Words

Ok, ok - name these speakers:

1. "How does each of us remain firm in our principles, and fight for what we consider right, without, as Father John said, demonizing those with just as strongly held convictions on the other side?"

 

2. "I am shocked and outraged by the murder of Dr. George Tiller as he attended church services this morning. However profound our differences as Americans over difficult issues such as abortion, they cannot be resolved by heinous acts of violence."

Give up? Well, number one is President Obama at Notre Dame. Number two is President Obama just the other day. So, we're not supposed to be demonizing each other, but...that doesn't mean we can't make broad brushstrokes about the other side, right? Some nutjob murdered Dr. Tiller (the notorious abortionist), so of course that means pro-lifers are prone to heinous acts of violence. 

First off, I'd like to point out that there is a subtle yet very important difference between "pro-life" and "anti-abortion," which is quite visible in Tiller's murderer. Second, this is too subtle for many people to notice, but Mr. Obama is a master of words. That doesn't mean that he is sincere.

An American Catholic

Over at American Catholic: a telling of a Civil War atrocity and of the loving example of Fr. Peter Whelan.

I find Donald McClarey's posts about inspirational American Catholics very interesting and often moving. Worth a read.