Catching Foxes

Spoilers. The horn sounds, so you have been warned. We skip any sort of plot summary and assume you've seen the movie. Three themes of economic injustice, mental health, and isolation interweave into one amazing character study called JOKER. Economic Justice Wayne Employees (coming home from work) beat up the Joker (coming home from work) Chapter 3 of CARITAS IN VERITATE by Pope Benedict XVI FRATERNITY, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIL SOCIETY “In fact, if the market is governed solely by the principle of the equivalence in value of exchanged goods, it cannot produce the social cohesion that it requires in order to function well. Without internal forms of solidarity and mutual trust, the market cannot completely fulfil its proper economic function. And today it is this trust which has ceased to exist, and the loss of trust is a grave loss.” “In the global era, the economy is influenced by competitive models tied to cultures that differ greatly among themselves. The different forms of economic enterprise to which they give rise find their main point of encounter in commutative justice. Economic life undoubtedly requires contracts, in order to regulate relations of exchange between goods of equivalent value. But it also needs just laws and forms of redistribution governed by politics, and what is more, it needs works redolent of the spirit of gift. The economy in the global era seems to privilege the former logic, that of contractual exchange, but directly or indirectly it also demonstrates its need for the other two: political logic, and the logic of the unconditional gift. (Caritas in Veritate, 37) “My predecessor John Paul II drew attention to this question in Centesimus Annus, when he spoke of the need for a system with three subjects: the market, the State and civil society[92]. He saw civil society as the most natural setting for an economy of gratuitousness and fraternity, but did not mean to deny it a place in the other two settings. Today we can say that economic life must be understood as a multi-layered phenomenon: in every one of these layers, to varying degrees and in ways specifically suited to each, the aspect of fraternal reciprocity must be present.” - 38 Catholic Church on Mental Health “Christ took all human suffering on himself, even mental illness. Yes even this affliction, which perhaps seems the most absurd and incomprehensible, configures the sick person to Christ and gives him a share in his redeeming passion” Pope John Paul II, International Conference for Health Care Workers, on Illnesses of the Human Mind, November 30, 1996 “...stretch out a hand to the sick, to make them perceive the tenderness of God, to integrate them into a community of faith and life in which they can feel accepted, understood, supported, respected; in a word, in which they can love and be loved.” - John Paul II on Depression From the California Bishops : Catholic World Report Christ’s public life was a ministry of hope and healing. As Catholics, in imitation of our Lord, we are called to provide hope and healing to others,” they said. “We profess that every human life is sacred, that all people are created in the image and likeness of God and, therefore, a person’s dignity and worth cannot be diminished by any condition, including mental illness.” The bishops called the spike in mental illness, suicide, and drug overdoses a “heartbreaking” crisis, and urged Catholics to help end the social stigma for those seeking support and help in these areas of their lives. “Persons with mental illness often suffer in silence, hidden and unrecognized by others,” the bishops said. “We clearly proclaim that there is no shame in receiving a diagnosis of a psychiatric disorder. We affirm the need for education in our communities to remove the unjust prejudice and stigma often associated with mental illness,” they said. Instead, all Catholics should use their unique gifts and talents to help alleviate these problems and to accompany those who suffer, the bishops noted, whether by providing friendship, spiritual support, or professional support if appropriate.Sponsored By:Catholic Social Media: Thanks to our sponsor, Catholic Social Media. You can try them out for FREE and get four weeks of great original posts and videos for your parish Facebook page at https://try.catholicsocial.media and using the promo code FOXES. Promo Code: foxesSupport Catching FoxesLinks:California bishops: We must accompany those with mental illness – Catholic World Report — Instead, all Catholics should use their unique gifts and talents to help alleviate these problems and to accompany those who suffer, the bishops noted, whether by providing friendship, spiritual support, or professional support if appropriate. Joker Director Breaks Down the Opening Scene | Vanity Fair — Todd Philips, director of Joker, breaks down the opening of the movie

[We cuss a lot.] Confidence: Gomer thinks it's linked to violence and Luke to self-acceptance. Then we show how Nice Guys and Jerks are the same, but just one of them is better at hiding it. Finally, we talk Hans Urs von Balthasar. Thanks Try.CatholicSocial.Media for sponsoring this show!Sponsored By:61 Minutes to a Miracle: The True Story of a Family's Devotion: You'll absolutely love this insane and beautiful story of one family's devotion to Archbishop Fulton J Sheen!Support Catching Foxes

I read Amy Wellborn's article on The Hack and applying it to social media shenanigans of today. I know dozens of professional ministers that are hanging a question mark on everything now. Walk with me through the pain!Support Catching FoxesLinks:The Hazards of Online Faith-Writing | Church Life Journal | University of Notre Dame — . . . . The funny things was, she supposed that none of this would have been necessary if he had just been a plain uncomplicated windbag like the other inspirationists: he could have gone to his grave with his round tones, his relaxed manner and the untroubled face of a child. But Bert wasn’t an uncomplicated windbag. He wasn’t even a natural hack. He was conned into it by public request. He wanted to do first-rate work, but he had trouble with it, and he did so much good the other way . . . The worst of it was you couldn’t even blame the Church. The Church hadn’t asked him to write anything, wouldn’t care if he stopped. Every institution kept up a froth of chatter these days; it didn’t much matter who did the actual frothing. A million tons of stupid words had to be manufactured by somebody; but getting mad at those was like getting mad at New Jersey, as Bert used to say. It is uncanny, isn’t it? . . . A million tons of stupid words had to be manufactured by somebody. Only now it is not so much print of course. I am sure almost every Catholic print publication could disappear tomorrow and hardly anyone would care, but what counts is what we are all spewing out online all the time. The Hack is perceptive, very funny, a little overly discursive and perhaps disjointed, but still deeply recognizable. It is also a caution to all of us engaged in spiritual communication for any kind of pay including simply exposure, and a caution to all of those who pay to engage with spiritual communicators, even if the payment you are offering is simply your time and attention. The caution offered by The Hack is this: that kind of communication and the demands of its audience do not just reflect faith, instead they have the power to shape it, and perhaps not always in a positive way. Bert and his audience are caught in a vicious circle of generating and being comforted by pious platitudes. Bert’s loss of faith is not due to him grappling with and then being bested by existential questions and profound theological mysteries. It is due to him avoiding them, allowing the platitudes and sentiment to dominate his spirit because that is where his energy has gone. Then when that dissipates and disappears, he has nothing left.7 Quick Takes | Charlotte was Both — Consider what you’re being sold these days, even from Catholics. In every way, in every corner, it seems to be about you and your self. We are constantly told that the core of spiritual seeking is to discover who you really are, with gifts ‘n’ talents at the ready, accept who you really are, accept that God accepts you as you really are, arrange your life around the self you have accepted, be passionate about that self and its potential for greatness, find a church community that accepts you as you really are, and then get upset if you feel that you’re not being accepted as you really are. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Our buddy Jon refused to become a Patreon supporter until we got Van Vickle back on the show to talk ghosts, hauntings, and exorcism stories. BUT FIRST! Luke talks about his despair over the Church today, the failure of the bishops to do anything meaningful, and how we are basically still confused by Pope Francis. That's the first 25 minutes. Then ghost stories, kids!Support Catching Foxes

Gomer argues Marital Debt. Luke burns down another bridge, but he was right to. Then Luke burns another one down, and I think he was right again. Then we dive into an amazing S.A. Whitebook quote on Lust.Support Catching FoxesLinks:'The Simpsons' Predicted The Future Of TV Fandom 20 Years Ago Today — Seasons 9-12 of the greatest show of all-time are underrated, but the last truly perfect season in The Simpsons‘ Golden Era is season eight, which gave us such classics as “You Only Move Twice,” “A Milhouse Divided,” and “Homer’s Enemy.” But the episode I think about, and endlessly reference, the most is “The Itchy & Scratchy & Poochie Show,” which premiered 20 years ago today. As the title implies, fighting-and-biting cat-and-mouse rivals Itchy and Scratchy get a dog sidekick, Poochie, voiced by Homer. Not just any dog, though — he’s the original dog from Hell (Cerebus?). Poochie doesn’t get busy; he gets biz-zay, consistently and throughly… TO THE EXTREME. Itchy and Scratchy - Goodbye, Poochie - YouTube — Itchy and Scratchy - Goodbye, Poochie

Tim Staples, Curtis Martin, Fr. Donald Calloway, Immaculee Ilibagiza... and gomer...? Also, Luke gives us an audio tour of his house. (No footprints) and then Gomer tells Luke a story about his past that Luke has never heard before. So tell me what you want, what you really, really want.Sponsored By:61 Minutes to a Miracle: The True Story of a Family's Devotion: You'll absolutely love this insane and beautiful story of one family's devotion to Archbishop Fulton J Sheen!Support Catching FoxesLinks:Life on the Rock - RADIX - Fr. Mark and Fr. Anthony with Doug Barry - 04-20-2011 - YouTube — Life on the Rock - RADIX - Fr. Mark and Fr. Anthony with Doug Barry - 04-20-2011

Recorded August 12: We talk Gomer's need for an assistant, which Gomer denies until a text message comes in and proves him a liar. We talk the Cincinnati scandals, of which Luke knows all the accused.Support Catching Foxes

This is what happens when one guy had 3 hours of sleep and the other guy is 3 beers in before the conversation starts. The Quote: 2434 A just wage is the legitimate fruit of work. To refuse or withhold it can be a grave injustice.221 In determining fair pay both the needs and the contributions of each person must be taken into account. "Remuneration for work should guarantee man the opportunity to provide a dignified livelihood for himself and his family on the material, social, cultural and spiritual level, taking into account the role and the productivity of each, the state of the business, and the common good."222 Agreement between the parties is not sufficient to justify morally the amount to be received in wages. *221 * Cf. Lev 19:13 - "You shall not oppress your neighbor or rob him. The wages of a hired servant shall not remain with you all night until the morning." Deut 24:14-15 - 14 “You shall not oppress a hired servant who is poor and needy, whether he is one of your brethren or one of the sojourners who are in your land within your towns; you shall give him his hire on the day he earns it, before the sun goes down (for he is poor, and sets his heart upon it); lest he cry against you to the Lord, and it be sin in you." Jas 5:4 - "Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts." *222 * GS 67 § 2. "This labor, whether it is engaged in independently or hired by someone else, comes immediately from the person, who as it were stamps the things of nature with his seal and subdues them to his will. By his labor a man ordinarily supports himself and his family, is joined to his fellow men and serves them, and can exercise genuine charity and be a partner in the work of bringing divine creation to perfection. Indeed, we hold that through labor offered to God man is associated with the redemptive work of Jesus Christ, Who conferred an eminent dignity on labor when at Nazareth He worked with His own hands. From this there follows for every man the duty of working faithfully and also the right to work. It is the duty of society, moreover, according to the circumstances prevailing in it, and in keeping with its role, to help the citizens to find sufficient employment. Finally, remuneration for labor is to be such that man may be furnished the means to cultivate worthily his own material, social, cultural, and spiritual life and that of his dependents, in view of the function and productiveness of each one, the conditions of the factory or workshop, and the common good."Support Catching FoxesLinks:James 5:1-6 RSVCE - Warning to Rich Oppressors - Come now, - Bible Gateway — James 5:1-6, ***Warning to Rich Oppressors*** 1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. 2 Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. 4 Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man; he does not resist you.Gaudium et spes | Chapter 3 "Economic and Social Life" — Justice and equity likewise require that the mobility, which is necessary in a developing economy, be regulated in such a way as to keep the life of individuals and their families from becoming insecure and precarious. When workers come from another country or district and contribute to the economic advancement of a nation or region by their labor, all discrimination as regards wages and working conditions must be carefully avoided. All the people, moreover, above all the public authorities, must treat them not as mere tools of production but as persons, and must help them to bring their families to live with them and to provide themselves with a decent dwelling; they must also see to it that these workers are incorporated into the social life of the country or region that receives them. Employment opportunities, however, should be created in their own areas as far as possible. Catechism of the Catholic Church - PART 3 SECTION 2 CHAPTER 2 ARTICLE 7 — Agreement between the parties is not sufficient to justify morally the amount to be received in wages.The Good of Politics | Matthew D. Wright | First Things — Ultimately that hope resides in the City of God, but on a temporal plane, Meador aims to ground the Christian social vision in an intentional life shared with family and friends in local communities. He wants us to become attached to particular places and people, with their unique histories, and to enjoy the everyday gifts of nature by imbibing them thoughtfully and thankfully. A soul that is profoundly attached becomes, in turn, open to a sense of wonder.  “There is a relationship between enchantment and communal life,” he argues. “Both are premised on the idea that my self is porous and can be penetrated and transformed by the world that exists outside myself.” Thus, local communities are the pathway to social and spiritual renewal, which fortifies the soul against the shallowness of our age and, ultimately, revivifies concern for the common good. 

Luke lives in Dayton and was at that spot where the shootings occurred just the evening before enjoying a drumline show. He invites Kevin Heider, a Dayton native, to join us. Yes, we talk about Trump, Gun Control, and other issues. And yes, Luke got permission from Five Iron Frenzy to use their song.Support Catching FoxesLinks:The Body | by Kevin Heider - YouTube — The Body | by Kevin Heider A New Hope - YouTube — A New Hope by Five Iron Frenzy, used with permission.(4) Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) / Twitter(4) Nick Penzenstadler on Twitter: "This is what a 100-round drum magazine looks like from the Dayton shooting. Authorities say he had a .223-cal rifle with this attached: https://t.co/sWh8MDHI0g" / TwitterTom Nichols on Twitter: "I can't stand post-shooting Twitter, but the different-yet-same shooters in El Paso and Dayton are making me try one more time. First, however: YES I AGREE WITH YOU ABOUT STRICTER GUN CONTROL AND BANNING ALL SORTS OF POWERFUL WEAPONS. Is that clear enough? Good. Next. /1" / Twitter — Read this thread, folks.The Revenge Of The Lost Boys — What’s going on with young American men? Another mass shooting has led to another round of social and political recriminations. A young man—a “loner” and “adrift,” as usual—seizes a vile cause and attacks innocent people. Amidst the wreckage, we look for reasons that already fit our preconceptions about violence, and we blame racism, guns, unemployment, drugs, a bad family, or whatever else helps us to make sense of the tragedy.

We started talking about Fiona Apple's "Criminal", then Luke posited that 90's pop was "deeper" because Gen-Xers were angsty and hypersexual. We disagreed, until it came to Ginger Spice. Then, we agreed too much! Also, Gomer is now a boss and Luke wonders if I can make my employees virtuous. Gomer doubts it. END PART ONE. Part Two is all about us screaming at each other for 1.5 hours over the concept of a just or living wage. It's hilarious at how stupid it is.Support Catching FoxesLinks:Fiona Apple Criminal Song Controversy — Apple was trying to say that perfect isn’t the only way to be beautiful, even in a music video which, on its surface, looked to be saying the exact opposite. She wanted to convey a message of body positivity and she wanted girls to see that message. It’s what she meant when she took the stage at the 1997 MTV Video Music Awards to accept her Best New Artist statue and told everyone watching: “This world is bullshit.” Not a lot of people got it. She was labeled a bratty, ungrateful weirdo.Fiona Apple Pledges Two Years of ‘Criminal’ Royalties to Refugees – Rolling Stone — Fiona Apple is donating the 2019 and 2020 earnings from TV and movie placements of her song “Criminal” to the While They Wait fund, which assists refugees with basic necessities, immigration fees and legal services. Hot 100: Billboard Hits of the 1990s | Billboard — The '90s were full of world-conquering ballads, the stuff of future American Idol performances: Toni Braxton's "Unbreak My Heart," Whitney Houston's "I Will Always Love You," Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U." Not surprisingly, in a world where ballads of epic proportion were king, Boyz II Men had a major presence on the Hot 100. They decade-end top 20 twice on their own, and once with assistance from Mariah Carey. Paul Williams | Muppet Wiki | FANDOM powered by Wikia — Some of his most famous compositions include "We've Only Just Begun," "An Old Fashioned Love Song," "I Won't Last a Day Without You," "Nice to Be Around," "You and Me Against the World," "Sad Song", "Evergreen" (which earned Williams an Academy Award), "Rainy Days and Mondays", and "Rainbow Connection" (which earned Williams an Academy Award nomination). Dolly Parton - Jolene (33rpm slowed down digital version) - YouTube — Dolly Parton - Jolene (33rpm slowed down digital version) Dolly Parton - I Will Always Love You - 1974 - YouTube — Whitney's version makes your knees weak and gives you goosebumps Dolly's version makes you break down and cry like a babyDavid Frizzell & Gene Watson Long Black Veil - YouTube — David Frizzell & Gene Watson Long Black Veil Con Calma - Daddy Yankee & Snow (Lyrics) 🎵 - YouTube — Con Calma - Daddy Yankee & Snow (Lyrics) 🎵 Saturn Car Commercial 1991 - YouTube — Saturn Car Commercial 1991 Saturn: One Car at a Time - YouTube — Saturn: One Car at a Time Just in Time manufacturing...Engine Fires Prompt G.M. to Issue Recall Of 80% of Saturns - The New York Times — The Saturn Corporation, General Motors' effort to compete against inexpensive Japanese imports in both quality and price, is voluntarily recalling 80 percent of all cars it has ever made to address an electrical problem that has caused engines in at least 34 Saturns to catch fire.