Aldous Huxley’s classic novel Brave New World predicted a dystopia that has somewhat come to pass. As Catholics, and as a democratic society, we need to re-examine Huxley’s world and seriously consider changes to avoid his outcome. Huxley’s future world was set in 2540, but in a later work he remarked that we were moving toward his dystopia faster than he anticipated. Indeed, instead of 500 years, it has taken less than 100 years for some of his fears to... Read more
The most damaging lie of abortion advocates is that women need abortion to be successful in their endeavors. Their bodies and fertility have thus been targeted as impediments to be overcome rather than gifts to be celebrated. Oddly enough, a movement that claims it is fighting for women’s “rights” has denigrated the remarkable abilities of women’s bodies. Being able to construct a whole new human is a superpower that only women have. We should be in awe of that fact!... Read more
The elimination of religion is something that many governments have pursued. So far, none have succeeded, at least not permanently. Over 2,000 years, the Catholic Church has been repeatedly and viciously persecuted and banned, but it is still here. Why do various political systems want to eliminate religion? In Marxist theory, it is necessary to substitute the state as the be-all and end-all of people’s lives. Otherwise, the Church is a rival for control, money and the loyalties of citizens.... Read more
From first grade through college, I was fortunate enough to go to Catholic schools. Besides receiving an excellent education, I was exposed to the spirituality and the community life of the nuns, elements that are particularly attractive in these times. In elementary school, I had Franciscans; in high school, Benedictines; in college, Immaculate Heart of Mary sisters. The Benedictines of Fort Smith, Arkansas, and the IHMs of Monroe, Michigan, both communicate regularly through various publications. Nuns & Nones, Sisters &... Read more
There is a well-known saying: Confession is good for the soul. What does that mean? How does that apply to the Sacrament of Confession in the Catholic Church? The meaning of this saying is that people will feel better about themselves if they confess to whatever is nagging them with guilt. Get it off your chest! Rejecting Guilt Leads to More Suffering However, guilt is definitely “out” in our current society. Guilt feels bad, but our cultural obsession is to... Read more
Every Catholic parish should be a resource for women with unplanned pregnancies. If we are committed to the sanctity of life, then we have to be active in caring for mothers and babies in need. Every diocese has a Respect Life office, and most parishes have a pro-life committee of some sort. These committees, however, might be involved in just 40 Days for Life or educational materials for the parish community. Walking with Moms in Need The U.S. Conference of... Read more
The Lord will provide. Trust in the Lord. Those are maxims we are told repeatedly because they are true! Not that you get everything you request, but when the time is right with the Lord, merely asking will get you what you need. The Example of Servant of God Blandina Segale My mother’s favorite book was At the End of the Santa Fe Trail, the journal of Sr. Blandina Segale (now a candidate for sainthood). This book is also one... Read more
There is a corollary to my belief that there is something good in everything bad (See: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/musingsfromthepew/2021/12/good-from-bad-turning-the-tables/): There is something good in every person, no matter how bad. The diarist Anne Frank had a similar belief. Despite the terror of her existence as a Jew hiding from the Nazis, she wrote: “People are just people, and all people have faults and shortcomings, but all of us are born with a basic goodness.” She added, “In spite of everything, I still... Read more
During our Christmas vacation, we attended a Catholic church where a noticeable number of women were wearing chapel veils. The reasons for this practice are, I think, misguided. Scanning the literature on this topic, I found several defenses of women wearing a veil or mantilla. They claim that it is not a misogynistic practice, and pious excuses are given, but the arguments are full of holes. Modesty, Humility, and Modeling Mary Advocates say that wearing a veil is a symbol... Read more
At Christmastime, it is often mentioned that the holidays are a torment for people who don’t have or can’t visit family. Some people endure Christmas in loneliness and despair. My answer to this problem is the same answer I give for most everything: go to Church! The Extent of Our Loneliness Our country is currently experiencing two epidemics: COVID and loneliness. Already in 2018, a survey conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation and The Economist showed that 22% of adults... Read more
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