People who see the horrors of our chaotic world frequently segue to looking for a dangerous non-solution—the Benedict Option. That is why we must resist the temptation of simply writing off the present system with all its problems and isolating ourselves. In resisting, we reaffirm our certainty in Our Lady’s triumph foreseen … Read more
Fast-food giant Chick-fil-A shocked many conservatives when it suddenly announced a revision of its donation policies that excluded mainstream Christian groups deemed hostile to the LGBTQ+ cause. What triggered the decision is a matter of speculation. While company officials tried to deflect the charge of surrender to the homosexual lobby, no one … Read more
We often exercise the power of persuasion in very subtle ways. I saw this happen recently when I made a new acquaintance, who I will call Phil, at a Washington eatery. He served our nation during time of war, and we agreed on many issues. He explained that he is Catholic and … Read more
So much that passes for culture is just entertainment. What people consider “culture” is an excuse to have fun. Everything must be full of novelty and excitement. It must be Facebookable and Instagram-friendly. While these fun activities may be popular, they do not constitute culture. They have no depth. For many, even … Read more
The Trump phenomenon leaves many people perplexed. On the one hand, he has done many good things for the conservative cause. On the other, he undeniably gets into trouble with his unique style and tweets, many of which open him up to criticism and attack. While it is true that the president … Read more
In our polarized nation, an “us versus them” scenario naturally arises. We are not supposed to frame the debate in this way. “Us” should refer to all Americans. “Them” is a term that is better not used at all. This is the central message of Sen. Ben Sasse’s new book, Them: Why We Hate … Read more
With the nomination of a new Supreme Court Justice, everyone is talking about overturning Roe v. Wade. A solid conservative majority could pave the way to putting the unpopular decision out of its misery. The funny thing about controversy is that it is not really about Roe v. Wade. Everyone on both … Read more
There is talk of a new American civil war. Indeed, the vitriol of opposing parties is reaching levels heretofore unseen. It is especially vicious now over the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy. There is nothing civil about this coming war. For now, it is still a culture battle, but it might be … Read more
Extreme Noise Terror, Pungent Stench and Pestilence are all disagreeable topics of conversation for most people. They should be avoided in polite company. However, these repugnant things enjoy some favor in today’s postmodern society. The three topics are actually the names of death metal bands casually mentioned in a recent newspaper article. … Read more
Dear young friend, I have watched your protests against gun violence and could not help but recall my own youth. As a child of the Sixties, I was born of a generation that also had protests. I recall my desires to change the world and make it a better place by challenging … Read more