The demotion of Clinton campaign pollster and strategist Mark Penn illustrates a broader sickness in the political world that sadly will survive Penn s saga The single worst development within American politics over the past 40 years has been the professionalization of politics and the rise of

That is the nation not the magazine David Van Biema and Jeff Israely two of the most insightful religion journalists working today ask that question in an extremely provocative and counterintuive cover story in Time this week The American Pope Their argument is that the American brand

Over on his blog Benedictions David Gibson has a charming piece about the visit to the Vatican of Charlton Heston who died yesterday after a long and varied career playing saints presidents and other assorted geniuses Gibson was working for Vatican radio at the time Heston at the Vatican

As any sentient Catholic knows there are often internecine battle in American parishes between contemporary and traditional music Those on the contemporary side argue that music should reflect the times A similar argument is advanced by those who favor modern architecture for church bu

nbsp One of the fun things about observing politics is that you get to see on an almost daily basis fallen human nature trying to wrap itself in glory Politics is a land of vice not virtue no matter how many speeches you hear about the nobility of public service Ambition pride envy malice

The Vatican announced yesterday that Pope Benedict would meet briefly with Jewish leaders during his trip to Washington and New York City this month At the same time perhaps in preparation for the possible opposition from Jewish leaders on the language of the Good Friday prayers that are part