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Dinner party
Occasionally I indulge in this little exercise.
Name eight people you would like to have locked in at the same English country manor for a weekend.
Let’s be creative.
- Martin Sheen
- Mel Gibson
- Camille Paglia
- Sarah Palin
- Dick Morris
- Hillary Clinton
- Catherine Pepinster
- Michael Matt
Why punish Sarah Palin?
Comment by Anita Moore OPL — 9 February 2010 @ 9:49 pmOnly if they were to play THEN THERE WERE NONE (taken from TEN LITTLE INDIANS).
Comment by William H. Phelan — 9 February 2010 @ 10:03 pm1.) Mel Gibson is a great one, I’ll put him on my list.
Comment by ghlad — 9 February 2010 @ 10:05 pm2.) Joseph Bottum
3.) Bishop Mahoney
4.) Mahoney’s successor
5.) Jimmy Akin
6.) Benji Netanyahu
7.) Tiger Woods
8.) Ricky Kaka
Abp Burke, Fr. McBrien, Sr. Joan Chittister, Rush Limbaugh, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Sarah Palin, Me
Comment by r.j.sciurus — 9 February 2010 @ 10:09 pm1. Benedict XVI
Bud Macfarlane Jr.
Comment by Justalurkingfool — 9 February 2010 @ 10:09 pmBai Macfarlane
My Wife
Sean Hannity
Comment by John 6:54 — 9 February 2010 @ 10:10 pmNancy Pelosi
Bill O’Rielly
Chris Matthews
Fr. Z
Keith Oberman
Sarah Palin
Paris Hilton
Con’t:
Myself
Comment by Justalurkingfool — 9 February 2010 @ 10:12 pmArchbishop Raymond Burke
Bishop Antonin Stankiewicz
My wife’s Lover
Actually, a twist to that would be “whom would you like to invite to a dinner party that has died in the last , let’s say 100 years”? Now, that would be intriguing….. [Indeed… and another time that would be really great. I have had some earlier entries like that. Maybe.. next time?]
Comment by momoften — 9 February 2010 @ 10:13 pmRJS: Imagine me at the same table with Sr. Chittister.
Comment by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf — 9 February 2010 @ 10:13 pm1) Milton Friedman
Comment by sjg4080 — 9 February 2010 @ 10:16 pm2) John Maynard Keynes
Would love to engage in debate on the current state of the economy with them
3) Abraham Lincoln
4) Barack Obama
Would love for Lincoln to engage with his successor and debate the merits of Obama’s policies of rapid government expansion
5) St. Pius X
6) Benedict XVI
Would love for the two to debate the merits of Vatican II and its implementation
7) Fr. Z
8) Fr. Richard McBrien
Would just love to see the fireworks!!
Sorry Father, didn’t realize the deceased wish list is for another post…
I’ll keep the 4 living on my list
1) Obama
2) Benedict XVI
3) Fr. Z
4) Fr. Richard McBrien
and add 4…
5) Pat Buchanan
Comment by sjg4080 — 9 February 2010 @ 10:20 pm6) Thomas Sowell
7) Fr. Groeschel
8) Bill Bennett
Nancy Pelosi
Comment by Tim Ferguson — 9 February 2010 @ 10:33 pmArchbishop Raymond Burke
Antonin Scalia
Madonna Ciccione
Janet Smith
Martin Sheen
Andrew Sullivan
Condoleezza Rice
Steve Wood
Comment by avecrux — 9 February 2010 @ 10:39 pmDawn Eden
Fr. Benedict Groeschel
Sara Groves
Dr. Paul Vitz
Joe Scheidler
Archbishop Burke
and
Tiger Woods
Tim Ferguson, that’s not fair. Archbishop Burke and Antonin Scalia have too much intellectual heft for the group you put together. Tom
Comment by TJerome — 9 February 2010 @ 10:42 pm1) Fr. Z
2) Prof. Jonathan Walton
3) John McCain
4) Pope Benedict XVI
5) Archbishop Raymond Burke
6) Bart Stupak
7) Dr. Edward Peters
8) Prof. Randolph Head
Fr. Z,
Comment by Francisco Cojuanco — 9 February 2010 @ 10:49 pmThis would be an interesting set up – of the eight, five are current or former academics (Walton, the Holy Father, Burke, Peters and Head). Five are Catholics (yourself, the Pope, Burke, Stupak and Peters). It would be an interesting weekend indeed, though I would hope that all of you wouldn’t bore Stupak and McCain… ;-)
I’d want someone there for each of them to converse with after the rest have had their brains fried, though I’m sure that Condi Rice and Dr. Smith could keep pace quite well. Sullivan and Sheen would be third tier.
Comment by Tim Ferguson — 9 February 2010 @ 10:49 pmFr.’s List:
“Martin Sheen
Mel Gibson
Camille Paglia
Sarah Palin
Dick Morris
Hillary Clinton
Catherine Pepinster
Michael Matt”
I would take the second and the last. Add to these: Thomas Wolfe, Cormac McCarthy (the greatest writer of our time), Benedict XVI (he would have all amazed in myriad ways), Oliver Stone (you definitely want him to stir the pot), Bishop Williamson (yes, I know, “Booo!”, [Are you kidding? GREAT choice!] but the man IS a hoot, and on occasion, despite his proclivities, says something amazingly interesting), and, last but not least, William Jefferson Clinton, by far the smartest man to walk in the White House in recent memory, if the most depraved. [Well.. clever, at least.] Now, you would need good security for this group, mind you—not from outsiders, but from each other.
Comment by Maltese — 9 February 2010 @ 10:51 pmFr. Z,
The best part of your post is addition of Michael Matt…. [I try.]
My top 8:
1. Benedict XVI
Comment by Andy Milam — 9 February 2010 @ 11:00 pm2. Bishop Williamson
3. George W. Bush
4. Matthew Fox and Starchild
5. Archbishop Harry J. Flynn
6. Monsignor Richard Schuler
7. Sr. Helen Prejean
8. Condoleeza Rice
Here is my list. Some great thinkers and visionaries. How could they help B-16 put the Reform of the Reform and the New Evangelization into full steam, with the most effect.
Pope Benedict XVI
Comment by ipadre — 9 February 2010 @ 11:00 pmWalt Disney
Ronald Regan
Sarah Palin
Laura Ingraham
Pope Pius XII
Steve Jobs
Albert Einstein [I bet he, and the other DEAD PEOPLE, might depress conversation.]
Religious:
Pope Benedict (obvious)
Pope John XXIII (I’d love to know what he was REALLY thinking re VII)[Isn’t he dead?]
Fr. Edward Kelty (personal friend I have a LOT of respect for)
Fr. Z (and not just because it’s his blog)
Public Servant:
The Wun
Hillary
Sarah Palin
Entertainment + News:
Comment by Bryan — 9 February 2010 @ 11:07 pmMel Gibson
Sam Elliot
Mike VonFremd
With most of the lists proposed if I were in charge of the local Constabulary I’d bring on some extra bobbies for the event. There’s bound to be some knock down drag outs in some of those groups.
Comment by EXCHIEF — 9 February 2010 @ 11:12 pmHugo Chavez
Comment by momravet — 9 February 2010 @ 11:23 pmMahmoud Ahmadinejad
Benjamin Netanyahu
Hamid Karzai
Fr. John Corapi
Bill Donohue
Hillary Clinton
Sarah Palin
See, I thought about B16 for my list, but decided that there’s absolutely no conscionable way for me to take 72 hours of that man’s time! :)
Comment by ghlad — 9 February 2010 @ 11:28 pmCage match?
Comment by Fr. Erik Richtsteig — 9 February 2010 @ 11:29 pmKathleen Sebelius
Fr. John Corapi
Pres. Obama
Cecile Richards
Fr. Z.
Nancy Pelosi
Fr. Thomas Euteneuer
Kevin Jennings
I’d call 911 before locking them in, just sayin’.. Oh, I’d buy a dvd of the whole bout.
Comment by wanda — 9 February 2010 @ 11:31 pmPurely fantasy of course – especially after a few bottles of wine…
Fr Florian Abrahamowicz [That’s not inflammatory!]
Comment by Son of Trypho — 9 February 2010 @ 11:44 pmMalik Zulu Shabazz
Boris Johnson
Abe Foxman
Christopher Hitchens
George Galloway
Rev John Hagee
Ann Coulter
Might be inflammatory but would make for interesting dinner conversation for sure! :)
Comment by Son of Trypho — 10 February 2010 @ 12:16 am1. Alan Keyes
Comment by stgemma_0411 — 10 February 2010 @ 1:07 am2. Benedict XVI
3. Marcia J. Colish
4. Aidan Nichols, OP
5. Scott Hahn
6. Cardinal Levada
7. Fr. Reginald Foster
8. Dr. William Kinsella
Nancy Pelosi
John Kerry
Patrick Kennedy
Joe Biden
Bob Casey Jr.
Anthony Kennedy
Sonia Sotomayor
& Mother Angelica
The first seven don’t even stand a chance.
Comment by ryder — 10 February 2010 @ 1:11 amTom Roeser
Christopher Ferrara
Michael Matt
George Weigel
Spengler (aka David Goldman)
Rahm Emanuel
Pres. Obama
Fr. Z
Fr. George Rutler
OK, so that’s nine but should Rahmbama really count as two?
Topics of discussion: Quas primas, Republican Party platform, neoconservatism, liturgical and political etiquette (e.g., when and how to bow during Mass and in State functions)
Comment by btb — 10 February 2010 @ 1:13 amAwfully interesting lists, though mostly Eurocentric, I’m noticing.
Try this one for size:
Mahmoud Ahmedinejad
Comment by Chris Altieri — 10 February 2010 @ 1:34 amAbp Louis Sako of Kirkuk of the Chaldeans
Francis Fukuyama
Stanley Cavell
A(u)ng San Suu Kyi
Morgan Tsvangirai
Alejandro Bermudez
Bishop Anthony THeofore Lobo of Islamabad-Rawalpindi
Theodore
Comment by Chris Altieri — 10 February 2010 @ 1:35 amFr. Z
Comment by JohnMa — 10 February 2010 @ 1:55 amHis Holiness
Joe Mauer
Osama Bin Laden
Kim Jong Il
Patriarch Bartholomew
Patriarch Kirill
Barack Obama
Comment by Vincenzo — 10 February 2010 @ 2:08 amAlternatively:
Albert II of the Belgians
Comment by Chris Altieri — 10 February 2010 @ 2:42 amBulimbol Adulyadej of Thailand
Dalai Lama
Hu Jintao
Abp Ramzi Garmou of Tehran of the Chaldeans
Aishwarya Rai
Dusan Makavejev
AJ Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Alternatively:
Valerio Massimo Manfredi
Comment by Chris Altieri — 10 February 2010 @ 3:02 amKen Follett
Norah Jones
Sophie Marceau
Karen Armstrong
Stephen Chu
Muhammad Yunus
Sister Mary Prema
Here’s an all (and all’American) radiophonic weekend:
Krista Tippett
Comment by Chris Altieri — 10 February 2010 @ 3:41 amAl Kresta
Ira Glass
Stephanie Miller
Don Imus
Walter Edgar
Laura Ingraham
Garrison Keillor
The Holy Father
Cardinal Mahoney
Bishop Williamson
Cardinal Arinze
Dr. Rowan Williams
Father Michael Scanlon
Bishop Burke
Ann, the Lay Apostate
Deacon Mark Miravale
Cardinal Levada
PLUS:
Comment by B.C.M. — 10 February 2010 @ 3:43 amA stenographer
The guy who announces professional wrestling… And perhaps a few Swiss Guardsmen.
I think I’ll go with an eclectic set this time –
1.Jorge Posada
2.Paul Farmer
3.George H. W. Bush
4.Peter Blute
5.Neil Armstrong
6.Doc Severinsen
7.Geoffrey Hughes
8.Tony Bennett
(if we weren’t restricting ourselves to those currently alive, I was going to go with –
1.Arthur Conan Doyle
2.Agatha Christie
3.Ed McBain (not Evan Hunter, though)
4.Robert Parker
5.Franklin W. Dixon (okay, Leslie McFarlane)
6.Donald J. Sobol (yes, I know he’s alive)
7.Isaac Asimov
8.___
....and watch the seven of them try to deduce who should be in the eighth chair.)
Comment by Charivari Rob — 10 February 2010 @ 4:15 amThe Holy Father
Comment by Gabriella — 10 February 2010 @ 4:24 amKierkegaard
Kung
Zapatero
Obama
Ahmadinejad
Richard Dawkins
Steven Weinberg
Alternatively (and seeing as they are to be ensconced in an English country house):
Philip of Edinburgh
Comment by Chris Altieri — 10 February 2010 @ 4:33 amMagdi Cristiano Allam
Newt Gingrich
Breda Ennis
Mary Ann Glendon
Alannis Morissette
Rowan Williams
Craig Ferguson
I. The Holy Father
Comment by iakob the confessor — 10 February 2010 @ 4:50 amII. Archbishop Ranjith
III. Archbishop Burke
IV. His Eminence, George, OMI (just because you never know what he’s going to say)
V. George Weigel
VI.Bishop Donald Trautman
VII. Sister John Chittister, OSB,
VIII. Anyone from The Tablet
IX. Anyone from America (the Magazine)
Jimmy Akin
Comment by TC — 10 February 2010 @ 4:51 amOrson Scott Card
Rev. Jeremiah Wright
Gary Oldman
Michael Flynn
Fr. John Zuhlsdorf
Samuel Alito
Stephen Colbert
You and Michael Matt would wind up being the only two defending Holy Mother Church once the conversation turned to religion. It would not be a fair fight, either one of you on his own would be no match for the secularists. I am afraid to say that Camille Paglia would be the only honest intellectual the two of you would be able to have any meaningful conversation with.
Comment by Tom A. — 10 February 2010 @ 6:04 amopss, I meant either one of you on your own would easily out argue the entire other side
Comment by Tom A. — 10 February 2010 @ 7:57 amTom A has given me an idea: when he says, “[Fr Z] and Michael Matt would wind up being the only two…once the conversation turned to religion[,]” I am given to ask: why must the conversation turn to religion, at all?
Thence I had the following notion: a list of 8 living people, experts or public voices on a particular field or area of human life, who, brought together for a weekend house party, would be expressly forbidden to talk about their common subject.
E.G.
Bill Keller (NYT)
Giuliano Ferrara (Il Foglio)
Sylvie Kauffmann (Le Monde)
Berthold Kohler (Frankfurter Allgemeine zeitung)
James Harding (ToL)
Zhang Yannong (People’s Daily)
Valery Ignatenko (Itar-Tass)
Sam Adesua (Nigerian Tribune)
Would gather for a weekend in each other’s company, during which they would not be allowed to discuss politics.
Not wishing to hijack this thread, I’m going to put this up at mine:
Chronicles from the Front
Let me also add the following, further contribution to Fr. Z’s most excellent excercise:
Dolores O’Riordan
Comment by Chris Altieri — 10 February 2010 @ 8:03 amHayao Miyazaki
Svetlana Zhakarova
Jay Ungar
Paul Murray, OP
Kiko Arguello
M. Igor D’Alessandra
Peter Kreeft
Fr Hans Kung
Comment by ljc — 10 February 2010 @ 8:45 amFr Richard McBrien
Sr. Joan Chittister
Archbishop Rembert Weakland
“Archbishop” Emmanuel Milingo
Editor of The Tablet
Editor of the National Catholic Reporter
Pope Benedict XVI
If Abp Weakland is there, maybe Barney Frank should also be among the guests.
Comment by robtbrown — 10 February 2010 @ 8:50 amFr Z, that would be a most interesting dinner party, and if it happened, I think I would give almost anything to be a fly on the wall.
Vincenzo, what a terrific photo you made.
Comment by Andrew — 10 February 2010 @ 8:51 amHow about
P.Z. Myers (host desecrator)
Father Z
Then after they drag Myers away, we’ll start all over.
Comment by Ellen — 10 February 2010 @ 9:10 amPope Benedict XVI
Comment by TNCath — 10 February 2010 @ 9:22 amFranc Cardinal Rode
Mother Mary Clare Millea, A.S.C.
Father John Zuhlsdorf
Sister Joan Chittister, O.S.B.
Mother Mary Assumpta Long, O.P (Mother General of the Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist)
John Allen
Father John Jenkins, C.S.C.
This gathering would have to be a Men’s Smoker:
1. Thomas Molnar
Comment by wchoag — 10 February 2010 @ 9:26 am2. Duncun Sroik
3. Thomas Storck
4. Danny Boyle
5. David Allen White
6. Rev. Richard Munkelt
7. Ronan Harris
8. Luis de Borbón y Martínez-Bordiú
9. Archbishop Hilarion (Alfeyev)
10. Msgr. Georg Gänswein
Peyton Manning
Comment by lacrossecath — 10 February 2010 @ 9:43 amBrett Favre
Bobby Jindal
Sean Hannity
Fr. Tom Euteneuer
Bp. Richard Williamson, SSPX
Fr. Thomas Reese, SJ
Bill Brasky
Father Z
Angela Braly
Benedict XVI
Richard McBrien
Pat Buchanan
Chris Matthews
Glenn Beck
Christina Fernandez di Kirchner
Indra Nooyi
Father Corapi
Maybe some of the women would be converted…
Comment by Supertradmom — 10 February 2010 @ 9:54 amSupertrad, I really enjoyed your list – the one with Kirchner and Indra Nooyi on it.
I hadn’t thought of including a big time ceo in any of my lists.
Best,
Comment by Chris Altieri — 10 February 2010 @ 10:15 amC.
Ah, do not forget the power ladies.
Comment by Supertradmom — 10 February 2010 @ 10:16 am1. Pope Benedict XVI
2. Father Juan Albaladejo
3. Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz
5. Fr. Jose Lorenz
6. Mary Ann Glendon
7. My husband
8. Myself
This would be so much fun…..aaahh I can dream can´t I??????
Comment by MaryMaria — 10 February 2010 @ 10:20 am1) King Juan Carlos
Comment by jlskey — 10 February 2010 @ 10:20 am2) Fidel Castro
3) Justice Scalia
4) Bishop Williamson
5) Putin
6) Jean-Marie Le Pen
7) Cardinal Mahony
8) Edwin Edwards [presuming the whole incarceration thing is not a problem]
9) Laura Bush
10) Kissenger
I forgot,
Are we trying to parody Big Brother, Survivor (With Rudy Boesch and Richard Hatch) or The Haunting of Hill House (1963 version)? OK here goes,
Bozo Tribe:
Andrew Sullivan
Rupaul
Henry Morgantaler
Ilona
Nutzi Tribe:
Margaret Thatcher
Comment by pseudomodo — 10 February 2010 @ 10:27 amRush Limbaugh
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Candy Crowley
If you really want some fireworks lock the following people in a room for the weekend with everything they could ever want to celebrate Sunday Mass:
Bishop Slattery (of Tulsa)
Fr. Z
iPadre
Fr. Corapi
Fr. Jenkins
Fr. McBrien
Archbishop Weakland
Cardinal Mahoney
Don’t forget the cameras, a few web-cams on the ceiling a la iPadre should do just fine.
Comment by revs96 — 10 February 2010 @ 10:27 amG.K. Chesterton and Hillaire Belloc. nobody else.
Shame on the rest of you for forgetting my ChesterBelloc.
Comment by Andy F. — 10 February 2010 @ 10:34 amOooo-what an interesting exercise this is!
Hmmm: I’d pick..
1) Benedict XVI
2) Father Z
3) Father Corapi
4) Archbishop Burke
5) Fr. McBrien
6) Cardinal Mahony
7) Archbishop Weakland
8) Sister Joan Chittister
Oh, to be a fly on the wall at this gathering! Would love to have a hidden camera to record this ecclesiastical smackdown!
Vincenzo-you struck again! Love it!
Comment by irishgirl — 10 February 2010 @ 10:48 amMy VIII
I Cardinal Mahony
II. Abp Niederhaur
III. Bp Tod Brown
IV. Bp Matthew Clark
V Abp Ranjith
Comment by Joe of St. Thérèse — 10 February 2010 @ 10:48 amVI Pope Benedict XVI
VII Mother Angelica
VIII Fr Corapi
1. Hayao Miyazaki(greatest film-maker ever to live)
2. Ron Paul
3. Stan Lee
4. Stephen Colbert
5. Fr. Corapi
6. Javier Pastore (or any member of the Palermo soccer team really)
7. Jean-Luc Marion
8. Barack Obama
9. Jon Stewart
10. Peter Singer
Just missed the cut (due to the unfortunate circumstance of being dead)
Comment by Salvatore_Giuseppe — 10 February 2010 @ 10:53 am11. J.D. Salinger(perhaps one of the greatest short story writers)
12. Salvidor Dali(great painter, even more interesting person)
Upon posting, I realized that I was only allowed 8 guests, so I suppose I should revise.
To make a more friendly party, I will kick out those added as opposition to the debate.
remove Obama, Stewart and Singer. That leaves me with 7, the eight spot going to
8. Eddie Argos (lead singer of Art Brut, and a most intriguing personality)
Comment by Salvatore_Giuseppe — 10 February 2010 @ 10:57 amKobe Bryant
Comment by Brian Day — 10 February 2010 @ 11:27 amM. Knight Shyamalan
Bob Dylan
Michael Crichton
Francis Cardinal Arinze
Fred Thompson
Thomas Sowell
Michelle Malkin
1. Vladimir Putin
Comment by sea the stars — 10 February 2010 @ 11:45 am2. Sister Veronica of the Poor Clares, Lerma, Spain
3. Dr. Rowan Williams
4. Silvio Berlusconi
5. Mine That Bird (so Putin can go for a ride after dinner)
6. The Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI
7. Patriarch Kyril of Moscow
8. Fr. Z. to take photos and to report on the procedings.
1) Archbishop Leferbve
Comment by Jack Hughes — 10 February 2010 @ 2:40 pm2) Fr Mcbrien
3) St Philomena
4) Fr Jenkins
5) St Padre Pio
6) St Thomas Aquinas
7) Our Lady
8) Fr Z
1. Rep. Barney Frank
Comment by trespinos — 10 February 2010 @ 2:57 pm2. Mark Shea
3. Charles Krauthammer
4. Sen. Brown
5. Abp. Chaput
6. Prof. R. George
7. Iowahawk
8. Rachel Ray
Cardinal Arinze
Comment by worm — 10 February 2010 @ 3:47 pmArchbishop Chaput
Alice von Hildebrand
Mary Ann Glendon
Sister Chittister
Nancy Pelosi
Father Jenkins
Cardinal Mahony
> Pope John XXIII (I’d love to know what he was REALLY thinking re VII)[Isn’t he dead?]
Yeah, realized the ground rules just as I pressed submit. Mea culpa. It would be interesting, though, no?
Comment by Bryan — 10 February 2010 @ 5:23 pmDear Lord! This is the only time I’ve been on your blog and had to take a tiny bathroom break because I’m laughing too hard!
Comment by staggering but still standing — 11 February 2010 @ 1:19 amHow did Vincenzo post a picture? (I like it, by the way!)
Comment by Hamburglar — 11 February 2010 @ 1:59 amThanks Hamburglar & Andrew. Hamburglar, Fr. Z makes the pic appear.
Comment by Vincenzo — 11 February 2010 @ 9:20 am