Year: 2014

On
Chris Lee

The danger of soft atheism

A very instructive exchange between Gary Gutting, a philosophy professor at Notre Dame, and Philip Kitcher, a philosophy professor at Columbia, just appeared in The New York Times.

Kitcher describes himself as a proponent of “soft atheism,” an atheism distinct from the polemical variety espoused by Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. Unlike his harsher colleagues, Kitcher is willing to admit that religion can play an ethically useful role in a predominantly secular society.

I would like to draw attention to one move made in this interview, since it shows one of the fundamental misunderstandings of religion common among atheists.

Plurality of religious doctrines

Prompted by Gutting, Kitcher admits that he finds all religious doctrine incredible. He points to the plurality of religious doctrines: Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, animists, etc., hold to radically different accounts of reality, the divine, human purpose, etc.

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On
Fr. Robert Barron

The danger of soft atheism

A very instructive exchange between Gary Gutting, a philosophy professor at Notre Dame, and Philip Kitcher, a philosophy professor at Columbia, just appeared in The New York Times.

Kitcher describes himself as a proponent of “soft atheism,” an atheism distinct from the polemical variety espoused by Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens. Unlike his harsher colleagues, Kitcher is willing to admit that religion can play an ethically useful role in a predominantly secular society.

I would like to draw attention to one move made in this interview, since it shows one of the fundamental misunderstandings of religion common among atheists.

Plurality of religious doctrines

Prompted by Gutting, Kitcher admits that he finds all religious doctrine incredible. He points to the plurality of religious doctrines: Christians, Jews, Hindus, Muslims, animists, etc., hold to radically different accounts of reality, the divine, human purpose, etc.

Read More
On
John Huebscher

Voter ID laws do more harm than good

Eye on the Capitol by John Huebscher

The “principle of proportionality” is a useful tool for evaluating laws and public policy. It suggests that the remedy should not create more problems than it solves.

Put another way, the principle means: “Thou shalt not use a sledgehammer to kill a fly.” Moreover, in assessing whether a law’s impact is proportionate, we must take special care to weigh its impact on those who have a special claim on our concern: the poor and marginalized in our society.

The principle of proportionality can be quite helpful when applied to proposals to require law-abiding citizens to produce a photo ID card prior to voting in Wisconsin.

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On
John Huebscher

Voter ID laws do more harm than good

Eye on the Capitol by John Huebscher

The “principle of proportionality” is a useful tool for evaluating laws and public policy. It suggests that the remedy should not create more problems than it solves.

Put another way, the principle means: “Thou shalt not use a sledgehammer to kill a fly.” Moreover, in assessing whether a law’s impact is proportionate, we must take special care to weigh its impact on those who have a special claim on our concern: the poor and marginalized in our society.

The principle of proportionality can be quite helpful when applied to proposals to require law-abiding citizens to produce a photo ID card prior to voting in Wisconsin.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Personnel changes in the diocese

MADISON — There have been a number of personnel changes and updates in the Diocese of Madison this year.

Daun Maier, executive director of the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation, Inc.

Daun Maier will serve as the first executive director of the newly formed Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation (CDMF), effective July 1.

The CDMF’s principal function is to serve parishes, parish schools, parish members, and other charitable endeavors within the diocese.

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On
Kevin Wondrash

Personnel changes in the diocese

MADISON — There have been a number of personnel changes and updates in the Diocese of Madison this year.

Daun Maier, executive director of the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation, Inc.

Daun Maier will serve as the first executive director of the newly formed Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation (CDMF), effective July 1.

The CDMF’s principal function is to serve parishes, parish schools, parish members, and other charitable endeavors within the diocese.

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On
Obispo Robert C. Morlino

Mirar a nuestra Señora, la ‘guerrera’

Esta columna es la comunicación del Obispo con los fieles de la Diócesis de Madison. Cualquier circulación más amplia va más allá de la intención del Obispo.

Queridos amigos:

En todo momento, pero especialmente durante el mes de mayo, y especialmente cuando experimentamos ciertas pruebas, debemos mirar a María.

La situación en el mundo y en la Iglesia es muy difícil. Hay una gran cantidad de división, pero María es Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza, ella es la Madre de la Misericordia y ella es la más grande guerrera contra el mal. Ella es esas tres cosas y más.

María ancló su vida en la esperanza y la verdad

En primer lugar, cuando pensamos en la esperanza, debemos pensar en María. Ella ancló toda vida en la esperanza de algo que podría nunca haberle sido probado.

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