Irony Is Dead

Anthony Esolen indulged in a little sarcasm in a recent appearance on “Fox & Friends,” which led to some confused anchors and even more confused headlines. The Daily Mail described his appearance as a “furious rant.” Hence the title of this post. . . . . Continue Reading »

On the Square Today

George Weigel on sacred language for sacred acts : It was just about a year ago that U.S. parishes began using the new translations of the third edition of the Roman Missal—an implementation process that seems to have gone far more smoothly than some anticipated. Wrinkles remain to be ironed . . . . Continue Reading »

Against Farm Subsidies

An audience member asked a panel of seven farmers what they thought about government farm subsidies. The response was unanimous: first laughter, then this: “Subsidies only subsidize those who don’t pay taxes.” This article at Roma locuta est explains the economics of it. . . . . Continue Reading »

Sit Down, Herbert

In a discussion of the classic spiritual “Sit Down, Servant”—-performed above by the Staple Singers—-a friend pointed out the parallel between the song’s chorus and the last stanza of George Herbert’s “Love (III).” Love (III) by George Herbert Love . . . . Continue Reading »

First Links — 11.28.12

Yoram Hazony Is In Error Marc Barnes, Bad Catholic Times Tries to Pin a Label on Dorothy Day Terry Mattingly, GetReligion In Praise of the Cliché Hephzibah Anderson, Prospect On the “Art of Jesuitism” Fr. James V. Schall, S.J., The Catholic Thing Creating and Destroying the . . . . Continue Reading »

How Many Women Have Pro-Life Laws Saved?

Pro-life groups that spend time outside Planned Parethood clinics have recorded eighteen recent instances where women have had to be transported to nearby hospitals by ambulance. The most recent case occurred the day before Thanksgiving in St. Louis : A St. Louis Planned Parenthood patient was . . . . Continue Reading »

Civil War in Egypt?

Super-busy week for me, can’t possibly keep up with rapidly changing Egypt developments, but signs suggest a civil war in the making: From a Guardian story, we learn that Muslim Brotherhood headquarters in Alexandria and Mansoura were ransacked and in the case of latter, set on fire, prompting . . . . Continue Reading »

More on Sex, Marriage, and Politics

David Blankenhorn and I have had a useful exchange. In his last posting he questioned my argument that judging homosexual acts wrong isn’t akin to the racist view that skin color makes someone inferior : I’m sure that Rusty Reno knows as well as anyone that almost no gay people . . . . Continue Reading »