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Against Genius

“This is the main road God takes to come to us: our recognition of our own ignorance.” So said Stephen of Muret, a medieval hermit and purported founder of the Grandmontine order of monks that disappeared in the eighteenth century. The idea that wisdom comes from admitting our own ignorance was . . . . Continue Reading »

How Not To Lead

Political discretion on the world stage can never be an excuse for local bishops to avoid speaking the truth, and—worse—to decline to provide counsel and encouragement to faithful Catholic public officials seeking their support. Continue Reading »

Greetings from the Rainbow Reich

The Rainbow Reich and its agenda of cultural deregulation is the natural partner to the most ambitious programs of economic deregulation, which is why corporate American embraces it. Both destroy protections of the weakest and most vulnerable in the name of “freedom.” Continue Reading »

Under the Rainbow Banner

In June 1970, America’s first gay pride parades hit the streets. Four U.S. cities—New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and San Francisco—hosted crowds ranging from several hundred to a few thousand marching with homemade signs declaring “pride,” “power,” and “liberation.” Like . . . . Continue Reading »

Avoidance

An avalanche of reckless thoughts keeps usApart. I’ll find excuses when, by chance,We meet between distractions. Let’s not fussAbout my guarded habits. Our romanceSeemed fine, at first, until you sought to knowMy hidden self: the hurts, the fears, the shameOf past mistakes. Why should I stoop to . . . . Continue Reading »

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