Financial Reform

I just finished sending messages to many senators, mostly Republicans with whom I disagree with about everything. The message was simple:

I strongly support initiatives to (1) split investment banks from commercial banks, (2) limit size of banks to $100Billion assets, (3) create independent consumer agency, (4) make derivatives subject to an open exchange so their transactions are transparent, and (5) tax financial transactions.

"Capitalism: A Love Story" by Michael Moore

I always considered myself more or less a socialist. Once in my past, my views were driven by my understanding of the teachings of Christianity. In more recent history, my convictions were based on simple fairness. It did not seem right that so few had so much and so many, so little. Something was wrong with our economic system. Why was it that Europe with principles of socialism built into its economy had as productive an economy as ours with so much more security for people: education, health, child care were part of the social fabric supported by the government? Why was it that the Scandinavian nations were even more productive than we and supported such great socialist values that no one was poor?

And then, over recent years, we read constantly about the problems created by our financial industry at their gain!

While it will be virtually impossible to change the basic structures of our capitalism system, surely every effort should be made to address the problems that confront so many.

Hopefully, Congress will agree to legislation that will establish strong regulations over their industry.

Michael Moore's film surely was a great film for those who have insight to the tragic pitfalls of our system of capitalism.

Truth is Weirder than Fiction!

I am still learning about the famous C.D.O.s and the synthetic C.D.O.s (only referenced specific derivatives). It still seems spooky that there could be "investments" made without any specific collateral to back up the deal. It was a way to make money and surely, many did! But also, many lost big time!

In an article today, Joe Nocera makes clear that "our" fiscal nightmare would have never been so extreme if there were no synthetic C.D.O.s or Credit Default Swaps. At the same time, it is truly amazing that people, as Joe describes, could sit at a supper table and talk about their different conclusions about the worth of these swaps. One person thanking the other for "helping" him to gain more leverage in their strategy, knowing full well that only one of them would "win".

Avoiding a Greenhouse Disaster!

Arguments about methods of control greenhouse emissions have been circulating for years. There is no consensus on anything, including the mere fact of our growing ecological disaster. The arguments about the fact that there is a problem are less contentious than what should be done about it.

As usual, I treasure the insights of Paul Krugman. He came to the forefront with a long analysis of the problem including his own preferences for a solution. In general, he emphasizes the need to introduce some external cause to limit emissions because the problems will only increase without any interventions. Of all the possible interventions, he supports a major carbon tax upfront which would be have the largest impact in making changes in the world's economy and peoples' behavior.

One Proposal for the Catholic Church

Andrew Bacevich is one of my loved authors. I have treasured his approach to foreign affairs, especially the use of military power, or rather, its misuse! (His interview with Bill Moyers on 9 April 2010 is extraordinarily good and very consistent with his past views). At any rate, he now ventures into the world of the Roman Church. In today's article, he concludes that (1) the hierarchy has lost all credibility, and (2) the only hope for the Church is to have its enlightened laity lead the way.

While I have no doubt that there was many lay people who are well-educated in theology and spirituality, I do not think that this is an "answer" to the problem of credibility that I agree is present in the hierarchy.

At best, this would lead to a plethora of voices, essentially no different than the many voices citing their ideas within the world of religion. No one disputes that people can receive "truth" and spirituality in various places. At the same time, it is hard not to see how much of what it heard is garbage. Without a credible hierarchy, there is no Roman Church. And yet, without a credible hierachy, there is disaster.

There is a conundrum.

I personally have concluded that religion, any religion, is inherently a problem. I have no personal interest in the survival of the Roman Church. However, I do not think that it can survive with any thread of continuity without a credible hierarchy. And I do not see the hierarchy reforming itself in any meaningful way. Thus, I can only conclude that it is on the road to disaster. C'est La Vie!

Trauma 101!

There should be some regulations about grandparents caring for grandchildren! I clearly flunked a major task associated with child care, viz., keeping track of both children.

Here I was trying to manage Mika and Emi. It was a beautiful warm day. Mika clearly was interested in her own activities on her schedule. When I wanted them to eat, she didn't. No big thing, I say. So, I fed Emi and tried to keep in touch with Mika who continued to enjoyed the outside court yard. I would go back and forth checking on her. Eventually, she came in and ate.

After a little Sesame Street, it was time for baths. Emi was enthusiastic about it, but Mika was not at the moment. No big thing. She continued to occupy herself downstairs. Every once in a while, I would check verbally. And then, nothing!

Wow! I went from one floor to the next, crying out, "Mika Louise". But nothing. I checked the down stairs bathroom, the upstairs bedrooms, with "Mika Louise". But nothing. I then checked the courtyard and the back area. But nothing! And then, panic!

I involved the local police, fearing somehow that she got out to the court yard and decided to take a walk. I recalled my parents relating the horrendous ordeal of my aunt who was caring for me after our move to a new house when I was two. I was missing only to be found walking the entire two miles to my older home with a hammer in the hands. No one could figure out how I did it when the many streets to be crossed etc.

The local police responded promptly and to my chagrin, they walked with me into the house only to find Mika walking calmly down the stairs. She never even questioned why these people were present!

The bottom line is that I flunked a major test of child care. I am always impressed how my wife handles both children, but I am aware that there are times when she will ask me to watch one while she attends to the other. It is tough business to care for little ones.

The experience was traumatic for all involved, including my daughter, son-in-law, and my wife. I surely will never be quite the same! Fortunately, it is only a story with a happy ending.

Clergy Sex Abuse

Given the amount of media attention to the many problems associated with clergy sex abuse, I feel compelled to give my version of the mess.

First, it is important to set the context of my personal experience as a priest. We are talking about the period between Feb 1963 and June 1969. As a matter of fact, many priests ordained in the Boston diocese just prior to 1963 and within the period above were later reported to have committed sexual abuse of minors. I knew many of them. Never during the period when I was active as priest was I aware of any priest committing such acts. There never was a conversation in my presence indicating that another priest knew of such behavior.

Of more interest is the reason for such ignorance. The culture of silence was such that anyone who knew would never share the information. This culture was cultivated by our training, but also by the way deviancy of any sort was managed. In my experience, a common inference regarding a priest's transfer outside the routine time of ordination was that the priest must have had a problem with alcohol or possibly, was involved with an adult woman. However, never did someone share with me explicitly that this was the cause of the transfer. The culture of silence was so deep that it never occurred to me to ask questions.

It is of interest that the bishops of Boston were very concerned during this time with my behavior. Since my approach to the priesthood was considered radical, if not "revolutionary" as suggested by a letter to the bishop, I was a person in need of special attention. Not only was I brought to the bishop and other officials of the diocese about my sermons etc., I was transferred to a specific parish as a punishment designed to get me back on the right path. Considering my more recent knowledge of priests at my time being involved in the sex abuse problem, you would have thought that the hierarchy would have had much more important issues to deal with than my sermons!

During the latter part of my career as a priest, I was called by the head of Catholic Charities who asked me to get a graduate degree in social work for the purpose of working with clergy with behavioral problems (I assumed that he was referencing alcoholism). I said that I was not interested. I saw priests who were functioning in roles commonly performed by laity as a betrayal of the reason for becoming a priest in the first place. However, it has often occurred to me what would I have done IF I did work with priests who has sexually abused minors.

Given what has been reported in recent years, one would wonder if there would be any question that such priests would have been reported to the civil authorities and their counseling would have been directed towards addressing their behaviors with the knowledge that they would have been prevented from ever returning to the ministry. However, given the culture, I cannot claim that I would have been any different than those who are now lambasted for their behavior of covering up the behavior and returning these priests to active ministry after treatment. The culture in which we lived was so strong and isolated from the "real" world that I cannot be sure what I would have done.

For sure, I am grateful that I left the priesthood when I did and that I never had to confront myself within the context of another priest who had committed sexual abuse of minors. I escaped the situation somewhat unwittingly. I left because my theology got me into problems. I am thankful that I do not have to live with the knowledge of somehow ever being complicit with these problems. I do not know how I would have acted. While I share the general indignation of virtually everyone regarding the bishops and others who somehow facilitated the repeated abuse by a system of denial and transfers, I cannot say that I would have done any differently if I was confronted with the same issues at that time.

New Voting Alignment

I have consistently been bothered by the growing economic disparities between those who "have" and those who "have not". The erosion of the middle class is potentially a devastating problem for any nation's survival. We need a middle class. Since 1980, there has been a steady decline in resources available to the middle class, without addressing the problems of the poor.

One interesting article noting the implications of this trend in terms of voting. In the Atlantic, an article referenced data suggesting that the population labeled, "have nots", is growing and their problems are far worse secondary to the nation's fiscal problems, e.g., more unemployment and dependency on government programs to survive. As a consequence, this population is now more favorable to government intervention and will more likely vote to support pro-government politicians. The Republicans could suffer consequences from this alignment.