What is wrong with a slippery slope argument? Or better: what makes a slope slippery? It’s the practice of compromising, in some “little” way, a principle whose very nature is universal and necessary, while expecting still to enjoy the benefits of a society (or a marriage, or other relationship) founded on that principle. The trouble is that over the long run – and maybe not so long a run either – the endless fecundity of circumstances will present you with... Read more

I was feeling under the weather over the weekend and went to the doctor. He ordered blood work and one of the tests – for my “sed rate” came back abnormally high. The test is non-specific but does indicate some source of inflammation in my body. It could be related to my current pregnancy or it could be something more serious (up to and including cancer). I have a follow up this Friday where I hope to get more answers.... Read more

Here’s the latest effort by Evangelical Atheists to foster Courageous Independent Thinking among teens… by urging them to make themselves slaves to a brand label. Read more

A reader notes: Dick Cheney, who has a lesbian daughter, said, “I think people ought to be free to enter into any kind of union they wish, any kind of arrangement they wish.” That means he supports marriage between brothers and sisters, marriage between parents and their adult children, polygamy, and any combination of the foregoing. Cheney has already demonstrated that he doesn’t give a lot of thought to the consequences of his woolly thinking when he recklessly transformed the... Read more

Over the last day or so, somebody styling himself a Meta-Ethical Subjectivist tried to concoct some system of morality based, as near as I could make out, on propoositions like “Ought” means “Whatever I desire and I don’t have to explain that” and “Things are wrong if you have the power to make people who do things you don’t want them to do to stop.” It was a very confusing conversation with a person as firmly convinced of their soaring... Read more

I’ll be on Tom Curran’s Sound Insight today at 8:10 AM (in about half an hour). Tom could use your support. He’s a great guy and a fine witness for Christ and Holy Church: Dear Friends, The Sound Insight Fund Drive is coming up June 3rd, 4th and 5th 8-9 am on 1050AM (Seattle) and 970AM (Spokane)! Don’t just listen, watch a LIVE, HD Quality Video Stream at MyCatholicFaith.org! If you enjoy Sound Insight, then these are three programs you... Read more

Today, my groaning minions, I have achieved a glorious triumph by my awesome will! 130 Followers! Thanks to MY EFFORTS (and whatever it was you might have done) I now have 130 people I can boss around! Four more and I will have defeated the accursed Fr. Philip and his rabble. Think of it! One hundred thirty human playthings I can command to memorize stuff like Mr. See owned a saw.And Mr. Soar owned a seesaw.Now See’s saw sawed Soar’s... Read more

This is the one week each quarter where I ask for some small remuneration for my efforts to provide you with the sort of Catholic content, newsiness, fun, and so forth that is this blog. We Sheas live in narrow financial straits. For those who have joined the blog since last quarter, I am a writer (and sole breadwinner) trying to keep two and a half boys (or two boys and one large male who is currently working with the... Read more

Here’s one: in favor of two of Jesus’ Beatitudes. Read more

Here is another reviewish bit of mail pertaining to Mary, Mother of the Son: I have just about finished book two of your trilogy and want to thank you for writing these books. I am a cradle – Vatican II Catholic who received very poor catechesis. So poor in fact that when my husband converted I “discovered” the real presence! I spent years going through the motions of Catholicism – Mass on most Sundays, some Holy Days of obligation, and... Read more