Lighting the Way to a Life That Makes Sense

Lighting the Way to a Life That Makes Sense

The new book Lighting the Way: Stories that Show How Our Culture Went Wrong and How We Can Restore Order is a collection of stories arranged to illustrate an idea. The idea is that of the organic Christian society. That is an unfamiliar idea to many, although we live in and around many such organic … Read more

The War on Dress Codes in Schools

One of the most controversial elements in any school is the dress code. Many students will push the boundaries of the code as far as they can. Some teachers, saying something like, “I don’t care what they wear as long as they learn,” think dress codes are silly. Other teachers believe they are essential. Administrators … Read more

Can Twitter Be an Occasion of Sin?

Can Twitter Be an Occasion of Sin?

Everyone talks about the addictive aspect of Twitter but not its moral effects. Can Twitter lead to sin? Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence, R.I. evidently thinks so. In a final tweet, he wrote that the social media platform had become a “distraction” to him, an “obstacle” to his spiritual life and an “occasion of sin.” The … Read more

The Refreshing Return of the Fountain Pen

The Refreshing Return of the Fountain Pen

Just outside of Washington, D.C. an annual event takes place. Unlike most events in the nation’s capital, this one has nothing to do with government. In fact, one could attend all four days of this event and never hear anything about politics. This is “The Washington D.C. Collectible Fountain Pen Supershow.” Its web site says … Read more

The Advantage of Keeping the Economy Human

The Advantage of Keeping the Economy Human

Some people think of the new automated economy in terrifying and mechanical terms. In such a vision, machines reign supreme as they work tirelessly, silently and efficiently to maximize production and replace humans. Increasing automation will soon put tens of millions out of work and change lives for the worst. Indeed, people matter little in … Read more

The Architecture That Feeds the Soul

The Architecture that Feeds the Soul

One of the delights of going to Holy Mass in a place which one has never before visited is the discovery of the church building itself. There is an inexpressible joy in walking into a traditionally decorated Catholic church for the first time. The Gothic architecture draws the eye heavenward. The stained glass fills the … Read more

Why I Use the Word Catholic to Describe the Ideal Economy

The adjective Catholic is rarely employed to describe the ideal economy we need. Many would see its use as mere window dressing to make the free market appear a bit more compassionate. Everyone knows that the business of creating wealth comes from industry and business. The accountant’s ledger is the only true measure of this … Read more

Anno Domini or Common Era?

Since about 1975, a sign of revolution has crept into American life. It is a quiet revolution, done without fanfare. To many, it may appear to be trivial. They likely bought into it because it appears to be the way to get along. It is the replacement of the abbreviations B.C. and A.D. with B.C.E. … Read more