KL Bisbee

Wife, mom, writer, & imperfect Jesus follower, book lover, Oxford comma user, Cleveland sports lover. OH-IO

[James Martin, SJ @JamesMartinSJ]

It's hard to know what to make of the Vice President's bizarre, almost nonsensical, comments here. It sounds like he is equating the use of these "hideous signs" to an alternative version of the Nicene Creed.

A little background: The Nicene Creed, formulated by the Council of Nicaea in AD 325, is an essential profession of faith used by the Catholic Church (among other churches). It is also the familiar creedal formula spoken by Catholics during Sunday Masses: "I believe in one God, the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth..." It's a statement of belief, mainly about the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. It obviously doesn't talk about "hideous signs" welcoming people.

However, the Nicene Creed does affirm belief in the church as "one, holy, catholic and apostolic." (These are the four traditional "marks" of the church.) This means, among other things, believing that the church comes to us directly from the apostles (it's "apostolic"). Thus, it derives its authority not only from Jesus Christ, but also through the "apostolic succession," an authority passed down from the apostles in the early church to the Pope and to the bishops today.

It's ironic, then, that the Vice President is mocking things like love and the church's teaching on migrants in the same breath that he is professing his faith through the words of the Creed, which includes belief in authority of the church. Because this "one, holy, catholic and apostolic" church has long proclaimed the Gospel message of love and care for the stranger, which Jesus himself preached during his public ministry.

So a butchering of the Creed would mean, in fact, not listening to the church's teaching on these matters and, even worse, not listening to Jesus's own teaching on love and loving the stranger.

Because, in the words of the Creed, we also believe in "one Lord, Jesus Christ."

[Paul Rudnick @PaulRudnickNY]

Whatever you think of his politics, Mamdani jumping into a public pool was delightful and the spirit of NYC. He also didn't have to worry about algae

[Noah Kahan @NoahKahan]

Who?

[Sarrah Bellus @sarrah_bellus]

Donald Trump will go down in history as the only US President to be outwitted by a single-celled organism.

[The Washington Post @washingtonpost]

President Trump vowed to clean up what he called the “filthy” and “disgusting” water in the Reflecting Pool.

But the algae blooms that have long plagued the pool have come roaring back, spawning much debate about the $14 million renovation. https://t.co/hyzsQfwtFS

[Christiane Amanpour @amanpour]

"It's not enough to read a book to your kid and then sit there looking at your phone. Your kid is going to want to look at a phone if that's what you're doing... children have to see you reading books." Acclaimed novelist Ann Patchett tells me why she's "evangelical" about the importance of reading and protecting books. "Book banning is a terrible thing. And it's an extraordinary waste of time... it takes up the energy that we need to make children safe from guns."

[Trey Ferguson @PastorTrey05]

This reflection pool fiasco is the latest reminder that we are experiencing the most aggressively unsmart administration in the history of the United States of America.

Around each corner is another brooding mound of flagrant stupidity waiting to pounce on us.

[Bill Kristol @BillKristol]

Dear Donald Trump,

Just flew into DCA. Green algae VERY visible in the reflecting pool.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

[Pedro L. Gonzalez @emeriticus]

There is no amount of money you could offer me to humiliate myself on a daily basis the way Vance does. The guy simply has no core, no shame, no charisma. He is the purest sock puppet to ever disgrace political office, an empty suit making human sounds.

[Mike Nellis @MikeNellis]

WHO MADE THIS!? I’m dying.

[Jamie Bonkiewicz @JamieBonkiewicz]

The Obama Presidential Center opening and the Knicks parade are the closest we’ll get to celebrating the best of America for the 250th.

[That Gay Guy Candle Co. 🇺🇸 @gayguycandleco]

Besties.

[Chris D. Jackson @ChrisDJackson]

📸 Great photo of @JoeBiden and @DrBiden with the Obamas, Bushes, and Clintons in Chicago today.

This is America. Not what is currently in the White House.

[Angela @AngelaWrites70]

So many things are wrong with the newest season of Sweet Magnolias that there isn't enough space here to get into it. They talk in platitudes or greeting card sayings, they have endless money, and no conflict where there should be.

[Covie @covie_93]

In this photo there is a Princeton University graduate and a Harvard Law School graduate.

Michelle Obama is both.

[Bill Kristol @BillKristol]

"The UFC event captures something about this moment in our history.

After all, it’s vulgar, it’s violent, it’s commercial, it’s grandiose, it’s tacky, and it dishonors a place once thought worthy of care and respect. In other words, it’s Donald Trump."

https://t.co/4JB8V0GX4L

[Tim Walz @Tim_Walz]

Very stable genius.

[MLB @MLB]

José Ramírez doubles three times and Travis Bazzana drives in four in a @CleGuardians win!

[Simon Schama @simon_schama]

A suggestion. The removal of Trump's name from the Kennedy Center should be celebrated by an improvised 24 hour festival of music, dance and - of course - comedy; Stephen Colbert presiding.

[Beth Moore @BethMooreLPM]

I’ve never pastored a church. Couldn’t pay me a jillion dollars to. Never been ordained. Have no desire to. The only paid staff position I’ve ever held in a church was as an aerobics teacher in our church gym. But how in heaven’s name a woman discussing a sermon on a podcast could be objectionable to some is beyond me and what I believe to be beyond scripture. If you have no idea what I’m talking about, good. Stay sane. If you do, I’ve lived a long time and this has been my observation:

Extremism, whether in conservatism or liberalism, whether in politics or religion, is never satisfied. It will always inch a little bit further. It’s a constant test of the purists.