Is My Phylactery Showing?

Mark Shea is comparing complaints of sexual abuse for a single year in US public schools versus the number of complaints against priests or Catholic Church ministers in 53 years.

Consider, in a *single year* 1998, the Dept of Justice listed 103,600 cases of sexual abuse in public schools. From 1950 to 2003, there were 10,667 reported cases of clergy sexual abuse. That's 10 times as much in one year as there were in 53 years in the Church. Yet nobody is passing laws singling out teachers for special exemption from ordinary laws. Only Catholics.

This isn't the only blog on which I've seen such figures. In fact, the John Jay study pretty much confirms that the problem is far worse in other institutions.

Not surprised in the least.

There's an interesting post at Disputations concerning Thomas's disbelief. Tom speculates that Thomas very possibly witnessed the piercing of Jesus's side, which is why he made putting his hand in Jesus's side as proof.

I got an email this morning from my stepson (from a civil marriage that ended when I returned to the Church), who is currently finishing a year in Spain. He told me a few weeks ago that he would be trabeling to Rome. Sure enough, he attended Mass in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, with the Holy Father celebrating. He was quite awed by Pope Benedict's address in 6 languages. I'm really hoping his experiences will lure him across the Tiber.

Gerald Augustinus and Domenico Bettinelli have both pointed to a CWN story debunking the "expertise" of gnostic scholarfiction writer Elaine Pagels. I have at least one of her books around here from my agnostic days. It's an enlightening exposé.

There's a troubling development in Houston. A woman, Andrea Clarke, who is fully capable of speaking and interacting with her family is being removed from a respirator and dialysis machine. See details here. It's interesting to note that the sister keeps saying how this case is not like Terri Schiavo's case. Many of us would argue that the intent of parties termination of support is wrong in both cases.

What Famous Leader Are You?

personality tests by similarminds.com

Hat tip to Elliot at Claw of the Conciliator.

Dawn Eden, newly professed Catholic (Welcome home!) and tireless prolife blogger, has an excellent post on chastity on The Dawn Patrol, one of my daily reads (along with Happy Catholic, the Curt Jester, Albertus Minimus, Scrutinies, and a slew of others).

I married in the Church in August and can confirm that the wait is well worth it.

Thomas Fitzpatrick at Recta Ratio has a thought or two about one of his (and my) fascinations, the American Revolution. I grew up on the same stories and probably with many of the same heroes. And, oddly enough, were I able to join a reenactment group, would probably also be on the British side (the result of too many Cornwell novels).

Paul posted on his disillusionment with traditionalism at Cacœthes Scribendi. DCS points out that there's no paucity of nutbars who attend NO Mass. I think the nutbar quotient can easily be filled in any human population within and without Catholicism. However, like Julie D. and Brad, I'm struck by the uncharitable encounters I've had with traditionalists online.