July 18, 1870 was a bellweather day for the entire Church. After all the discussions, debates and discords, it was time for the public session promulgating the dogma of infallibility. At nine o’clock, Cardinal Lorenzo Barilli celebrated the Mass of the Holy Spirit. At the end of the Holy Sacrifice, the pope, … Read more
China is engaged in a new war with the West. The arms are not tanks and guns but trade. The tactics call for flooding and dumping cheap, subsidized products upon the West at prices no competitor can match. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) plans to prop up the faltering Chinese economy by … Read more
The latest fashion in Church governance is the Synodal Church. It features Church clergy and laity gathering to discuss the needs and desires of “the people.” Everyone is asked to be especially attuned to what “the Spirit” is saying. Thus, this Synodal Church considers itself a listening church. Everyone must listen more … Read more
According to the Wall Street Journal, government inefficiency makes so–called green energy needlessly expensive. On the other hand, the New York Times examined solar power only five days later and inquired optimistically, “What Will We Do With Our Free Power?” So, will the “Green New Deal” bring us limitless, almost free energy, … Read more
The postmodern university is fascinated with magic, and this is a most curious coupling—one with ominous social overtones. Until the mid-twentieth century, serious academics regarded any mention of magic as the ravings of the stupid or insane. They followed the scientific method of empiricism, emphasizing verifiable evidence in acquiring knowledge and forming … Read more
After the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the battle for the unborn rages unabated, as each side must readjust its strategies in a nation divided in half over this vital moral issue. As much as the left tries to frame the debate in terms of “women’s health” or “reproductive rights,” it cannot … Read more
Economist Friedrich von Hayek once pointed out that pricing’s charm stems from its unplanned emergence without deliberate human creation. Prices make complex processes easier by offering a standard unit of exchange. They smooth out interactions in the face of hurdles like rising transportation costs, material shortages and consumer preferences. However, this delicate … Read more
Some bishops at the First Vatican Council refused to take a position on defining papal infallibility. A small group kept silent out of timidity. Others wished to establish a common ground to facilitate a unanimous decision. As the Council’s deliberations proceeded, the Council Fathers clarified the meaning of the schema. In addition, … Read more
Perhaps the best symbol of the war in Ukraine is a photograph that the Catholic News Agency ran early in the conflict. It shows the ruins of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region. According to the caption, it was built in 1862. A Russian bomb … Read more
Religious pilgrimages are on the rise everywhere. People are seeking spiritual journeys that will bring meaning and purpose to their lives. A pilgrimage provides the opportunity to reflect upon one’s life and grow in love and devotion to God and His saints. They also help commemorate special occasions. On September 14, Catholics … Read more