Ralph McInerny, Postmodern Conservative

Lots has been said in memory of McInerny, who, of course, died last Friday. He wrote well over 100 books of all kinds. He was a theologian, philosopher, novelist, poet, and then and now a saint. He showed that a talented and industrious man can both be endlessly profound and make a huge amount of . . . . Continue Reading »

Hoya Paranoia

Georgetown Wins! Georgetown Wins! Georgetown Wins! Um, sorry about that. But if you suffered through the Hoyas’ collapse last year, you understand why a basketball victory over Duke might seem, to even the most distant alumnus, something to cheer. And, man, did the Georgetown school the Blue . . . . Continue Reading »

Afghanistan Studies

Speaking of the Weekly Standard , I should point as well to the fine bit of reporting done by my friend Claudia Anderson , who went out to visit the Center for Afghanistan Studies at—of all places—the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Sitting in on classes and interviewing teachers and . . . . Continue Reading »

Louis Auchincloss (1917–2010)

In the midst of all the national attention paid to the death of J.D. Salinger , there slipped away with less notice than it should have received the death of another novelist—the author of 60 books and perhaps the most under-appreciated literary talent of the century: Louis Auchincloss, who . . . . Continue Reading »

Septuagesima Sunday: Grace Alone

The Scriptures Appointed for Septuagesima Introit: Psalm 18:1–2a, 27, 32, 49; antiphon: Ps. 18:5–6Psalter: Psalm 95:1-9 (antiphon: v. 6)Old Testament: Exodus 17:1–7Gradual: Ps. 9:9–10, 18–19aEpistle: 1 Corinthians 9:24—10:5Verse: Ps. 130:1–4Gospel: Matthew . . . . Continue Reading »

Things that are broken in the world

From CBSNews.com:Ten Americans were detained by Haitian police on Saturday as they tried to bus 33 children across the border into the Dominican Republic, allegedly without proper documents.The Baptist church members from Idaho called it a “Haitian Orphan Rescue Mission,” meant to save . . . . Continue Reading »