McCarrick Report Reductio ad Absurdam
I don’t think I am ever going to read the McCarrick report – at 460 or so pages, with copious footnotes, it is akin to Augustine’s City of God, but a lot less edifying – so of all the summaries and precis floating around the internet, Father Stravinskas does quite a thorough and insightful task. His article is titled – tongue in cheek – ‘Four Villains and One Saint’, which reminds me of the Oratorian joke that when Saints Teresa of Avila, John of the Cross, Isidore of Sevillle, Francis Xavier and Saint Philip Neri were official declared to be in the heavenly firmament by Gregory XV in 1622, that the Pope had canonized ‘four Spaniards and a Saint’. Of course, this is a lot more serious, for there are true saints and villains, and everything in-between in the muddling middle – and the debacle does seem a sordid and sorry mess, in the midst of which, as Father Stravinskas states, there is much that is strangely missing. And, if even a few of the characters are inveterate liars, how is one to trust anything they say? As the legal – and moral – principle has it, falsus in uno, falsus in omnibus – false in one thing, false in all things. Which is why lying – even ‘white’ lies – are intrinsically evil, and a habit to be avoided pretty much at all costs, and perhaps why, to some extent – and not to exculpate anyone – why many, including Pope John Paul and other discerning souls, could not see the truth about McCarrick and accomplices.
But questions still remain. The full truth, and nothing but the truth, in all of this will only come out at the end, in each person’s judgement before the tribunal of Christ, where there will be more obfuscation and jigging the system. That, dear reader, will be the real McCarrick report – and the report on each one of us.
So strive to live a good and honest life, with ‘clean hands and pure heart’ as the Psalm says, for only they will climb the mountain of the Lord, the only peak worth conquering.
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→