Despite the State's claim that enforcement power rests with local authorities in an effort to show that selective enforcement against mass race protesters is not a de facto exemption imposed by Governor Cuomo or Attorney General James, Governor Cuomo clearly has authority over the New York State Police and broad powers of enforcement. And, in any case, Governor Cuomo's comments, which applauded and encouraged protesting and discouraged others from violating the outdoor limitations, likely demonstrate the creation of a de facto exemption.

To no one's surprise, politicians using the mechanisms of the state to encourage messages they approve of and discourage those they disapprove of is deeply illegal.

Labels: catholic, New York, politics

Fr. Ratzinger is apparently ill, and 96. Let's pray for him and his brother, they've both lived amazing and holy lives.

Labels: catholic

Imposing the DNR - something I have experienced firsthand. I have found that doctors and nurses basically lied to me about the my loved ones' mental state and capacities and forced a course of action on him while not letting me see him, and, when I arrived and realized they were full of it, it was too late.

A bunch of bullies.

Labels: New York, science

From Reason

As a reminder, here was what de Blasio had to say to New Yorkers who had gathered to mourn a Hasidic rabbi last month: "My message to the Jewish community, and all communities, is this simple: the time for warnings has passed. I have instructed the NYPD to proceed immediately to summons or even arrest those who gather in large groups. This is about stopping this disease and saving lives. Period."
This is not just hypocritical—it's odious. Protesting against police violence is extremely important, and the unprecedented public outcry over Floyd's death is a critical opportunity to send a message that reforms are needed. But to say that this cause, and only this cause, should be exempt from the lockdown is, at the very least, remarkably callous. Mourning a deceased person is no less important to that person's loved ones than ending police brutality is for the thousands of people engaged in protest. (This should be doubly obvious, since in both cases we are talking about a person's death as the root issue.)

As usual, Mr. Mayor manages to find the most odious and nonsensical position in any situation.

Labels: New York, religion

An interesting author by the name of Manent traces the trendy idea of rights back to its source in Hobbes, and notes that

If you teach human beings to assert their rights, but deny any natural standards by which to judge the rightness of their actions, you unleash an endless quest for rights not governed by any intelligible principle—a quest that sows confusion at all levels of society.

Manent also suggests some ways to return to a more fruitful political conception.

Labels: history, philosophy, politics

Here we are, 72 days without episcopal permission for priests to say a public Mass in Scotland--something unprecedented even when saying a public mass could get you hanged, drawn and quartered. ("No, John Ogilvie, you must NOT return to Scotland. You must NOT celebrate Mass.") It's a scandal and it's particularly damaging for people like me, who need Mass not because we're good but because we're bad. Mass is not a fun activity like spinning; it's a very real dose of spiritual Vitamin D. Keep your volatile correspondent away from Mass long enough, and she might start to think there's something to this revenge-of-Gaia stuff.

It is a little bizarre that when Mass was illegal and punishable by death there was more Mass than now, to put it mildly.