Jurassic Wolf

Well, they’ve finally done it. Readers of a certain vintage may recall seeing Jurassic Park in full theatre mode, and being blown away by nature run amok. Or, more to the point, Man’s intervention in nature by bringing back long-extinct species – in the film, dinosaurs – by extracting their DNA (from mosquitoes trapped in amber).

As often happens – with video calls in Aliens and the communicator cell-phones in Star Trek, even if we’re still waiting for the replicator and simulator – science fiction becomes science fact. A start-up company, Colossal, has brought the Dire Wolf back from extinction after 10,000 years They found DNA – or large chunks of it – in a preserved skull and tooth. The missing bits of said genetic material – it was 10,000 years old – were then completed using human and artificial intelligence, implanted in an empty ovum, the clone placed in a surrogate (a large dog), and, lo and behold, three puppies ensued, two males (Romulus and Remus, of course), and a female (Khaleesi).

They have plans to bring back all sorts of lost and gone species: The wooly mammoth and Dodo bird amongst them.

We will see where this goes. Neanderthal Man? There’s a lot of interest out there. The company started with $16 million, and is now valued at over $10 billion. One of their backers was Peter Jackson, who may have an interest in bringing back real-life hobbits.

There are issues. Cloned animals are prey to any number of health problems, from ageing rapidly to genet and desired species – beautiful, majestic, white wolves – can become invasive species, or simply die off for the same reasons they went extinct in the first place. And we should beware the warnings of Dr. Ian Malcolm, the fictional leather-jacketed-cool-know-it-all scientist from the film, here and here. Sure, it’s cheese, and Colossus is not InGen, but there’s truth there, and nostalgic to watch. Boy, the nineties were a whole different time.

After three decades, it is wonderful to see what Man, made in the image of the God the Creator, can do. The question is, what should we do with the power we’re given, and will God place a limit on what we may do with His creation?

Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. (James 4:10)

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→