Can the State Tax the Church?

The Holy Roman Catholic Church is the natural enemy of the secular left. Battles between these two forces have gone on for centuries—long before the term “secular left” came into common usage. In those struggles, the left has employed every weapon it could find to use against the Church. All too often, they have succeeded … Read more

Becoming Acquainted with a Great Man of God

Today’s problems often seem to be the worst ever faced by the human race. Thus, It is easy to be overwhelmed by focusing on the division, apostasy, scandal, and confusion of the current age. One antidote to this sensation is history. The study of the past provides a perspective that cannot be gained by looking … Read more

Save Us From the Deniers of Hell

Anyone who wonders why the Catholic Church is in its present crisis need only read Dr. Scott Bruce’s “Do We Still Need to Believe in Hell?” The Wall Street Journal article (9/15-16/2018) recently appeared in its popular weekend review section. It was a rather typical yet brutal appraisal of the notion of Hell. The author believes Hell is … Read more

The Church Is Holy Despite Having Sinners Within Her Fold

In the Nicene Creed, the faithful profess: “Credo in unam, sanctam, catholicam et apostolicam Ecclesiam”—“I believe in One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.”1 When reciting the Creed, Catholics profess, therefore, to believe in the sanctity of the Church. This sanctity, nonetheless, is often not visible, especially when the weaknesses of Her members appear to demonstrate … Read more

Finding the Beauty of the Church and the Route Back Home

The late-nineteenth-century conversion story, En Route, by J. K. Huysmans is a book that penetrates deeply into the mind of the reader. It is an autobiographical yet fictional account of the return journey to the Church of a famous French art critic and novelist in decadent Paris. The book has weathered well the ravages of … Read more

In Face of the Scandals, the Church, Holy and Immortal, Shall Prevail!

In_Face_ Scandals_Church_Holy_Immortal_shall_Prevail!

“Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against Her” (Matt. 16:18). To this first promise, Our Lord added a second: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away” (Matt. 24:35). Thus did Jesus Christ establish the One … Read more

Reflections on the Sexual Abuse Scandal by the Clergy

Reflections_on_Sexual_Abuse_Scandal_by_Clergy

There is nothing as vile as using an office, position or situation of influence to oppress or abuse a weaker person. This is particularly true in the case of sexual abuse. Still worse are those acts that not only violate the laws of justice and charity but those of nature. This is especially horrible when … 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