Authority Is From God, but Also for Him

With the myriad political philosophies that circulate today, a thoughtful analyst can become confused, and legitimately so.  Thus, any contribution to the debate that elucidates the basic principles of Catholic social teaching is an invaluable beacon of light amid the darkness. It could be argued that the most basic question regarding society and politics revolves … Read more

The Left and the Politics of the Book Fair

A new book is planting the ideas of revolutionary egalitarianism in our children’s hearts and minds. It comes with bright pictures, happy animals, and catchy rhymes. The purveyor is Scholastic, a company with a long reach into America’s schools and libraries. The chances are excellent that your neighborhood or parish school hosts a Scholastic Book … Read more

Do the Feminists Have a Monopoly on the Future?

Game manufacturer Hasbro is about to release a feminist version of its perennially-popular game, Monopoly. At first glance, this story appears trivial. Major corporations have pandered to the left so often that this  remake of Monopoly seems to be, in the words of Shakespeare, “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” Free Book: Return to … Read more

The Old Prejudices and the New: The Saga of the SAT

The College Board is scared of the equity movement. Scared people make bad decisions. Creating a so-called adversity score of a college entrance test is one of the worst possible decisions. In its misbegotten attempt to create an equal world, the board only succeeds in making the process of college admission even more impenetrable. The … Read more

Now I Understand Why Students Think They Favor Socialism

I recently joined a few colleagues debating abortion on the sidewalk at a major state university. The debate was heated and varied as we talked passionately about God, morals and absolutes. However, it seemed we were swimming in a sea of relativism where right and wrong, truth and error do not exist. A subjective vortex … Read more

Time to Stop the War on Inequality

Return to Order Time to Stop the War on Inequality

Advocates of equality are only too eager to overthrow the present economic structures in the name of fairness and opportunity. According to their logic, inequality begets a two-tiered society where moneyed interests rule, while all others languish. In this oversimplified ever richer/ever poorer scenario, some kind of action is deemed necessary to level the playing … Read more

Why Treating Everyone Equally Is a Problem

Return to Order Why Treating Everyone Equally Is a Problem 6

I recently received an email from someone who questioned me on a comment I made about manners. I had said that manners presuppose distinctions. They call upon us to honor those who are excellent with special treatment. At the same time, they allow us to show compassion and consideration toward those who are lesser or … Read more

The Hat

Return to Order The Hat

In different epochs, the hat became a symbol of the dignity of the one wearing it; today, it still survives as a reminder of an ancient vision of courtesy While not a surprising sight, the hat certainly awakens the dormant attention of people in today’s standardized settings. Their gazes linger, even in passing, at the … Read more