The war to eradicate Ukraine is becoming a war to eradicate freedom of speech. When the Russians jail reporters who speak against the regime, we all (“all”?) still know that’s wrong. But what about the good guys, we free peoples of the west who just want to protect a nation being unlawfully invaded, murdered, and destroyed? We’re edging in on the censorship game, too. Individuals who refuse to denounce the enemy are being fired from their jobs. Academics are being... Read more
This is a quick run-through of some of what I’m seeing in terms of reactions to the Russian war on Ukraine, and how those reactions fit within the framework of Catholic morality and social justice. #1 Does this count as just warfare and legitimate self-defense? I do have a degree in international relations, but I am not and never have been an expert on Eastern Europe. I’ve attempted to bring myself up to speed on current events by reading a... Read more
As I’m writing this it’s halfway through Ash Wednesday, definitely not too early for your Lent to have already gone off the rails. Okay? So pick yourself up and try again. *** There’s something about Lenten discipline that I think we don’t talk about enough: Obedience. I think this because I hear from people every year who wrestle with how to do Ash Wednesday or how to do Lenten Fridays or how to do Holy Week or how to do... Read more
Coming up from the rabbit hole with a quick heads up before Lent: Now through Sunday (tomorrow) night, my retreat book is free on Amazon. You can read more about it over at the substack, but honestly this is your shot to just have it, so now’s the time to grab it, you can decide later how much you love it or don’t. If you know someone who may want to use it sometime over the next year, let them... Read more
Hypothesis: Black Lives Matter riots, Antifa riots, Jan 6, and the Canadian trucker convoy — and all the European and Australian analogs to these — have something in common that we need to acknowledge if we don’t want to keep pushing people closer and closer to civil war. *** Peaceful protest is nothing new. These recent events, however, have taken on a character that I have spent the last two years telling my children: This is not normal for our... Read more
Now up at the substack, *finally*, is my review of my friend Emily DeArdo’s how-to on looking death straight in the face, every dang day of your life, and not just because it seems like a nice idea. For those wondering, there’s no way in heck I’m gonna be posting that kind of wordcount twice a week at the new place. If you see something that time-intensive come across the ether, you can expect we’re either doing just one long... Read more
If you want to understand the thing I’m about to announce, consider reading Simcha Fisher’s excellent essay “The Church you’re building”: First, let me be clear. There are people who feel this way, who have truly done their best to seek out the good, true, and beautiful in the institution founded by Christ, but it seems that every Catholic they encounter is on a mission to show them the bad, false, and ugly. I know people who are trying tremendously hard to refocus their hearts and... Read more
Got an e-mail reminder that registration is still open for the Catholic Writers Guild’s online conference this coming weekend. If you are an aspiring Catholic writer, you should give serious thought to attending this conference. (FYI: I forget what the clergy & religious rate is, but it’s generally *very favorable* so follow the instructions to inquire. If you qualify for it, you’ll very much like the discount.) My experience with the CWCO: I showed up for my first online conference... Read more
Amy Welborn writes forcefully in “But do gird your loins” about the disconnect between church leaders and the young people they seek to engage. I’d like to add an additional point that’s easy for in-church people to overlook: There’s a very good chance you are in church because you like it. It is much, much harder to hold onto your faith if church is unpleasant for you. It is fathoms more difficult to be involved in parish and diocesan life... Read more
I haven’t commented (anywhere) until now about the recently revealed accusations against Pope Benedict XVI. You can read about them here: German report accuses Benedict XVI of abuse coverup. What does it say? Benedict’s ‘error’: What have we learned? If you’ve been following my opinionating more than ten minutes, you know that I am furious about clerical sexual abuse and bureaucratic enabling of abusers. Longtime readers also know that I’m a B16 fan. I’ve just always liked the guy. Maybe... Read more
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