Is "Gay Marriage" Just?

Over at Mercator.net, Robert Reilly discusses whether "same sex marriage" is, as some claim, a matter of social justice. Among his conclusions:

Homosexual marriage is not, as some have suggested, "inclusive," simply making room for another kind of marriage. Its legalization requires the denial of the true nature of marriage.

The piece is a lucid and persuasive case for the irrationality of "homosexual marriage," mostly based on natural law. Check it out for some good arguments with non-religious (and anti-religious) friends and coworkers.

Guests for Tuesday, 9/6/2011

Steven Greydanus is online at decentfilms.com.

Brent Stubbs is online at almostnotcatholic.com.

Kate Wicker, author of "Weightless"


Brian O'Neel, author of "39 New Saints You Should Know"


Patrick Atkinson is online at godschild.com.

Kevin Schmiesing is online at catholichistory.net.

Paula Westwood is online at createdorder.blogspot.com.

Rich Leonardi is online at richleonardi.blogspot.com.

Dr Kevin Vost is online at drvost.com.


Tony Beshara is online at thejobsearchsolution.com.

Dan Egan is online at bibletidbits.blogspot.com.

Dr Mike Gable and the Mission Office for the Archdiocese of Cincinnati can be contacted at 513-421-3131.

Me and the AP

I had an interesting little exchange with the Associated Press yesterday over a story about Chaz Bono, who (as you know unless you have been living under a rock) will appear on this season of Dancing With the Stars.

I wrote to the news agency to object to its referring to Chaz as "he," as a "man," and as "Cher's son." Calling Chaz a man is purely a matter of ideology. I pointed out that Chaz was born female and has simply altered her appearance: mutilating her healthy body with surgeries, and taking male hormones to alter some of her body functions. But the surgeries can't change DNA, and the hormones work only as long as she takes them. So she did not in any fundamental way change herself into a man, any more than you can make yourself blue by painting yourself blue.

Some anonymous person at the AP wrote back to say that a California judge had "granted a request to change the name and gender of the 41-year-old writer, activist and reality TV star." To which I replied: He can't do that. He can, apparently, grant Chaz the legal ability to call herself a man. But he can't make her a man. And journalists are supposed to write about facts, not fantasy.

No one wrote back about this exercise in classical philosophy and the definition of essence. But more importantly, no one wrote back about my other point, which is even more important: The story in question was about the many Twitter posts Cher received about Chaz. That's the extent of the AP's coverage of the "41-year-old writer, activist and reality TV star" appearing on DWTS. To me, the issue is not how many people like it or dislike it, but the fact that ABC is exploiting a very troubled person.

Who is going to watch the show -- which, this season, will also feature the wacked-out "journalist" Nancy Grace, a man who embodies pretty much every homosexual stereotype, and one of the Kardashain sisters -- among other "stars"? The people who tune in to see Chaz will be: 1) a small number of homosexual activists, who are a good demographic for advertisers because of their disposable incomes; 2) a larger number of people who want to have all the current hip and elite opinions, and who also have relatively high disposable incomes; and 3) a huge number of people of all ages, incomes, and races, who will watch out of morbid fascination. ABC has Chaz on because they can simultaneously be lauded by all the best people AND appeal to the masses of people who will see her as a circus freak.

It's a perfect storm of cynicism, exploitation, and greed. And it's a fundamental violation of Chaz Bono's human dignity, which requires that we respect her person and nature even if she doesn't. People sell their dignity for money every day on reality television. That doesn't mean we should watch.

Guests for Friday, 9/2/2011

Fr James Kubicki is online at apostleshipofprayer.org.

Rita Heikenfeld is online at abouteating.com.


Lance Mudd is online at lancemudd.com. Patti Armstrong wrote a great article about him on Catholic Exchange.

Danielle Bean is online at faithandfamilylive.com.


Steven Greydanus is online at decentfilms.com.

Tony Beshara is online at tonybeshara.com.


Fr Rob Jack is online at revrobjack.com.

Brian O'Neel, author of "39 New Saints You Should Know"


Tune in today at 2PM for the premiere of Register Radio on EWTN!


Send your questions for Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast to sonrise@sacredheartradio.com.

Anthony Buono is online at avemariasingles.com.

Steve Binz, author of the Ancient Future Bible Study


Peggy Bowes, Dr Kevin Vost, Shane Kapler, and (to a far lesser extent) Matt Swaim all contributed to "Tending the Temple: 365 Days of Physical and Spiritual Fitness"

Rita Heikenfeld's Smokin’ Hot Barbecued Baked Beans

The best side dish ever for that Labor Day gathering!!!

1/2 pound ea: lean ground beef and bacon, cut up in small pieces
1 generous cup chopped onion
1/3 cup sugar
1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
1/3 cup ketchup
1/2 cup barbecue sauce or more to taste
1 tablespoon mustard
1 generous teaspoon chili powder
1 pound can pork and beans plus 2 cans, 1 pound each of your favorite plain beans, drained (try Chick peas, Kidney, Great Northern or Cannelini)
Optional but good if you like it “smoking hot”: 1-2 jalapeno peppers, diced
Garnish: Sliced green onions (optional)

Cook beef, bacon, onion and jalapenos if you are using, until meat is done and onion is tender. Drain any fat. Add everything but beans and stir to mix well. Stir in beans. Adjust seasonings and add more if you like. Can be made ahead to this point and refrigerated. Bake, covered, in sprayed casserole at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until bubbly.

Guests for Thursday, 9/1/2011

Marybeth Hicks is online at marybethhicks.com.


Mike Aquilina is online at fathersofthechurch.com.


Simcha Fisher blogs at ncregister.com.

Send your questions for Catholic counselor Kevin Prendergast to sonrise@sacredheartradio.com.

Fr James Kubicki is online at apostleshipofprayer.org.

Catch the new EWTN radio program "Blessed2Play" tomorrow at 2:30PM Eastern! Follow them at twitter.com/blessed2play.

Rita Heikenfeld is online at abouteating.com.

Dan Egan is online at bibletidbits.blogspot.com.

Kevin Lowry is online at gratefulconvert.com.

Jessica Burshyntskyy's primer on Eastern rite liturgies for Latin rite Catholics is up at patheos.com.

Sign up today for the Ruah Woods banquet Sep 8, featuring the dynamic Fr. Roger Landry by visiting ruahwoods.org.

Patrick Atkinson and the God's Child project are online at godschild.org.

Tune in at 2PM on Friday to catch the inaugural episode or Register Radio on EWTN Radio!