Insidious Socialism
Pius XI taught that Socialism, along with its theoretical end-point, Communism, are intrinsically evil, entailing various fundamental violations of fundamental human rights, not least the right to property, freedom, religion, free enterprise and life. Almost invariably, such regimes end up brutally, with ubiquitous surveillance, mass deportations, imprisonments, labour camps, staged courts and summary executions. Paula Adamick has aptly summarized the Popes and their condemnations of this insidious ideology, as our own fair notion descends ever-further into the socialist morass.
One of the primary ways that socialism infects a society is through lies, and not in general the bold variety, but the subtle: Manipulating, hiding, obfuscating, warping, exaggerating the truth, in such a way that it really is a lie. Take the notion of ‘free’, universal medical care, when it is anything but free (rather far more expensive than private), and, as the untold thousands will attest who cannot ‘find’ a physician, far from universal as well.
To fight this deceit, we too must cultivate truth, in our hearts, minds and speech. Let our yes be yes, and our no, no. The more limpid is our minds and souls, the more we will be able to see through the falsity of all the current ‘isms’.
As Ms. Adamick points out, Pope John Paul II fought Communism not with violence, but with truth, in which his saintly life was immersed, in the truth of God, of Man, of all reality, the price of long hours spent in prayer, study, meditation.
One remark of the great Pope has always stuck with me: ‘An excuse is a lie, guarded’. How often we make ‘excuses’, white lies to cover an uncomfortable truth. But such small deceits often lead to much larger ones, and before we know it, we blind ourselves. We should be more simple and straightforward, speaking the truth as we see it, insofar as the other has a right to what we have to say. Sometimes, perhaps oft-times, as Christ taught, silence is the better way.
Only by living a life founded on truth will we be given eyes to see, and ears to hear, to distinguish between truth and falsity, good and evil, and so choose the path that leads to salvation.
Carney’s Amoral Majority
After five defections – euphemistically described as ‘crossing the floor’ – and three by-elections, Mark Carney and his Liberals how have their coveted majority. One wonders what bowls of pottage were offered in back-room deals. In the archaic monarchical system that is the Dominion of Canada, this majority allows the newly-minted Prime Minister to rule[…]Continue reading→
Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress
This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→
Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading→
A Tale of Two Benedicts
A grace-filled Holy Week to all our readers! As we await and prepare for the Resurrection about to dawn upon us, we might keep in mind two Benedicts: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, requiescat in pace, elected on this day in 2005; and today’s commemoration of the mystic pilgrim, Benedict Joseph Labre, who died on this[…]Continue reading→
My Name is Bernadette
April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]Continue reading→
Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam and Suffering Joyfully
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam (1380 – 1433) was one of the countless and glorious ‘victim souls’ in the history of the Church, those whose lives are filled with suffering, often of an unimaginable intensity, but who suffer joyfully. She was a fifteen-year old Dutch girl, out skating one day, when she fell and broke one[…]Continue reading→
The Glorious Martyrdoms of Martin and Maximus
As we enter into Eastertide, we recall on this 13th of April Pope Saint Martin I (+655), one of the noblest, if most tragic, of the successors of Saint Peter. Born in Umbria, Italy, he was of noble lineage, with great intelligence combined with charity and love of the poor and the Church. While still[…]Continue reading→
Canonizing Sister Faustina and Divine Mercy
HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER MASS IN ST PETER’S SQUARE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF SR MARY FAUSTINA KOWALSKA Sunday, 30 April 2000 1. “Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius”; “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever” (Ps 118: 1). So the Church sings on the Octave of[…]Continue reading→