Cardinal Burke’s Fight Against Religious Liberty and the Ideals of the United States

Last updated on: May 22, 2019 at 10:57 am By Henry Karlson

Cardinal Burke, once again promoting an alt-right ideology which counters the Christian faith, called for limiting Muslim immigrants into the United States, saying such would be patriotic. Without a sense of irony, he gave this statement at a so-called “Pro-Life” March in Rome on May 17, 2019, demonstrating that his position is hostile to the dignity of all humanity, thinking that preference can and should be given to some over others according to one’s religion (or lack thereof). Such a... Read more

On the Recognition and Holiness of the Saints

Last updated on: May 20, 2019 at 3:05 am By Henry Karlson

“No one after lighting a lamp covers it with a vessel, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a stand, that those who enter may see the light” (Lk. 8:16 RSV). The stand might be dirty, the stand might have blemishes, the stand might have all kinds of problems: but the light it shines is true light, and those who come into that light share the benefits of that light. This is how we might want to... Read more

By Jacob’s Well: The Sunday of the Samaritan Woman

Last updated on: May 19, 2019 at 4:09 am By Henry Karlson

When Jesus went to Sychar, a Samaritan city, he encountered the Samaritan woman, traditionally named St. Photina, near Jacob’s well: There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. Jesus answered... Read more

Catholics Must Reject The Trump Administration’s War Drums

Last updated on: May 15, 2019 at 6:34 am By Henry Karlson

The war of words between Iran and the United States threatens the safety and security, not only of the people of Iran and the United States, but of the world as a whole. The threat of war is real, and it appears that the Trump administration is following the bellicose disposition of John Bolton (as Bolton seems interested in justifying a new war in the Middle East). While we are not there yet, and Mike Pompeo has said that the... Read more

Tolkien and the Alt-Right Orcs: Tolkien’s Forewarning and Rejection of the New Ultranationalism

Last updated on: May 14, 2019 at 6:58 am By Henry Karlson

Many fans of J.R.R. Tolkien like to use his works to promote war. Others, likewise, like to use his works as a defense of racism. The first group suggests that the works of Tolkien are filled with war, showing the good which can come out of it, forgetting, however, the ultimate solution for Tolkien was not war, and the embrace of power which is required in war to be a “victor,” but the destruction of the Ring, and the rejection... Read more

Appropriations and Essentialization

Last updated on: May 13, 2019 at 3:36 am By Henry Karlson

The incomprehensible God has revealed himself to us. There are many ways in which this can be said to be true. We could talk about the divine energies, and the way we come to know God in and through his works; by following this route, it can be said that we know God, not face to face, but rather, by receiving a glimpse of his glory from his back (cf. Ex. 33:18-23). Likewise, God reveals himself through the incarnation, and... Read more

Take Up Your Bed And Walk: A Reflection For the Sunday of the Paralytic Man

Last updated on: May 12, 2019 at 4:11 am By Henry Karlson

In the Byzantine tradition, the Fourth Sunday of Pascha commemorates the Sunday of the Paralytic. On it we remember when Jesus healed a paralytic man at the Sheep Gate pool. When we reflect upon the story, not only are there moral lessons to be learned, it also can be seen as a representation of how Jesus comes and heals us from our own spiritual infirmity. In the Gospel story, we are told of the pool of Bethzatha in which an... Read more

Christians Must Reject Trump And His Supporters As He Laughs At Shooting Migrants At The Border

Last updated on: May 9, 2019 at 2:14 pm By Henry Karlson

In a speech, Donald Trump, the so-called “pro-life” President, made it clear how far he is from being a promoter of life. As indicated and filmed by many sources, Trump had no problem laughing and making jokes about people shooting would-be immigrants at the border. Morgan Gstalter, writing for the Hill, shows how Trump and his supporters have no concern for human life: “And don’t forget, we don’t let them and we can’t let them use weapons,” Trump said of... Read more

The Relevance of Nicholas of Cusa’s Responses to the Bohemians and Amedeists to the Critics of Pope Francis Today

Last updated on: May 9, 2019 at 9:03 am By Henry Karlson

In the fifteenth century, Pope Eugene IV faced many similar complaints and criticisms of the Pope that Pope Francis receives today. Nicholas of Cusa was known as the “Heracles of the Eugenists” because of the effort he went to defend Pope Eugene IV from these accusations, working, as he could, to repair any schism that came as a result of the bad faith of Eugene’s critics. Nicholas faced many groups criticizing Catholic practices and doctrines of his day as being... Read more

We Are Responsible To The Future

Last updated on: May 7, 2019 at 2:42 pm By Henry Karlson

Great disaster, apocalyptic disaster, threatens the earth. We have done much to change the world around us. Science and technology have given us many great powers, making us capable of doing great wonders. But we have ignored the dark underbelly of our technological achievements. We have long thought we can put off to another day the troubles which we create today. We should have known we could not put them off forever. We should have known that one day the... Read more

True or False: Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in 52 days.