The Areopagus 8-25-09
posted by Phil Lawson
8-26-09
Amidst the coverage of the recent presidential election and political protests in Iran, I haven’t seen this detail reported elsewhere. While most Islamic countries continue to experience high birth rates, the situation is very different in Iran.
“Birthrates tell us something about the feeling a people has for its own future, and the collapse of Iran’s fertility is the fastest ever observed. Fifteen years ago Iran had 6.6 children per female. The number today is well below 2. ‘A first analysis of the Iran 2006 census results shows a sensationally low fertility level of 1.9 for the whole country and only 1.5 for the Tehran area (which has about 8 million people),’ Tehran University demographer Mohammad Jalal Abbasi-Shavazi recently observed. ‘A decline in the TFR [total fertility rate] of more than 5.0 in roughly two decades is a world record in fertility decline. This is even more surprising to many observers when one considers that it happened in one of the most Islamic societies….’”
Having children generally represents hope in the future. This says a lot about Iranians’ feelings about their leadership. Indeed, what the current protests may not be able to achieve—demographics may do for them. As Mark Steyn sagely says, “demographics is destiny.”
Phil’s Tidbits:
A local Lutheran grade school placed a billboard advertisement along one of the major Stevens Point throroughfares. It was your typical ad. Next to it however was another billboard, this one advertising a new restaurant in town “The Tilted Kilt”— featuring scantily clad waitresses, in the mold of a “Hooters” Restaurant. It occurred to me that the Lutheran school could use this juxtaposition to its advantage. A billboard such as the following could be quite fruitful:
“Send your daughter here and she won’t end up working there”
The Cistercian monks at Our Lady of Spring Bank (Wisconsin) largely support themselves through the selling of printer ink an internet-based business. The New York Times recently did a story on them—and not surprisingly, it left something to be desired. Brother Steven posted this beautiful and humble remark in response:
“Some of you have asked why I don’t seem to think yesterday’s story was negative. I spent a long time working in a job where my main task was to understand the mind of the average Times and New Yorker reader and raise several million dollars a year in contributions. In the progressive intellectual frame, there are only three kinds of Catholics: Unaccountable powerful men (who are quite probably libidinous and nefarious), ignorant and oppressed masses (preferably with colorful customs and heart-warming aspirations for self-betterment), and unexpectedly intelligent and altruistic people who are credits to the race (or to the religion as it might be). The best we could hope for was a credit-to-our-race story, which is largely what we got…The Times article sold a lot of soy toner and dog biscuits, which I’m off to bake now. That makes it a good article.” (Source First Things “While We’re At It” Aug/Sept. 2009).
I was raised on the belief that the world is overpopulated. Most of my students today take it for granted that the world is overpopulated. When I tell them that the population of the whole world could fit in the state of Texas with every family having their own home and a yard—they don’t believe me—even though it’s true.
There have been more admissions the last few years that the real problem is de-population—especially in Europe and Russia. Japan during the 1990’s experienced the first ever recession caused by an aging populace. Even the UN Population division has cited these details.
The Population Research Institute has released a 1min 31 sec. video that humorously and factually rebuts the claims of overpopulation and includes the science/statistics to back up their claims. It’s worth your time. I’ll probably be showing it to my students.
www.youtube.com/colinpri1
God Bless you! Phil Lawson For the latest info on St. Peter’s, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.
Amidst the coverage of the recent presidential election and political protests in Iran, I haven’t seen this detail reported elsewhere. While most Islamic countries continue to experience high birth rates, the situation is very different in Iran.
“Birthrates tell us something about the feeling a people has for its own future, and the collapse of Iran’s fertility is the fastest ever observed. Fifteen years ago Iran had 6.6 children per female. The number today is well below 2. ‘A first analysis of the Iran 2006 census results shows a sensationally low fertility level of 1.9 for the whole country and only 1.5 for the Tehran area (which has about 8 million people),’ Tehran University demographer Mohammad Jalal Abbasi-Shavazi recently observed. ‘A decline in the TFR [total fertility rate] of more than 5.0 in roughly two decades is a world record in fertility decline. This is even more surprising to many observers when one considers that it happened in one of the most Islamic societies….’”
Having children generally represents hope in the future. This says a lot about Iranians’ feelings about their leadership. Indeed, what the current protests may not be able to achieve—demographics may do for them. As Mark Steyn sagely says, “demographics is destiny.”
Phil’s Tidbits:
A local Lutheran grade school placed a billboard advertisement along one of the major Stevens Point throroughfares. It was your typical ad. Next to it however was another billboard, this one advertising a new restaurant in town “The Tilted Kilt”— featuring scantily clad waitresses, in the mold of a “Hooters” Restaurant. It occurred to me that the Lutheran school could use this juxtaposition to its advantage. A billboard such as the following could be quite fruitful:
“Send your daughter here and she won’t end up working there”
The Cistercian monks at Our Lady of Spring Bank (Wisconsin) largely support themselves through the selling of printer ink
“Some of you have asked why I don’t seem to think yesterday’s story was negative. I spent a long time working in a job where my main task was to understand the mind of the average Times and New Yorker reader and raise several million dollars a year in contributions. In the progressive intellectual frame, there are only three kinds of Catholics: Unaccountable powerful men (who are quite probably libidinous and nefarious), ignorant and oppressed masses (preferably with colorful customs and heart-warming aspirations for self-betterment), and unexpectedly intelligent and altruistic people who are credits to the race (or to the religion as it might be). The best we could hope for was a credit-to-our-race story, which is largely what we got…The Times article sold a lot of soy toner and dog biscuits, which I’m off to bake now. That makes it a good article.” (Source First Things “While We’re At It” Aug/Sept. 2009).
I was raised on the belief that the world is overpopulated. Most of my students today take it for granted that the world is overpopulated. When I tell them that the population of the whole world could fit in the state of Texas with every family having their own home and a yard—they don’t believe me—even though it’s true.
There have been more admissions the last few years that the real problem is de-population—especially in Europe and Russia. Japan during the 1990’s experienced the first ever recession caused by an aging populace. Even the UN Population division has cited these details.
The Population Research Institute has released a 1min 31 sec. video that humorously and factually rebuts the claims of overpopulation and includes the science/statistics to back up their claims. It’s worth your time. I’ll probably be showing it to my students.
www.youtube.com/colinpri1
God Bless you! Phil Lawson For the latest info on St. Peter’s, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.
The Areopagus 8-12-09
posted by Phil Lawson
8-12-09
It’s the midst of summer and while there are some more serious items below—we’ll start out with a light look at Pope Benedict.
Fr. Derek Sakowski, priest of the Diocese of LaCrosse and a friend, is currently studying in Rome. Archbishop James Harvey is the Prefect of the Papal Household and originally from Wisconsin. One night a year, he invites all the priests from Wisconsin studying in Rome to Castel Gandalfo, where the pope often goes to vacation and relax. What I found particularly beautiful is the note about the Pope’s brother, who is also a priest. Enjoy:
After the tour of the residence, we walked through the gardens. I’ve
never seen anything like them before. They were breathtakingly
beautiful, and so peaceful. I can see why the pope enjoys it so much.
Archbishop Harvey pointed out a spot in the gardens where Pope
Benedict reads the newspaper each day to his brother, who is legally
blind. I found that quite touching.
-Fr. Fr. Sakowski—ref. a tour of Castel Gandalfo from Archbishop James Harvey on “Wisconsin Night”
Phil’s Tidbits:
Congress is in the high wattage spotlight given the debate over healthcare. Of particular interest to people of faith is the current bill’s inclusion of mandated coverage for abortion—i.e. whether we support abortion or not, our tax dollars will pay for it and support it. Here’s how one member of congress responded:
4-August-2009 -- Catholic News Agency
Congressman Rather Save His Soul Than Vote for Health Care Bill
New Orleans, La., Aug 3, 2009 (CNA).- Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao, (R-New Orleans), the first Vietnamese-American congressman and a Catholic, announced this past weekend that, because of the “stealth mandate” for abortion still present in the Health Care bill, he prefers to “save his soul” rather than vote in favor of it.
Cao, the only member of the Louisiana House delegation who had not weighed in on where he stands on the health reform bill, told the Times-Picayune on Saturday that he cannot support any bill that permits public money to be spent on abortion.
“At the end of the day if the health care reform bill does not have strong language prohibiting the use of federal funding for abortion, then the bill is really a no-go for me,” said Cao, who spent time in formation to be a Jesuit priest.
“Being a Jesuit, I very much adhere to the notion of social justice,” Cao said. “I do fully understand the need of providing everyone with access to health care, but to me personally, I cannot be privy to a law that will allow the potential of destroying thousands of innocent lives,” he explained to the Louisiana newspaper.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that Cao will be one of seven Republican members of Congress targeted with radio ads that will play on radio stations with largely African-American audiences, urging him to support Obama's health reform efforts.
“I know that voting against the health care bill will probably be the death of my political career,” Cao said, “but I have to live with myself, and I always reflect on the phrase of the New Testament, ‘How does it profit a man's life to gain the world but to lose his soul.’”
Cao is the first native of Vietnam to serve in Congress and the first Republican to serve in his district since 1890. He won in a district that usually votes overwhelmingly Democratic.
The poorest member of Louisiana's delegation, and a devout Roman Catholic, Cao served as a board member for Mary Queen of Vietnam Catholic Church's Community Development Corporation which assists Vietnamese-Americans with hurricane relief, and is a member of the National Advisory Council of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Cao also told the Times-Picayune that he is still undecided about the merits of including a public option in any health reform redesign. He believes that it may ultimately lead to the destruction of the private insurance market and a "government takeover" of health insurance.
Apart from the debates on the various health care reform options being put out there—of which there is certainly great merit—why is abortion a necessary part of it. Incidentally, a number of amendments were offered to remove the abortion option and they were defeated in their committees.
Since I work with engaged couples, divorce rate statistics always catch my eye. I came across this one today, from the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine:
A recent article in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine stated that the divorce rates of couples who use NFP is 2 out of 1000 (0.002%). This is compared to divorce rates of 400-500 per 1000 who do not practice NFP. (J. Am Board Fam. Med. 2009; 22(2): 147-157.)
Pretty striking isn’t it?
My wife ran some errands and did some shopping yesterday, and was overwhelmed by the emphasis on “green living” and being environmentally conscious. Obviously, being good environmental stewards is a good thing and part of our Christian calling going all the way back to Genesis. What impressed my wife however, was this, ‘what if we put the same energy / social pressure toward living virtuously?’ I daresay, we’d have a very different world! In fact, this type of positive social pressure (normative) used to exist for marriage as society encouraged, supported, and defended that institution and the resultant divorce rate and negative effects (in particular for children) were kept at bay.
God Bless you!
Phil Lawson
For the latest info on St. Peter’s, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.
It’s the midst of summer and while there are some more serious items below—we’ll start out with a light look at Pope Benedict.
Fr. Derek Sakowski, priest of the Diocese of LaCrosse and a friend, is currently studying in Rome. Archbishop James Harvey is the Prefect of the Papal Household and originally from Wisconsin. One night a year, he invites all the priests from Wisconsin studying in Rome to Castel Gandalfo, where the pope often goes to vacation and relax. What I found particularly beautiful is the note about the Pope’s brother, who is also a priest. Enjoy:
After the tour of the residence, we walked through the gardens. I’ve
never seen anything like them before. They were breathtakingly
beautiful, and so peaceful. I can see why the pope enjoys it so much.
Archbishop Harvey pointed out a spot in the gardens where Pope
Benedict reads the newspaper each day to his brother, who is legally
blind. I found that quite touching.
-Fr. Fr. Sakowski—ref. a tour of Castel Gandalfo from Archbishop James Harvey on “Wisconsin Night”
Phil’s Tidbits:
Congress is in the high wattage spotlight given the debate over healthcare. Of particular interest to people of faith is the current bill’s inclusion of mandated coverage for abortion—i.e. whether we support abortion or not, our tax dollars will pay for it and support it. Here’s how one member of congress responded:
4-August-2009 -- Catholic News Agency
Congressman Rather Save His Soul Than Vote for Health Care Bill
New Orleans, La., Aug 3, 2009 (CNA).- Rep. Anh “Joseph” Cao, (R-New Orleans), the first Vietnamese-American congressman and a Catholic, announced this past weekend that, because of the “stealth mandate” for abortion still present in the Health Care bill, he prefers to “save his soul” rather than vote in favor of it.
Cao, the only member of the Louisiana House delegation who had not weighed in on where he stands on the health reform bill, told the Times-Picayune on Saturday that he cannot support any bill that permits public money to be spent on abortion.
“At the end of the day if the health care reform bill does not have strong language prohibiting the use of federal funding for abortion, then the bill is really a no-go for me,” said Cao, who spent time in formation to be a Jesuit priest.
“Being a Jesuit, I very much adhere to the notion of social justice,” Cao said. “I do fully understand the need of providing everyone with access to health care, but to me personally, I cannot be privy to a law that will allow the potential of destroying thousands of innocent lives,” he explained to the Louisiana newspaper.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee announced that Cao will be one of seven Republican members of Congress targeted with radio ads that will play on radio stations with largely African-American audiences, urging him to support Obama's health reform efforts.
“I know that voting against the health care bill will probably be the death of my political career,” Cao said, “but I have to live with myself, and I always reflect on the phrase of the New Testament, ‘How does it profit a man's life to gain the world but to lose his soul.’”
Cao is the first native of Vietnam to serve in Congress and the first Republican to serve in his district since 1890. He won in a district that usually votes overwhelmingly Democratic.
The poorest member of Louisiana's delegation, and a devout Roman Catholic, Cao served as a board member for Mary Queen of Vietnam Catholic Church's Community Development Corporation which assists Vietnamese-Americans with hurricane relief, and is a member of the National Advisory Council of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Cao also told the Times-Picayune that he is still undecided about the merits of including a public option in any health reform redesign. He believes that it may ultimately lead to the destruction of the private insurance market and a "government takeover" of health insurance.
Apart from the debates on the various health care reform options being put out there—of which there is certainly great merit—why is abortion a necessary part of it. Incidentally, a number of amendments were offered to remove the abortion option and they were defeated in their committees.
Since I work with engaged couples, divorce rate statistics always catch my eye. I came across this one today, from the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine:
A recent article in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine stated that the divorce rates of couples who use NFP is 2 out of 1000 (0.002%). This is compared to divorce rates of 400-500 per 1000 who do not practice NFP. (J. Am Board Fam. Med. 2009; 22(2): 147-157.)
Pretty striking isn’t it?
My wife ran some errands and did some shopping yesterday, and was overwhelmed by the emphasis on “green living” and being environmentally conscious. Obviously, being good environmental stewards is a good thing and part of our Christian calling going all the way back to Genesis. What impressed my wife however, was this, ‘what if we put the same energy / social pressure toward living virtuously?’ I daresay, we’d have a very different world! In fact, this type of positive social pressure (normative) used to exist for marriage as society encouraged, supported, and defended that institution and the resultant divorce rate and negative effects (in particular for children) were kept at bay.
God Bless you!
Phil Lawson
For the latest info on St. Peter’s, check out the parish website: www.saintpetercatholic.com (You can also find old editions of the Areopagus here)
The Areopagus is a regular email for adults that includes various reflections, tidbits, news and events. Hope you find it fruitful!
If you would like to be added to this list, send an email to lawsphil@gmail.com
On the other hand, if you would like to be removed, send an email to the same address indicating that.
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