Like, Relativism, You Know?

Last updated on: December 18, 2011 at 1:30 pm By Marc

Our language is wedded to our culture, in sickness or in health, for better or for worse, till death or illiteracy do them apart. If this is not readily apparent, think about our curses. Back when we had a faith, curses were fabulously blasphemous. ‘Sblood’ (Christ’s blood), or ‘swounds’ (Christ’s wounds) come immediately to mind when considering the old vulgarities of the English language. Unfortunately for us, when the religious fervour of our culture faded, these marvelous words faded with it.... Read more

Contraception Uber Alles!

Last updated on: November 7, 2011 at 1:26 pm By Marc

I received this message from a friend last night. I’d been following the issue, but had no idea that it was so immediate, and so I apologize for not tackling it sooner. For all practical purposes, Our Dear Government is telling Catholic health institutions that they must support contraceptive/sterilization use or cease to exist. Alternatively, they could serve and employ solely Catholics, which, from every angle you look at it, is an entirely whack compromise. (Sorry, cancer-patient at St. Jude’s.... Read more

What’s It Like Being Catholic?

Last updated on: November 7, 2011 at 1:26 pm By Marc

I‘m often asked this question. And while I am under the blissful delusion that I can rant and rave on any subject of my choice, this one leaves me stumped. What’s it like being Catholic? Well, it’s like…well you see…hm… It’s like sex.Wait, no, people will think I’m 18.It’s like waking up in the morning, looking outside, and realizing that someone had replaced your ordinary route to work with a roller-coaster, your pen with a sword, and your friends with gods.Not really.It’s... Read more

God Hates Gays…

Last updated on: November 7, 2011 at 1:26 pm By Marc

…so claims, not only the Westboro Baptist Church member picketing a funeral (may he be sat on by a 300-pound Marine), but also the New Atheist, as an argument that Christianity is a terrible blight on the face of earth. Though I wish it were otherwise, this seems to be the height of atheistic argument these days. The Christian today is rarely faced with any remonstration over his moral code, or an even halfway-decent explanation of the existence of the universe.... Read more

My First Column…

Last updated on: November 18, 2011 at 2:48 pm By Marc

…for Franciscan University’s newspaper, The Troubadour. The appalling strength of the abortion industry – in its daily destruction of 4000 American lives, its enormous wealth and seemingly limitless political clout – might lead one to believe that the pro-life battle is a losing battle. A good fight, to be sure, but a fight against a Goliath of such monstrous proportions that it will only ever remain a noble cause; never to be realized as a noble victory. The truth, however,... Read more

Death Metal Ain’t Got Nothing On Us

Last updated on: June 15, 2013 at 4:14 pm By Marc

A long, long time ago, in a galaxy frightfully near, when I was caught in the awkward throes of middle-school, Black Metal and Death Metal were where it was at. In fairness, I attended a British military school in Germany, which sort of implies dysfunction. Regardless, a good number of my friends were infatuated with drugs, wearing dead/dying/skeletal guitar players on their t-shirts, and rocking their satanic symbols. (What’s metal without corporate merchandise?) There was the pentagram, the anarchy sign, the... Read more

How To Be Sorry

Last updated on: November 7, 2011 at 1:27 pm By Marc

It’s a meaningful truth about the Church, that she restores true meaning to our distorted language. Thus being scandalous is not simply ‘being publicly sinful’ or ‘wearing a little clothing at a lot of clubs’, as our Pop music might suggest. It is leading the innocent astray by sinful example. In this sense, a prostitute might be innocent of scandal, for who is led to believe that pre-marital sex is virtuous by the example of prostitution? Our President, however, is... Read more

Guest Post: A Sexual Revolution

Last updated on: November 7, 2011 at 1:29 pm By Marc

(Got this from a wonderful woman over email, who prefers to remain anonymous. I love this, because it mirrors the path of so many women to the Church’s teachings! Read it!) When I was younger, I thought I was a revolutionary. Like most other people in my generation, I was encouraged to be different. I was encouraged to challenge the status quo for my own good and take control of my life. The third-wave feminists behind magazines like Bust! and... Read more

The Secret About Morality

Last updated on: November 7, 2011 at 1:29 pm By Marc

It’s been a while since I grappled with the idea that Catholicism is ‘too focused on rules, on taking away my freedom’, simply because I’d forgotten people still think that. (Seriously, you spend enough time absorbed in Catholicism and the phrase, “Catholics are too strict” starts to sound like an ironic joke told in subtle tones by a bucketful of hipsters.) No, it’s the Church who offers true freedom. The world is too damn strict. Like most things worth thinking,... Read more

The Inherent Awkardness Of Being Pro-Choice

Last updated on: November 7, 2011 at 1:29 pm By Marc

There I was, being normal, testing the murky waters of a potential romance, when a particular girl told me she was a vegetarian. Me: Bummer.Her: Do you eat veal?Me: Uh, well, no, because it’s not often offered to me-Her: I never eat veal. Do you know what veal is?Me: Baby cow-Her: It’s baby cow!Me: Yes. Yes it is.Her (tearing up): Do know that they sometimes kill the baby cows within months of them being born, just so they’ll taste nice... Read more