The Lessons of Russian Warmaking

by George Weigel

Four and a half months after Russia invaded Ukraine on the Orwellian pretext of “de-Nazification,” what have we learned about, and from, the Russian way of war?
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6 Jul 2022

Putin’s Post-Stalinist Project

by Roberto de Mattei

In Putin’s proposal, the transcendent dimension of religion is absorbed by the political, reversing the primacy of religion over politics that has always characterized the spiritual tradition of the Christian West. Continue Reading »

21 Jun 2022

The Summer Reading List: A Ukrainian Primer

by George Weigel

Given the rubbish about Ukraine spewed out by Russian propaganda trolls and regurgitated by foolish or ideologically besotted Americans, this year’s annual summer reading list will focus on serious books that explain the background of a conflict that will shape Europe’s future—and ours. Continue Reading »

8 Jun 2022

The Russian Path Not Taken

by George Weigel

Alexander Men knew something about spiritual voids, and he might have proposed filling that post-communist Russian emptiness with something beautiful and spiritually enriching, rather than with the ugly nationalism promoted by Kirill and other Russian Orthodox leaders. Continue Reading »

4 May 2022

The Pope and the Patriarch of Moscow

by George Weigel

A meeting between the current Bishop of Rome and the current Patriarch of Moscow would not have been a meeting of two religious leaders. It would have been a meeting between a religious leader and an instrument of Russian state power. Continue Reading »

27 Apr 2022

No “Just Wars”?

by George Weigel

It is simply not the case that serious Christians can no longer use the categories of “just” and “unjust” in thinking about warfare. Continue Reading »

30 Mar 2022

An Orthodox Awakening

by George Weigel

As Putin’s missiles have shattered Mariupol’, Kirill’s acquiescence in barbarism has shattered Russian Orthodoxy’s campaign to be first among Orthodox equals.  Continue Reading »

23 Mar 2022

Archbishop Viganò and Colonel Grace-Groundling-Marchpole

by George Weigel

By allowing lies, calumnies, and Kremlin propaganda to be issued in his name, Archbishop Viganò has written the obituary for what remained of his once-considerable religious and moral authority.  Continue Reading »

16 Mar 2022

The Cancellation of Russian Culture

by Gary Saul Morson

Even at the height of the Cold War, no one thought of banning Russian literature, art, or music. Continue Reading »

14 Mar 2022

Needed: An Ecumenical Reset

by George Weigel

The Vatican must inform Patriarch Kirill that the Holy See’s ecumenical contacts with Russian Orthodoxy are suspended until Kirill condemns the invasion of Ukraine. Continue Reading »

9 Mar 2022