Economics and Immigration

Last updated on: June 18, 2007 at 6:32 pm By voxnovablog

In the comboxes on a recent post on immigration, I argued that the negative wage effects on low-skilled workers from an influx of immigrants were limited. Jonathan took issue with this claim, referring to the work of George Borjas. His point warrants an answer, and empirical analysis trumps mere assertion (in the reality-based community at least!). Let’s address the big picture first. There is little doubt that immigration increases overall GDP per capita, or the overall pie, through its direct... Read more

Leisure and Its Abuses

Last updated on: June 17, 2007 at 5:55 pm By voxnovablog

During a conference I attended a while back at the University of Notre Dame I was present at a lecture given by Alasdair MacIntyre. Actually, it would be more accurate to call it a “lecturing” in which he accused his American audience of “not knowing what to do with leisure.” “I,” he continued in his Scottish brogue, “can read Homer in Greek; you can’t!” Of course, if it weren’t for the pompousness with which he expressed himself, no one would... Read more

Called to be Mediators Between God and Creation

Last updated on: June 17, 2007 at 4:52 pm By voxnovablog

In recent years, many Catholic leaders, including several Popes, have taken an active interest in environmental concerns. Not only do they understand the bleak situation humanity might have to face in the near future, but they are witnesses of the devastation that is currently all around us. Moreover, in her dialogue with fellow Christians, the Catholic Church finds this concern is one which we share in common with the rest of Christendom. Thus, we read in the important declaration issued... Read more

Merton on the Problem of Democracy

Last updated on: June 17, 2007 at 8:38 am By voxnovablog

Sources – The Problem of Democracy in One American Catholic’s Thought It is no exaggeration to say that democratic society is founded on a kind of faith: on the conviction that each citizen is capable of, and assumes, complete political responsibility. Each one not only broadly understands the problems of government but is willing and ready to take part in their solution. In a word, democracy assumes that the citizen knows what is going on, understands the difficulties of the... Read more

Sing a New Song, Please!

Last updated on: June 16, 2007 at 9:00 pm By voxnovablog

Christ said to love,Be peaceful as a dove.What does he know?The seeds that would sow!He died, shall that happen to me too?I know my rights: if I die, I will sue! [Many Christians question the application of the Sermon on the Mount for our daily lives. They feel that it is too idealistic. It can’t be lived out. If we followed it, we would be easy targets for anyone who would wish us harm. Yet the earliest Christians faced, more... Read more

Philadelphia Will Not Be The City Of Abortionary Love

Last updated on: April 19, 2017 at 10:14 pm By voxnovablog

At least for now, opposition, such as the kind given by Cardinal Justin Rigali, has helped stop a resolution which would have proclaimed Philadelphia a “pro-choice city.” This, at least, is a positive development, but we should remember that a resolution in favor for this title was originally passed with a 9-8 margin. Moreover, we must remember this does not mean abortion will suddenly end in Philadelphia. While we must pray that this is the start of a rather positive... Read more

Russian Commentary

Last updated on: June 16, 2007 at 3:28 am By voxnovablog

Much is being made of a story in The Tablet regarding the Orthodox Church and Russia. The story reflects a typical British bias, loathing of State religion. Given our own history, we tend to share suspicion of religion playing any role other than a private association. This country has flourished absent the Church being a foundational institution. There are no stories of any U.S. President approaching a bishop barefoot in the snow begging forgiveness for some evil he has done.... Read more

Neuhaus and Nationalism

Last updated on: April 19, 2017 at 10:23 pm By voxnovablog

The presider of First Things, Fr. Richard John Neuhaus is a fan of nationalism, so it seems. In attacking Cardinal Mahony’s staunch defense of immigrants, he writes: “But most striking and, I believe, unfortunate is the cardinal’s conceptually confused but unmistakable attack on the nation-state, both in its domestic responsibilities and in the international order. Such an attack has no warrant in Catholic social doctrine.” Clearly, Neuhaus needs to invest some quality time reading Vox Nova! He is also mistaken.... Read more

In Defense of the United Nations

Last updated on: June 15, 2007 at 3:37 pm By voxnovablog

It has become fashionable, especially in America, not only to view the UN as irrelevant, but to gleefully compile litanies of abuses committed by the New York-based international organization. This gets us nowhere. The key question to ask is whether or not the UN is relevant, or even essential, in the modern world. I believe the answer to that question is a resounding “yes”. With that in mind, corruption and incompetence calls for reform, not scorn. Think of some other... Read more