H1N1 declared a national emergency
From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): During the week of October 11-17, 2009, influenza activity continued to increase in the United States as reported in FluView. Flu activity is now widespread in 46 states. Nationwide, visits to doctors for influenza-like-illness are increasing steeply and are now higher than what is seen at the peak of many regular flu seasons. In addition,... [Read more]
Thoughtful humor
The ever-helpful Father Orthoduck feels that he should add a couple of Scriptures and one saying to help round out the comic above. GRIN. Saint James — Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the... [Read more]
On Patriarch Bartholomew and ecology
The day before yesterday, an Orthodox deacon posted a copy of the Opening Address of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Bartholomew at the Symposium on The Great Mississippi River held at New Orleans on Facebook. It was not a religious forum per se, and so the address was a carefully worded neutral beginning. Frankly, it was not one of the more scintillating speeches I have ever read, but it did set a framework... [Read more]
On Johnson, VietNam, and Afghanistan
Normally I try to post things of a more political nature under the nom-de-plume of Father Orthoduck. But, in this case, some of the current arguments over Afghanistan hit rather close to home and bring back memories. Yes, I am a baby boomer. Yes, I remember Presidents Johnson and Nixon. Yes, I remember quite well how the Viet Nam conflict (they refused to call it a war back then also) eventually drove... [Read more]
Christians, Pastors, and Church pornography statistics
Father Orthoduck recently posted a series on Marge Simpson posing for Playboy magazine. As a result, Father Orthoduck received a comment from a person about the pornography industry in the United States. As a result, Father Orthoduck began to do some research on the subject, and came up with the following article. A 1996 Promise Keepers survey at one of their stadium events revealed that over 50%... [Read more]
Anglican Church in North America responds to Vatican announcement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 20, 2009 We rejoice that the Holy See has opened this doorway, which represents another step in the growing cooperation and relationship between our Churches. This significant decision represents a recognition of the integrity of the Anglican tradition within the broader Christian church. While we believe that this provision will not be utilized by the great majority of... [Read more]
Note on Anglicans wishing to enter the Catholic Church
Father Orthoduck says, Anglicans are IN. Press release today from the Vatican Information Service: VATICAN CITY, 20 OCT 2009 (VIS) – In a meeting with journalists held this morning in the Holy See Press Office Cardinal William Joseph Levada, prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia O.P., secretary of the Congregation for Divine Worship... [Read more]
On the transmission of disease through a common communion cup
“Bacteriological experiments have shown that the occasional transmission of micro-organisms is unaffected by the alcoholic content of the wine, the constituent material of the cup or the practice of partially rotating it, but is appreciably reduced when a cloth is used to wipe the lip of the cup between communicants. Nevertheless, transmission does not necessarily imply inoculation or infection.... [Read more]
A small conundrum for states’ rights supporters
There is an interesting development on drug policy that will pose an interesting conundrum for some of the advocates of states’ rights. What is the states’ rights movement? States’ rights in U.S. politics and constitutional law refers to the rights and political powers that U.S. states possess in relation to the federal government, as guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment of the Bill... [Read more]
On Frodo and post-traumatic stress syndrome – PTSD
Most Christians reading the Lord of the Rings trilogy never think about the symptoms that Frodo exhibited after his journey. By the time in the book that his behavior is described, we are near the end of the trilogy. By that time, we are all happy about the victories that have been won. The King of Gondor, Isildur’s heir, Aragorn Elessar, is on the throne. His wife, Arwen Undómiel sits beside... [Read more]








