Donald DeMarco: Tulsi Gabbard stated, in her May 22 letter of resignation, that she has quit her post as the Director of National Intelligence. Her husband, Abraham, had been recently diagnosed with an extremely rare form of bone cancer. “At this time,” she wrote, “I must step away from public service to be by his side and fully support him through this [...]
Donald DeMarco: When Dante entered the vestibule of Hell, he witnessed the dreary souls “who lived without blame, and without praise; but were for themselves.” These were the apathetic souls whom both Heaven and Hell rejected. Dante was struck by sheer number of these lost souls. “So long a train of people,” he said to Virgil, his guide, “that I should never [...]
Reflections on why we march Donald DeMarco: The word “life” has several shades of meaning. In this article I call attention to just two of its meanings. The first is the life that is the focus of the various marches for life. It refers to the sacredness of life. All human life, including the life of the unborn, is invested with an [...]
Donald DeMarco: I had a terrible dream last night. Maybe it was brought about by that extra slice of “everything on it” pizza I consumed before I retired. It was having its revenge. At any rate, the dream was not only terrifying, but it lasted a long time. I hastened to write it down before I forgot the incidents that rose to [...]
Donald DeMarco: Fr. Paul Marx founded Human Life International. Rev. Paul Marx, was the 15th of 17 children born to devoutly religious parents, George and Elizabeth, on a dairy farm in St. Michael, Minnesota on May 8, 1920. Coincidentally, and perhaps in some way providentially, Benjamin Franklin was also the 15th of 17 children. It may also be of interest [...]
Donald DeMarco: A friend of mine who teaches theology at a Catholic university informed me of an unforgettable experience he had on a flight to Chicago to visit an old friend. Seated next to him was a young woman wearing a t-shirt identifying herself as a proud member of the “pro-choice generation.” My friend wanted to say to her, “Lucky for you your [...]
Donald DeMarco: I shall begin by enunciating the premise that the life that God has granted us is richer, more meaningful, and more important than any of the gifts we have given ourselves, such as our possessions, our artifacts, our entertainments, and our amusements. We are tempted to believe that the things we enjoy in life are more important than life itself. [...]
Donald DeMarco: Columnist Donald DeMarco imagines a conversation with journeyman baseball player Harry Chiti. Harry Chiti was a major league catcher who played for the Tigers, Cubs, Athletics, Indians, and Mets from 1950-1962. In his final year, he was traded from the Indians to the Mets where he played 15 games and hit a woeful .195. He was then traded [...]
Donald DeMarco: George Huntston Williams, an historian of Christianity known for his extraordinary range and productivity, passed away on Oct. 6 in the second millennial year at the age of 86. Sic transit gloria mundi! His legacy should not pass into oblivion. He began his career as a teacher in 1947 at the Harvard Divinity School, which was struggling to stay afloat [...]
Donald DeMarco: It is a relatively simple thing to make something. All we need to do is put together parts that are readily available. Man is a maker. Homo faber is his classical name. On the other hand, man himself is made. The process of making a man is unimaginably complex and extends over centuries. We could not come into existence save [...]
Donald DeMarco, Commentary: Poetry in the best sense offers us glimpses into reality that we can ill afford to do without. Science, opinion polls, psychological theories, and the like, are but shadows in comparison with the light by which poetry can illuminate certain realities. G.K. Chesterton maintained that “great poets use the telescope as well as the microscope.” This paradoxical feature may make [...]
Donald De Marco The Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals (U.K.) have issued a new set of guidelines that introduces an assortment of “trans-friendly” terms. The concern is to avoid offending people who have been transgendered by insisting that there is such a thing as distinct sexes. The guidelines instruct doctors, nurses, and midwives to use gender-neutral terms. Thus, “chestfeeding” should replace “breastfeeding” [...]
Commentary St. Jerome’s University, in Waterloo, Ont., and purportedly a Catholic institution, has decided to fly the LGBTQ flag on its campus to celebrate “Pride” month. Interim President Scott Kline, whose term began on July 1, 2019, defended the action as a way of sending the message that “all are welcome in this place.” The immediate reaction to the move has shown [...]
Kirk Gibson's iconic 1988 World Series home run. Donald DeMarco writes is an example of one of the great joys of life. In sports, you either win or lose, but you cannot win unless you play the game. This axiom applies to life as well as to philosophy. One cannot succeed in life unless he puts aside the fear of [...]
There are many definitions of the cynic. The one I choose for this article describes the person who is hostile toward the past that he knows and hospitable toward the future that he does not know. The clearest example of this form of cynicism about which I am aware belongs to a former colleague of mine who shall remain anonymous: “Marriage is [...]