f/k/a archives . . . real opinions & real haiku

If I had even a little bit of energy today, I’d write about:

 

Steve Bainbridge‘s article Judges’ Faith Does Matter, on

BeliefNet.  Prof. B. says that Pres. Kennedy and Justice Roberts

are wrong about Catholicism and the public office-holder.  Instead,

“where a Catholic judge believes his participation in a particular case

would constitute formal cooperation with evil, the judge should recuse

himself–as often happens.” 

 

I continue to believe (as discussed here), that a Catholic judge may 

be required to go further, and take action when faced with a case

involving a law deemed intrinsically evil by the Church — in order to

stay true to the Church’s teachings.  Supreme Court justices have

far more direct power (and thus responsibility) than does any single

voter. (but see, Doug Kmiec’s view)

 

 

  “An Evaluation of Federal Tax Policy Based on Judeo-Christian

Ethics,” by Susam Pace Hamill,  Virginia Tax Review, Vol. 25, Winter

2006) (available at SSRN), in which Prof. Hamill, of Univ. of Alabama

Law School, “severely criticizes the Bush Administration’s tax policies

under the moral principles of Judeo-Christian ethics.” (via Mirror of Justice)

The synopsis suggests a rather preachy tone, but the conclusions do

resonate with me.

 

  Needing to recharge my batteries, I shall instead

share some haiku with you from Michael Dylan Welch:

 

 

broken to the heartwood—
an old meadow elm
after thunder

 

first on the trail—
the pull of a spider’s strand
across my face

 

 

 

 

a switch-back
in the trail—
I glance at her face

 

 

 

 

 

stones on the trail . . .
a downy feather
wafts in the breeze

 

 

Michael Dylan Welch 

from Thornewood Poems at Captain Haiku’s Secret Hangout

 

 

 

              from dagosan:  

 

bad news

from the doctor —

voices through the wall

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day of the Dead —

the anorectic

looks envious

 

[Nov. 4, 2005]