The Ideal Soldier

The Ideal Soldier 1

It is not every day that one meets a veteran of World War II much less one who was present during the historic battle for Iwo Jima. But I knew something was different about Norbert Arnold as he approached me during a presentation about Fatima at his cousin’s home in St. Mary’s, … Read more

Trooping the Colors at Brown University

Trooping the Colors at Brown University 5

There is something about toy soldiers that brings out the boy in every man. Before toys became genderless and pacifistic, the toy soldier was the mainstay of countless boyhood games. How many boys marched their soldiers into battle, staged mock wars, and dreamed of military glory! Indeed, how many military careers were … Read more

The Intervention of Our Lady in History

The Intervention of Our Lady in History 1

  Just as in our daily lives we should always be cognizant of the presence of God, so in our analysis of historical events we should always keep in mind the power and intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary over the sweep of history. In this series of studies titled Revolution and … Read more

Looking Upon a Nation Divided

Looking Upon a Nation Divided 2

No one questions the fact that America is now a nation divided. The 2004 elections served only to highlight a polarization that has been long in the making. What surprised many was the primary cause of this division. It was not wars, Medicare benefits or matters of self-interest that galvanized the country. … Read more

Back to Merry Christmas

Back to Merry Christmas

It’s official. After six years of what has been called a “war on Christmas,” Merry Christmas is coming back. Much of corporate America has conceded defeat on the issue. What most people do not realize is that a conservative cultural victory slipped quietly under the radar and the rumblings of that battle … Read more

March for Life: Braving the Storm, Come What May

An Appeal for Insistence - 2010 5

A cold penetrating rain poured down on the night before the March for Life. No doubt many anti-abortion Americans looked at the bleak weather forecast and wondered what the next day’s march would bring. Some might have even hesitated. It is in dreary times not sunshine when the true caliber and dedication … Read more

The War of Words: What is an Insurgent?

The War of Words: What is an Insurgent? 1

It is said a picture is worth a thousand words, but a well chosen word can make an otherwise clear picture, quite obscure. This became very evident for me recently as I read an Associated Press article1 about how 76 insurgents were killed in fierce fighting. For some time now, I have … Read more

Just War According to Catholic Teaching

Just War According to Catholic Teaching 1

After the brutal September 11 attacks, the United States must once again wage a war in a foreign land. As always, the problem of the legitimacy of using military action for revenge as a means of re-establishing justice comes to the fore. Thus, it is in the interest of our readers to … Read more

Just War and the Pacifist Offensive on Sovereignty

The nation’s attention is rightly focused on the war in Iraq, where American and allied armed forces are bravely engaged in battle. At the same time, however, America is locked in a second war, one that is equally important for victory: the psychological battle for public opinion. Both are difficult. Both are … Read more