Going over the biographical essay in the draft for my book, adapting and expanding upon the work I did in the dissertation. I see that the question of the local church - the local church and the regional church - needed more attention than it received at Vatican II, according to Sullivan. Certainly a problem in the Catholic Church is excessive ( Read more... )

Carlo Maria Cardinal Martini, S.J., Emeritus Archbishop of Milan - one of the truly notable successors of the mighty Ambrose of Milan - died yesterday, I just read. It's one of those pieces of bad news I've expected for some time. I was familiar with Martini from my the time of my Master's studies, where it became obvious that he was the great ( Read more... )

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Just a few quick notes, as I've been crazy-busy over the last week or so. Had my first round of exams to give (and grade), and so that's keeping busy, along with the regular class prep. My independent study continues to rock, with my student and I having a great set of discussions on Marcel, Tillich, and Bultmann last Thursday. Sent the ( Read more... )

It was interesting the other day to trip across this brief essay in the ranking of the best graduate Theology programs in the United States. This wasn't just because both of my degrees are held to come from top-five programs, although that was pleasant to read. The task of ranking college programs is notoriously difficult, but I couldn't help but ( Read more... )

Third day in a row of "instant afternoon storms" with another one just materializing this last hour, like the one I talked about on Monday. This one has just formed across the river from the River Bend neighbourhood, so it's not happening here, it's happening over there. I've witnessed storms just missing me before, or seen the edges of them ( Read more... )

This last week or two has been distinctly pleasurable for me on an academic level. The Mardi Gras holiday gave me a bit of extra time, after the grading chores and such were done, to engage in reading that wasn't directly linked to prepping for my classes. Chapters from Michael Burleigh's Sacred Causes: The Clash of Religion and Politics, from ( Read more... )

It's good to feel useful! Along with the newspaper article I mentioned earlier using my research on Dalí, in the last week I've also had requests for more on my Dalí research from a high school Theology teacher in Pittsburgh (occupying Langers' old position, I think) and by a dissertating Franciscan friar in Poland who was interested in my ( Read more... )

I've found myself in a strange place by the end of the week: sort of melancholy or strangely moved, which I suppose is no great surprise for anyone with an Irish temperament. We have been planning our courses and schedules for the spring semester, and in settling that business, I found myself running into unexpected resonances with my own past ( Read more... )

One week later. Just as I was heading into the dissertation defense a week ago last Friday, I was coming down with my very first sinus infection. I actually had to look it up, since I'd never felt that kind of pressure before, where when you bent over you felt like lead weights were going to fall out your cheeks. Odd. But I knew I was coming ( Read more... )