National Review Online, an outgrowth of the magazine founded by the venerable conservative publicist William F. Buckley Jr., recently ran an article with a title I will not repeat. The first word was “liberal,” a bad word I am used to, but the second had no business appearing in a headline anywhere, let alone in [...]
It is our moral duty to arm our children both intellectually and morally against the prevailing and shifting “norms” of the day. Let us confront the “soul of madness” in modern society by prayerful courage and then cooperate with grace for the sake of all in our society. Madness reached these shores long ago. Just [...]
My professor once asked me if I thought the landmark decision of Roe v. Wade was logically decided. Being the devout pro-life, traditionalist Christian that I am, I said yes. It was perfectly logical, if of course, we accept the two decisions upon which Roe was built. In Griswold v. Connecticut the court essentially invented [...]
I have been told that in the world of professional wrestling, popular villains are known as “cool heels.” Professional wrestling hardly is on the cutting edge of moral theory or even trends in popular culture. But its inclusion of “cool” bad guys into its violent morality plays is an indication, I think, of how far [...]
Reports of depraved violence and unspeakable affronts to the dignity of human persons now dominate the twenty-four hour news cycle. From the intentional destruction of a commercial airliner by Russian-backed rebels to widespread beheadings and crucifixions in the Middle East, it appears as if the world is fast becoming a blood-soaked battlefield—a nihilistic wasteland commanded [...]
A boss stands in front of his four employees and says: “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to let one of you go.” The black employee says: “Well, I’m a protected minority.” The female employee says: “And I’m a woman.” The elder employee says: “You fire me, sonny, and I’ll hit you with an [...]
As the the conservative philosopher put it, his “unacceptable” views prompted character assassination, three lawsuits, two interrogations, one expulsion, the loss of a university career, contemptuous reviews, Tory suspicion, and the hatred of decent liberals everywhere. And, he swears, it was all worth it. Reality itself had been affronted. Repulsed, it had recoiled and collapsed [...]
I admit to being rather pleased when I first read that a number of “actors” in pornographic films had been told by their banks that their business was no longer welcome. It seems the banks had determined that such persons posed a “reputation risk.” Too distracted by other things to pay much attention, I assumed [...]
“What’s wrong with Earth Day?” my student asks incredulously from the back of the classroom. “What issue could you possibly have with being good stewards of our environment?” “There’s simply no point to it,” I respond. “We have Easter.” My student furls her brow; “What on earth does Easter have to do with saving the [...]
In a recent case in North Carolina, a sweet faced and intellectually accomplished nun came to a Catholic high school to address the students about human sexuality. We don’t have the text of sister’s talk, but from the outrage expressed she not only criticized homosexual actions, but was down on divorce and sexual sin. The [...]
From early in our history, Americans have been proud of being a “meritocracy.” Anyone, we claim, can rise to the heights of our society through brains, effort, and perseverance. And it certainly is true that we have no traditional, inherited aristocracy. But what is the “merit” that it takes to succeed in America today, and [...]
In the Autumn of 2013 two Christian pastors from the mid-West were convicted of sex offenses against children. The first concerned a Protestant from the Victory Fellowship Church in Iowa. Youth pastor Brent Girouex pleaded guilty to repeatedly raping four boys (and eight more have come forward with accusations). Girouex’s crime was particularly sick. He [...]
The St. Patrick’s Day Parade is a Catholic celebration beginning with a Holy Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It is an ancient affair by American standards, steeped in centuries of tradition celebrating the Saint who set Ireland on fire for Christ and it includes much Irish culture and lore. It is a rare iconic cultural [...]
Lord Jim (1900), Joseph Conrad’s fourth novel, is the story of a ship which collides with “a floating derelict” and will doubtlessly “go down at any moment” during a “silent black squall.” The ship, old and rust-eaten, known as the Patna, is voyaging across the Indian Ocean to the Red Sea. Aboard are eight hundred [...]