Ever since he coined the term “the dictatorship of relativism” shortly before his election as Pope Benedict XVI, the phrase has continued to haunt me. At first glance it sounds like an oxymoron: How can a relativist seek to impose a dictatorship? Aren’t dictators called absolutists . . . . Continue Reading »
Sandro Magister reports from Rome that Fr. Alberto Bonandi, a famous moral theologian, has published an article in Teologia , the journal of the Theological Faculty of Milan and Northern Italy, in which he argues that Catholics, married in the Church but subsequently divorced and remarried civilly, . . . . Continue Reading »
In these hot days of August, who has energy for anything, including reading? Well, there’s "beach reading" of course, but that’s just the point. People can be induced to read books (novels mostly) that don’t burn up the little gray cells, but if I might hazard a guess, . . . . Continue Reading »
In the pages of the Chronicle of Higher Education (subscribers only), Alan Wolfe has taken on Fr. Neuhaus’ "Dechristianizing America"¯an essay that appeared in the June/July issue of First Things . Of course, if you’re not a reader of the print magazine, you will not have . . . . Continue Reading »
I agree, Frederica, when you say today that Jesus was speaking to an oppressed minority, citizens of an occupied country, when he told them to love their enemies and turn the other cheek. One thing that follows from this is that his advice does not directly translate into policy prescriptions for . . . . Continue Reading »
According to the Zenit news service (linked here in the Daily Dispatch for July 30, 2006), Pope Benedict XVI used a Sunday Angelus message to call for an immediate ceasefire in Lebanon. "In the name of God," Benedict said, "I appeal to all those responsible for this spiral of . . . . Continue Reading »
Robert, you quote in your First Things post today a line from Hassan Nasrallah that epitomizes the mysterious and frustrating thing about dealing with this culture. He’s being blankly honest. They aren’t expecting to win, militarily; they are fighting to achieve “honor” and . . . . Continue Reading »
Beer Blessing From the Rituale Romanum (no 58) Bene+dic, Domine, creaturam istam cerevisae, quam ex adipe frumenti producere dignatus es: ut sit remedium salutare humano generi: et praesta per invocationem nominis tui sancti, ut, quicumque ex ea biberint, sanitatem corporis, et animae tutelam . . . . Continue Reading »
As an Englishman living in America, I keep a watchful and often wistful eye on events in Britain, lamenting the decline of my country as it sinks in sin and cynicism. Take, for example, Tessa Jowell , the UK government’s secretary of "Culture," whose official "Christmas" . . . . Continue Reading »
I generally agree with the comments so far emphasizing Israel’s right to defend itself, the necessity of using force against evil men, and the danger of applying “turn-the-other-cheek” logic to affairs of state. (As Robert T. Miller rightly points out, governments are not human . . . . Continue Reading »
Subscribe
Latest Issue
Support First Things
