The Publication of the American Declaration of Independence on July 4th, 1776, marks the formal beginning of a great experiment. As Alexander Hamilton put it a decade later during the debate over adopting the new constitution, the question was whether free men, exercising “reflection and choice,” were up to the job.
When Our Priest is a Communist (To Whom Shall We Go?) Part II
Our culture has become toxic, and it is actively hostile to Christian belief and practice. Not only that, the toxicity has infected a large part of the institutional Church. What can we do if leaving the Catholic Church itself is not an option?
St. John Fisher, the Bishops, and Abortion
St. John Fisher St. John Fisher gave up his life on this date in 1535. He died because he would not subordinate the moral authority of the Church to the demands of the secular state. I'll have more to say about today's saint in a moment. First, let's take a moment to discuss the demands … Continue reading St. John Fisher, the Bishops, and Abortion
In The World, But Not Of It
In the World: Politics is a Means, Not an End And in the world is where we are . . . for now. But where was I? Oh, Yes. Last week I promised (or threatened) to discuss the issue of the relationship between faith and politics more fully (see last week's post "Religion, Culture, & Politics"). Something … Continue reading In The World, But Not Of It
Religion, Culture, & Politics: Which is the Foundation?
"Religion, Culture, and Politics" was one of the first things I published on this site in January 2021. I had just returned to bloggery in the aftermath of the Year of Covid and the doings surrounding the 2020 election. Many of us were surprised to discover, in the unofficial but potent alliance of various media, … Continue reading Religion, Culture, & Politics: Which is the Foundation?
Faith vs. Power: Epiphany
We can learn a lot from the faith of the Magi. How often do we, who have the full revelation of Jesus Christ and his Gospel, instead seek our own worldly agenda, following the example of miserable King Herod?
There’s Hope, If We Know Where to Look
What that means for us is that our first and most important task is to be the best Catholic Christians we can be, before we ever cast a vote or sign a petition.
Christ the King of the Universe . . . and of Our Hearts
Who would have guessed that despite the millions murdered and starved in the 20th century, and the manifest failure of every single attempt to invest god-like power into human governance, the totalitarian impulse would still hold such appeal, even growing appeal, in the third decade of the 21st century?
Christ is King of the Universe . . . and of Our Hearts
The End of History? Christ is King! How easily we forget . . . What a fool I was when the Berlin Wall fell forty years ago. I naively thought that the apotheosis of the state into totalitarian forms of government was fully and finally exposed. Everyone knew it was an inhuman, deadly fraud. In … Continue reading Christ is King of the Universe . . . and of Our Hearts
“Choice” and the Father of Lies
Truth is the mortal enemy of Sin. There is nothing sin hates and fears more than the truth. Few issues illustrate that reality as starkly as abortion. In Roe v. Wade the court sacrificed the Truth of Human Life to the Untrammelled Human Will.