Don’t Retain these Professors
During the soap opera drama that surrounded the Kavanaugh Senate hearing, one important news item received considerably less attention than [...]
Echoes from the Garden
Original Sin as depicted by Brueghel and Rubens The comedian Red Skelton created a character [...]
Celebrating Thanksgiving
Special days of thanksgiving existed in earlier cultures, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and ancient Jewish, yet we Americans are more [...]
Rediscovering Humility
In a recent essay I traced the problem of divisiveness in modern America to our culture’s overemphasis on SELF—notably self-esteem and [...]
The Roots of Divisiveness
Divisiveness means “tending to cause disagreement or dissension.” The word is interesting because it illustrates the very condition it describes—people [...]
Catholic Responses to the Abuse Scandal
I recently attended a lay forum at a local Catholic parish and found what one might expect—a mixture of heartache, [...]
Democrats’ Contempt for American Values
Thucydides Democrat officials’ opposition to Donald Trump originated during the Republican primary in dislike of his rude verbal [...]
Making Sense of Ford v Kavanaugh
The September 27th testimony of Christine Blasey Ford and Brett Kavanaugh was exhausting not only for the two of them but [...]
The Kavanaugh Affair as IQ Test
Even the worst situation can produce at least a little good. The early remarks of prominent Democrat politicians following Christine [...]
Abortion: the Democrats’ Sacrament
To call abortion a recurring Democratic platform plank would be reasonable, but to call it a sacrament? That is surely [...]
The Rising Popularity of Socialism, Part 2
Part 1 noted the recent resurgence of socialism in America, examined the philosophy and goals of its main advocate—The Democratic [...]
Celibacy, Sexual Abuse, and the Denigration of Women
Original Sin as depicted by Brueghel and Rubens In a recent essay I noted that, while allegedly [...]
Abusers, Enablers, and Jesus, Part 2
The two greatest Catholic sins of our time are the disgusting sexual abuse of our young people by priests and [...]
Abusers, Enablers, and Jesus
The story of Catholic priests and sex abuse is back in the news and it is no less painful for [...]
The Rising Popularity of Socialism
A new Gallup poll reveals that 57 percent of Democratic voters and those leaning Democrat have a favorable view of [...]
The Catechism on the Death Penalty
The Catechism of the Catholic Church has recently revised its teaching on capital punishment (section 2267). The new section, approved [...]
The Catholic Church and Salvation, Part 4
Part 1 documented that “Outside the Church there is no salvation” has been a consistent Catholic teaching. Part 2 examined the current confusion [...]
The Catholic Church and Salvation, Part 3
Part 1 documented that “Outside the Church there is no salvation” has been a consistent Catholic teaching for many centuries. Part [...]
The Catholic Church and Salvation, Part 2
Part 1 documented that “Outside the Church there is no salvation” has been a consistent Catholic teaching for many centuries. [...]
The Catholic Church and Salvation
Some years ago a close friend told me of an experience she had in the early 1950s. A recent convert [...]
“Think Before You Speak”
This advice was common for centuries. Today it is considered passé because we have been taught that mental health depends [...]
Does Truth Change?
Heraclitus famously observed, “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's [...]
Cardinal Dolan’s Discernment Deficit
Cardinal Timothy Dolan is America’s “most important churchman,” according to Newsweek. The magazine based that assessment on his position as [...]
Understanding Infallibility, Part 4
Part 1 discussed the origin of the doctrine of Papal Infallibility in the first Vatican Council (1869-1870). Part 2 examined [...]
Understanding Infallibility, Part 3
Part 1 discussed the origin of the doctrine of Papal Infallibility in the first Vatican Council (1869-1870), as well as [...]
Author Vincent Ryan Ruggiero
Since retiring from teaching, I have continued my work in promoting sound thinking in education and in the general culture. More specifically, I have kept refining my textbooks, four of which have been continuously in print for an average of 33 years. I have also continued to write books for the general public, the latest of which is Corrupted Culture: Rediscovering America’s Enduring Principles, Values, and Common Sense, and I write a weekly column for an online journal.