Number of Views :572First and foremost, the Citizen wishes to apologize for the spelling in the title. It was an attempt to recapture that drawl of the fundamentalist who has been indoctrinated to think of Catholicism as a cult. The nuances of that phrase has stuck with me for better than two decades. With...
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Socialists - within and without the community of Catholics - have sought to twist the simple message of Christian charity into something far more ominous. We cannot allow this to continue.
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Number of Views :459As we approach the Fourth of July, one of the most significant holidays in the United States, the Citizen would like to share a prayer I composed for a lecture on Citizenship last Fall. I decided that this was an appropriate moment to share this prayer with you all. Lord, in...
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Number of Views :1657In the National Catholic Register, Archbishop Thomas Wenski rendered an opinion on illegal immigration entitled ‘Why We Defend Migrants’. The bishop engaged in the typical twisted logic employed by the supporters of universal amnesty, adding a dash of heavy-handed moralizing to his argument. What Bishop Wenski fails – or refuses –...
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Number of Views :1356The Citizen is undergoing yet another round of ‘stop being judgmental’ and ‘judge not’ remarks from the liberals of his acquaintance. While this charge is annoying when it comes from the secular lib, it is appalling when it comes from those who presume to be learned in theology and practicing members...
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Number of Views :443 During Mass on Holy Thursday, the Citizen remembered one of his earliest theological musings. Looking up at the crucified Christ while listening to the Gospel reading of His scourging, my attention was drawn to the crown of thorns. “If Christ suffered for all of our sins,” I reasoned, “and I...
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Number of Views :499Charity is a Christian virtue. The Gospel is full of examples of the charity that Christ showed those considered to be ‘unclean’ or ‘outcasts’. This is not to say that he was tolerant of their behavior. Christ, through His works and sermons, demonstrated an emphasis on redemption. Redemption is different from...
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Number of Views :405In Luke 15, Christ shares two parables. One of them – the Prodigal Son – is the lesson that had me thinking today. For those not familiar with the story, a young man demands his inheritance. His father gives him his portion, and the young man leaves and squanders the money...
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Number of Views :398It would be so easy to lay down the burdens that Christians face. To be honest, how many of us were truly, personally effected by the Obama commencement appearance at Notre Dame? In my letters to editors, essays, and discussions I was asked this question often – “Did you even go...
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Just War – A Catholic Theory
The United States is waging two active wars, a third global war against global terrorism, and we have assumed the lead in a massive air campaign in Libya. As Catholics, what are we to think of war? Isn't violence always wrong? Shouldn't we be 'turning the other cheek'? Not always - St. Thomas Aquinas gave...
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