Capitol Hill Catholic

In this special edition devoted to John Paul the Great's beatification, I cover several news items related to the ceremonies of the week, as well as read from John Paul's Apostolic Letter on the "New Evangelization":

• Biographer George Weigel slams critics of John Paul's "fast-track" to sainthood;
• Weigel also contends that John Paul's legacy will take several hundred years to understand fully;
• one cardinal argues for John Paul II to be named the patron of youth;
• the USCCB establishes a John Paul II memorial website.

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He is risen!  In the spirit of Easter season, today I focus on reasons to be optimistic -- as well as reasons to continue working toward renewal of our culture.  Consider these stories:

• NJ school reports large number of conversions among students;
• the Holy Father's call to "reason, freedom, and love";
• one school superintendent's courage in taking on mediocrity and the teachers' union;
• the lack of action by our leaders on the nation's debt crisis;
• John Paul II's heroic example

Spiritual message of the day: "He has triumphed over death."

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Today we prepare for the Mass of the Lord's Supper, which recreates the original Sacrifice of the Mass through the Institution of the Eucharist and the Institution of the Holy Priesthood.  As Catholics, we should understand this fully, not only for its liturgical and theological significance, but also for its impact on our efforts to renew American culture.

To that point, I discuss foreign policy, 2012 elections, and the sputtering economy, brought on by high debt and imminent inflation.

I also update everyone on my new effort to renew Catholic education.  Be sure to read this Catholic school parent's reflections on the problems with Catholic education.

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I've waited several years to put all of this together publicly, so today's episode is the result of much work. In it, I discuss what I have spent my professional life doing: working in education, the last several years in Catholic education.  Though there are many good people in Catholic schools, and many excellent priests and bishops supporting authentic Catholic schools, the fact is that as a whole, Catholic education is in crisis.  I lay out the diagnosis as well as my solution, pointing to these stories:

• Andy Smarick's brilliant analysis, "Can Catholic Schools Be Saved?"
• National Review's Robert Costa on "Reviving the Catholic Schools," featuring Archbishop Timothy Dolan's ideas
• The so-called "Land O' Lakes Declaration," which sent Catholic higher education--and, eventually, Catholic secondary education down the spiral of secularism and relativism
• Case in point: the National Labor Relations Board's decision to refuse religious recognition to Manhattan College because of its secularism
• America magazine's feature, "The Future of Catholic Schools"
• the terrible decision of the National Catholic Education Association, which has featured apostates Sr. Helen Prejean and Garrison Keillor as keynote speakers

So what's the solution?  Starting a new group for authentic Catholic schools -- the Association of Catholic Schools.  Listen in.  Spread the word.  Be part of the renewal.

The spiritual message of the day: "Off you go.  Fly!"

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Buoyed by the successful staring down of The Wizard of Oz, conservatives are on the march in Washington.  Thus, while we may be concerned, angry, and even frustrated with the state of the republic, we need to treat our political and cultural battle as if it were a war: we need to get off the sidelines and join the "attack."  To wit:

• inflationary risks are very prevalent, so we must be on guard for liberal lunacy with monetary policy
• more than 150 Catholic colleges have ties to Planned Parenthood
• evidence of a "tea party" political revolt in Europe
• predominantly Christian secessionists in southern Sudan understand that true freedom is imprinted on our souls
• Clinton's Labor Secretary, Robert Reich, says we're "right-wing bullies" for initiating budget cuts
• Thomas Peters' analysis of the Planned Parenthood debate
• for further reading: G.K. Chesterton's "Why I am Catholic"

Today's spiritual message: "Let us not turn away from our duty."

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Most of modern American society's tendencies toward dependency on Big Government can be traced back to the 1960s-era building of the welfare state, known as the Great Society.  The Wall Street Journal's Stephen Moore looks at the impact of that process, arguing that we have become a "nation of takers, not makers."

Chris Christie is also in the news, once again decrying the teacher's union as "political thugs."  Watch the video here.

I also cover these topics:

• Donald Trump is in 2nd place in a recent poll of possible GOP contenders
• In an outstanding display of virtuous leadership, The Wizard of Oz is leaving Washington during the "government shutdown" fight
• the Koran-burning pastor gets 400 death threats from peace-loving Muslims
• New Hampshire Republicans show their anti-Catholic bias
• consider these reasons to end your family's association with Facebook

Please consider joining Capitol Hill Catholic this July at the "Catholics in the Next America" conference in California.

Today's spiritual message: "Don't let your life be barren."

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Today's weekend edition focuses on the theme of the gullibility of America.  What do I mean by that?  As I look at the news and events of recent weeks--as well as some enduring problems in the Church, schools, and the nation--I see an undercurrent: many people in power prey on the naivete of others.  How else can we explain the following:

• all of us will have to start buying "green" vehicles, but the president will not have to;
• a Chicago couple is threatened by a Census worker for trying to protect their privacy;
• the FDA will soon require calorie counts to be posted at restaurants, bakeries, and stores;
• Ben Bernanke lied about sending bailout money to foreign banks, including one in Libya;
• animal-loving federal agents, looking for BP-harmed fish, kill three dolphins;
• radioactive material found in Illinois, in spite of repeated pleadings by the Japanese and U.S. governments that no Americans should be harmed;
• the Department of Homeland Security acting like the Gestapo;
• the fraud of the Social Security system;
• problems with heterodox bishops and priests not following Vatican directives on the liturgy; and
• the deterioration of Catholic schools.

What do all of these examples have in common?  The growth of a dependency mentality among the American people.  We must begin clamoring for subsidiarity to be practiced -- and soon.

Today's spiritual message: "You are to be yeast among the great multitudes."

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After a hiatus for good reasons, I'm back behind the mic, discussing these stories today:

• why Libya and the Middle East may be more like the limited revolutions of 1848 rather than a wholesale "era of revolution" for liberty
• four questions for the Wizard of Oz on his Libya "policy"
• public policy lessons from the 2010 census
• on the Church front, an interview with the director of There Be Dragons
• the Worcester diocese's decision to halt entrants to the permanent diaconate
• funny business (statistically speaking) with a survey that purports to show a majority of Catholics support same sex marriage
• a congressman's telling view of Catholicism in public life

Today's spiritual message: "Get to know the Holy Spirit."

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Today's episode unveils the "big announcement" I've referenced in the last several weeks: Catholic Families for America, which I founded in 2008, is joining Catholic Vote. This move will enable me to focus more on the podcast, as well as assist Catholic Vote by serving on its PAC's advisory board. The episode also includes an interview with Catholic Vote's Josh Mercer.

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In today's special weekend edition, I focus on a problem that underlay most of the problems we see in society -- narcissism.  From the policies of the Narcissist in Chief to the elevating of personal, selfish aims above the nation, Church, and family, our society is beset with this problem.  What shall we do about it?  Find a narcissist, tell them they are not "special," and stop updating Facebook with mundane silliness!

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