If you pay attention to the news, you know about the recent resignation of our local U.S. Congressman, Aaron Schock. Schock is currently under investigation for violating federal law while he was in office. Some of the violations include using campaign funds for his own personal benefit, overcharging the government for mileage expenses, and flying around in private jets that were owned by individuals or companies who donated money to his campaign.
Have you ever heard of a “Cafeteria Catholic”? The term was popularized a few years ago when Maria Shriver declared that she is a “Cafeteria Catholic.” Shriver is the wife of former bodybuilder, actor, and governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Last week she was publicly humiliated when her husband admitted that he fathered an illegitimate child over 13 years ago. The mother of the child is their former housekeeper. The housekeeper only recently gave up her job of cleaning the Schwarzenegger home, after carrying on her illicit relationship with Schwarzenegger over a period of several years.
On a Friday night about eight years ago, I got myself into an argument with one of my college age children (“the college student”). The argument centered around a certain movie that I thought was morally objectionable. At one point, the college student blurted out: “Dad, most Catholics would not agree with you about this movie. You’re too extreme when comes to things like this. I can only think of two other people who would agree with you: grandmother (my mom) and Aunt Patty.”
I’ve been paying some attention to what’s been going on in the Rod Blagojevich trial in Chicago. There really haven’t been any big surprises, except for the testimony from a government analyst who provided detailed evidence of the clothing purchases of Blagojevich and his wife during the time he was the governor of Illinois.