The Dish

… what’s he doing questioning evolution?

A reader writes:

As an ex-Catholic, now atheist, I don’t think Romney’s statement in last night’s debate regarding Holy Communion is contradictory at all with his order on emergency contraception.

The Eucharist is a sacrament and teaching of the Roman Catholic Church.  It is an article of faith within a private religious institution in which the government of Massachusetts has no interest regulating.

Emergency contraception is a medical procedure by which pharmaceuticals act to prevent fertilization and implantation of an embryo.  It is a legal medical procedure in the state of Massachusetts.  As a matter of public health policy as well as due process rights, the government of Massachusetts has every right and interest in regulating it.

It’s a plus. The broader reality is more disturbing:

In a report on the study, Sian Cotton, PhD, assistant professor of family medicine, said the team found that patients with HIV/AIDS, particularly black patients, claimed to have become more spiritual after diagnosis. However, more white patients felt alienated from their religious communities than did blacks.

"Twenty-four percent of all patients felt alienated in their religious communities, 60 percent did not feel welcome, and 10 percent changed their place of worship because of their HIV status," says Szaflarski.

Something is terribly, terribly wrong with churches that stigmatize the sick.

He says he "made a mistake" on firing gays in the workplace. His explanation makes no sense at all.

Ross has seen "Spiderman 3" so I don’t have to. But he links to several Neil Cumpston movie reviews which really are something quite special. It’s been a while since I perused Cumpston’s oeuvre, and they’re great Friday afternoon fodder. This one on 300 is a classic.

A cautionary tale from my native land.

Matt catches the Republichameleon in an error.

Yes, it’s tough.

Take it away, Mark Kleiman. I had no idea we were both Harvey’s students. Another smart take here. Energy in the executive is important; its independence from the other branches is important; its limited extra-legal role in times of extreme emergency are not to be gainsaid. But when the prince is completely incompetent, when he decrees that the emergency is indefinite and permanent, and when he systematically and proudly ignores the laws he is duty-bound to enforce, executive energy can actually destroy a republic rather than save it.