Ryan Sayre Patrico

From the Wall Street Journal , a story on a British scandal that threatens to “undermine the public’s remaining faith in the probity . . . of Parliament itself”: A week or so ago, the Telegraph newspaper got its hands on some of the juiciest secrets in Britain—the dubious . . . . Continue Reading »

If the mainstream media continues to insist —for the sake of objectivity and balance, I’m sure—on calling opponents of abortion “anti-abortionists,” you’d expect to see those in favor of abortion to be labeled “pro-abortionists.” I won’t hold my . . . . Continue Reading »

If you haven’t already, be sure to read George Weigel’s “The Pope Versus the Vatican,” which appeared last month in the British magazine Standpoint : It is unlikely that Joseph Ratzinger accepted his election thinking of himself as another Leo XIII, who created the modern . . . . Continue Reading »

Another reason to love babies. Another reason Peter Singer’s wrong: What is it like to be a baby? For centuries, this question would have seemed absurd: Behind that adorable facade was a mostly empty head. A baby, after all, is missing most of the capabilities that define the human mind, such . . . . Continue Reading »

From Prospect in the UK, a story claiming that “more than one in ten Caucasians may have a ‘Churchill gene’ which helps them turn booze into great works”: Most people use alcohol as a social rather than creative stimulant, banishing cares with a potation or two after work; . . . . Continue Reading »

At Front Porch Republic , James Matthew Wilson reflects on a sonogram image of his son: This is my son. As you see him here, he has been alive for just about one-hundred-forty days and has, this and other ultrasound images suggest, my nose and not his mother’s. I have not seen him any more . . . . Continue Reading »

Patrick Deneen wants to agree with Jody’s argument that Catholic culture stands at the middle of the Notre Dame controversy. But he can’t : I admire and agree with much of what Jody writes, but I fear I have to disagree with him over this analysis. In my view, the singular focus upon . . . . Continue Reading »

A retired farmer in Britain has spent the last 30 years—33,000 working hours—constructing a massive, handmade, scaled replica of Herod’s Temple. . . . . Continue Reading »

In the May 8 edition of the Times Literary Supplement , Lucy Beckett has some serious issues with Miri Rubin’s new book, Mother of God: A history of the Virgin Mary . The review—which I couldn’t find online, sorry—begins: Sister and mother and diviner love, And of the . . . . Continue Reading »

Amy Welborn makin’ sense : I am intrigued by comments here and there asserting that the opposition to Barack Obama’s role in Notre Dame’s commencement must be nothing but politics at work. Politically motivated. Obviously and clearly. Usually “hacks” is used at least . . . . Continue Reading »