(Photo courtesy of National Geographic)

Reuters Reports Today: By Philip Pullella

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – A senior Vatican cardinal on Tuesday condemned the building of walls between countries to keep out immigrants and said Washington’s plan to build a fence on the U.S.-Mexican border was part of an “inhuman program”.

Cardinal Renato Martino made his comments at a news conference presenting Pope Benedict’s message for the Roman Catholic Church’s World Day of Migrants and Refugees, in which the Pope called for more laws to help immigrants integrate.

“Speaking of borders, I must unfortunately say that in a world that greeted the fall of the Berlin Wall with joy, new walls are being built between neighborhood and neighborhood, city and city, nation and nation,” said Martino, head of the Vatican’s Council for Justice and Peace.

President Bush signed legislation last month approving the construction of a 700-mile (1,100-km) fence — a move that angered Mexico’s government.

Bush defends the fence as necessary to tighten control of the border to keep criminals and terrorists out. Thousands of poor Mexicans risk their lives each year sneaking across the 2,000-mile (3,200-km) border to seek jobs.

WRONG

Asked if the U.S.-Mexican fence was the wrong thing to do, Martino said: “Yes, that’s exactly what it is.”

Martino praised Mexican and U.S. bishops for opposing what he called “an inhuman program, which is what the construction of that wall and all others is”.

RAF: I believe then in the spirit of setting us all an example of this very thinking, that the Vatican will be razing it own walls, cease to be guarded like a fortress and allow any and all the access the Vatican appears to want for us.

Time to call off the Swiss Guard border agents – eh? I’m sure they have a pretty
liberal immigration policy.

I can’t wait to go and see the room where I get to stay! Goody!

’nuff said.

CLICK HERE

’nuff said.

If you’ve never read the “Letters of William Still”, or His “Dying to Live” you’ve missed some exceptional literature. The particular quote below was recently cited by Ligon Duncan and is an example of this unique and wonderful under-Shepherd’s heart.

“Every autumn I have a spate of letters from fond parents, teachers, guardians, and monitors, appealing to me to follow up on such and such a youngster who is away from home at college for the first time, and who has to be hunted, followed, shadowed, intercepted and driven to Christian meetings. I have scarcely ever known this desperate technique to work. I understand the panic of parents and guardians, but it is too late then to try high pressure tactics. Prayer, example and precept, in that order, are the means of bringing up children and young folk in the faith. Nor will high pressure tactics and brainwashing techniques avail when young folk have gone off on their own. Some young folk, alas, will have their fling and sow their wild oats, and come at last to heel, sadly, like the prodigal son. It is where Christians pathetically put their trust in external techniques and artificial stratagems that young folk go astray. Nothing takes the place of the realism of holy living and secret wrestling before God in prayer for our youngsters. We must commit them to God so utterly that we dare not interfere or tamper with their precious souls.”

(William Still, late Pastor of Gilcomston South Church, Aberdeen, Scotland)

’nuff said.

1 Cor. 16:13 �Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.�
In our gender confused age, clear
thinking on the issue of femininity and masculinity is gravely wanting. To be
sure, many are attempting to address the issue somewhat – some nobly. But
often the discussions are long, tedious and of little practical use and application.
I think back to a series of my own on the topic just last year, and lament my
own ability to narrow down some key concepts into one, or even several short,
weighty apothegms one might easily carry away, muse upon, digest well and
bring out when necessary.

Two evenings ago, I stumbled upon this quote from Elizabeth Elliot’s biography
of Amy Carmichael – �A Chance to Die.� It is from Dean Church – a 19th
century Anglican with an uncanny capacity for keen thinking and sound
judgment. I quote:

�Manliness is not mere courage, it is the quality of soul which frankly accepts all
conditions in human life, and makes it a point of honor not to be dismayed or
wearied by them.�

Lord, give us scores of Christian men and women with such a �manly� spirit.

May it be mine.

’nuff said.

Sorry I’ve been away – life has just been very hectic lately. But with my return, I also announce a new category besides “Walking in Wisdom” – short Scripture commentaries, and “Responsive Reidings” – my normal (or abnormal) commments on stuff in general.

Today’s entry begins the new category – “‘Nuff Said”. Stuff that doesn’t require a lot of explanation, but still needs addressed.

And what better way to introduce the new category than with this gal:

Her name is Katharine Jefferts Schori. By all accounts, probably a really nice person. And, the newly elected Bishop (and thus head) of the U.S. Episcopal Church. You can read the Reuters copy on some of her thinking below.

The bottom line: Make a marine biologist your Bishop, and don’t be surprised if the theology is just a load of FISH TALES! ’nuff said.
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