Anyone familiar with the game of poker knows about the tell. For the successful poker player, the ability to read tells is crucial. To the unfamiliar, according to pokernews.com, tells are actions: either physical or verbal, players make at the table that might give away information about the strength of their hands. In other words, a tell tips (otherwise known as tipping their hand) other players off to the strength or weakness of a player’s hand of cards. Moreover, tells... Read more
In the US, we currently live during a time of immense, restless unhappiness. Experts also warn of a mental health crisis, especially among adolescents. Loneliness, exacerbated by recent lockdowns, plagues young and old alike. Now, not everyone in the United States experiences the same levels of unhappiness, loneliness, or mental health issues. Research shows that conservatives are the happiest, experience more companionship, and have less mental health issues than their liberal or progressive neighbors. Furthermore, conservative parents produce happier and... Read more
To start, researching for this article broke my heart. No human, especially a newborn baby, need suffer such a horrendous death. The callous behavior poor Alex Fierro allegedly suffered at the hands of his mother demonstrates the worst aspects of our broken culture. The story of Alex Fierro represents how our culture, which celebrates “reproductive rights” as a virtue, lessens the value of human life in its most vulnerable form. There exists no great leap from “consequence free” sexual activity... Read more
As the Synod of Synodality approaches the First Session in October of 2023, its overseers recently released the document Instrumentum Laboris (IL). This document serves as a guide for all discussions to take place during the First Session. At the reveal of the document, Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, General Rapporteur for the October General Assembly, answered a question regarding those who feel excluded by Church teaching on sexuality without changing Church teaching. He answered with the following: We do not speak... Read more
After writing a blog for almost two years and engaging critics of the Church who read said blog, I have some advice to offer critics within and without the Church. Now, I know my advice may go unheeded, but at least I can say I tried. While not exhaustive, the list below does cover the main issues. If anyone wishes to add to the list, please do so in the comment section. Disclaimer This article, while serious in nature, also... Read more
Recently, I wrote a review of Mark Shea’s Book, The Church’s Best-Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching. In the review, I mentioned the conundrum progressive Catholics, like Mark Shea, put their fellow American Catholics in, namely, having the choose between “evil” conservative pro-life politicians and “good” pro-choice progressive politicians. Such a conundrum need not exist. If these same progressive Catholics demanded progressive politicians, especially Catholic ones, abandon their extreme abortion platform, the conundrum vanishes. In this article, I... Read more
A couple of weeks back, a reader challenged me to read Mark Shea’s book, The Church’s Best-Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching if I wanted “a real discussion about what the Catholic Church teaches about the role of government…” The reader goes on to state about the book, “Either the work stands on its own as an accurate representation of Catholic doctrine or it doesn’t, and dancing around the issue because you may not like him personally will... Read more
Some of my readers may have noticed a dip in writing production over the past few weeks. Honestly, the past few weeks were some of the most difficult weeks of my life. Watching a loved one suffer and eventually die can make one question their faith in a loving God. If anything, my experience over the past few weeks has done nothing but prove God’s love to my father and my family. Allow me to share with you a reflection... Read more
I recently came across a new concept—well, new to me, in a 2022 article for the National Catholic Reporter about then senate contender JD Vance. The concept: Christian/Catholic integralism. This then lead me to another article about a “conservative” conference at Steubenville that further explained this concept, although in an aggressively negative and uncharitable way. Christopher van der Krogt offers a scholarly definition of Catholic Integralism. In his article, Catholic Fundamentalism or Catholic Integralism, he states: Integralism derives its name... Read more
Recently, I’ve been reflecting on why I joined the Catholic Church. This reflection was initially spurred by discussions with Matt Graham (of Rational Animal) regarding Church authority. Below, I list five reasons Christians should become or return to the Catholic Church. Now, non-Christians may read these reasons and find them wanting. The intent here is not to convince atheists and agnostics to join the Catholic Church, as they must first accept theism and then Christian theism. The intended audience for... Read more
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