DAILY CALL SHEET: FEBRUARY 3, 2025

The Sleeping Car (1990) A sad sack divorced thirtysomething heading back to college to finish his degree rents an old locomotive sleeping car decked out for student housing. Unbeknownst to him, the car's last occupant was an alcoholic serial-killing train engineer whose spiteful spirit still haunts the sofa. In no time, the lethal love seat kills anyone who stops by for a visit. No lie. It's a promising weird setup boosted by the presence of the always affable David Naughton. Sadly, it never quite gels and the film ultimately feels like lukewarm 80's leftovers.

TIL: For 30 years prior to WWI, The St. Anthony of Padua chapel rail car carried the sacraments to areas of the U.S. that had no Catholic Church. Spearheaded by Oklahoma City’s Bishop Francis Kelley, the idea was was initially opposed by his Archbishop who, true to his Franciscan roots, felt that a heated railroad car with bedrooms and a kitchen was far too luxurious a way for missionaries to travel. But Pope Pius IX loved the idea and gave it his blessing. Actually, the Baptists, Russian Orthodox, and Episcopalians also had cars on the rails, but the Catholic car was the most popular, with 25,000 people in Boston alone turning out to see it.

SHORT FEATURE: HAIR - EASY TO BE HARD  Ordo Amoris? Yep, one of those old Catholic terms is actually in the news. Now, don't worry, we're not getting into politics (Blech!), we're just interested in the ideas itself. So, if you're looking for a defense or condemnation of how any particular politician thinks the principle of Ordo Amoris should be carried out, look elsewhere.

Aquinas (of course) spells out the general guidelines of Ordo Amoris, or the Order of Love if you prefer English. He notes, "One’s obligation to love a person is proportionate to the gravity of the sin one commits in acting against this love.” Basically, he's saying it's a sin not to prioritize those for whom we have greater responsibility.

Let's do a for instance. What if your neighbor's house catches on fire at the same time Los Angeles is burning down. Ideally, you'd be in the financial situation to aid both. But, if you're strapped, helping your neighbor has to come first. Yes, even if their dog yaps too much or they haven't returned those tools they borrowed. Really, it's just common sense.

Oddly enough, the point is made quite excellently in this clip from the musical Hair in which the character of Hud's fiancé shows up to tell him she's pregnant and he tells her to get lost because he's too busy being a part of the movement. This cause her to  break into song (and has anybody performed this better than Cheryl Barnes does here) lamenting how this socially conscious hippie is overlooking the very person he should be helping the most. Ordo Amoris is right there in the lyrics...

How can people be so heartless

How can people be so cruel...

Especially people who care about strangers

Who care about evil and social injustice

Do you only care about being proud

How about I need a friend, I need a friend

So yeah, Ordo Amoris, it's a thing.