Good Friday and War
On the theme of suffering on this Good Friday, there is a pertinent and evocative reflection by James Bogle on OnePeterFive on the bombing of Japanese Catholicism – that is, the unnecessary destruction of Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945, three days after the incineration of Hiroshima on August 6th.
We have written of the evils of these acts – here and here and here – which follow upon the previous firebombings of Tokyo, Dresden, and numerous other civilian targets, all in the name of war.
The moral dissonance found in American conservatism justifying such acts – by George Weigel and others – is, to say the least, disconcerting. How do they reconcile their justification of such an heinous act with the teaching of their, and my, own Church?
Every act of war directed to the indiscriminate destruction of whole cities or vast areas with their inhabitants is a crime against God and man, which merits firm and unequivocal condemnation. A danger of modern warfare is that it provides the opportunity to those who possess modern scientific weapons especially atomic, biological, or chemical weapons – to commit such crimes. (CCC, 2314, cf., GS 80.3)
If we justify such intrinsically evil acts for ourselves – that is, nations supposedly founded on Christian principles – how can we reject them in others? Will use of such weapons of mass destruction – this time with millions of innocent victims – be justified again, in another conflict, or an escalation of the many now underway? The ‘destruction of whole cities’ is wrong, and profoundly wrong, per se, regardless of circumstances or intention. Those tens of thousands of innocent victims, women, children, the elderly and the unborn, suffered their own ‘Good Friday’, as so many continue to do so today. May God receive them into His kingdom.
We may have yet more to say on this, but, for now, and on this holy day, we pray for all those who suffer in war and violence, for all the crimes against life. As well, that all those blinded in conscience – and we all are, to some extent – may see the full light of truth, of life and of love, demonstrated so vividly by Christ, the Son of God’s, sacrifice on that Cross on Calvary’s hill.
We adore Thee O Christ and we bless Thee, for by Thy holy Cross, Thou hast redeemed the world.
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
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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→