Ford, Fumbling and Feckless, Forges On, but Hope Springs Up

How does one gently and reasonably point out to someone the clear and present destruction caused by lockdowns, who is convinced that they are somehow a good idea? And by ‘destruction’, we mean not only the obvious economic havoc wreaked, especially on small businesses, which are the bulk of whatever wealth-production is left, but also the breakdown of trust, between persons and the state, the police and politicians, as well as between and amongst neighbours, friends, relations – divided and bitter. The long-term effects of the loneliness and resentment may never be fully healed in this life, and the inversion of the proper order between the individual and government will perhaps never be righted. Destroyed livelihoods, suicides, divorces, domestic abuse, mental illness – even amongst the youngest – and a growing sense of panic and fear. Civic rights have been trampled by politicians, by a medical magisterium whose infallibility and global power is unquestioned, and by roving police officers, now with authority to pull you over or enter your residence at the mere whiff of a rumour, handing out crushing fines to those already crushed.

And keep in mind, the politicians, police, doctors – along with all the other government employees – teachers, university faculty and staff, military personnel and the legions of bureaucrats forging these iron-clad decrees in their Bauhaus office buildings, like orcs in Saruman’s redoubt – have never missed a paycheque, and never will – barring total societal collapse, of course, which we shouldn’t rule out, should this continue much longer.

Perhaps this take on Doug Ford, outlining his unconscionable treatment of his sometime MPP Roman Baber, who has lived through and escaped from a Communist regime; the same who dared to critique the polices of Herr Leader of the ‘Conservatives’, just might convince a few people of the folly and obtuseness of these policies.

The author, Marty Gobin, a lawyer, makes a number of good points, one of which I too have pondered. If the politicians staging these press conferences announcing yet-another extension of the lockdown (legal for only two weeks – but they take that to mean ‘two weeks at a time’, consecutively, in saecula saeculorum) – if they truly believed this was a plague of such magnitude and lethality – say, similar to that which took out Gwenyth Paltrow’s character in Contagion – so as to warrant what has never been done before in history, a global shutdown of ‘life, would they really be standing a few feet a way from each other in the same room, trusting in the talisman of flimsy masks?

To take this one step further, if this were such, people would be voluntarily locking their doors and ‘staying home’, without the need for draconian enforcement of universal house arrest.

One does not need to be a full-bore conspiracy theorist to wonder what really is going on.

On a note of hope, even though ’tis tough to keep one’s mental equilibrium, but with grace, prayer, music and a bit of humour, one just might. There are signs of a better tomorrow – small, for now, but growing, as citizens say, enough’s enough. Like the tens of thousands of restaurants across Italy who have also cried ‘Basta!’, here are at least two businesses in small-town Alberta willing to face the immoral and illegal fines, just to stay alive. Might some of our churches, schools, colleges follow suit? Hope, and let the groundswell begin…

https://www.sylvanlakenews.com/news/bashaw-businesses-ready-to-battle-government-over-restrictions/

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→