“You can see God by sniffing the gas in a cotton.” — Allen Ginsberg

🎸 Paul McCartney’s friendship with Ginsberg 🎸 Talkin’ ‘Bout My Generation. The phenomenon of Allen Ginsberg by Bruce Bawer, The New Criterion On Allen Ginsberg’s poetry, 1985. “I’m so lucky to be nutty.“—Allen Ginsberg, “Bop Lyrics” (1949). The very first poem in Allen Ginsberg’s Collected Poems 1947-1980 [1] seems, in a way, to prophesy Ginsberg’s entire career. It… Read More “You can see God by sniffing the gas in a cotton.” — Allen Ginsberg

The Tragedies of Pim Fortuyn and Theo Van Gogh

For many of the Dutch, the death of the 54 year old Pim Fortuyn, the flamboyant sociology professor turned right-wing politician in 2002 had something of the dreadful impact which September 11 (2001) had on Americans(*). Dark disorientation fell upon the nation known for its tolerance of almost everything secular, eccentric, and postmodern. Fortuyn was… Read More The Tragedies of Pim Fortuyn and Theo Van Gogh

Catholic Critique — Alphabetical & Topic Index

Site Summation – updated – Chat Gpt Catholic Critique presents itself as “Christian World View & Analysis,” edited by Stephen Hand. Its stated purpose is not formal teaching but the sharing of opinions, interpretive principles, excerpts, reflections, and outside resources judged helpful in spiritually challenging times. The site repeatedly frames itself as Catholic, Christ-centered, culturally… Read More Catholic Critique — Alphabetical & Topic Index

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on the Philosophy of Science

Archbishop Sheen is expected to be Beatified this month. The Philosophy of Science written by Archbishop Sheen challenges a fundamental facet of the modern outlook: that science as such can answer ultimate questions about ourselves, the universe, and God. Disdaining mere discussion or mordant criticism of purely scientific conclusions, Sheen opens science to a realm… Read More Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on the Philosophy of Science

G.K. Chesterton and Dorothy Day on Economics: Neither Socialism nor Capitalism

The following is a talk given at the American Chesterton Society annual conference in St. Paul, Minnesota, in June 2001. By Mark and Louise Zwick, Houston Catholic Worker Dorothy Day and G. K Chesterton were contemporaries. Both came into Catholicism in the 1920′s, Chesterton in 1922 at age 48 and Dorothy five years later at age… Read More G.K. Chesterton and Dorothy Day on Economics: Neither Socialism nor Capitalism

Heaven Must Love Stringed Instruments

“Angels are often depicted in art playing stringed instruments like lutes, which are part of a larger family of musical instruments known as chordophones. These instruments produce sound through the vibration of strings, and lutes specifically have a body and a neck that stretches the strings, allowing for a variety of musical expressions.  instrushare.com.au / Encyclopedia… Read More Heaven Must Love Stringed Instruments

Latin, Gregorian Chant and Vatican II. Reform or Rupture?

“How did exemptions become the rule? What did Vatican II actually say about Latin and Gregorian chant? The Council called for Latin to be preserved in the liturgy and gave Gregorian chant “pride of place” – so how did both largely disappear from ordinary parish life? Raymond Arroyo, Fr. Gerald Murray and Robert Royal examine… Read More Latin, Gregorian Chant and Vatican II. Reform or Rupture?

Philosophers and Poets

“…. the true philosopher and the true poet become what they are when they “go beyond” philosophy and poetry, and cease to “be philosophers” or to “be poets.” It is at that point that their whole lives become philosophy and poetry—in other words, there is no longer any philosophy or any poetry separable from the… Read More Philosophers and Poets

Depopulation and the Assault on Gender by Phillip D. Collins

The Obama Years. “…on page 786 of Ecoscience, [John] Holdren writes, “Indeed, it has been concluded that compulsory population-control laws, even including laws requiring compulsory abortion, could be sustained under the existing Constitution…On page 838, he states, “If some individuals contribute to general social deterioration by overproducing children, and if the need is compelling, they can be required… Read More Depopulation and the Assault on Gender by Phillip D. Collins

Opinion. A Decisive Blow to the Serotonin Hypothesis of Depression

The multi-billon dollar error. Psychology Today. Note: if these drugs work for you, good. But if the following report rings true in relation to your experience it is important that you speak with your provider about choosing a careful withdrawal plan and new path to recovery. Doctors warn against withdrawing suddenly as it may be… Read More Opinion. A Decisive Blow to the Serotonin Hypothesis of Depression

What Some Catholics Are Thinking of the Post BXVI Directions

Dr. Ralph Martin is president of Renewal Ministries, an organization devoted to Catholic renewal and evangelization. Martin also hosts The Choices We Face, a widely viewed weekly Catholic television and radio program distributed throughout the world. He holds a doctorate in theology from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas (Angelicum) in Rome. He was named… Read More What Some Catholics Are Thinking of the Post BXVI Directions

Raymond E. Brown’s Mischievous Tactic: the “Scientifically Controlled Evidence”

Or how to squeeze the generally heterodox Union Theological Seminary into two Millennia of unambiguous Catholic teaching. Raymond Brown’s Wayward Turn in Biblical Theory by Msgr. George A. Kelly Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, January / February Note: Raymond E. Brown was professor emeritus at Union Theological Seminary (UTS) in New York City, where he taught for 29… Read More Raymond E. Brown’s Mischievous Tactic: the “Scientifically Controlled Evidence”

Benedict XVI, Vatican II, and the “hermeneutic of reform”. Opinion.

By Mark Brumley, Catholic World Report. June 2020 Recently, the Second Vatican Council’s legitimacy and value have again been challenged. Some observers behave as if Benedict XVI saw Vatican II as a problem and proposed a “hermeneutic of continuity” to overcome the problem. Some people who act this way think Benedict XVI’s approach has failed. … Read More Benedict XVI, Vatican II, and the “hermeneutic of reform”. Opinion.

In the Most Grave Confusion(s): “The People Are Not Oblidged to Know…”

St. Antoninus writes: In the Event of the Most Grave Confusion(s): “The people are not oblidged to know…” And St. Thomas Aquinas on whether one must avoid (ipso facto or otherwise) excommunicated persons before sentence has been passed Principles St. Antoninus, commenting on the Great Western Schism. (1054 A.D.) “The question was much discussed and much… Read More In the Most Grave Confusion(s): “The People Are Not Oblidged to Know…”

Distributism, Labor Unions, Capitalism and Marxism by Thomas Storck

$+$ It has sometimes been said that distributism, the economic system that promotes widely distributed productive property – whether this is owned by a single proprietor, a family, or a worker cooperative – is hostile to labor unions and the labor movement. While I do not deny that there may have been someone who labels… Read More Distributism, Labor Unions, Capitalism and Marxism by Thomas Storck

The Predestination of Mary by Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange

Excerpt from The Mother of the Savior and Our Interior Life. Mary’s Predestination to the Divine Maternity Preceded her Predestination to the Fullness of Glory and Grace. by Rev. Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange. This proposition may appear a little too profound for a beginning. In reality it is quite easy to understand. Most people admit it,… Read More The Predestination of Mary by Fr. Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange