Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

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Do you have this restaurant in your neck of the woods?

Pope Francis (born Jorge Mario Bergoglio) is in the United States for a visit. I fear that he is about to experience Keith's Law, which says that authoritativeness is inversely proportional to partisanship. Roman Catholics want a transcendent pope who focuses on the eternal things. Yes, the Church has positions on social issues, but if Pope Francis takes sides on controversial matters, such as so-called climate change, or if he comes across as a Democrat rather than someone who is above politics, he risks alienating many adherents. This could be a long-term problem for his Church, which, in the United States at least, is already in trouble. Hardly any Americans want to be priests, for example, so priests have to be imported from the Third World.

The languages of classical antiquity are almost indispensable helps to all sound acquirements in Politics, Jurisprudence, or any of the Moral Sciences. They are also requisite for the formation of those elevated sentiments, and that rectitude of judgment and taste, which are inseparably connected with them. These languages may be acquired, and in fact are acquired, when well acquired, in early youth.

(John Austin, The Uses of the Study of Jurisprudence, in The Province of Jurisprudence Determined and The Uses of the Study of Jurisprudence [Indianapolis: Hackett Publishing Company, 1998 (essay first published in 1863)], 363-93, at 385)

To the Editor:

Pope Francis is misunderstood by so many. Those who fear that he is going to change the church’s infallible teaching are worrying for no reason at all. Those who are hoping for a change in those infallible teachings are hoping in vain.

The pope is bound to the “deposit of the faith,” the faith that has been declared infallible. The deposit of the faith is that faith which has been held since the beginning of church history.

Let us pretend that Francis were to declare that he was going to make an infallible teaching. An infallible statement by a pope requires that the pope limit his teaching to faith and morals, that he speak on behalf of the universal church, from the authority or “chair” of Peter, and with a clear affirmation that what he is about to proclaim is to be held infallible.

Underlying these criteria is the deposit of the faith, which cannot be contradicted (for example, the pope cannot declare that Jesus was only a spirit when the church has already declared him God and man). Hence, any statement contrary to the deposit of the faith is invalid.

So for those who are worried, calm down. For those hoping for vindication for their lifestyle choices, their hope is in vain. What both sides can count on is that Francis will bring a more pastoral approach to ministry.

(Rev.) JOHN J. PASQUINI

Vero Beach, Fla.

Katherine and I went to the Ballpark in Arlington this past Thursday. The Texas Rangers beat the Houston Astros to sweep the four-game series. This is a view from my seat. I consider this a perfect seat, because I'm looking directly down on home plate and can see the entire field. Also, the scoreboard is in front of us and the southerly breeze keeps us cool. I might add that these tickets cost $10 apiece. Click to enlarge.

Scott Walker has ended his run for the presidency. To my mind, he never had a chance. The bald spot; the Harley thing; the lazy eye; the nasally, monotonic voice; the flip-flops on issues; being advised by George Will's wife; the weirdness that is Wisconsin. Good riddance.

Here.

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The Chicago Transit Authority (1969).