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 [...]
Catholic Bishops’ Response to Biden’s Vaccine Mandate
President Biden has made clear his belief that everyone has a moral obligation to receive the Covid vaccine. The refusal [...]
The Mental Whiplash Epidemic
A condition best termed “mental whiplash” is approaching epidemic proportions in the United States. It is called this because of [...]
Reversing America’s Decline
Americans of every race, creed, social and economic condition are increasingly concerned about the decline of their country. Why, they [...]
One Ramp Agent, Two Dogs, and American Culture
Like thousands of lower forty-eight Americans, I had long wanted to visit Alaska someday. That time recently arrived for me [...]
Ending the Biden Administration’s Confusion
Biden administration members are confused about a host of issues, and it is incumbent on American citizens to help them [...]
On Trees, Butterflies, and Powerful People
“If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear, does it make a sound?” This [...]
Catholic Charities’ Role in the Border Crisis
In late July, 2021, the La Joya TX Police Department issued a “Public Health Announcement” to the community that included [...]
The Failure of American Leadership
Given all the difficulties America has experienced during the Covid19 Pandemic, the last thing we needed was a failure of [...]
A Special Way of Praying for America
It is hard to imagine a greater need for prayer in our country than the need that exists today. In [...]
America’s Flawed View of Truth, Part 2
Socrates Part 1 discussed the error of believing that truth is within us so we don’t need to [...]
America’s Flawed View of Truth
A discussion of truth may seem too academic to have any practical value, but it really isn’t. In fact, our [...]
How America Has Changed
We are all immersed in our culture, and that immersion alters our beliefs and values to some extent over time, often [...]
UFOs and Catholic Faith
Dali's "Christ of St. John of the Cross" We’ve heard about UFOs for more than half a century [...]
Anatomy of a Pastoral Letter
On May 1, 2021 San Francisco Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone issued a pastoral letter on Catholic teaching concerning abortion. Soon afterward, [...]
A Riddle, Wrapped in a Mystery, Inside an Enigma
The title is borrowed from Winston Churchill. Though he coined the phrase in reference to another matter, it describes perfectly [...]
The Catholic Hierarchy’s Role in the Border Crisis
I recently wrote, “The mistakes in immigration policy made in Europe over the past half-century are deeply chiseled in history [...]
The Grave Danger of Good Intentions
You may be wondering, “How can good intentions be dangerous? After all, good is the very opposite of evil, and goodness [...]
President Biden’s Foolish Refusal to Learn
If we learn from our experience, we are considered intelligent. If we learn from our experience and other people’s as well, [...]
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.