UCAN (Union of Catholic Asian News) has an excellent article on migration and how it affects migrants and us.
Good article on migration
It’s up to us…
Old Union Station
I have been amazed at the architecture I have rediscovered in Louisville since my return here, partly because it’s common place and I just took it for granted before, and partly because I’m now riding everywhere on a bicycle and see things more closely and from different angles.
Yesterday I went to get a city bus pass and the TARC offices are in the old Union Station where the L&N Railroad was based. It is a beautiful, distinctive building in downtown Louisville.
Trump’s threats–War Crimes
President Donald Trump threatens that “a whole civilization will die tonight” unless Iran strikes a deal with the United States by 8 p.m. Eastern on April 7.
The National Catholic Reporter quotes Leo XIV as calling the threats “truly unacceptable” and said that such attacks would violate international law. In some of his strongest comments yet against the war, Leo urged Americans and others to demand that political leaders reject war and work for peace.
“Today as we all know there was this threat against all the people of Iran. This is truly unacceptable,” Leo said.
NCR reported further that “theologians, priests, academics, authors, media personalities, bishops and others took to social media platforms April 7 to warn that military strikes on civilian targets and infrastructure in Iran would constitute grave evils and violate the Catholic Church’s just war tradition.”
This is not primarily a matter of politics but of morality, of right and wrong, of sin and evil.
FASCISM
Fascism is marked by hate, nationalism, and repression of dissent.
ELEMENTS THAT DEFINE FASCISM
1. The rejection of democracy in favor of a strongman
2. Stoking rage against cultural elites
3. Nationalism based on superior race and historic bloodlines
4. Extolling brute strength and heroic warriors
5. Disdain of women and LGBTQ people
Chrism Mass
Every year in Holy Week the church celebrates a mass where the chrism, or holy oils, used in sacraments are blessed. It is also the occasion for the renewal of the priests’ promises to serve faithfully and obediently.
No Kings Day Demonstration
Two of the best signs at the demonstration
No Kings Day Demonstration
Many of the signs carried by protestors in the No Kings Day demonstration were quite creative. Walking around and reading all the signs was interesting. I’m sorry I couldn’t get all the wording into view for some of these, like “Honk if you are not in the Epstein files.”
No Kings Day Demonstration
An interesting tactic used by Indivisible (the main organizer of the No Kings demonstrations) has been encouraging protestors to come in costumes, especially inflatable animal garb. The use of such outfits draws attention but it also tends to defuse dangerous or too-serious situations. And for observers and even heavily armed soldiers it might encourage reflection on what is going on when an ICE agent with an assault rifle is face to face with a cartoon character. Maybe it’s time to step back and try another approach. There were quite a few costumes in the crowd in Louisville on Sunday.
No Kings Day Demonstration
There were all sorts of viewpoints and themes displayed at the Louisville No Kings Day demonstration yesterday. It was good to see many people expressing religious concerns.
