Canon of catholic Literature

Last updated on: May 2, 2008 at 9:54 am By M.Z.

In attempt to break my streak of nonfiction of reading, I elsewhere solicited advice on good fictional literature. That exercise has inspired me a little bit to see what people would put on a list of catholic literature. I would include Catholic, Orthodox, and high Anglican writers for purposes of constructing this list. To spur discussion, I will offer some writers off the top of my head. Fyodor Dostoevsky: Crime and Punishment, Brothers Karamazov C.S. Lewis: Chronicles of Narnia J.R.R. Tolkien:... Read more

Seen Sicko?

Last updated on: May 2, 2008 at 7:00 am By Policraticus

Sure there are plenty of holes, but overall Sicko seems to be a strong indictment on the health care industry in the United States. Much of it resonates in my own personal experience, as well as that of my own family. If you have some time this weekend, watch the whole thing, even if only to hear the experience of a number of individual Americans. (more…) Read more

John McCain’s Really Bad Health Care Plan

Last updated on: May 1, 2008 at 2:26 pm By Morning's Minion

Not much new here. See here and here for good analyses. Basically, McCain takes Bush’s discredited plan and warms it up a little. The idea is to sever the link between employment and health insurance, by giving individuals a $2,500 tax credit and families a $5,000 tax credit to shop around for the best deal they can find on the private insurance market. This will do absolutely nothing to help the uninsured, the underinsured, or both rationed by cost from getting... Read more

75% American Women Breastfeed Their Children

Last updated on: May 1, 2008 at 10:55 am By Radical Catholic Mom

Very awesome news today from a new study that shows 75% of this country’s women are nursing their children. Most encouraging was the increased rates among African-American women, who traditionally have not nursed their babies. The question I have that is not addressed by the study is for how long? Any breast milk is better than no milk, but we know that babies need their mama’s milk for a minimum of one year. Still, it is a start and reflects... Read more

Free Markets and Labor

Last updated on: May 1, 2008 at 9:47 am By M.Z.

Libertarian and Austrian School economist Thomas Woods offers what he calls a Catholic Defense of Free Markets over at InsideCatholic. I will delve into parts of it here. (more…) Read more

National Day of Prayer

Last updated on: May 1, 2008 at 7:23 am By Policraticus

Today is the National Day of Prayer in the United States. Here is a video Katerina and I made for a local school to appeal to God, to celebrate purified patriotism and to commemorate the day: And for good measure, here’s our Why Am I Catholic video, which we made together almost three years ago and which represents the principles that underlie our video on America. Enjoy: (more…) Read more

The Ascension of Christ

Last updated on: April 30, 2008 at 11:00 pm By Henry Karlson

“So when they had come together, they asked him, ‘Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?’ He said to them, ‘It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has fixed by his own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the end of the earth.’ And when he... Read more

Obama and Abortion: A Pro-life Atheist’s Take

Last updated on: April 30, 2008 at 4:09 pm By Edward Blackadder

Nat Hentoff, a self-described “Jewish, atheist, civil libertarian, left-wing pro-lifer,” had a column in the Washington Times on Monday describing his disillusionment with Candidate Obama over the abortion issue: My initial inclination to support Sen. Barack Obama’s road to the White House came from his work as a Chicago community organizer and his record in the Illinois legislature. He actually worked to rescue school dropouts from a lifetime dead end as well as provide job training for the unemployed. Later,... Read more

On The Morality of War: In Essence and In Practice*

Last updated on: April 30, 2008 at 1:16 pm By Henry Karlson

On January 13, 2003, in his Address to the Diplomatic Corps, Pope John Paul II famously said, “War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity.” There are many ways one could take this comment. If these words are taken on their own, outside of the context of the speech it was delivered in, nor in the context of Catholic moral theology which the Pope was espousing, John Paul II appear to be an absolute pacifist. Certainly... Read more

Edmund Burke on rights and order

Last updated on: April 30, 2008 at 11:03 am By jonathanjonesuiwdpt

Jonathan Rauch has a good piece in the current issue of The Atlantic on one of my favorite writers, Edmund Burke. His summary of Burke’s political thought is below the fold. (more…) Read more

Who said, 'The Lord gives and the Lord takes away'?