Epstein and Cultural Free Fall

In the annals of the continuing free-fall of our culture, the French Catholic school board in the Ottawa region has just instituted a high school course in ‘video gaming’. Their justification? Well, it seems ‘gamers’, if good enough – and I use ‘good’ loosely here – can make six-figure incomes. One wonders. Playing video games seems a significantly less-than-beneficial use of one’s precious and limited time, for which we all will have to give account; but watching others play video games? I don’t think Plato could have foreseen this, even in the deepest bowls of his murky cave.

And while on cultural free-fall and murkiness, but on more serious matters, did the mysterious Jeffrey Epstein – may God have mercy on his soul – commit suicide, or was he murdered? We will probably never know, but it is something to ponder how deep the rot goes in our culture, and how much our immoral laws stem from the immorality of our lawmakers. Said lawmakers are quite interested in keeping a veil over their, ahem, immorality.

Here is a brief comment I stumbled across, in response to the reflections of Theodore Dalrymple, which might us some pause for thought:

When this hottest (witness) potato wasn’t placed in a Fed Witness Protection program, I counted “ONE”.
When he was placed in a cell with a violent multiple murderer, I counted “TWO”.
When his suicide watch was pulled, I counted “THREE”.
I knew he was a dead man at that time.
When it was revealed that all of the security cameras were out, I counted “FOUR”.
When Two (not one, but Two) guards were called for “faking records and sleeping” I counted “FIVE”.
When it was stated screaming was heard when he was supposed to be commiting suicide, I counted “SIX”.
When the coroner said his Hyoid bone was broken. I counted “SEVEN”.
An old military axiom is followed when a unit is the repeated victim of suspicious activity or damage.
“The first time can be happenstance.
The second time can be coincidence.
The third time is Enemy Action.”
SEVEN TIMES!

As I said, one wonders, and, along with a healthy fear of the Lord, wonder is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge.

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→