Servant Leadership Begins at Home
In a “Gmail already had it for awhile” update, Google Apps appears to be adding Themes support (screenshot above). I only noticed this on one of four Google Apps accoutns I have, although this particular account had a glitch which held back Gmail Labs for months after other Apps users saw it.
Maybe a olive branch?
Either way, now I’ll spend a little while finding my favorite theme. Thanks Google for an early April Fools’ Day gift.
Last week, Vanessa and I were in Santa Fe on vacation. A couple of the headline’s mention that all eyes were on Governor Bill Richardson as he decided whether or not to sign a bill that would end the death penalty in the state.
New Mexico House Bill 285 (
full-text, pdf) was signed, making New Mexico a death-penalty-free state. Well, rather, there will be no future sentences of death. According to The New York Times, only one person has been executed in New Mexico since 1960. The two men currently on death row are not impacted by this law; although, if the political climate allowed for the penalty to abolished, there is a realistic chance of neither reaching the injection table.
Via Whispers in the Loggia, according to the St. Louis Beacon, the Catholic bishops of the State had a great deal to do with discussing the situation with the Governor and helping him discern his choice. Without much public fanfare, the bishops conversed with the Governor and allowed him to make the decision for himself. I think this is a great example of the role our bishops can play in the political sphere. It’s up to each politician to vote their conscience, but up to the bishops to help inform that conscience.
From my ordinary, Bishop Gregory Aymond of Austin:
As was
announced recently, the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind.,
is presenting President Barack Obama with an honorary degree and have
asked him to give the commencement address.
I, along with many other Catholics, express great disappointment and
sadness that a Catholic university would honor someone who is
pro-choice and who holds many values contrary to our Catholic belief.
In the midst of such a sad situation, as Catholics we must continue to
be pro-life and to proclaim with even greater strength the values of
Christ and the teachings of the Catholic Church.
In my opinion, it is very clear that in this case the University of
Notre Dame does not live up to its Catholic identity in giving this
award and their leadership needs our prayerful support.
Vanessa and I took a trip last week (both of our Spring Break) to Santa Fe and Chicago. Stories and pictures to come, but all safe and sound in the Kraft household.
By way of the Ohio State Catholic Campus Ministry:
