Of Benedict, Free Speech, Immigration and Beer
I have an article posted this morning on the Benedict Option on Catholic World Report, for those inclined to peruse before it is posted on these pages. Feedback, as always, is welcome.
For once, and hopefully more of this in the future, SCOTUS, the Supreme Court of the United States has, by a narrow 5-4 margin, struck down a ridiculous and unjust Californian law that required pregnancy help centres to advertise for abortion, in big block letters, by the way.
The opinion was written by Clarence Thomas, who is usually the silent conservative on the bench, and glad to see his fine mind on display.
Of course, I still think that the Court does far too much legislating, and should be limited to its strictly judicial role. Here, like the early Solomon, they judged wisely.
More financial woes from the Canadian front, as it seems as though once thriving industries, steel, aluminium, automobile manufacturing, will go under, belly up, as my Dad used to say, under President Trump’s threatened tariffs, unless they receive that ubiquitous deus ex machina, ‘government funding’, politely termed subsidies. There is no real issue with temporary and subsidiary help (a whole topic in itself), but the question, of course, is how much can the government fund before the whole thing goes ‘belly up’? Almost by definition, the economy cannot be a closed system, with the government funding everything, and we consumers buying everything from the government. That is a stagnant, economic swamp, and will lead to bankruptcy and misery, as evinced by the Soviet experiment, and, currently, Venezuela. Unless we turn things around, a difficult path to see with almost everyone dependent on the government in some way, we are headed to some similar financial miasma. What we can do is our own small part, to ensure that true wealth is created, and that we ourselves are in some way productive and contributory to the common good.
On that note, the immigration crisis is hitting rather close to home, as Toronto gets swamped with refugees from the United States, fleeing north for various reasons. They are being put up in university residences, but students will need those soon. This is a complex question, but borders are there for a reason, as Germany is now rediscovering, as they set up checkpoints to enter. So much for the rosy-hued 1985 Schengen agreement, which provided easy and free access to any European country, when few had heard much of Islam, at least close to home.
Well, those halcyonic days seem to be coming to a rather brutal end, as ‘papers’ are now again checked, along with bags, identities, purposes, aim of travel and so on. Although we should ponder Pope Francis’ exhortation to generosity, who just met with Emmanuel Macron bringing his own immigration woes in France, one must also balance such charity to the immigrant with the just requirements to one’s own people, the nation’s stability and common good, which often require that difficult decisions be made. Without controlled borders, how else can one maintain anything that one can call a ‘country’? Then again, as we approach its 151st anniversary, it is a very open question how much of a unified nation Canada now is. Our own relatively halcyonic days of 1867, even 1967, give me 1997, seem a long time ago, in more ways than one.
And a final note of hope: Britain has just launched its first Trappist beer. I will more on this in relation to marijuana (really), but, for now, if one is to drink, drink well, and what better way than supporting those who are ora-ing et labor-ing for God, the world, and for you, in return?
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→
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→
Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→
Payette’s Payout
I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→