Well, Jim, the bishop in Brazil may not have used the phrase ""Embrace her martyrdom with joy and gratitude" - but the language he used was equally appalling, and he was excoriated for it in the progressive Catholic press in the U.S. It's hard to believe, but the Brazilian bishop does seem to enjoy strong support among some members of the "pro-life" movement, who appear to applaud his callousness.

It was South Dakota that proposed legislation that would declare "homicide is permissible if committed by a person 'while resisting an attempt to harm' an unborn fetus." While it's easy to infer the law would protect those who attack someone performing an abortion, that is apparently not stated in the proposed legislation. The proposal, I understand, has been "tabled indefinitely."

I think most Americans (and most American jurists) regret the Supreme Court decision allowing an anti-homosexual Christian sect to demonstrate at funerals. However, we Americans take our freedom of speech very seriously - we think the funeral demonstrators are appalling, but we can't imagine restricting their right to demonstrate. That's a basic philosophical difference between Americans and Europeans, and I see it all the time here at Mudcat. Europeans think that authority must act to control harmful speech; and Americans are appalled at that idea, even though they may be appalled by the speech that they refuse to control.

Keith, I have to say that in most circumstances, I agree with Jim. His tone may be unnecessarily harsh, but he speaks the truth. You tend to value "correct ideology" over justice and fair treatment of the oppressed. I agree with you on some matters, but I usually find myself agreeing with Jim while still being really pissed off at him. It's not a black-and-white world. Please don't take these things personally. I think the world of you both. You're good people.

-Joe-