The following is an excerpt from Guilt (1951) by Caryll Houselander, author of A Rocking Horse Catholic and Reed of God and other mystic and meditative Catholic books. This excerpt is from a chapter on "Mechanisms of Escape" and seems so timely I need not add more introduction. You can read the entire text of... Continue Reading →
Fathers as First Warriors & Guardians – Guest Post by Myles Connolly
"Today, fatherhood is an heroic calling. The father of olden times was in many ways an idyllic character, living serenely in the bosom of his family, planning and saving for the future. But today he lives in turmoil and toils in vain. If he is industrious, if he is competent, he does not work for... Continue Reading →
Samaritan is not Synonymous with Charity
The parable of the "Good Samaritan" is not a title that has aged well. We know the story well enough, a man is robbed and beaten, ignored by his own people, and only a Samaritan who passes by takes care of him. Now, Samaritan funds and Samaritan charities have become common, a callback to the... Continue Reading →
Intellectual Charity And Returning to Writing
Sincerely I learned about wisdom, and ungrudgingly do I share— her riches I do not hide away;For she is an unfailing treasure; those who gain this treasure win the friendship of God, being commended by the gifts that come from her discipline. Now God grant I speak suitably and value these endowments at their worth:... Continue Reading →
On Being Where You Are
As St. Patrick's day approaches, and thoughts turn to Ireland (or at least some fabled Emerald Isle that bears the name) I think there is something in the saint's story worth considering when we reflect on our local church: 1) There are many beautiful churches and cathedrals in Ireland. 2) Many modern (built in the 70's... Continue Reading →
Dependence and Charity
The stated goal of many charities is to encourage independence of families or the individual. The entire operation, if properly aligned, is to help the person and those they support to no longer become dependent on some other entity - in most cases that means they organization specifically does not want the person to remain... Continue Reading →
We Don’t Teach Children Justice
Think about this for a moment: Do we really teach children - with the exception of the mine phase - what justice is? I mean, do we have to teach them about fairness? With my own children, and the children I encounter is schools and other community functions, I hear adults and myself having to say... Continue Reading →
Men and Abortion: Free Pro-Life Conference MP3s
No one can deny a person's lived experience. People can argue with us about the psychological stuff, they can argue with us about whatever. But they can't take away the truth of someone's lived experience. -Vicki Thorn, founder of the National Office of Post Abortion Healing and Reconciliation and Project Rachel In my capacity as... Continue Reading →
Why the Ten Commandments are not Enough
When it comes time to teach the Christian faith, either to converts or children, it seems that the go-to moral code is the Ten Commandments. These ten simple rules were inscribed on stone for the people of Israel wandering in the desert, and were part of a larger law given to the people at that time.... Continue Reading →
Fear is a Terrible Teacher
It seems to be a common refrain: religion is all about using fear to control and educate people. Fear is the worst way to teach people. It is a last resort of the desperate, bad teacher. Pay attention, or doom on you. Remember this, or doom on you. It is certainly true that we ourselves,... Continue Reading →