EMILY: The Golden Rule, “Treat others as you wish to be treated” or “Treat thy neighbor as thyself,” can be found in most major religions – in one form of another. What separates Catholicism from the pack, so to speak? GRANDPA: I rather like it that this main law has universal resonance. It should. If God really is the Creator of the entire universe and of all human beings of every race and region, then it stands to reason... Read more
Whether capitalism or socialism is the better system for dramatically reducing poverty was a well-settled question by the mid-1980s. As I wrote in The Spirit of Democratic Capitalism (1982), the most underreported fact of the twentieth century was the death of socialism. It was dead, all right, but that underreported death would take a little more time to become overpoweringly evident to all. The global turn toward capitalism began not long after, in 1989, and within twenty-five years some 2... Read more
A bright and rather contemplative student of mine got herself into a perplexity recently. She had learned that Pope John XXIII had invited the world’s bishops to send in proposals that should be considered at Vatican II (1962-65). The new bishop of Krakow, Karol Wojtyla, wrote in that the work of the Council should be organized around two key concepts, “person” and “community.” Alice saw soon enough that person and communio are also the keystones of the mystery of the... Read more
On Libertarianism One frequently reads in Catholic media judgments like The Catholic faith and libertarianism are incompatible or No one can be both a Catholic and a libertarian at the same time. A figure often presented as libertarian is Ayn Rand. As if Ayn Rand represents the only kind of libertarianism there is. I would make haste to reject, heartily, Rand’s moral philosophy. Her moral thinking is far too self-centered on one level, and far too will-centered and nihilistic on... Read more
On Disparate Meanings of “Liberty” I have long noticed a widespread distaste for the phrase “economic liberty,” not least among Catholics in southern Europe, especially in Spain, Portugal, Italy, and France. In all these nations, of course, there are great champions of economic liberty. But many journalists and religious spokespersons shrink from endorsing it. This is especially seen among those inclined toward socialism, which in this context means a strong trust in the beneficence of government. One hears phrases such... Read more
In my experience, atheists usually assume that atheism (or its approximations) is the only reasonable position. They demand that Christians give an explanation of their beliefs. Thus, all the questions are directed to Christians: Why do you believe A? Why do you believe B? The assumption is that A and B are irrational positions. But honesty demands equal turnabout. Jürgen Habermas, a well-known and highly respected atheist thinker, reports that when he began examining his own beliefs, he had to... Read more
Last Sunday, April 26th, Ave Maria University’s Shakespeare troupe completed its 12-performance run of Midsummer Night’s Dream. I never liked this play, but producer and director Travis Curtright introduced a rapid change of mood and constant flow of appropriate contemporary music between scenes and acts, in a steady course of merriment. I have liked every Ave Maria Shakespeare production for the last five years, as I have written before; but this year’s may have been the best ever. It is... Read more
EMILY: Some people read Jesus’ comment “to turn the other cheek” to mean that people should forgive their oppressors. Others take it to be a sign of revolution and defiance. How do you read the passage? GRANDPA: You and I have both known people who are exceedingly touchy. If they think you are criticizing them in any way, they snap back. To protect their own pride is foremost in their minds. In fact, I find myself snapping back or... Read more
Coming down to earth in Washington, DC, is being hit on a regular basis with mean media takedowns of leaders you deeply admire and would like to emulate. In this case, I write of the great Librarian of Congress of our generation, James Billington, who has invented something wonderfully new for the distinguished Library of Congress, founded by Thomas Jefferson, and designed to be, eventually, as close a peer of the Vatican Library as can be brought into being. Out... Read more
EMILY: Some churches still sing Gregorian chant and perform the entire Mass in Latin, while others are singing new age music with the pop edge and giving more casual homilies in order to attract younger parishioners. Where does one draw the line between upholding tradition and changing to keep pace with the rest of the world? GRANDPA: One imperative of the Catholic faith is to remember and be faithful to the past, and the other imperative is to look... Read more
Coming down to Earth
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