Peter Hegseth’s Religious Beliefs Harm Americans

Last updated on: June 11, 2025 at 3:54 pm By Christine Schmertz Navarro

When a person learns more about his church’s beliefs, Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth’s controversial decisions make more sense but raise questions about a conflict between church and state. Hegseth’s Tennessee Church, Pilgrim Hill Reformed Fellowship, a member of the Communion of Reformed Evangelical Churches (CREC), has strict teachings on secular law, the LGBTQ+ community, women, non-Christians, and racial diversity. Peter Hegseth, the Modern Crusader The medieval Crusades inspire Hegseth as well as many Christian nationalists and white nationalists. In... Read more

The Republican Budget Does Not Promote the Common Good

Last updated on: February 28, 2025 at 12:52 pm By Christine Schmertz Navarro

Catholic Social Teaching provides insights for people who live in a community. The principle of the common good conflicts with the budget the Republicans in Congress passed this week and several of the Trump administration’s actions. The Common Good The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines the common good. By common good is to be understood “the sum total of social conditions which allow people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily.... Read more

Russia Has Caused Ukraine Enough Pain

Last updated on: February 19, 2025 at 2:31 pm By Christine Schmertz Navarro

Yesterday, I heard that President Trump supports his idol President Putin rather than President Zelensky and the people of Ukraine in discussions about the Russia-Ukraine War. Trump said that Zelensky initiated this conflict. I am certain, therefore, that Trump is unaware of the negative impact that the Russian Empire, USSR, and now Russia have had on Ukraine, especially in the 20th Century. I think Russia has caused Ukraine enough pain. Historic Occupation of Ukraine In the 11th century, Kyiv was... Read more

Republicans, Do Something! Prioritize People Over Reelection

Last updated on: February 15, 2025 at 3:46 pm By Christine Schmertz Navarro

Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and soldiers in the U.S. military take oaths to protect the U.S. Constitution. Donald Trump is off the rails. Soldiers then put their lives on the line to honor this oath. Republicans, Americans need you to defend the Constitution. Do something! You took an oath. No one asks you, Republicans, to risk your lives to vote against nominees who will do President Trump’s bidding but are otherwise unqualified to serve as heads of... Read more

Elon Musk Dishonors Government Employees

Last updated on: February 13, 2025 at 3:44 pm By Christine Schmertz Navarro

Elon Musk and his minions have been dismantling the U.S. federal government. Not only does this process hurt citizens by eliminating employees with relevant education and experience – beyond kowtowing to Trump – it dishonors these workers and shows no gratitude for their service. The U.S. Government Has Thousands of Employees Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and Americans with other party affiliations and no affiliation have served the citizens of the United States for years. They studied and acquired degrees specifically for... Read more

Biblical Greatness v. ‘MAGA’: What the New Testament Says

Last updated on: February 5, 2025 at 4:35 pm By Christine Schmertz Navarro

This is my third essay exploring the meaning of “greatness.” My gut tells me President Trump is not making America great by dismantling government agencies and proposing to take over Gaza. I thought I would use some more reliable sources than my gut, however, and have considered greatness as defined by Alfred Nobel for the Peace Prize. Then I looked at the Old Testament. This essay explores the New Testament, with a focus on the Gospels. Jesus made the following... Read more

Biblical Greatness vs. ‘MAGA’: What the Old Testament Says

Last updated on: January 30, 2025 at 8:53 am By Christine Schmertz Navarro

Exploring Greatness: The Old Testament In this essay, I explore greatness in the Old Testament. I find the Old Testament’s idea of greatness conflicts with the current administration’s interpretation of “making America great again.” During the Trump administration’s first week in office, I had trouble recognizing how the executive orders made America great again. The Old Testament reveals insights into God and God’s interpretation of greatness. The Book of Genesis Three relevant insights about greatness come from the Book of... Read more

Exploring Greatness: Nobel Peace Prize Awardees

Last updated on: January 24, 2025 at 4:44 pm By Christine Schmertz Navarro

On the third day of the new administration, I questioned how the president’s orders make America great. I decided to do some research into greatness itself. My first step is studying Nobel Peace Prize recipients to see what their selection reveals about greatness. Since many Americans have won the prize, I decided to focus in on them. Alfred Nobel left instructions for the creation of these awards in his will. He wanted to award “those who, during the preceding year,... Read more

Dull Dread: Inauguration Day 2025

Last updated on: January 21, 2025 at 5:07 pm By Christine Schmertz Navarro

I celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. today rather than the new president. Unfortunately, my dull dread is that during this administration, vulnerable people will lose housing, food, healthcare, and other benefits that they desperately need to live. His presidency is a threat to social justice. President Donald Trump I think of the voters who elected Donald Trump. I hope that they benefit from this presidency as promised. Will non-voters realize that each vote matters? My dull dread comes from fears... Read more

I Feel Between a Rock and a Hard Place, Post-Election

Last updated on: November 25, 2024 at 6:33 pm By Christine Schmertz Navarro

I have been stuck since the 2024 election. The phrase “between a rock and a hard place” describes my inability to see a way out. The outcome for president, primarily, stunned me. American voters chose a convicted felon guilty of fraud and sexual assault rather than a highly qualified vice president who is a former senator, state attorney general, and prosecutor. I have since learned the outcome was due to some voters’ misunderstandings about the election’s ramifications. Some immigrants thought... Read more