Catholic Insight

Inspired by Truth, Enlightening Minds for the Church in Canada and Throughout the World

Catholic Insight

Inspired by Truth, Enlightening Minds for the Church in Canada and Throughout the World

That’s A Nice Bank Account You Got There…Shame if Something Happened to It.

The headline has it that media commentator Nigel Farange is getting the Trudeau treatment: Not quite, but close: No reason has been given, but Farange thinks is because he’s not ‘toeing the line’ on various issues, he’s had his bank accounts closed, and cannot open any others. Trudeau, on the other hand, ordered the bank accounts of those who dared to organize of even fund the Freedom Rally of 2021 in Ottawa  frozen, so they had no access to any funds, except what cash they stashed under their mattresses. Either way, without access to money, one’s daily life sort of stops – I strive to have little love of money, and think of sort of like gasoline – or petrol. It keeps your car moving forward.

One could in theory live without money, much as Saint Francis or Benedict Joseph Labre, wandering the streets and byways, eating scraps and whatever is offered. But that is not everyone’s path, and is unsustainable for most. Try it with a few little children in tow.

Hence, it is effective, and Farange is being offered up pour encourager les autres – so that other lesser-known persons get a glimpse of what will happen to them, should they too not ‘toe the line’, stay quiet and afraid – yes, quite afraid.

Of course, Trudeau was not the first to use economic coercion – the threat of financial ruin – to keep his subjects subjugated. The mafia and their predecessors have been doing it from time immemorial. The Muslims used it to keep their Christian and Jewish dhimmi, under the boot of sharia.

But it has also been done in merrie England. Here is an intriguing documentary on the first of the Tudor dynasty – who wrought much havoc upon the land – Henry VII, whose claim to, and hold upon, the throne was rather tenuous, after his troops victory over the rightful king, Richard III, at the battle of Bosworth. Towards the end of his shaky reign, Henry realized he could keep his restless subjects in line by weaving a web of monetary dependence upon the monarchy, and inflicting crushing fines upon anyone he deemed a bit uppity, anti-Tudor, or just not Tudor enough:

https://youtu.be/8wXTB52oUYE

It is an effective, but entirely immoral, weapon to wield. At least Henry had to collect his fines personally, by armed officers and courts of law – so it was limited to those he really disliked. He did not have the easy access to computerized accounts that could simply be frozen – or deleted – at a touch and the flick of a mouse. And with digital currency just around the corner, and all banks absorbed into the tangled tentacles of government, we who still love freedom may soon have few options, except, perhaps, to barter.

How many chickens for an F-150? Or, more to the point, how many i-phones for a side of beef?

And what is the cost of freedom and truth?

Everything.

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

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

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

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

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

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