B. D. McClay

In today’s On the Square , Gina Dalfonzo uses an up-and-coming theatrical re-imagining of A Tale of Two Cities to talk about the greatness of that particular book. It combines compassion for the oppressed with a deep sense of justice: Certainly Dickens can be witty, even barbed, at the . . . . Continue Reading »

In his piece for today’s On the Square , James R. Rogers discusses an early argument over the proper roles of Church and State—one involving Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison: Thomas Jefferson and James Madison squared off against Patrick Henry and his bill for . . . . Continue Reading »

The American poet John Hollander has died , leaving a rich legacy of poetry and criticism behind him. Micah Mattix offers a heartfelt tribute to the man and his work in today’s On the Square : While his work is preoccupied with identity and reality, poetry for Hollander can never fully . . . . Continue Reading »

In today’s On the Square , Mark Tooley discusses an Anglican priest who has decided that it’s perfectly appropriate to compare environmental issues to the Holocaust: The priest recalls the Garden of Righteous Gentiles in Israel that honors ten Boom, Schindler, and others who risked . . . . Continue Reading »

In today’s On the Square , William Doino wants to remind the press that Francis’ focus on mercy requires a theology of sin: Francis’ teaching on mercy is beautiful and inspiring, but clearly takes place within his full theology of sin, from which it can never be isolated. It . . . . Continue Reading »

In his piece for today’s On the Square , “Freeing Protestantism from Liberalism,” Peter J. Leithart would like to tell you a fairy tale: Once upon a time, everyone followed a simple, relaxed, guilt-free religion, uncluttered by rites and dogmas. Along came the greedy priests, who . . . . Continue Reading »

In today’s On the Square , Kaye DeMetz gives a delightful introduction to a little-known medieval playwright, Hrosvitha of Gandersheim: Hrosvitha’s heroines laugh even at death. Her central characters almost seem to take pleasure in sacrificing their lives for virtue. Callimachus, . . . . Continue Reading »

On this Feast of the Assumption, we bring you not one, not two, but three On the Square columns! In his piece for today’s On the Square , Russell E. Saltzman takes on that most famous (and most famously incorrect) of opening sentences: “All happy families are alike; each unhappy family . . . . Continue Reading »

Richard J. Mouw gives a heartfelt tribute to the late Robert Bellah for today’s On the Square : I learned much from the late Robert Bellah. His widely discussed (and widely criticized) 1967 essay on civil religion chastened me for my habit of issuing unnuanced condemnations of civil religion . . . . Continue Reading »

In today’s On the Square , George Weigel takes issue with Ruth Marcus’ comment that abortion does not qualify as “the taking of a human life”: Well, one wants to ask, what is it, then? What, precisely, are those creatures whose spinal cords Kermit Gosnell cut with scissors? . . . . Continue Reading »