Imitate the Humility of Mary . . .
. . . yep – looks like the spot to stop to have a bit of crow . . .

Of pause – and, of course brought to this cradle-cap Catholic by a convert –
(Cradle cap – much worse when one has no hair – looks kinda snowy – )

Of the current (January 2007) First Things, and Father Neuhaus’s own words in his The Public Square section, page 71, and I quote – humbly blushing –

“The country and the world owe an inestimable debt to the Catholic bishops, even if, for a time, they lost their courage and betrayed the cause in which they had rendered such distinguished service. In the contention for the dignity of the human person, it is late in the day, but never too late.”

This summation, after a longish article about the history of pro-life efforts, points out that the Catholic bishops of the USA were about the only major institutional force that never gave credence or strength to pro-death-abortion contentions and contests across decades. If they failed, it was not as if they had ever been part of the original problem. As Father Neuhaus points out, there would be no effective pro-life voice nor venue without the bishops, who even in silence worked constantly with pro-life forces. And, when Cardinal O’Connor threw down the gauntlet again, and even as many at first resented his renewal of the visiblity of the bishops in the pro-life cause, many other ordinaries again found their voice and commitment to the lives and dignity of God’s children.

I stand corrected – impressively.

I remain your obedient servant, but God’s first,

Pristinus Sapienter

(wljewell @mail.newcesite.com or …yahoo.com)