Nasty Words and the Winds of Change
In the midst of all our other problems, Canada is now pondering reinstating the authoritarian internet hate-speech law, C-13, which as the article states, ‘made it a discriminatory practice to convey messages over the phone or internet that contain “any matter that is likely to expose a person or persons to hatred or contempt,” as long as those people were “identifiable on the basis of a prohibited ground of discrimination.”
This all sounds nice and comfy, at least at the emotional level on which most people apparently live: Like Gollum might say, ‘don’t be nasty’.
But at a more rational level, it is and always has been dangerous and counter-productive to give such power to the State and its legions of bureaucrats, most of them in Canada full to the core with Liberal ideology. How are they to determine what speech is ‘discriminatory’, and what might expose someone to ‘hatred or contempt’, all vague, inchoate terms that have no place in law, which must be specific and clear? As I wrote sometime back in my reflection on Josef Pieper’s own take on these matters, a government that controls speech is a thinly-veiled totalitarianism.
We should keep in mind that Nazi Germany had one of the strictest anti-hate speech laws in history, and a fat lot of good it did them. Unless we allow even erroneous views (or what someone deems to be ‘erroneous) to be exposed to the fresh air of vigorous debate, critique and rebuttal, asinine and even ‘hateful’ views will go underground, fester, and eventually be released as violence.
Justin Trudeau continues his own ideological crusade, arguing at the Devos summit for women’s equality, family planning, and an end to the pay gap between men and women (which as Professor Jordan Peterson pointed out in his now-famous BBC interview has many more fundamental causes than simply ‘gender’), and on and on. Fiddling with his own ideological fetishes while Canada’s economy burns. He still will not rescind that abortion attestation, and I am now rather confident he never will. Trudeau has his finger to the wind, and knows well that most Canadians will eventually just shrug, and, along with his other policies, get used to it. As he and his dear old Dad said, ‘just watch me’. Well, Mr. Trudeau, God is watching as well, and He matters more than our own purview of your actions.
I will not for now comment on the recent deeds and remarks of Pope Francis, the in-flight supposedly-impromptu marriage, the curious defense of his bishop accused of aiding and abetting child abuse, the call for proof, and the accusation of calumny, all of which have been dealt with in greater detail in other venues. Whatever the truth in all of this, and what is behind the media smoke and mirrors, I am more and more convinced that God gave us the pontificates of John Paul and Benedict, and their vast body of clear and precise teaching, to guide us through these tumultuous days, tossed by the winds of ambiguity, and the waves of wobbly teaching crashing into the barque. All I will say is, pray for the Holy Father, for the Church, that all this unfolds in God’s good providence and His own time, in truth, in justice, in charity.
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→