You knew, when Benedict announced his resignation, that everyone and his brother would comment, and that some of those comments would be really goofy. The conservative Anglican website Stand Firm has started a series on what the writer calls “Papal Malarkey Syndrome” my . . . . Continue Reading »
Ashley Thorne on unbiasing American history : How do American colleges and universities teach American history? Conservatives may have a ready answer: poorly. But a ready answer can just as readily be deflected. At the National Association of Scholars (NAS) we decided to find out, as precisely as . . . . Continue Reading »
Garry Wills—-whose latest book raises a call against the priesthood—-claims that he can remain a Catholic while espousing the common doctrines of low-church Protestantism, without the theologically nuanced arguments that most low-church Protestants make. And he throws out the book of . . . . Continue Reading »
Many Americans know that the Supreme Court has stated that the framers intended the Establishment Clause to erect a wall of separation between Church and State. A smaller number know that the court was quoting a letter from President Thomas Jefferson to Baptists in . . . . Continue Reading »
I simply couldn’t bring myself to listen to the president last night. I honor the office, or want to. Honor implies some sort of trust and I cannot find that in myself any longer. I did not listen last night because I cannot stand to hear the president of our nation offer full whoppers about . . . . Continue Reading »
Why the State Needs the Church Various, Radio National Paradoxes of Poverty and the Minimum Wage Elizabeth Scalia, Patheos The Pope’s Two “No”s Sandro Magister, Chisea The Mennonite in Me Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Standing on My Head The Powers and Limits of Literature Alan Jacobs, . . . . Continue Reading »
“Girls”—-the cable TV sitcom featuring young women recently graduated from Oberlin College who hook up, text about it, fret about it, and generally live the soft hedonism of elite culture—-is Seinfeld for millennials. Some think it exemplifies the decadence of upper middle . . . . Continue Reading »
I only have a moment. But this is from the article translated by our Ralph in the new issue of FIRST THINGS: I am one of those who believe that a human being is not an autonomous construction with no given structure, order, status, or role. I believe that the affirmation of freedom does not imply . . . . Continue Reading »
Jamelle Bouie has a (gleefully) pessimistic take on the ability of Republicans to win over Latino voters. He also rightly points out that Republicans are doing even worse among Asian-American voters. I am a little more optimistic about Republican chances to make gains among nonwhites. Or at least I . . . . Continue Reading »
Friends and Readers, We regret to inform you that we must cancel George Weigels book talk scheduled for Friday evening, February 15. As one of the worlds experts on the papacy, George will be in Rome to provide commentary for NBC until a new pope is elected. We apologize for any . . . . Continue Reading »