Capitol Hill and the New Barbarians

What is one to say of yesterday’s events on Capitol Hill? Certainly, sides, already divided, are being drawn in more than the sand, and may soon be chiseled into the very hearts of men. It is difficult to see with anti-Trumpers such Dreher and French that the president incited his supporters to riot. Yes, some of his language is inflammatory, but then so is Biden’s and host of others – and he is free to hold his opinion that the voting on November 4th was rigged, as do millions of others. But I do not recall anything of his about storming the legislature, or to any act of violence.

Should a court – here, the Supreme variety – have examined the evidence of voter fraud? The forbidding of scrutineers, the shifting of ballot boxes, the strange algorithms in the mysterious voting machines, the ‘burst water main’ and mid-night shutdown, the statistically improbable results? There is a strong argument to be made in favour of this, for as the adage goes, it’s not enough for justice to be done, justice has to be seen to be done. But, as others have argued, the Justices – and the FBI and anyone else involved – if not compromised, and honestly seeking the truth, would have likely feared for their – and their family’s – physical safety, should they even remotely doubted or disputed the Democratic victory.

Perhaps Mr. Dreher may recall from his Catholic days the reference from Saint Thomas, Prima Secundae, question 96, article 2, reply to the second objection: That if the people are pushed far enough, with unjust, onerous laws, left with no apparent recourse to redress those laws, will by their very nature revolt. In his vivid image from the Book of Proverbs, ‘he who violently bloweth his nose, bringeth forth blood‘.

Here’s hoping we can avoid bloodshed, and reach some level of peace. Then again, as Charles Coloumbe put it the other day, a nation that has murdered millions of its unborn children for the past half century can scarcely be a nation of peace, nor void of innocent blood, which cries out to heaven for vengeance. Mother Teresa put it succinctly, that abortion is the greatest destroyer of peace.

Biden, Harris and the Democrats, now in full control of the federal government under dubious and fraught circumstances, will double down on this, and a host of other evils. And what is the ‘other side’ supposed to do? Sit back and take it? Wait four years and vote in an opaque electoral system they no longer trust? Even the normal means of civil communication – that is, media – are censored almost entirely to the culture of death now regnant.

Perhaps the most poignant image was that of the shirtless man in the furry Viking headgear, smeared in body paint or tattoos, standing over the speaker’s desk in the very hall of the Capitol. As far as I know, he was dragged off to whatever fate awaited him.

But, as Chesterton predicted, the amoral ‘barbarians’ he unwittingly represented – unhinged from what we have up ’til now considered natural law – in different and more civil garb, are now in charge, and the whirlwind they will reap may blow the whole house down. As someone else wrote, the vote yesterday gave the other side victory; events as they unfolded have now given them a mandate.

Will America fall, or continue to fight – with peaceful means, as possible – for truth, freedom and even her very life itself?

O, Mary Conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

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→

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→

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→

Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów

We celebrate Saint Stanislaus today (+ April 11, 1079), in light of this Easter Octave, a bishop and martyr who accepted the episcopacy only at the direct order of Pope Alexander II. He proved a wise and courageous leader of his flock, put to death by his own king, Boleslaus, for rebuking the monarch’s ‘immoral[…]Continue reading→

Weronika Krawczyk and Injustice in Poland

Catholic Action in Poland has issued a formal statement appealing to the President of the Republic of Poland to pardon Weronika Krawczyk—convicted for warning other women against an abortion-performing gynaecologist. Catholic Action (AK) emphasizes that no apology is owed to a doctor who has performed numerous abortions and proposed others; furthermore, the organization considers the[…]Continue reading→

Three Easter Musical Gems: Bach, Palestrina and Byrd

A very blessed and glorious Easter! Christus surrexit vere, alleluia! As we begin this Easter Octave with the great Solemnity of Easter, music to lift the soul would be one of Bach’s Easter cantatas, composed during his time at Leipzig in the early 1700’s, for the six Sundays of this festive season, leading up to[…]Continue reading→

Saint Isidore of Seville, the Internet and Industriousness

Today, April 4th, muted this year by Holy Saturday, is the commemoration of Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636) a bishop and doctor of the Church during a tumultuous age, when civilization was crumbling, coming apart at its very seams, which may sound sort of au courant. Then again, the form of this world has always[…]Continue reading→

An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday

The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading→