LOL. My boss just accidentally called me from her desk ten feet away from mine. This is the most exciting thing to happen yet this morning. The semester ended yesterday, so we have no patrons. Even if we did, the circulation system is down for a software upgrade, so we can't do much for them anyway. (There are bins of books waiting to be checked in on Monday morning. Yay!) In the meantime, I'm again reading random things in the papers. I do have a book to start, but I'm suffering from short attention span always lately.

I've got a follow up from yesterday's Talula, etc. story. From the Times, more truly awful baby names! Anyone else think Tackle Feigenbutz would be at home inside a Dr. Seuss story?

People are actually writing viruses for Macs these days. Guess I'll have to actually get a virus checker again eventually.

I've also been trying to follow some of the goings-on at the Lambeth Conference. This is all kind of a big deal in the world of Christianity, and the US Episcopal Church is right at the center of a potentially schism causing controversy. Today it's reported that an Anglican "inquisition" could become reality if a new proposal is approved.

And finally, the new X-Files movie opens in the US today! Maybe I'm just travelling in the wrong circles, but I don't feel like there's been a ton of hype for it, which may be a good thing. I don't have any concrete expectations, other than wanting to see some more Mulder and Scully chasing weird paranormal stuff, so hopefully it won't dissapoint.
Pope Benedict XVI, the leader of the Catholic Church, will visit the United States this week. The pontiff is scheduled to arrive in Washington, D.C. tomorrow and to travel to New York City later in the week.

The New York Times and The Washington Post both have special coverage of papal visit, both of which include audio interviews with American Catholics. (Unfortunately, my computer at work has no speakers, so I can't listen to those just yet. From what I can tell, they seem to represent a variety of viewpoints, which should be interesting.) There are also plenty of articles addressing the divide between the Vatican and many American Catholics.

According to this article by Michelle Boorstein, one in ten American Catholics has left the faith, and many that remain disagree with the Vatican on a number of issues. She writes, "U.S. Catholics can't agree whether they're in crisis or renewal. All sides describe a community in dramatic demographic flux. Further, it is divided in key ways, including the importance of male clergy, immigration and the authority of not only Catholicism but also Christianity."

As a cradle Catholic and former Catholic school student, the issues and challenges of contemporary Catholicisim in the U.S. are a personal interest of mine. It's interesting to see some of the issues I grapple with in my own life highlighted in major newspapers. What seems clear, though, is that despite all the hoopla surrounding Pope Benedict's visit, it is highly unlikely that any of the conflicts in the American Catholic church will be resolved by it.

(BTW: Both websites require registration to read some articles, but it's free. Whether you read everyday or only occasionally, or if you just like doing the sudoku puzzles, it's worth the no money you'll spend on it!)

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