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 [...]
Understanding Infallibility, Part 2
Part 1 discussed the origin of the doctrine of Papal Infallibility in the first Vatican Council (1869-1870), as well as [...]
Understanding Infallibility
The woman was confused about the Catholic doctrine of infallibility, so she wrote to a Catholic website for clarification. The [...]
Pope Francis and the State of the Church
The story thus far: When Pope Francis advised young people to “cry out” on issues, I commented that though “no [...]
Dissatisfaction with Pope Francis
Almost immediately after my essay “Pope Francis’ Support of Protests” was published, I received four interesting comments: Arthur began by [...]
Pope Francis’ Support of Protests
On the day before Palm Sunday 2018, young people in the U.S. participated in a march in favor of gun [...]
The Blessings of Lent
All Christians know the story of Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection by heart. They know, as well, the incomparable blessing [...]
The Latest Schoolhouse Absurdity
I recently wrote, “Contemporary discussion of social issues is filled with overgeneralization, oversimplification, selective reporting of facts, and appeals to [...]
“Dilly Dilly,” More Than Silly
“Dilly Dilly” is certainly silly. A medieval king demanding that his subjects pay homage with cases of Bud Light, leading [...]
The Morality of Giving Sanctuary
Oakland mayor Libby Schaaf is a prominent member of the movement to resist the deportation of illegal immigrants. She not [...]
The Roots of Mass Murder
Since the beginning of this century, 36 mass shootings in 22 states have claimed the lives of 388 people. Although this [...]
Egotism and the Abuse of Discourse
NBA stars Lebron James and Kevin Durant did an ESPN podcast. James opined that Trump “doesn’t understand the people and [...]
Nancy Reagan, Nike, and American Culture
What could these three possibly have in common? In 1986 Reagan offered a message of restraint—“Just say no”—recalling a moral [...]
A Different View of Catholic Renewal
My recent essay on the Dynamic Catholic movement ended by suggesting that, though its contribution to Catholic renewal is worthwhile, [...]
“Are You a Dynamic Catholic?”
This question is being asked in parishes across the country, as a result of the efforts of Matthew Kelly and [...]
About President Trump’s Tweets
Donald Trump’s tweets have been in the news since long before he ran for the presidency, and they have been [...]
Death by a Thousand Slurs
This has been the mainstream media’s intention from the Republican primary, through the presidential campaign, and throughout Donald Trump’s first [...]
A Different New Year’s Resolution
Common New Year’s resolutions involve quitting something such as smoking or drinking, eating too much, being too sedentary, being rude [...]
Our Perception of Social Problems
I recently read a description of troubling social problems, in particular increasing violence and the decline of moral standards. It [...]
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.