As Kevin O’Brien points out, Everybody’s doin’ it! But it’s only wrong when Those Guys Over There do it. When we do it, we have really good reasons. Best part: the more powerful the person is who does it, the less accountability they have. Our God King, for instance, doesn’t even have to obey the laws he is sworn to uphold, because he’s so righteous. Read more

…that the criticisms I direct at the Thing that Used to Be Conservatism somehow give you a fig leaf for voting for the Dems, do be aware that you are a fool. The Dem leadership, from Obama on down, make it extremely clear that they are the overt enemies of the Catholic Church–and therefore the enemies of God. They aren’t even subtle anymore. If you support those people, thinking that somehow this is compatible with Catholic faith you are, I... Read more

And it wasn’t even that hard to figure out. It really does astound me how amazingly bad the discernment of conservative Christians has been–repeatedly. From completely misreading this story to blind zeal for one folk hero after another–and the absolute certitude that disagreement about any of this stuff means that the person who disagrees is not merely mistaken but an Enemy of God–the terrible lack of discernment has been breathtaking. But even more breathtaking is the failure to learn from... Read more

This goes out to Luke. Read more

writes a pretty good diagnosis of the way the Right has largely co-opted “faithful conservative Catholics” (in much the same way the Left has co-opted progressive Catholics). Almost nobody thinks in terms of standing up to their political leaders telling them the Catholic tradition sits in judgement of our political agendas and does not exist as a stepin fetchit for party agendas. Pols are predators. They look at their supporters as food just as wolves look at sheep. It is... Read more

I have a question on the Universal Living Rosary Association, headed by Patti Melvin. I had once learned that this organisation may not be entirely “in line” with the Roman Catholic Church – in spite of its obvious Catholic identity – because of its affiliation with dissenting clergy; such as the listing of Bishop Daniel Dolan, a priest with the schismatic Society of St. Pius X, on its website. I had also noted that the website almost never mentions praying... Read more

…is not prissy prima donna perfectionism that makes the perfect the enemy of the good. It is normal Catholic morality that makes the good the enemy of the evil. Catholics need to reclaim their own moral tradition and stop learning it from TV and Talk Radio. Read more

I’m doing a retreat for the Militia Immaculta folks out at Marytown in Libertyville December 29-January 2 and I’m wondering if, while I’m there, somebody in the Windy City might be interested in having me come out to speak at their parish around or after January 3ish or so. If so, please let me know ASAP. The good part for you and is that MI is picking up the airfare. So I’d just need transportation to your parish from Marytown... Read more

A reader writes: You have my prayers and I beg yours as we continue with our attempt at adopting a boy from Haiti. Father, hear our prayer that this family would succeed in their adoption plans and give a loving home to a child that needs it. Mother Mary and St. Joseph, pray for them and for that child. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Another reader writes: Just wanted to update that it looks like none of... Read more

That anybody who automatically says, “Redistribution of property is solely the product of a damned atheist Komminiss mind!” really needs to familiarize themselves with the Jubilee in the Old Testament. They should also note, by the way, that Jesus kicked off his public ministry in Nazareth this way: And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “The Spirit... Read more