While I am glad to see the discussion of torture in the media, I am also very concerned. The American use of torture is a topic that I've been concerned about as a Catholic Servant Leader for some time now.
I am, however, very, very concerned about the conversations I've heard (both from individuals and the media) around the question, "Does torture work?"
It doesn't.
Not only is torture contrary to the principles of the Catholic faith, scientific evidence has consistently shown that is simply doesn't work.
Don't believe me?
Here's an Op-Ed piece in the New York Times by Ali Soufan, an F.B.I. supervisory special agent from 1997 to 2005.
More importantly, even asking the question, "Does torture work?" is disturbing to me as a Catholic Servant Leader. If somehow it was proved that torture did work, would we then condone the use of torture as a country?
I think not.
I for one am very troubled by this discussion.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Really. $250,000 Income ... and Worried.
On Saturday Night Live, there's that guy named Seth who does a section called "Really?!? with Seth." (Not as funny as "Really?!? With Seth and Amy," but you do what you can when your partner goes on maternity leave.)
If you haven't seen it, the basic bit is to exclaim "REALLY?!?" when commenting on a current situation in the media.
Really.
I just read this article entitled, "Wealth-Less Effect: Earning Well, Feeling Otherwise" in the Wall Street Journal about people who make more than $250,000 per year and the "relativity" of wealth, and I had basically the same reaction.
The article is basically talking about the experience of people who make more than $250,000/year ... and how they do not consider themselves to be wealthy.
Really.
The article begins by introducing us to the Parnells, a family where one person (the husband) earns over $250,000:
"Ellen Parnell and her husband, Donald Parnell Jr., seem like the kind of well-off couple President Barack Obama has in mind when he suggests raising taxes on families earning more than $250,000 a year. A surgeon at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center in Sevierville, Tenn., he drives an Infiniti. They vacation at a beach resort every year."
... the article continues ...
"It is a tricky situation in which some Americans find themselves after a long boom: They are by no means struggling, compared with the 98% of Americans who make far less, but depending on where they live and the lifestyle choices they have made, they don't necessarily feel rich, either. Worse, in their view, they are facing the same tax rates as those making millions. Some of the expenses are self-inflicted -- like private-school costs and conspicuous consumption. Others, though, are unavoidable, like child-care costs, larger health-care deductibles and education expenses, especially college."
Ahem. Someone makes more than 98% of the American population ... and they consider themselves "not rich."
A bit further on, the article continues:
"By any statistical measure, that income level is at the top of the bracket. But for those closest to the line, the money might be less a sign of affluence than it is of the industry of dual-income couples. It is possible, say observers, that veteran civil servants could fall into the higher tax bracket."
Ah. So .. couples make that much money just because they are "industrious." Ergo, the couple living out on the street after losing their home are people who are just not working hard enough. This is puritanical humanism at its finest.
... still further ...
"Wealth and comfort "depends on where you're coming from," said Lois Avitt, a sociologist and founding director of the Institute for Socio-Financial Studies in Charlottesville, Va. To a family earning $50,000, $250,000 is well off, but for the family earning $250,000, rising college and medical costs and dropping home values make the perception debatable."
That's not a perception that is debatable ... that's just greed.
... the article closes by re-visiting the Parnells ...
"For the Parnells, their perception of themselves is based on the math. The value of their house is down $60,000. Ms. Parnell says the couple's gross income last year was about $260,000. Taxes, premiums for medical care and deductions for Social Security and their 401(k) contributions cut the gross to about $12,000 per month. The family tithes $1,300 a month at their church. Their mortgage, second mortgage and payment on land they bought is nearly $4,000 a month. Other expenses, including their family car payment, insurance and college funds, as well as basics like food, utilities and donations to charities, leave them with about $1,200 left over each month.
"I'm not after sympathy. We are blessed. What I want is a reality check on what rich means," Ms. Parnell says. "I can pay my mortgage and I can buy some clothes. I'm not going without, but I'm not living a life of luxury."
News flash for Ms. Parnell: If your family earns more than 98% of Americans, then you are wealthy.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO CATHOLIC SERVANT LEADERS?
Catholic Servant Leaders keep their "reality checks" in check. By understanding what the poor and marginalized in our societies go through, Catholic Servant Leaders refuse to fall prey to the illogic that hides in the guise of secular humanism.
By pretending to discuss relativity and "where people are coming from," this article gives voice to a greedy, unchecked materialistic worldview that has been damaging the American culture for some time now.
In Luke, 12:48, Jesus tells us:
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more."
For far too long in Christian Catholic circles, hording wealth for wealth's sake and acting with greed has been allowed to continue. Many in the Church turn a blind eye to such behavior.
Such behavior needs to change, and Catholic Servant Leaders can begin to change it.
Really.
If you haven't seen it, the basic bit is to exclaim "REALLY?!?" when commenting on a current situation in the media.
Really.
I just read this article entitled, "Wealth-Less Effect: Earning Well, Feeling Otherwise" in the Wall Street Journal about people who make more than $250,000 per year and the "relativity" of wealth, and I had basically the same reaction.
The article is basically talking about the experience of people who make more than $250,000/year ... and how they do not consider themselves to be wealthy.
Really.
The article begins by introducing us to the Parnells, a family where one person (the husband) earns over $250,000:
"Ellen Parnell and her husband, Donald Parnell Jr., seem like the kind of well-off couple President Barack Obama has in mind when he suggests raising taxes on families earning more than $250,000 a year. A surgeon at Fort Sanders Sevier Medical Center in Sevierville, Tenn., he drives an Infiniti. They vacation at a beach resort every year."
... the article continues ...
"It is a tricky situation in which some Americans find themselves after a long boom: They are by no means struggling, compared with the 98% of Americans who make far less, but depending on where they live and the lifestyle choices they have made, they don't necessarily feel rich, either. Worse, in their view, they are facing the same tax rates as those making millions. Some of the expenses are self-inflicted -- like private-school costs and conspicuous consumption. Others, though, are unavoidable, like child-care costs, larger health-care deductibles and education expenses, especially college."
Ahem. Someone makes more than 98% of the American population ... and they consider themselves "not rich."
A bit further on, the article continues:
"By any statistical measure, that income level is at the top of the bracket. But for those closest to the line, the money might be less a sign of affluence than it is of the industry of dual-income couples. It is possible, say observers, that veteran civil servants could fall into the higher tax bracket."
Ah. So .. couples make that much money just because they are "industrious." Ergo, the couple living out on the street after losing their home are people who are just not working hard enough. This is puritanical humanism at its finest.
... still further ...
"Wealth and comfort "depends on where you're coming from," said Lois Avitt, a sociologist and founding director of the Institute for Socio-Financial Studies in Charlottesville, Va. To a family earning $50,000, $250,000 is well off, but for the family earning $250,000, rising college and medical costs and dropping home values make the perception debatable."
That's not a perception that is debatable ... that's just greed.
... the article closes by re-visiting the Parnells ...
"For the Parnells, their perception of themselves is based on the math. The value of their house is down $60,000. Ms. Parnell says the couple's gross income last year was about $260,000. Taxes, premiums for medical care and deductions for Social Security and their 401(k) contributions cut the gross to about $12,000 per month. The family tithes $1,300 a month at their church. Their mortgage, second mortgage and payment on land they bought is nearly $4,000 a month. Other expenses, including their family car payment, insurance and college funds, as well as basics like food, utilities and donations to charities, leave them with about $1,200 left over each month.
"I'm not after sympathy. We are blessed. What I want is a reality check on what rich means," Ms. Parnell says. "I can pay my mortgage and I can buy some clothes. I'm not going without, but I'm not living a life of luxury."
News flash for Ms. Parnell: If your family earns more than 98% of Americans, then you are wealthy.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT TO CATHOLIC SERVANT LEADERS?
Catholic Servant Leaders keep their "reality checks" in check. By understanding what the poor and marginalized in our societies go through, Catholic Servant Leaders refuse to fall prey to the illogic that hides in the guise of secular humanism.
By pretending to discuss relativity and "where people are coming from," this article gives voice to a greedy, unchecked materialistic worldview that has been damaging the American culture for some time now.
In Luke, 12:48, Jesus tells us:
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more."
For far too long in Christian Catholic circles, hording wealth for wealth's sake and acting with greed has been allowed to continue. Many in the Church turn a blind eye to such behavior.
Such behavior needs to change, and Catholic Servant Leaders can begin to change it.
Really.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
A Catholic Christmas Carol
I am proud to announce the release of a new video entitled, A Catholic Christmas Carol: Catholic Servant Leaders & Emotional Intelligence
As longtime fan of Dickens' writing, I had a great deal of fun creating this video. I've used Ebenezer Scrooge's emotional transformation to teach Catholic Servant Leaders how they can build their own emotional intelligence.
I invite you to check out this important video.
Plus ...
As a special offer for readers of this Catholic Servant Leadership blog, I'm offering A CATHOLIC CHRISTMAS CAROL at a special pricing of $79.99! That's the best price on the web for this video.
Visit here for more information on this special deal.
As longtime fan of Dickens' writing, I had a great deal of fun creating this video. I've used Ebenezer Scrooge's emotional transformation to teach Catholic Servant Leaders how they can build their own emotional intelligence.
I invite you to check out this important video.
Plus ...
As a special offer for readers of this Catholic Servant Leadership blog, I'm offering A CATHOLIC CHRISTMAS CAROL at a special pricing of $79.99! That's the best price on the web for this video.
Visit here for more information on this special deal.
The Ultimate Question ...
... at least to Timothy Dolan, newly appointed Archbishop of New York, is this:
"That's the ultimate question," he told the estimated 1,500 well-wishers in St. Patrick's Cathedral on Tuesday night. "Will we open up in faith, hope and love to the God who gently knocks on the door of our being, asking Him to live with us? Or will fear, self-absorption, and darkness keep us locked up in ourselves?"
I think that is an excellent question for Catholic Servant Leaders.
Just for today ... are you willing to risk opening yourself in faith, hope and love to the God who gently knocks on the door of our being?
Just a thought.
"That's the ultimate question," he told the estimated 1,500 well-wishers in St. Patrick's Cathedral on Tuesday night. "Will we open up in faith, hope and love to the God who gently knocks on the door of our being, asking Him to live with us? Or will fear, self-absorption, and darkness keep us locked up in ourselves?"
I think that is an excellent question for Catholic Servant Leaders.
Just for today ... are you willing to risk opening yourself in faith, hope and love to the God who gently knocks on the door of our being?
Just a thought.
The Importance of Community at Work
Hi, all. I hope you and your loved ones had a blessed Easter. I always enjoy the Easter Triduum, although this year I missed Easter Vigil as I had to stay home with my daughter who came down with a cold (and was in bed very early. :-).
I came across this article from Reuters Health that speaks about the importance of community in the workplace.
The article opens with,
"Poor team spirit at the workplace may do more than drag down morale, it can make people depressed, according to the findings of a new study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine."
As a licensed mental health professional, I can certainly attest to the fact that people who work in cold, unsupportive work environments are more likely to be depressed. As the article says,
"People with a poor work climate, who felt it was highly prejudiced and quarrelsome, were 61 percent more likely to be depressed, the researchers found. These workers were also at greater risk of anxiety. However, once the investigators accounted for how much control people had over their work and the nature of their job demands, this relationship disappeared."
In infinite wisdom, God has made human to need community ('team spirit' being another way to describe community).
Effective Catholic Servant Leaders should seek to build community ... and team spirit ... in their organization, not only because it is good for the bottom line, but because it is good for the people within.
I'm always pleased to find empirical support for leadership approaches like Catholic Servant Leadership.
Peace.
I came across this article from Reuters Health that speaks about the importance of community in the workplace.
The article opens with,
"Poor team spirit at the workplace may do more than drag down morale, it can make people depressed, according to the findings of a new study published in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine."
As a licensed mental health professional, I can certainly attest to the fact that people who work in cold, unsupportive work environments are more likely to be depressed. As the article says,
"People with a poor work climate, who felt it was highly prejudiced and quarrelsome, were 61 percent more likely to be depressed, the researchers found. These workers were also at greater risk of anxiety. However, once the investigators accounted for how much control people had over their work and the nature of their job demands, this relationship disappeared."
In infinite wisdom, God has made human to need community ('team spirit' being another way to describe community).
Effective Catholic Servant Leaders should seek to build community ... and team spirit ... in their organization, not only because it is good for the bottom line, but because it is good for the people within.
I'm always pleased to find empirical support for leadership approaches like Catholic Servant Leadership.
Peace.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Feeling the Love ...
Well.
An alert reader just sent me a link to a website called "Catholic Culture" that apparently sees my ministry as flawed and error-ridden.
Here's the link.
And here ... specifically ... are they reasons they posit for my "flawed" ministry, along with my arguments:
"We cannot recommend this site because it promotes New Age philosophy."
I'm at a loss to see where they draw this conclusion from. I've been accused of many things, but rarely of being "New Age."
... and further question my Catholic Fidelity as having concerns around:
Program tainted with Eastern philosophy
Wow. So the authors of "Catholic Culture" do not believe in incorporating diversity?
I strongly disagree with that perspective.
Erroneous position on abortion
Which they restate a position I took prior to the 2008 U.S. Presidential election in response to members of the Church arguing that voting for Obama was a sin:
"Should Catholics be looking at only one issue such as abortion? Certainly not. In fact, the U.S. Bishops explicitly state in Forming Consciousness for Faithful Citizenship, "As Catholics we are not single-issue voters. A candidate’s position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a voter’s support." Building a culture of life today is far too complex to be focused on any one issue.
There are many, many other issues that also speak to the sanctity of life and the dignity of each person. Access to health care (including mental health care), our decisions to promote the industrial war complex, childhood poverty and lack of educational access, elder abuse and other end-of-life issues are as important sanctity of life issues as abortion."
So the authors of "Catholic Culture" do not follow the lead of the U.S. Bishops?
To me, ignoring the U.S. Bishops would seem rather un-Catholic.
Tim Warneka is a student of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung.
I'll admit to being guilty as charged here.
What puzzles me ... is incorporating information from two well-established scholars in their respective fields not allowed to the authors of "Catholic Culture"?
Respectfully, for a organization that claims to be "Living the Catholic Life," their perspective seems rather un-Catholic.
How very sad.
I always welcome hearing from Catholics who agree with my ministry as well as those who do not. I am always more than willing to engage in conversation and dialogue around any of the ideas and issues I present in my ministry. However, I would ask that those who disagree with me present more than specious arguments before condemning my ministry.
Peace,
Tim
An alert reader just sent me a link to a website called "Catholic Culture" that apparently sees my ministry as flawed and error-ridden.
Here's the link.
And here ... specifically ... are they reasons they posit for my "flawed" ministry, along with my arguments:
"We cannot recommend this site because it promotes New Age philosophy."
I'm at a loss to see where they draw this conclusion from. I've been accused of many things, but rarely of being "New Age."
... and further question my Catholic Fidelity as having concerns around:
Program tainted with Eastern philosophy
Wow. So the authors of "Catholic Culture" do not believe in incorporating diversity?
I strongly disagree with that perspective.
Erroneous position on abortion
Which they restate a position I took prior to the 2008 U.S. Presidential election in response to members of the Church arguing that voting for Obama was a sin:
"Should Catholics be looking at only one issue such as abortion? Certainly not. In fact, the U.S. Bishops explicitly state in Forming Consciousness for Faithful Citizenship, "As Catholics we are not single-issue voters. A candidate’s position on a single issue is not sufficient to guarantee a voter’s support." Building a culture of life today is far too complex to be focused on any one issue.
There are many, many other issues that also speak to the sanctity of life and the dignity of each person. Access to health care (including mental health care), our decisions to promote the industrial war complex, childhood poverty and lack of educational access, elder abuse and other end-of-life issues are as important sanctity of life issues as abortion."
So the authors of "Catholic Culture" do not follow the lead of the U.S. Bishops?
To me, ignoring the U.S. Bishops would seem rather un-Catholic.
Tim Warneka is a student of Joseph Campbell and Carl Jung.
I'll admit to being guilty as charged here.
What puzzles me ... is incorporating information from two well-established scholars in their respective fields not allowed to the authors of "Catholic Culture"?
Respectfully, for a organization that claims to be "Living the Catholic Life," their perspective seems rather un-Catholic.
How very sad.
I always welcome hearing from Catholics who agree with my ministry as well as those who do not. I am always more than willing to engage in conversation and dialogue around any of the ideas and issues I present in my ministry. However, I would ask that those who disagree with me present more than specious arguments before condemning my ministry.
Peace,
Tim
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
New Book Review ....
Sarah Reinhard, author of the wonderful blog, "Just Another Day of Catholic Pondering," has written a wonderful review of my book, BLACK BELT LEADER, PEACEFUL LEADER: AN INTRODUCTION TO CATHOLIC SERVANT LEADERSHIP.
You can read it here.
I'm very interested to check out the two other books she recommends.
Thanks, Sarah!
You can read it here.
I'm very interested to check out the two other books she recommends.
Thanks, Sarah!
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