The topic on which I have been asked to speak today is “The Cult of Ugliness in America.” I do not intend to speak of every possible example of ugliness in our society. That would be exhausting if not thoroughly discouraging. We already live cheek-by-jowl in an incredibly ugly culture; we cannot … Read more
On the Fourth of July, Americans will celebrate our independence and admire the marvelous fireworks. While they do so, the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property (TFP) will reflect on the issue of flag burning that occurred twenty years ago. At that time, the Supreme Court ruled, only … Read more
“I love vulgarity. Good taste is death, vulgarity is life.”These words by English fashion designer Mary Quant, who took credit for inventing the miniskirt and hot pants, reveal one of the most important, though rarely pointed out, aspects of the “fashion revolution” that started in the sixties: vulgarity. Indeed, fashions have increasingly … Read more
American TFP member Richard Lyon interviewed Robert Spencer, a noted expert on Islamic affairs and author of several books. Mr. Lyon asked him to address the nature of Islam and the different strategies and tactics it uses in the West. TFP: Both as a specialist in Islam and as a Catholic, could … Read more
The mediocre man has some notions about many things. By this, I mean he has vague and fluctuating notions which demand no effort to acquire or preserve. Whenever he wants to express his notions, he thinks he attains utter fulfillment by finding a showy word, or at least one that is not … Read more
This is a short video of TFP–ANF’s protest out front of the gates of the University of Notre Dame. Thousands of pro-life Catholics lined the streets leading to the main gate of the university. Dotting the sidewalks for miles, they prayed the Rosary, held signs and protested the university’s scandalous decision to … Read more
Apostles of the Fatima message rarely see the fruits of their labor in this life. I found this out firsthand during a visit to Augusta, Georgia. During the coffee break following Mass, the parish priest asked us to say a word about our work. After explaining our home visits with the statue … Read more
Prayer and peaceful protest have once again proven to be successful. According to an article in The Observer dated February 16, by pro-homosexual activist Tom O’Neil, “not only will there be no gay film festival this year [at the University of Notre Dame], it’s probably kaput for good.” Starting in 2004, homosexual … Read more
We live in complete chaos. “What a banal way to start an article!” some might think upon reading this opening sentence. In fact, it is banal, most banal. And I present this idea, in itself so banal, even trite, in its most elementary form to emphasize, even to the extreme, just how … Read more
The name Isabella — that of a 5 year-old girl killed by being thrown from a 6th floor flat in São Paulo, Brazil — still resounds in everyone’s minds. Her death has an especially terrifying aspect: the killer’s lack of moral sense. This complete lack of moral sense gives us the shivers. … Read more