Thoughts on the Pulpit

In today's homily, the priest discussed ritual and it's importance to worshiping God. Among other things, he noted that throughout human history we have performed ritual sacrifice. Animal sacrifice is, or was, very common, but he noted that human sacrifice was not as uncommon as we may presume. We may think of they Aztecs or the Mayans, exotic peoples, when we think of human sacrifice; the priest noted that the germanic tribes also practiced this level of sacrifice.

An atheist might say that the widespread nature of human sacrifice shows that Christianity is just one option among many. I would, however, disagree. For me, the fact that other religions fell into the sacrifice of themselves shows that they yearned for a deeper truth than the fragment which they possessed. It shows that outside of the Jewish tradition, and even outside of monotheism, humanity recognizes that what they owe God is more than they can give, that it will require all of them. It is no surprise, then, that Christianity calls us to daily practice self-sacrifice. Nor, moreover, that we find Christ - who as God is so much more than man - required to give all of Himself.

Vatican as Defendant

Reported today in the WSJ is a ruling by the Cincinnati Circuit Court of Appeals allowing a lawsuit to move forward that may implicate the Vatican in the U.S. abuse scandal. My understanding is that the U.S. Bishops are fairly autonomous in matters of this detail, punishing or covering up for clerical abuse, and that the Vatican will not be liable. I see the latest step as simply a move to "go for the money" and I hope it fails.