The 2008 Beijing Olympics were a tremendous success, both on the field and off. The athletic competition and achievements were remarkable and there were no major security problems (except for one tragic and bizarre attack on an athlete's parents, the kind of thing that unfortunately could happen anywhere, anytime).

The USA shined brightly, especially with Michael Phelps' 8 Gold Medals, but our athletes scored the top spot on the podium in men's basketball, women's soccer, men's volleyball, men's and women's beach volleyball, and several key gymnastics and track events, among others.
Last night's closing ceremonies were interesting but not nearly as mesmerizing as the opening ceremony. After 17 days of endless competition, I am glad it's over. I had a hard time prying my eyes away from the games whenever I was home and had some free time. It was a wonderful experience but overwhelming in many ways. I'm glad for life to get back to normal.
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Almost as soon as Barack Obama named Joe Biden as his running mate, I got two emails from different Catholic groups. They were completely contrary to each other.
Here are the announcements...

First: "Senator Biden will make an excellent Vice-President," said Dr. Patrick Whelan, president of Catholic Democrats. "He has lived out the tenets of his Catholic faith throughout his career -- speaking out tirelessly on behalf of the poor and the exploited, encouraging peace and reconstruction in the most despairing corners of the world, and promoting personal responsibility here in the US. He is a public servant who truly believes in the common good."

Second: "The Roman Catholic group, Fidelis, says Barack Obama's selection of pro-abortion Catholic Joe Biden to be his V.P. running mate 'is a slap in the face to Catholic voters" and poses a major challenge for American Catholics.' In a press release sent out overnight, Fidelis president, Brian Burch, declared that Barack Obama has "re-opened a wound among American Catholics" by picking a pro-abortion Catholic politician like Joe Biden.
According to Burch, the American Catholic bishops have made it clear that Catholic political leaders must defend the dignity of every human person, including the unborn. "Sadly, Joe Biden's tenure in the United States Senate has been marked by steadfast support for legal abortion" he added.
= = = =
So, Sen. Biden is either a brilliant pick or a "slap in the face," depending on whom you ask. This reflects the wide range of opinions among Catholics on some key issues, including abortion.
It does not, however, reflect the fact that the Catholic Church has been crystal clear and consistent in its pro-life, anti-abortion stance. Everyone has a right to speak out but it doesn't mean their statements carry equal weight.
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I wrote a blog the other day on an AP story about a girl who crashed her car as she was writing a text message. The girl was injured but survived. One reader sent me a note about a student of hers who died while sending a text message. She was traveling 65 mph, went off the road and hit a tree and was instantly killed.
This is a serious issue as people, especially young people, send more and more text messages.
As the writer pointed out in her email to me, a driver going 65 mph travels 88 feet in a second, in a car that probably weighs a ton. That's a lot of mass and velocity, and it poses a potential danger to other drivers, passengers and innocent bystanders.
Getting behind the wheel of a car is a serious responsibility and requires a driver's full attention.
So be smart and be safe -- don't do something stupid like sending text messages while you're driving. Your message can wait. Or you can call -- just keep it brief and get back to focusing on driving asap.

Sylvania, Ohio
August 25, 2008