The Unfathomable Silence of the Shepherds
The Shepherd metaphor is one of the clearest and most vivid in all of Scripture and not surprisingly was adopted [...]
A New Catholic View on Homosexuality?
In the past, Munich's Cardinal Reinhard Marx has given his blessing to same-sex couples. Now he is going a step [...]
Disappointment with the Catholic Hierarchy
Bishop Howard Hubbard In a court deposition, Bishop Emeritus Howard J. Hubbard, Diocese of Albany NY, has admitted [...]
The Lost Art of Listening
Listening to others is fast becoming a lost art. The most common sign of this is refusal to listen to [...]
Men’s Shameful Attitudes Toward Women
The history of men’s attitudes toward women has been, in a word, shameful. In the beginning, at the dawn of [...]
The Ukrainians’ Timeless Example
President Zelensky The start of 2022 has been strange indeed, not only for Europe, but for the entire [...]
In Praise of Virtue
Virtue may be defined simply as doing the right thing and heroic virtue as doing the right thing at great [...]
The Catholic Church and Contraception, Part 4
Part 1 explained that Catholic teaching on contraception, and its larger teaching on marriage, were based on St. Augustine of Hippo’s [...]
The Catholic Church and Contraception, Part 3
St. Augustine of Hippo Part 1 explained that Catholic teaching on contraception, and indeed its larger teaching on marriage, [...]
The Catholic Church and Contraception, Part 2
Part 1 explained that Catholic teaching on contraception is part of the Church’s larger teaching on marriage. Both reflect the [...]
The Catholic Church and Contraception, Part 1
At a time when relativism has undermined the idea of objective truth, both philosophy and religion are challenged more than [...]
What Informed Catholics Expect of Prelates
As I noted in “Overcoming Our Social Chaos” and “A Layman’s Memo to Catholic Prelates” the future of both Catholic [...]
A Layman’s Memo to Catholic Prelates
It seems that the more social problems have multiplied in America in recent years, the less helpful the leadership of [...]
Overcoming Our Social Chaos
As I explained in my last essay, several generations of individuals have grown up believing that they are never responsible [...]
The Consequence of Ignoring Consequences
An idea prompts an action, which in turn suggests another idea, which leads to yet another action, and so on. [...]
Are “Your” Opinions Really Yours?
Some time ago I asked a friend what she thought of the 3000 migrants who for several days had been [...]
One Man’s Powerful Example
Many ideas that used to be considered absurd are now considered wise. For example, the idea that disbanding police departments [...]
U.S. Bishops Need to Heed Chesterton’s Advice
One of G.K. Chesterton’s most profound statements was this: “A thinking man must always attack the strongest thing in his [...]
Why I Remain Catholic
Not long ago a friend asked me why, with all the scandal and disappointment within the hierarchy in the Catholic [...]
When the President Met the Pope
On November 1, All Saints Day, the Catholic News Service reported on President Biden’s visit with Pope Francis. I’ll begin [...]
Pope Francis Pastoring Protestors
The fourth meeting of “Popular Movements “was held in October, 2021 and sponsored by “People Improving Communities through Organizing” (PICO), [...]
I’ve Been Wondering . . .
Rodin's The Thinker Why did President Biden as his first action in office shut down the XL pipeline, [...]
Where Pope Francis Needs to Improve
Polls reveal that a large majority of Catholics have a positive view of Pope Francis. However, far fewer look to [...]
The Meaning of Charity Has Changed, Part 2
The Good Samaritan Part 1 explained how the meaning of Charity has changed, and ended with these questions: [...]
The Meaning of Charity Has Changed
Charitable giving is not always virtuous. If I give my own money or goods to someone in need out of [...]
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.