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Benedict on the East

In The Pope of Rome and the Christian East , an Eastern Catholic scholar surveys Benedict’s Light of the World for his statements about or of relevance to Eastern Christianity, Catholic and Orthodox. For example, on the the nature of the unity between the Catholic and Orthodox Churches: He . . . . Continue Reading »

Socialist Monarchism?

1. That’s basically the charge against our friends THE PORCHERS leveled by Mr. Cheeks below. It’s surely a bad sign that our friend Caleb from Kansas (who was one of my two favorite Porchers) has left the Porch. The charge, as I see it, amount to this: They’re not really talking . . . . Continue Reading »

Sagging Porches

At one time the website Front Porch Republic stood as a shining light, celebrating an open and public discussion of the limits of government, the intrinsic necessity of conceiving of ‘place’ in the human drama, and the acknowledgement of ‘liberty’ as a requirement . . . . Continue Reading »

Thirty Three Things (v. 26)

1. Why do we hate modern classical music? The highest-priced painting in history is Jackson Pollock’s swirlingly abstract No 5, 1948, which sold in 2006 for $140m. Tycoons and emirs covet avant garde architects. James Joyce’s Ulysses inspires worldwide drinking parties every 16 June. . . . . Continue Reading »

Was The Reformation Necessary?

A friend and I have been corresponding, covering lots of different topics, but lately focusing on the Reformation. A question came up. Did the Reformation need to happen? I don’t like that question (and I told my friend so), because “necessary” and “unnecessary” tend to distort our view . . . . Continue Reading »

Afternoon Links — 12.3.10

In Light of the World , Benedict “speaks extensively on issues related to Israel and the Jewish world, confirming his unwavering personal commitment to both,” writes a Jerusalem Post writer, surveying his statements about Jewish issues in the book. The New Criterion describes the NEH vs . . . . Continue Reading »

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