On the Square Today

Peter J. Leithart on the miracles of authority : When abused, authority damages bodies. A husband punches his wife and breaks her nose. Abusive day care workers crush the bones, dislocate the limbs, and scar the souls of small children. Tyrants torture bodies into a quivering mess. Even when the . . . . Continue Reading »

Obama Caves on Birth Control—For Now

The Great Birth Control Rule debacle is coming to an end with the unconstitutionalists in the Obama Administration taking a step back in their drive to “transform” America from a constitutional republic of limited government into an entitlement state.  The brouhaha raised about . . . . Continue Reading »

Panel Discussion on HHS Mandate

The Catholic Information Center in DC hosted a panel discussion of the HHS mandate, the First Amendment, and subsidiarity. The panel included James Capretta of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Richard Doerflinger from the USCCB, Kyle Duncan from the Beckett Fund for Religious Liberty, moderated . . . . Continue Reading »

Santorum Sentences

1. Pete and Olson’s thought about the Santorum strategy being two decades too late with his economic/manufacturing focus is what I thought when he announced for the nomination. A rich guy asked me if he should give significant bucks to Rick’s campaign, and I said he won’t last . . . . Continue Reading »

The Meaning of Monsters

In an essay in the Times Literary Supplement , Marina Warner reviews Wes Williams ’ new book “Monsters and Their Meanings in Early Modern Culture.” The thesis of the book might surprise some, in that it asserts that monsters do not represent a static fear, but actually arise in times . . . . Continue Reading »

First Links — 2.10.12

White House to Announce Contraception Accommodation Jake Tapper, ABC News A Speedier Response by Bishops Laurie Goodstein,  New York Times Is Free Verse Immoral? Micah Mattix, Public Discourse Give Planned Parenthood Its Due Austin Ruse, Catholic Thing Get Dense Robert Bryce, City Journal . . . . Continue Reading »