitments. However, the first two have been largely the focus of CW discussion, not the teaching authority of the bishops. Finally, I think the bishops' clear misreading of Johnson's book is itself evidence against your argument that faith buttresses quality of evaluation, since I'm sure we'd agree the Bishops are "good Catholics" despite their interpretive failure. Cheers!
I see the imprimatur suggestion as a dialogue-starter is not catching fire here.Naif that I am, I view the mandatum the same way.
"I am not sure that attending Mass every Sunday is a perfect measure of who is and who is not a faithful Catholic, either."Right; most of us lack the ability to read what is in other people's hearts. It seems that sociologists use mass attendance as a useful proxy for measuring commitment, though.
"And the bishops critique should also be judged on its merits, not on the fact that they are bishops."David N. --ISTM that this is at the crux of the problem of teaching authority in the Church. One might put it this way: how can having a charism (teaching dogma) guarantee that the charism will be faithfully carried out? If possessing the teaching charism does *not* guarantee that truth will be taught (that is, if simply *being a bishop* doesn't guarantee the truth of what he says), then what does the charism guarantee? Obviously, being a bishop doesn't guarantee speaking true dogma. If it did, there would be no heretical bishops. But there have been many.Back to the problem of theological epistemology, this time from the point of view of the faithful: how do we know what is dogma and what is not? When truth is being taught, how can the faithful recognize it? The problem is acute for theologians.
David, I may be old fashioned, but I'm not sure I can follow you in saying that mass attendance or at least feeling some solidarity with mass attendees is not a necessary condition, even if not sufficient condition, for being "in" the Church.Mary, I never said or argued for the claim that "faith buttresses quality of evaluation," and I'm not sure I can even agree with you that the "Bishops are good Catholics." Note that I said mass attendance is a necessary, but not a sufficient, condition ;)
There is lots of bad theological writing about a suffering God, misled by Moltmann and Process theology, and one can well understand the irritation of Fr Weinandy and the bishops. Still, the issue is a delicate one. Consider this locus classicus from Origen, Homilies on Ezekiel 6.6: And the Father himself is it not true that he suffered in some manner? God takes on himself our modes of being as the Son takes on our passions (citing Ps 102.8). The Father himself is not impassible. If he is supplicated, has nercy and pities he suffers a passion of charity and puts himself in a condition incompatible with his greatness and for us bears human passions. Igitur mores nostras supportat Deus, sicut portat passiones nostras Filius Dei. Ipse Pater non est impassibilis. Si rogetur, miseretur et condolet, patitur aliquid caritatis, et fit in iis in quibus iuxta magnitudinem naturae suae non potest esse, et propter nos humanas sustinet passiones."
Bringing out the big guns of an appeal to ones divinely conferred authority is always a mistake, especially when dealing with very minor issues, such as a single theological book. Paul VI spent a lot of Humanae Vitae defending his right to teach on the issue, and this might also be seen as a sign of weakness. The only two doctrines for which papal infallibility is claimed are very iffy ones. The Council that most stressed its guaranteed infallible status also produced iffy doctrines (I refer to Vatican I), Episcopal authority is self-justifying when exercised properly. When exercised badly, the appeal to epistemological guarantees is useless because the reception on the part of the faithful will not be forthcoming anyway. It is not use saying the authorititative statements are infallible ex sese non ex consensu ecclesiae, because if the consensue ecclesiae is not forthcomiing it can be discerned that the statements were not infallible to begin with (though it they had been infallible it would have been ex sese) infallibility is a Cheshire cat doctrine; try to pin it down too tightly and it vanishes!
Seminarians in Maynooth are now kept from studying theology in the same class as lay people. What kind of theology do the bishops want them to learn? Could it be that they want priests to have just a higher catechesis, a sort of brainwashing, insulated from the questioning of the modern world and from the sensus fidelium?Episcopal authority is real only in its proper exercise. In a dysfunctional church gestures of asserting divinely-guaranteed authority are only a sing of weakness and disaggregation. The bishops need to admit that they are in crisis (pace Abp Dolan), and seek to restore the fabric of a Church that is functioning properly on the social, liturgical, theological, and spiritual fronts. They cannot do this except in open discussion with all other members of the community.
@Eric (9:38)Necessary for what? Sufficient for what? To say, "Hey! Ya'll have a set of guidelines saying X and you didn't follow them"? To say, "Hey! Ya'll say Sr. J said X and she actually said not-X"? Please unpack for me how attendance at Mass is a necessary condition for assessing the truth value of either of those two claims. We know, in fact, that it is not, since the Bishops made errors in their evaluation of the book, despite attending Mass regularly. (I presume you'd grant the bishops go to Mass enough to meet the standard you'd want to apply to the Society members.)Whether Theologians are entitled to question Bishops--and whether their adherence to a particular list of doctrines or practices (are we gonna ask how often they go to Confession, like the women religious were?) increases their credibility with the Bishops and others when contesting Church teachings--is a separate issue, distinct from whether the Bishops followed their own rules and misread Johnson's book. Cheers!
Mary, I never said mass attendance was necessary for assessing the truth value of anything, and I was jokingly trying to suggest that being Catholic was not simply a matter of going to mass or even being ordained, even though such things might be involved in an assessment. So, no, without knowing more about this or that bishop, I would not presume that they meet any such standard. In fact, as some have suggested, it would seem that they have not sufficiently met any such standards, e.g. as you say, their own. But just because standards are hard to fix, doesn't mean that there are no standards for determining what stake someone has in the debate. Theological interpretation is tricky enough not to be able to simply leave things to the transparency of reason. At certain points, one might want to have some reassurance that we're all after the same thing here. If I don't recognize the authority of the bishops then why should they care what I say, and furthermore, they might even be wondering why I care what they say. My very minimal point is that whether or not the bishops should care about me probably has something to do with whether or not I care about them, which probably would be reflected in my participation in the life of the Church. Clearly, you seem to care quite deeply about them, as I do; so, I hope they are listening to us. If they aren't, who cares?
If you fear that a nun's book will cause students to lose their faith (as if the drab teaching of the bishops' had not already caused thousands of Catholics to leave the Church), why not forbid Catholic students to go to university at all? Or are Catholic universities fake universities where students will be protected from any exposure to debate and questioning?
Mary,Why don't we grant, for the sake of argument, that the bishops misunderstood the book. I don't know of anyone who has demonstrated this, but, if we assume they did, what follows?Couldn't freshmen in college have the same misunderstanding, and at a potentially higher cost, the loss of their faith?
And of course you must keep students from reading suspect theologians such as Tertullian, Clement, Origen, Scotus Eriugena, Eckhart, and all Protestant writers. Needless to say, immoral and bawdy authors such as Catullus, Shakespeare, Fielding, Blake, Gautier, Baudelaire, Flaubert, Zola, Proust, Gide, Woolf, Lawrence, will be rigorously excluded from the curriculum. We need orthodox Catholics even if they are intellectual zombies. If thy brain scandalize thee, cut it out; better to enter the Kingdom of Heaven without your brains and your spiritual freedom, than to be cast into Hell for the crime of thinking!
@KathyYour second para makes no sense: if the students had the same misunderstanding the bishops did, they would not be at any spiritual risk (since judging the book as a threat to faith was based on an erroneous reading). Regardless, that's a pretty good argument for not sending kids to college at all. Yikes. @Eric,You say we need some "standards for determining what stake someone has in the debate." Sure. Here's a basic one: I think anyone, trained theologian or not, Catholic or not, has a stake in truth and fairness. It's the simple matter of how the Bishops' and Society's statements measure up to those two standards, no messy loyalty tests required. You say, "interpretation is tricky enough not to be able to simply leave things to the transparency of reason." Golly, why not? In this case, what interpretive maneuvers are so difficult? What's so murky about guidelines applied or not? About claims made or not? And specifically how would being a bona fide Catholic (by any standard) affect how one makes that judgment? Unless, that is, we are assuming bad faith on the part of anyone who wouldn't meet that standard. What if we found out the Society members were all a bunch of closet agnostics? That makes it OK for the Bishops to treat an author differently or to misread her book? Of course not, so why make the Bishops' ethical responsibilities contigent on the in- or out-group status of the Society members? You say, "If I dont recognize the authority of the bishops then why should they care what I say?" Well, maybe it's just me, but I think they should care when folks (of any stripe) raise concerns about the fairness and accuracy of their statements. How bizarre that we could say, "Well they screwed up but it's not really a problem because the folks complaining aren't the real target audience." That's a calculation for marketers and political consultants.Cheers!
Joseph O'Leary is on target. If the immutable Catholic theology du jour and Catholic students and scholars are so fragile that they cannot confront competitive ideas and keep faith intact, there are more serious questions to be answered than how many bishops does it take to cast the final vote on truth. Humility in the face of ignorance is a powerful virtue as the practice of the best and brightest often shows; fear of contamination by pernicious writings is an opposing vice. For a possibly out-of-date description of where such fear leads, see the thinking in the Catholic Encyclopedia on Index of Prohibited Books (Imprimatur 1910) and CENSORSHIP OF BOOKS (Imprimatur 1908) at: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/07721a.htmhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathe...
Fr. O'Leary,I think that the question of the knowability of God is the main issue that the bishops should be addressing. I think they are "reading the signs of the times" accurately, and addressing the most important thing that needs to be addressed.
Mary, I take your point that, all things being equal, misreading is misreading. I think, though, that you are underestimating the degree to which those in hierarchy of the church (and some of the rest of us for that matter) are "marketers and political consultants" or simply have other interests (cynical, sincere, or otherwise) which they bring to bear on the doing of theology. And, I'm self reflective enough to realize that I have some similar interests of my own (some more transparent than others) when I do my theology. So, "truth and fairness" is not always as black and white as you or the bishops seem to think. This is why theology needs to be rooted in relationship. If that's the case, then it seems relevant to ask whether both parties are interested in being in the relationship (kind of like marriage counseling) before haggling over the details.
Even if we accept the analogy, I don't think you've adequately addressed why the Bishops' responsibility to the relationship depends on the faithfulness of a partner ("I can ignore rules because I suspect you don't respect the marriage"??). We obviously have different notions regarding the task of theology. I think we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Cheers!
Eric, what happened to the Church being a body that tries to shift unbelief to belief? To say that inclusion in the club is a priori necessary for being heard at all rather enhances the likelihood that no interest "from" others becomes the self-fulfilling prophecy of a group that professes no interest "in" others. For the Church, that seems like an especially dangerous track to follow for the sake of carrying forward its past ideals into the future, and not only in crass number terms. It seems to me that bishops should WANT to know if their theology makes sense to others and to understand, if it doesn't, why not -- After all, it is entirely possible that something might not make sense for a reason other than the absence of a shared underlying belief. "You have to be Catholic to understand" should be an oxymoron -- not an excuse for avoiding hard questions about theology.
Im a firm believer in the value of an outsider perspective. Martin Luther and John Calvin surely have much to teach us. And I always appreciate it when commenters at this site clearly indicate that they are no longer Catholic. If anything I pay more attention to their points of view. At the same time I dont expect either non-Catholics, in say a Lutheran or Calvinist tradition or some new variant, or ex-Catholics to be concerned with the flourishing of the episcopate. If pursuit of fairness and justice seems to them to call for the abolition or even undermining of an authoritative office in favor of one with persuasive powers only I would expect outsiders to proceed in that direction without hesitation. Now its just possible that some of these tendencies can be found within the CTSA, as even a president of that organization acknowledged a few years ago. It seems to be a big tent organization with minimal (or perhaps no) religious requirements for membership, though apparently some segments of the theological community do not seem to be welcomed. In 1997 Avery Dulles expressed his misgivings:The CTSA, apparently driven by an urge for theological self-assertion against hierarchical authority, widens the gap and constitutes a kind of alternative magisterium for dissatisfied Catholics. It tends to impose an orthodoxy of its own. Graduate students who hope to find university teaching positions, and younger faculty seeking promotion and tenure, feel almost compelled to attend the CTSA and to refrain from vocal criticism.Theologians are faced with a drastic choice: whether to follow the directions represented by the CTSA or to adhere to the tradition as taught by the popes and councils. Church authorities are faced with a similar choice. Can they recognize the CTSA as Catholic? Can anything be done to clarify or restore its Catholic character?For an interesting look at how the CTSA responds to this kind of criticism of its own orthodoxy see the vigorous exchanges that followed (may be for subscribers only):http://commonwealmagazine.org/how-catholic-ctsa-2
Thanks to Joe O"Leary for the sad news about the seperation of students at Maynooth (a result of Abr. Dolan's visitation?)I'm glad to se that most folks here see the seeking of imprimatur as the dodge and perhaps hypocrisy that it is.The call for dialogue from the Cardinal seems pale to me:Yesterday. the Colege theology Society under its president, Bradford Hinze of Fordham, joined CTSA in scoring the Cardinal for breeding mistrust in young theologians and sadness in seasoned scholars.Five years ago, in his book"Practices of Dialogue in the Catholic Church", Continuum, 2006he wote of theologians being an"excluded" group within the Church by bishops and curia.He states "it is remarkable that of all the groups described in the documents of Vatican II, not one word has been written about the role of theologians in the Church, about their constructive relationships with Bishops about the importanceof their realtionship wuith wider circles of the faithful: ...It has been left to the Congregatio nof the Doctrine of the Faith to describe and catually prescribe the vocation of theologians." (pg246-247)It's been less than five years when the Catholic Common Ground Initiative gathered in New York to present their 'Reflecting on the Past, Looking Into The Future,"(June 24, 2006) reaffirming their work amidst the tensions and conflicts in society and inside the Church.But the initiative founded by Cardinal Bernadin has been buried (and celebrated by George Weigel -leading to Gailardetz's reflection amoing others).I submit that Cardinal's call to "respectful dialogue" is hollow at best, as any real dialogue hasn' t existed and the USCCB really just wants PR instead of theogical dialogue in their approach.This sad affair for many thoughtful Catholics underscores the deep chasm many feel with a hierarchy that unfortunately just keeps growing!
And here is part of Peter Steinfels's response to Dulles's unfair critique:"In no way did the gathering suggest a theological "wasteland." In carefully arguing that a responsum from the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith did not establish the teaching of Ordinatio sacerdatolis as infallible, the societys Task Force was, I would maintain, not only respectful and responsible but actually conservative."I encountered very little of the anger at church authorities, the flippant dismissals, or argument by crowd-pleasing wisecrack that have often marred theological gatherings on both left and right. The morning prayer sessions were filled to overflowing; the convention liturgy was a central event. Most important, in view of widely voiced worries that the frame of reference for Catholic theology was increasingly becoming the academy rather than the church, the concerns behind the conventions papers and comments were unmistakably pastoral. At the Sunday-morning table discussions of the major addresses on the Eucharist, one theologians questions arose from her efforts at catechizing young people; anothers from her experience with Central European Eastern-rite Catholic immigrants; and so on."I've been to several CTSA conventions. The prayer services are always well attended. The closing Mass is always jammed. There's no religious test because it would be weird for a non-Catholic to join a group that calls itself the Catholic Theological Society of America.
Patrick,What is the issue for meand I don't speak for anyone but myselfis that intellectual disputes can't be resolved by appeals to authority. A committee of bishops are no better at interpreting a text than a similar committee of knowledgeable people who have not been ordained. Now, when you are getting into something like polling the bishops of the world about a matter of dogma, that is a different story (for believing Catholics). I would assume there are many intelligent bishops who can debate theology intelligently, but it doesn't seem to me that that is their usual function. If someone were to make a random selection of theologians and a random selection of bishops and put the same theological question to each group, I would put more stock in the opinion of the group of theologians than the opinion of the group of bishops. I don't think that contradicts Catholic teaching. Whatever the role of bishops as teachers is in the Church, I don't think the Church teaches that ordination as a bishop gives a man some kind of special intellectual powers not possessed by nonbishops.


text:
Athenaeum Location
MCKENNA AUDITORIUM 7:00 p.m.
-Farrah Jasmine Griffin, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Dyson crushes the rose-colored lenses through which the civil-rights martyr has been viewed since his assassination three decades ago .... In the tradition of jazz saxophonists John Coltrane and Charlie Parker, Dyson riffs with speed, eloquence, bawdy humor, and startling truths that have the effect of hitting you like a Mack truck.
-Venise Wagner, San Francisco Examiner
A private citizen who transformed the world around him, Michael Eric Dyson argues that few people today understand how truly radical Martin Luther; King, Jr. was. In his provocative new book, I May Not Get There With You: The True Martin Luther King, Jr. (2000), Dyson seeks to restore King's true vitality and complexity and challenges us to embrace the very contradictions that make King relevant in today's world.
Dyson is an ordained Baptist minister and Professor of Religious Studies at DePaul University. Previously he headed the Institute of African American Research at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Born in 1958 in Detroit, Dyson's father was an autoworker and his mother an employee in the city schools. From an early age Dyson enjoyed reading traditional European classics while also immersing himself in black culture. He graduated from high school in 1976, a teenage father on welfare. A church pastor helped him move forward in his life, and Dyson attended divinity school in Tennessee. He went on to earn his masters and doctoral degrees at Princeton University.
In addition to his examination of King, Dyson's published works include Between God and Gangsta Rap: Bearing Witness to Black Culture (1995), Reflecting Black: African American Cultural Criticism (1993); and Making Malcolm: The Myth and Meaning of Malcolm X (1995). Bringing moral imagination and critical intelligence to bear on the discussion of race in America, Dyson aims to have his words resonate not only with African Americans but with all who would seek a better, more just society.
This lecture by Michael Dyson is sponsored by the Martin Luther King Commemoration Planning Committee of the Claremont Colleges and begins at 7:00 p.m. in McKenna Auditorium.
ROBERT THIES, piano
Buck's recent engagements as a recitalist and chamber musician include a U.S. debut recital at the Phillips Collection, Washington, DC; performances at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center; a performance at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art that was broadcast live on 91.5 FM-KUSC radio; and a national television debut as a featured guest on It Takes Two, hosted by Dick Clark on the Family Channel. She recently performed with Itzhak Penman in Brahms's G Major Sextet and toured with her New York-based group Orchesis. The group, which she cofounded, traveled to 28 Brazilian towns and villages, providing the first live concert experience to thousands of enthusiastic listeners. Buck has played with the La Jolla Symphony, the Aspen Concert Orchestra, the St. Matthew's Chamber Orchestra, the Los Angeles Symphonic Camerata, and the Capistrano Valley Symphony.
Buck began formal violin studies with Michael and Irina Tseitlin, with whom she studied for nine years. She graduated with a bachelor's degree from the Juilliard School as a Starling Scholarship student of Dorothy Delay in 1993. At Juilliard she was awarded the Martin Kaltman Foundation Scholarship and was consequently featured in a recital at Michael Paul Hall. She completed her master's degree in 1995 at USC, where she was a student of Robert Lipsett. While at USC, she was the recipient of the 1995 Jascha Heifetz Violin Prize.
Performing with Buck is Robert Edward Thies, according to the Los Angeles Times, a pianist of "unerring, warm-toned refinement, revealing judicious glimmers of power." After beginning his study with Robert Turner, Thies went on to the University of Southern California to study with internationally acclaimed pianist Daniel Pollack. A few years after his graduation, Thies captured worldwide attention when he won the gold medal at the Second International Prokofiev Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia; with this victory, he became the first American pianist to win first prize in a Russian piano competition since 1958.
Thies has performed with more than 40 orchestras, including the Academi Symphony Orchestra of St. Petersburg, the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, the Liepaj Symphony Orchestra, the Mexico City Philharmonic, the Auckland Philharmonic, the Eugene Symphony, the Long Beach Symphony, and the Indianapolis Chamber Symphony. In addition to Buck, Thies has played with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma, Joel Krosnick, David Geringas, Bernard Greenhouse, and Martin Chalifour.
Before coming to CMC, Halpern taught at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB), where she chaired the psychology department for three years. Beyond CSUSB, Halpern lectured at the University of California, Riverside, and has taught around the world, on a Fulbright Scholarship at Moscow State University and in Bellagio, Italy as a Rockefeller Scholar-in-Residence. Halpern held visiting professorships at Bogazici University, Istanbul; Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mexico; and the University of British Columbia, Canada. Students take note: for her teaching Halpern has been recognized with the 1999 American Psychological Foundation Award for Distinguished Teaching, the 1986 California State University's Statewide Outstanding Professor Award, the Silver Medal Award from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.
In addition to teaching, Halpern has served as president of the Western Psychological Association, and as president of the Society for Teaching of Psychology. She is a prolific writer, having written for American Psychologist, Psychological Bulletin, and Nature. Her books include Thinking Critically About Critical Thinking: An Introduction to Accompany Thought and Knowledge (1995); Changing College Classrooms: New Teaching and Learning Strategies for an Increasingly Complex World (1994), Enhancing Thinking Skills in the Sciences and Mathematics (1992), and Sex Differences in Cognitive Abilities (1986).
In her Athenaeum lecture Halpern will explore the influence of gender on how we think. A special chance to hear from one of CMC's new faculty members, the evening will also be a wonderful opportunity to become better acquainted with the workings of the College's ninth research institute.
After an initial debut on the Internet, The Boondocks made its print debut in 1997 in The Diamondback, the independent student newspaper of the University of Maryland. It received rave reviews and quickly drew national attention. After Aaron graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in African American studies, The Source, one of the country's largest urban music magazines, began publishing the strip. Shortly thereafter, the Universal Press Syndicate began syndicating The Boondocks to newspapers in April 1999. Its debut became one of the biggest launches in comic strip history.
McGruder's strip has garnered considerable national and international media attention. Stories about The Boondocks have appeared in Time, Newsweek, People, National Journal, The Washington Post, London's The Guardian, and numerous other newspapers and magazines, Aaron has been profiled on all three major U.S. television networks, PBS's The Charlie Rose Show, and Johnnie Cochran Tonight. Through his work, Aaron seeks to provoke thought, help improve the state of racial discourse and expand the types of humor found on newspaper comics pages.
Aaron currently resides in Los Angeles, where, when he isn't busy meeting the demanding deadlines of a daily comic strip, he's working on a host of other interesting ideas for The Boondocks. Additionally, he is a near-fanatical Star Wars fan and a hip-hop enthusiast of the greatest magnitude.
Please join us at the Athenaeum for what promises to be an interesting night of both politics and humor. Aaron McGruder is the first in the series Cartoons as Social Commentary.
For her pioneering work, Black has been the recipient of a number of national awards that include the Marty Mann Award, the 1991 SECAD Award, and the NCA's Educator of the Year. Previously, she was named the Chairperson of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics. Presently serving on their Advisory Board, Black spoke on Capitol Hill to members of Congress, constituents, and representatives of various addiction and treatment organizations in celebration of Alcoholic Anonymous' fiftieth anniversary.
Highly recognized and respected in her field, she has been featured in numerous publications including Newsweek, USA Today, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and has appeared on television shows that include The Phil Donahue Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show and Today.
A prolific writer, Black is the author of It Will Never Happen to Me: Growing Up with Addiction as Youngsters, Adolescents, Adults (1982) (which sold over two million copies and is currently in its second edition), Changing Course: Healing from Loss, Abandonment, and Fear (1993), My Dad Loves Me, My Dad Has a Disease (1982), Repeat After Me II (1985), It's Never too Late to Have a Happy Childhood: Inspirations for Adult Children (1989), Anger Guide (1996), Relapse Toolkit (2000), and the newest release A Hole in the Sidewalk (2000). She has also produced eighteen videos, including The History of Addiction (1999) and The Legacy of Addiction (1999), and two CDs, A Time for Healing from Abandonment and Shame (2001) and Putting the Past Behind (2001).
A graduate of the University of Washington and Columbia Pacific University, Black designs and presents workshops and seminars that focus on the addictive family, family of origin issues, and the recovery and treatment of abuse survivors.
Today, more than forty years after her tumultuous registration at UGA, she continues to make her mark on the world as the chief of CNN's African bureau. A remarkable American, Hunter-Gault has received both Peabody and Emmy awards for her work in broadcast journalism. She currently is based in Johannesburg, South Africa, where she oversees CNN's news coverage throughout the African continent. Hunter-Gault joined CNN after serving as National Public Radio's head correspondent in Africa. She worked for twenty years at PBS, where she served as U.S. National Correspondent for The News Hour with Jim Lehrer. She also was moderator of PBS's Rights and Wrongs: Human Rights Television, a newsmagazine program. Her career path also brought her to The New Yorker, The New York Times, and WRC-TV, a television station in Washington, D.C.
Reflecting on her experience that momentous day at the University of Georgia, Hunter-Gault writes in her memoir In My Place (1993): "it was with a heady sense of history that we started out for Athens, my mother, Vernon Jordan and I." Please join us for an evening with this distinguished journalist.
TIM HAGANS, trumpet
RAY DRUMMOND '68, bass
MORT SAHL, host
MARK MASTERS, conductor, American Jazz Institute big band
JOE LABARBERA, drums
DAVE WOODLEY, trombone
GARY SMULYAN, baritone saxophone
CECILIA COLEMAN, piano
SCOTT ENGLEBRIGHT, trumpet
BILL ROPER, tuba
LES BENEDICT, trombone
LOUIS FASMAN, trumpet
LES LOVITT, trumpet
DON SHELTON, saxophone and alto flute
ALLEN SAVEDOFF, saxophone and bassoon
STEPHANIE O'KEEFE, french horn
Harper is most widely known for his numerous recordings on the DIW and Denon labels, while Hagans has five discs on Blue Note Records. Drummond, a 1968 graduate of CMC, is one of the most recorded contemporary jazz musicians, having worked on nearly 100 albums for over twenty jazz labels.
A brand new, totally original approach to Porgy & Bess has been conceived by AJI's Mark Masters to feature these major improvisational talents. Featured with them will be the distinguished Joe La Barbera (drums), Dave Woodley (trombone), and Gary Smulyan (baritone sax).
For forty years, Mort Sahl has been telling audiences what is on his mind. Lauded for his unique brand of political satire, Sahl was the first humorist on the cover of Time. The first nonmusician to win a Grammy, he also hosted the inaugural Playboy and Monterey jazz festivals. Sahl's approach to stand-up humor is much like a great improvising jazz artist-totally spontaneous. A serious jazz fan, the Athenaeum is pleased to welcome Mort Sahl as host for this special concert, sponsored by the Gould Center for Humanistic Studies and the Marian Miner Cook Athenaeum.
The events of September 11th provoke these questions, but they are not new ones. The Holocaust also induces scholars to explore these fundamental historical and philosophical issues. In conjunction with this semester's European Union seminar, Researching the Holocaust, taught by CMC Professors John Roth and Jonathan Petropoulos, the Athenaeum and the Gould Center for Humanistic Studies are pleased to feature four internationally recognized experts. They will address compelling topics that are relevant not only for our understanding of the past, but also for reckoning with our current circumstances.
Robert Gellately, Strassler Professor in Holocaust History at Clark University, and author of recently published Backing Hitler: Consent and Coercion in Nazi Germany (2001), will speak on the Germans' support for Hitler and his genocidal policies. Gellately will deliver the Gould Center's Golo Mann Lecture, which is also the first lecture in the series, The Holocaust in a Post-September 11th world.
Susan Zucotti, whose important study, Under His Very Windows: The Vatican and the Holocaust in Italy (2000), received the National Jewish Book Award in the category of Jewish-Christian relations, will discuss contemporary issues surrounding Pope Pius XII, who led the Roman Catholic Church during the years of the Holocaust. (March 6)
Berel Lang, author of The Future of the Holocaust: Between History and Memory (1999), Professor of Humanities at Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut, and the 2001-2002 Ina Levine Invitational Scholar at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, will explore how memory of catastrophic events affects the present and the future. (April 8)
Stuart Eizenstat, former Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, member of the Presidential Commission on Holocaust Assets in the United States, and a primary architect of the Fund of German Industry for Victims of Nazi Slave and Forced Labor, will deliver a talk titled after his recent book Imperfect Justice: The Unfinished Business of World War II (2002). (April 18)
The focus of these talks will be historical, but as these lectures will illustrate, the themes they explore have a special relevance in a post-Holocaust, post-September 11th world.
-James Bryant Conant
The Athenaeum at Claremont McKenna College will host an exhibit of portraits by Marion Hewlett Pike. This remarkable display of more than fifty paintings, is perhaps one of the largest collections of portraiture by one artist exhibited anywhere. It represents but a small portion of the portraits painted by Marion in her lifetime.
Marion Pike was a third generation native Californian and a descendant of both Kit Carson and Benjamin Rush-a signer of the Declaration of Independence. This colorful lady of Los Angeles and Paris spent her life traveling across the Atlantic, staying just long enough to visit her numerous friends and family.
Marion was raised in San Francisco and graduated from Stanford University. A dedicated sports woman, she excelled in golf, tennis, and horseback riding. The discipline of athletic achievement stood her well in her life work of being an artist. Her prodigious output required tremendous effort and a dedication of purpose few attain. When I observed her over the years (1967-98), diligently painting into the wee hours, I marveled at her stamina as well as her enthusiasm. As a young woman artist she was truly an inspiration for me to observe. I sought to emulate not only her craftsmanship but also her discipline.
Marion also had a tremendous capacity for fun, combined with a great love of people from all walks and stations of life. This made her parties in Hancock Park as well as Paris momentous and brilliant occasions.
Such gatherings of her friends, the eagles so to speak, were the stuff of legends. They included the Bob Hopes, Andre Malraux, Rosalind Russell, Coco Chanel, Claudette Colbert, Alberto Giacometti, Mary McCarthy, Lucille and Norton Simon, and many others. Marion had supreme talent and energy and a love of people. She was steeped in art history and she worked tirelessly, painting more than 2,000 works in her lifetime. These include giant paintings such as "Coco Chanel in Her Studio" (8' x 10'), and Zubin Mehta, (4' X 5'), as well as a quiet and poignant series of pastels.
All of her works, from the monumental flamboyant floral masterpieces, to the dramatic and sensitive portraits, are the unmistakable signature works of a master painter, Marion Hewlett Pike. Her landscapes bear the same powerfully familiar brushstrokes of one who knew from whence she came, thus evocative of the rolling hills of life.
Since Marion Pike's death on February 4, 1998, this is the first public exhibition of her work, a gathering of the troops, so to speak. They all are assembled to stand and be counted. This is but a small portion to be seen of an unbelievable output by a tiny woman: small in stature, great in every other arena of life.
Bravo Marion, carry on.
Article by Barbara Beretich

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Jump to navigation
The Getty Center and The Getty Villa
1200 Getty Center Drive
Los Angeles, CA 90049
United States
Archaeologists, art historians, conservators, curators, scientists, and students will convene at both the Getty Villa in Malibu and the Getty Center in Brentwood to investigate the artistry, craftsmanship, production, conservation, and science of ancient bronzes. Read more »
Western Science Center
2345 Searl Parkway
Hemet, CA 92543
United States
Celebrate International Archaeology Day! Discover mysteries of the past at Western Science Center in cooperation with the Mt. San Jacinto College Anthropology Club. Read more »
The J. Paul Getty Museum
Los Angeles, CA 90049
United States
On behalf of the organizing committee, we are pleased to announce that the 19th International Congress on Ancient Bronzes will be held October 13-17, 2015 at the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, California.
Become a Member to enjoy exclusive benefits and discounts while supporting the Institute's outreach, education, and preservation initiatives. Join today!
ARCHAEOLOGY readers are Subscribing Members of the AIA. Upgrade today and continue to receive the magazine while enjoying all the great benefits of supporting the AIA at a higher level.
Annual Meeting
Support the AIA


text:
227 Named to Big 12 Honor Roll
The Big 12 Conference released its 2013 Spring Commissioner's Honor Roll with a total of 227 West Virginia University student-athletes making the list. The conference recognizes all student-athletes at its member institutions during each semester with a 3.0 GPA or higher.
Of the 227 WVU student-athletes recognized for their academic excellence, 39 registered a GPA of 4.0 in the spring semester.
The 39 Mountaineers named to the list with a perfect 4.0 GPA in the semester include: Brock Dykxhoorn (baseball), Jess Harlee (women's basketball), Kyle Majnaric, Nate Majnaric, Michael Molinari (football), Gina Costa, Marina Galante (gymnastics), Alexandra Basil, Kaitlyn Eason, Mary Ignatiadis, Kelly Kramer, Jeannine McCarty, Rachelle Purych, Courtney Schrand, Ellen Shular (rowing), Carly Black, Kara Blosser, Ali Connelly, Nicolette DeLaurentis, Amanda Hill, Bri Rodriguez, Frances Silva, Caroline Szwed (women's soccer), David Palley, Katie Murto, Sloan Storie, Haily VandePoel, Jenelle Zee (swimming and diving), Aubrey Moskal, Kimberly Mulvin, Hallie Portner, Letitia Propst, Katlyn Shelar, Brittney Thomas, Kelly Williams (track/cross country), Liz Gulick (volleyball) and Lance Bryson, Bubba Scheffel and Tim Wheeling (wrestling).
The cross country/track and rowing teams led all Mountaineer teams with 39 and 33 honorees, respectively, on the honor roll. Other total student-athletes on the honor roll include football (28), women's swimming and diving (22), women's soccer (19), wrestling (16), baseball (14), gymnastics (13), men's swimming and diving (13), volleyball (9), men's basketball (7), women's basketball (7) and women's tennis (7).
More than 2,500 student-athletes each semester have been named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll in the Conference's 17-year tenure.
Big 12 Media Days: Dave Wannstedt
Big 12 Media Days: Karl Joseph
Men's Basketball: Bahamas Preview
Womens Soccer: Kadeisha Buchanan Press Conference
Big 12 Media Days: Dana Holgorsen
Women's Soccer: Amanda Hill and Mocha


text:
Cases Most Popular
Cirque du Soleil, Portuguese Version
Thomas J. DeLong; Vineeta Vijayaraghavan
Price: $6.93
Retaining talent is an issue for any company whose success relies on the creativity and excellence of its employees. This is especially true for Cirque du Soleil, the spectacularly successful "circus without animals," whose 2,100 employees include 500 artists--mimes, clowns, acrobats, gymnasts, musicians, and production professionals. Managing a company full of creative people is a juggling act in itself, between keeping its artists happy and pursuing a successful strategy for attracting more business and talent.
Learning objective:
To focus on the particular importance of treating employees like customers in order to grow employee satisfaction along with commercial success.
Subjects Covered:
Human resource management; Organizational behavior; Service management
- Industry: Arts, entertainment & sports
- Company Employee Count:2,500
- Event Year Begin:2001
- Event Year End:2001
- Revision Date:
- Oct 15, 2002
- Publication Date:
- Jul 18, 2002
- Discipline:
- Human Resource Management
- Source:
- Harvard Business School
- Product #:
- 12p, Portuguese Hardcopy Black & White
- Also Available in:


text:
Postgame Quotes
Chattanooga 64, Davidson 63
Asheville, N.C. - U.S. Cellular Center
Southern Conference Tournament Championship Game
March 11, 2013
Head coach Wes Moore
Opening statement ... "I felt like the last two games, I hadn't helped them. They just found a way to get it done. Taylor Hall took the game over yesterday on her own and then today a lot of people made plays. They did a great job on Kayla (Christopher) and hounding her on defense and making it tough for her to get looks. I felt like I wasn't doing a good job of getting her shots. But she found a way to get her own shot. We talk all the time about rebounding and how important it is. We had 21 offensive rebounds. We took 70 shots to their 41. They shot 53 percent and we shot 35 percent. But if you crash the boards and can get that second and third look, then you can find a way to win. They have done it all year long."
"This group has been unbelievable. It's been such a fun group to coach. I know they don't believe that most of the time by my demeanor. I love how hard they've worked and how coachable they've been. So many times this year, we've had our back to the wall and they've found a way to get it done. I love them. I'm really happy that they're being rewarded. It's been a grind. For them to go 19-1 in the regular season and then start all over, then be rewarded for what they've done for the last few months is awesome. I'm excited. I think we have a team that can compete in the NCAA tournament and I'm excited about the opportunity after getting through this."
Senior guard Kayla Christopher
On the final offensive possession ... "Coming out of the timeout, I stressed to everyone to crash the boards. We had 20 seconds on the clock, so we had a chance for more than one shot. Taylor (Hall) and Ashlen (Dewart) did a good job keeping the offensive rebounds long enough to get the second look. I was able to sneak in there on the weak side and be at the right place at the right time."
Junior forward Ashlen Dewart
On the ending of the game ... "It's a perfect way for the season to end, with Kayla (Christopher) hitting the winning shot. I can't even tell you how important she's been to this team. The last play was just the cherry on top. I was worried for a half-second after I missed the second one. Then Taylor (Hall) and Kayla came flying in. It was an amazing game. I'm so proud of our seniors and our team."
2014-15 Season Review
2014-15 Year in Review
2013-14 Season Review
2013-14 Year in Review
2012-13 Season Review
2012-13 Year in Review
2011-12 Season Review
2011-12 Year in Review
2010-11 Season Review
Mocs Mission Review - Academically
Mocs Mission Review - Athletically
Mocs Mission Review - Socially
2010-11 Year in Review
2009-10 Season Review
Mocs Mission Review - Academically
Mocs Mission Review - Athletically
Mocs Mission Review - Socially
2009-10 Year in Review
2008-09 Season Review
Mocs Mission Review - Academically
Mocs Mission Review - Athletically
Mocs Mission Review - Socially
2008-09 Annual Report


text:
Main Content
Your little fan doesn't realize how much they're going to love the Dallas Mavericks someday. You were born and raised a Mavericks fan – and now it's time for your little one to become a Dallas fanatic. While you're giving them the play-by-play, make sure their little toes stay warm in these Allover Team Logo bootie socks! Featuring allover team logos and the team name at the cuff, these bootie socks will start em' off on the right track to becoming the Mavericks' #1 fan.
- 64% Cotton/23% Nylon/11% Polyester/2% Spandex
- Elastic cuffs
- Fits children's shoe sizes 0-3
- Imported
- Officially licensed NBA product
- Woven graphics
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


text:
Friday, May 2, 2014
South Carolina officials have been discussing the possibility of raising minimum wage in the state but while bills have been proposed not everyone is supportive of the idea.
The states minimum wage sits at $7.25 per hour.
Rep. Joe Jefferson, a Democrat representing District 102, said that amount equals a yearly salary of a little over $15,000 which is poverty, if you ask me.
There are some bills in both the S.C. House and Senate examining the idea right now: one bill is recommending $9.75 per hour and another is pushing for $10 per hour. Jefferson said neither bill has advanced out of its respective chamber. There is a bill in the senate for $9.50, which also has not been moved.
Jefferson said he is supportive of raising minimum wage.
We need to at least look into the livability of people in our state, he said, adding that despite his feelings, he does not see minimum wage going up anytime this year.
The economy has improved tremendously, so why not improve the lives of people by increasing the minimum wage?
Sen. Sean Bennett, a Summerville Republican, said he has been following the minimum wage discussion on the national level but does not feel there has been a lot of serious discussion on the state level.
I think its a terrible idea, he said. I understand the emotion involved but the effects it has on businesses and, ultimately, the individuals its designed to help ... I think it shows that it does more bad than good.
Like Jefferson, Bennett does not see minimum wage going up in the state anytime soon. Bennett feels more job opportunities and education need to be created so that people who are stuck in minimum wage positions can eventually move on.
People talk about how you cant support a family on minimum wage, and I agree, but thats not what its designed to do, he said. Its designed to get people into the workforce. I dont think it was ever designed for a minimum wage position to be a goal to aspire to.
Bennett added he is not knocking people who already work in minimum wage jobs, but said he would like to see an environment better suited for preparing people to move up in the workforce.
Its a great feel-good topic, he said. Would it be better for everyone to make more money? Sure it would. But you cant create an artificial wealth by creating a higher wage.
Jefferson disagrees. He said many who oppose an increase may fear their own salaries going down in order to give salary increases to those working minimum wage positions.
The people who are already in pretty good shape financially always scream the loudest because they dont want their salaries to be decreased and they wont, he said. We need to look out for the best for our people. We need to do a better job in looking out for those who need the wage increase the most.
Jefferson feels there are people in Dorchester and Berkeley County who could use the salary increase. Inflation is rising every year and in order to keep up with inflation we need increases every now and then to keep up, he said.
However, others feel there might be deeper repercussions within the economy if minimum wage goes up.
The Journal Scene is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Journal Scene.
If you find a comment that is objectionable, please click "report abuse" and we will review it for possible removal. Please be reminded, however, that in accordance with our Terms of Use and federal law, we are under no obligation to remove any third party comments posted on our website. Read our full terms and conditions.
© 2015 The Journal Scene an Evening Post Industries company. All Rights Reserved.
Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service, Privacy Policy and Parental Consent Form.


text:
Zebra Long Bench is part of the new range of high quality Safari themed furniture by Wonderworld. Zebra Long Bench is beautifully designed and well crafted using a solid pieces of wood, not mdf. The Zebra Long Bench has black and white legs, a zebra face and 2 cute zebra faces as back support. Sturdy and will be cherished for years to come.
Eco-Friendly: Made in Thailand from environmentally friendly rubberwood and strictly using Non-Toxic Paints, Dyes and Lacquers and Formaldehyde Free Glue. Packaging is made from at least 70% recycled paper.Shipping Note: This item ships directly from the manufacturer within contiguous United States only. Cannot be shipped to AK/HI, PO boxes, US territories, or APO/FPO addresses.


text:
T-shirt printing made easy - create your own clothing with our T-Shirt Designer. With all of our options, Gift Ideas have never been easier. You can choose an item from over 100 products – t-shirts, personalised hoodies, accessories and more! It's easy – these 4 simple steps will show you how:
Click on "Choose Product" in the top left corner of the T-Shirt Designer. Here you can browse our extensive product range and pick the item you like best. In "Select Category" you can sort products by gender, age, brand and accessories. Having found the right t-shirt or other product, you can then choose size and colour before you continue to personalise it.
Click on "Choose Design" in the top left corner of the T-Shirt Designer to design your own t-shirt. First you will see the most popular designs. The search bar will help you find the design you are looking for, and you can browse different categories, like specific categories for sports t-shirts designs or simply see our best designs by clicking on "Bestseller"). Now you can personalise your t-shirt by moving, enlarging or shrinking the design you have picked. To the right of your T-Shirt Designer you can choose colour, size and printing technique.
Design your t-shirt with your own text or slogan! Click "Add Custom Text" and write anything you like on your item. You can customise the text size and move the text to a different position. Your first 'I made it myself' t-shirt is just a few mouse clicks away.
Upload a photo or graphics file and personalise your gear with it. Just click on "Upload Photo" and follow the instructions. As soon as your image has been uploaded to the T-Shirt Designer you will be able to move it, change its size or proceed to print your t-shirt. Just hit the big "Add to basket" button (you will be asked if you want to create more items) and your t-shirt will be put to print!
If you are not completely happy with your order, or if something shouldn't fit, you can always return the items within 30 days on receipt or get a voucher in the amount of the purchase value. We'll pay back the order value in case you haven't personalised the products yourself. In the event of the prints not living up to your expectation, you can always demand a faultless product or ask for getting your money back. More Infos
Quality is at the heart of Spreadshirt: We apply great care when choosing our products. They need to live up to our high standards for on-demand print and be produced by reliable suppliers under fair production conditions. When we print, a majority of the work is carried out by hand. This has allowed for applying great care to detail in the production of over 12 million custom products so far. Brilliant colour prints are guaranteed, whatever print method you go for. And if you should have any questions with regard to your order, our customer service will be more than glad to find a swift solution for you.
Spreadshirt does not only offer you T-shirts, but also a huge range of classic icons of clothing and trendy gear for men, women and children. You'll also find feel-good accessories to wear and use every day. Thanks to our design selection, you can lend a personal touch to these products. You will find designs and products to meet your mood for any occasion.
still to fill


text:
A new program is set to begin with an emphasis on putting out of work miners back to work in Eastern Kentucky.
The Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. will be soon launching its new "Hiring Our Miners Everyday" program.
The program will offer expert career advising and job search assistance what re always available to job seekers. It plans to also allow EKCEP, Kentucky Career Center Job Sight Network, and key state and community action partners to place eligible coal miners who have lost their mining jobs in 2012 into new skilled jobs of training opportunities which may lead to new jobs.
The program will additionally provide the same benefits to spouses of the laid-off miners.
HOME is a result of a two-year National Emergency Grant, applied for by EKCEP from the U.S Department of Labors which will temporarily expand the service capacity of the Workforce Investment Act's dislocated worker training and employment program to EKCEP's 23- county service region.
• Opportunities that will be available to miners and their spouses include:
• On-the-job training
• Classroom training
• Skilled apprenticeships
• Other services
The HOME program will require help from local elected officials, workforce partners, and others to identify and recruit employers who are willing to hire dislocated miners and spouses into skilled jobs that will utilize miners safety consciousness, teamwork experience, dependability, and strong work ethic.
The bulk of on-the-job training wages will be covered by the HOME program, which will allow participants to earn while learning and employers to train those new hires at minimal cost.
For more information on who is eligible, or provide employer information; contact Bridget Back with EKCEP at (606) 435-8486.


text:
Find hotels in Colonial Beach using the list and search tools below. Explore our guide for inexpensive and discount hotel/motel rates in or near Colonial Beach, VA for your upcoming individual or group travel. Explore the most favored Colonial Beach Virginia hotel/motel rooms. Review the Colonial Beach hotel list below to find the perfect lodging. We also have a map of the Colonial Beach hotels. Booking 5+ Rooms? Find Colonial Beach Group Hotel DealsThe Colonial Beach center point is approximately 22 miles from Laurel Springs Regional Park and 24 miles from BAE Systems Support Solutions.
Colonial Beach Hotels & Accommodations
Next 20 Colonial Beach Hotels > [1 - 20 of 50]
Next: See My Colonial Beach Hotels with Pricing >


text:
Wedding Videographers near center sandwich,nh
Other Wedding Vendors near center sandwich,nh:
|Wedding Band (36)
|Wedding Beauty & Health (176)
|Wedding Catering (98)
|Wedding Ceremony Music (29)
|Wedding DJ (162)
|Wedding Dress & Attire (87)
|Wedding Event Rentals (59)
|Wedding Favors & Gifts (48)
|Wedding Flowers (142)
|Wedding Invitations (57)
|Wedding Jewelry (83)
|Wedding Lighting & Decor (16)
|Wedding Officiant (104)
|Wedding Photography (419)
|Wedding Planning (92)
|Wedding Rehearsal Dinner (60)
|Wedding Transportation (26)
|Wedding Travel Agents (31)
|Wedding Venue (277)
|Wedding Videography (46)
You've chosen the maximum (5) items in this category. Compare your items or remove and replace with another.Compare Now
0 Vendors Selected. Select up to 5 vendors to compare in one of the following categories: Venues, Bands, Catering, Photography or Videographers.
Video-Newhampshire7 Reviews
Creative Wedding Films with Aerial Photography
Manchester, NH | 603-515-6609
Dear prospective client: We take pride in producing a professional, cinematic, and creative film which is delivered in a reasonable time ...(more)
Contact Us Website COMPARE
Great Island Photography, LLC7 Reviews
New London, NH | 603-526-4342
For experienced photographers, Tom & Lindsay, the founding of Great Island Photography, LLC in 2009 was the fulfillment of turning a life-long...(more)
Fisher Video Productions46 Reviews
"relive the moment"
Manchester, NH | 603-672-0110
From all of us at Fisher Video Productions, Congratulations on your engagement. We want to help make your special day a memorable one and are...(more)
Precious Moments Wedding Films41 Reviews
Award Winning Wedding Cinematography
Hudson, NH | 603-886-0212
Check out more samples at www.preciousmomentsweddingfilms.com Call to check the availability of your date or to setup a no obligation...(more)
Hindsight Wedding Films15 Reviews
Barrington, NH | 603-545-2256
"Cinematic, Emotional, Fun, OMG!", are just a few of the words used to describe husband and wife team, Bryan and Nikki Powers' work. Do NOT...(more)
Waves Media128 Reviews
Real People. Real Stories. Heartfelt. Video
Salem, NH | 603-458-5175
It's your big day. Remember it. Imagine if years from now, you and your loved ones could look back on the most important day of your life… and...(more)
Visually Sound Pictures LLC2 Reviews
Don't blink.
Arlington, MA | 781-439-8324
Visually Sound Pictures LLC offers cinematic videography for your events, functions, corporate projects, and viral marketing campaigns. We have...(more)
Contact Us Website
Expires: Sep 23, 2015
Book our standard wedding videography services before the end of Summer 2015 and get 20% off your final bill!
iWed Films44 Reviews
Wedding Films | Uplighting
Manchester, NH | 857-277-5942
Wedding Films and Venue Lighting Centrally located in Manchester NH, iWed Films has been serving the New England area for 15 years. Our expertise...(more)
Heirloom Pictures8 Reviews
Boutique Wedding Films
Portsmouth, NH | 617-699-2107
Marcella Hoekstra, owner of Heirloom Picures, is part of a new wave of wedding cinematographers. Coming from an independent filmmaking...(more)
Latimer Studios | Cinematography + Photography19 Reviews
Your Love Story
Nashua, NH | 617-615-9297
Passionate, fun brother and sister duo started this award winning company together. Our passion is authentic story telling. Our strength is candid...(more)


text:
Mods:eaglesway ::::Cardinal :::: jabcat
0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.
This is craziness, Gen. 1 Adam and Gen. 2 Adam = the same Adam.
4. Calling out any member's views/opinions as stupid, dumb, crazy etc. viz. insults.
IMO Genesis 2 is just a form of writing, going "back over" to give more detail. On the seventh day god rested from all the work He had made. We enter that Sabbath rest when we rest from our own works, in Christ, the last Adam(being the second progenitor in LIFE as Adam was the first in DEATH). Thats the finished work. There are no two Adams in Genesis. Their are not three Adams. Their are only two vines, the one is Adam, the second is the Last Adam Christ. One vine of death in whom all men grow until they are transplanted into the second Adam Christ, one new man in the new creation, "behold I am making all things new".
Gen 1 Adam Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat.
Gen 2 Adam 17But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
Gen 1 AdamBe fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth. Gen 2 Adam8And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed. 15And the LORD God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden to dress it and to keep it.
Gen 1 Adam..male and female created he them. Gen 2 Adam..but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him.


text:
These are the Original Modern Messenger Bags
The first 'Courier' size Aerostich messenger bag was introduced in 1985. This was a few years before other messenger bag companies like Timbuk2, Chrome (and others) even existed. Other outdoor fashion companies such as Patagonia and North Face also introduced their messenger bags many years later.
In 1985 only two similar bags were available. Both were produced in small numbers for professional bicycle messengers only. (Everyone else who carried things by bicycle or motorcycle wore small back packs.) We patterned the first Aerostich Courier bag closely after the 'proven-by-messengers' bag.
Both of the early commercial-use messenger bags were made of cotton canvas, and they had no hook-and-loop (Velcro) on their lids, no reflective material anywhere, no strap-length cam adjusters and no side-release flap buckles for oversize loads. Aerostich was the first to incorporate these features and also to apply modern materials like Cordura nylon, hook-and-loop, 3M reflectives, plastic buckles and strap adjusters to this style bag.
Aerostich messenger bags still remain more strongly made than common bags sold at bicycle shops, outdoor stores and college bookstores. Because they are made for commercial users they are tougher, so they last a lot longer.
The construction details are different, too. An example of this is how the top flap is constructed. Common messenger bags connect the inner flap's fabric to the outer fabric with an inexpensive 'binding' stitched around the outside edges of the flap. This is fast and easy, but not especially durable. Every Aerostich messenger bag flap is first sewn inside-out, then turned right side-out and edge-stitched the same way a dress shirt collar is made. This looks 'right' and lasts much longer.
Another example is the Aerostich oversize shoulder pad. It is oversized to better spread your load better, and is highly detailed and carefully constructed of several materials, too. If you carry a messenger bag every day, you'll want this pad.
Aerostich messenger bags are also all made in Duluth Minnesota by a motorcycle rider named Jim. He has been at Aerostich hand-making these bags start-to-finish for more than fifteen years. And rides a black Kawasaki Concourse, too fast sometimes. There really is a difference…
A Mr. Subjective History on Aerostich Messenger Bags
The Aerostich messenger bags are one of my most-favorite Aerostich products. We have been making them for over twenty five years, and they differ substantially from all of the other kinds of similar bags. Essentially, ours are a lot heavier-duty...
I like messenger bags so much because they are so easy to use for urban and utility motorcycle riding. They go on-and-off quick and are versatile. One of these bags hangs empty, near my riding gear so I can grab it whenever the destination involves picking up something, or when I need to carry something fast, without using bungees. Many of our customers use them for their routine daily commute, too. Messenger bags are a key technology for motorcycling personal mobility…An invaluable tool.
Our bags were the first ones ever made of a synthetic material (Cordura Nylon and reinforced vinyl). When we began, there were two or three others made of coarse canvas. Ours was also the first courier bag to employ Velcro (hook&loop) anywhere, and to have any 3M Scotchlight reflective, and to have a handle on the flap, and to use ITW Fastex side-release buckles. What was available elsewhere was crude -- bags made in small numbers in cities like New York, mainly for working bicycle couriers.
About a year after introducing Aerostich Messenger Bags, I remember being at the Motorcycle Dealernews trade show standing before Motorcyclist Magazine Editor-in-Chief Mitch Boehm, and several other editors, all of us in a small conference room in one of the hotels there,…giving a presentation. And the internet was years in the future still.
"The daypack is dead!" I began, trying to sound as declarative as possible. "The era of the messenger bag is now beginning." I then explained why these still largely-unknown types of bags were so great for motorcyclists. And why they'd rule in the future. And why the Aerostich courier bags were made they way they were. It felt as though we were pioneering something entirely new.
A few years after we started making Messenger bags, other companies like Timbuktu (and many others) were started, and they made lighter-weight versions of messenger bags a common college bookstore commodity. About a decade later Chrome -- another company – added some contemporary hipster style and an automobile seat-belt buckle to the shoulder strap. And today there are countless other varieties from dozens of companies.
But the Aerostich messenger bag line (by size: 'letter', 'dispatch', 'courier', and 'parcel') remains the real-deal and 'the original' in terms of function, utility and durability. They are still the very best of this kind of bag available anywhere.
Recently we introduced a wax cotton variation in several colors. And a few years ago we added pink to the available colors of the Cordura models, and developed an optional internal organizer pocket system (available for the three larger sized bags).
Many specific patterning and stitching details set ours apart from the others. (One example - the lid-edge is turned and then hand topstitched. This is how a button-down shirt collar is made. It's neater, stronger and more expensive to do it this way. It makes a better flap. Almost everyone else's bags use cheaper machine-bound edging.)
Lastly, a special feature of our bags that I think is pretty cool is that for over fifteen years Aerostich messenger bags have been made by one individual here at Aerostich. And this person is a life-long motorcycle rider. During the years he's been employed here he's owned three or four different bikes. Recently he's been riding a black Kawasaki Concourse. And he's already been to North Carolina to visit his daughter and grandchildren on it a few times.
When you buy an Aerostich messenger bag, you are getting a hand-made classic American product, and an incredibly tough, practical, good bag.


text:
Any Product
Turnaround Time
Call us: M-F 9am-12am / SAT 9am-6pm EST.
We have been purchasing from Branders for years and have never been disappointed. Customer Service at its best!
Products quality great and within our price ranges. Also works great with us when we are on a tight deadline! Thank you!
Our project was to roll out promotional items to various locations at certain intervals for nearly a year. After helping with our product selection and quantities needed, the rep took on the task of overseeing the timing for shipments and notifying the appropriate contacts in each location for me so that I did not have to manage it. He kept me in the loop so I would know that the schedule was met. Very appreciated.
I have worked with Branders.com consistantly for just over 3 years, and they have always been professional, quick in action, offer solid feedback, and have been very professional, polite, courteous, even friendly in all communications. My rep knows me by name, and is always following up to see how they can assist in the growth of the company.
This is a top notch company that is so easy to work with. The products are great and customer service is the best!