David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher's Avatar

David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher

@daviddecosse

I'm Director of Religious and Catholic Ethics at the Markkula Center for Applied Ethics at Santa Clara University, the Jesuit university in Silicon Valley. Keen interests in the moral and theological dimensions of politics and policy.

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Latest posts by David DeCosse, Catholic theologian, journalist, teacher @daviddecosse

So the fact that we bombed a girls elementary school, while likely using AI for targeting, is going to be a major headline story dominating American news coverage when exactly?

06.03.2026 02:38 πŸ‘ 4123 πŸ” 1233 πŸ’¬ 149 πŸ“Œ 36
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Inside a managing master class: Dave Roberts breaks down a Game 7 for the ages

A great article about the human touch LA Dodgers manager Dave Roberts brought to the epic Game 7 of last year's World Series: A window into what makes him - and anyone - a great leader. Hats off to him and the Dodgers...and it's painful to say 'cuz I'm a Giants fan!
www.nytimes.com/athletic/708...

05.03.2026 16:23 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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01.03.2026 15:22 πŸ‘ 8819 πŸ” 2623 πŸ’¬ 267 πŸ“Œ 103
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Brady Tkachuk decries White House’s AI video of him insulting Canadians after US gold US ice hockey star Brady Tkachuk has said he does not appreciate an AI video released by the White House that shows him insulting Canadians

This story reflects exactly what the US men's gold-winning hockey team means to the president: Nothing more than that you are there to be used for his immoral ends. C'mon US men's team: you were fantastic in winning but time to wise up.
www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/f...

27.02.2026 02:44 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Statement from Dario Amodei on our discussions with the Department of War A statement from our CEO on national security uses of AI

Anthropic says no to coercion from Hegseth's Pentagon: "Regardless, these threats do not change our position: we cannot in good conscience accede to their request."
www.anthropic.com/news/stateme...

26.02.2026 23:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Contributor: Don't mistake military escalation in Iran for an actual strategy What is imagined as calibrated pressure in Washington could easily be perceived as an existential threat in Tehran.

Excellent post on the ethical and strategic problems with current US posturing for war with Iran: "Military force used to gain leverage in negotiations is different from self-defense. It is an effort to force another government to change its behavior."
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...

26.02.2026 17:59 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Catholic outrage at Ostermann Notre Dame appointment an intellectual and pastoral failure "If papal teaching is invoked to defend the sanctity of life, it should also be invoked to model the intellectual seriousness Catholic moral reasoning demands," writes Karen E. Park.

An outstanding articulation of the meaning of the Catholic intellectual life...
www.ncronline.org/opinion/gues...

25.02.2026 17:16 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Here's one among many Californians who says, "good riddance."

18.02.2026 01:30 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Opinion | Pam Bondi’s β€˜Cage Match’ and Trump’s Fraying Coalition

Watching Bondi was watching a human being corrupt herself: "[Trump] is putting in front of [her]: Hey, Pam, here is your job in one corner. And here in the other corner is reason, logic, morality,and decency. You have to give up all of those things. But if you do..."
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/o...

14.02.2026 20:02 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Thank you for this, Kevin. I find myself drawn more and more to the thought of Levinas these days. All the hyped-up, jacked-up, masked ICE militarism is one more totalizing effort to avoid the transcendence staring out from the face of a frightened migrant.

13.02.2026 16:51 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Trump is destroying America β€” he must be stopped At the ballot booth and in the streets, we must show that nonviolent collective action is still alive in America. What is at stake is the soul of our nation.

Jesuit Tom Reese has seen a lot and tells it like it is. On Trump ruining this country: "At the ballot booth and in the streets, we must show that nonviolent collective action is still alive in America. What is at stake is the soul of our nation."
www.ncronline.org/opinion/gues...

13.02.2026 16:46 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

In the event the Save Act is passed (and I hope not but we are where are), the Democrats will still win in the midterms and the GOP will still refuse to accept the results.

12.02.2026 23:38 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

So many things to say here but I find myself thinking about Zeldin: concerned about climate change for years and then, in Trump's cabinet, a total about-face. A gutless character and sign of these times.

12.02.2026 22:35 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Dear fellow Gen Z Catholic converts: Don't settle for fundamentalism Our desire for satisfying alternatives to modernity and a sense of meaning shouldn't turn us against all questioning. Questioning is what brought us to the faith in the first place.

Excellent piece by Jeromiah Taylor @ncronline.bsky.social on how conversion to Catholicism means an entry into a world in which everyone somehow belongs. "To confess such an idea, and if one can manage, to actually believe it, requires faith."
www.ncronline.org/opinion/ncr-...

12.02.2026 18:13 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

My friend: I think Christian morality is far more complicated than your note allows for. As the article noted, there have been many disastrous instances of Christian complicity in terrible events. But, paradoxically, Christian morality also stood in judgment on that complicity.

11.02.2026 17:34 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 3 πŸ“Œ 0
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Opinion | Donald Trump, Pagan King

Excellent piece on how the Trumpist appeal to Christian nationalism is in fact a return to a pagan world of values and a betrayal of Christian morality.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/o...

11.02.2026 17:11 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Hey progressives - let's not consume ourselves with purity tests divorced from public opinion: the tried and true way to blow the opportunity to develop a big coalition across a lot of difference that can sustain political change for years. In any case, Newsom has more fight than a lot of the left.

10.02.2026 22:27 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 0

While the billionaires kowtow and look the other way, actual patriots recognize their responsibility to speak out and assert right from wrong.

10.02.2026 22:13 πŸ‘ 726 πŸ” 193 πŸ’¬ 12 πŸ“Œ 3

Blanche has got to be the most unethical lawyer in the US...

10.02.2026 01:05 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Given events of the past week (which follow on many similar events), it is important to say it publicly and to own it: The president is a racist.

08.02.2026 21:43 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

A great piece by @jeanguerre.bsky.social on salvation by salsa (and reggaeton, etc): If we can just get ourselves to the dance floor with Bad Bunny, we can discover that we have hips that move and that "before we are red or blue, citizen or immigrant, we are bodies that bleed and sweat and dance."

07.02.2026 21:46 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

1. It was not an accident.
2. It was not a staffer.
3. While the president may have dementia his racism is not due to dementia.
4. He isn’t sorry. He means every racist thought he shares.
5. His base agrees with him.
6. He will do it again.
7. No one in power will hold him accountable.

06.02.2026 17:42 πŸ‘ 27705 πŸ” 8156 πŸ’¬ 433 πŸ“Œ 300
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Opinion | The Finance Industry Is a Grift. Let’s Start Treating It That Way.

Excellent piece by economist Oren Cass on how the financialization of our economy is destroying our economy.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...

06.02.2026 17:29 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Thanks for your great work on this, Greg. I think opposition to ICE tactics shows support for lasting immigration reform Trump/Miller know this and know the only way they can achieve their vision of America is through violence, not the political process. They use politics to destroy politics.

05.02.2026 16:59 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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02.02.2026 03:43 πŸ‘ 34268 πŸ” 8189 πŸ’¬ 399 πŸ“Œ 276
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This is hilarious!! 🀣 🀣

29.01.2026 13:35 πŸ‘ 11467 πŸ” 4433 πŸ’¬ 1718 πŸ“Œ 838
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Opinion | In Honduras, the American Right Is Piloting Our Future

Excellent piece by @jeanguerre.bsky.social that persuasively explains and reframes the tech-Trump-network state forces behind our current politics.
In Honduras, the American Right Is Piloting Our Future www.nytimes.com/2026/01/29/o...

29.01.2026 18:54 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
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This is the BEST explanation I have seen so far.

28.01.2026 03:12 πŸ‘ 12686 πŸ” 5601 πŸ’¬ 279 πŸ“Œ 444

Inspired by the sacrifices (even the ultimate sacrifice) and nonviolence of the great people of Minnesota, I find myself thinking more and more: Why should I - why should any of us - not have to fight for our country the way that brave people of past generations did? This is our time. j

27.01.2026 16:53 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Please share. πŸ’”

25.01.2026 04:46 πŸ‘ 13488 πŸ” 8391 πŸ’¬ 298 πŸ“Œ 401