Abraham's Journey
In the brief run-up to the American Civil war between Abraham Lincoln’s inauguration and the start of hostilities, the new president was visited by a host of “peace committees,” urging him to let the rebellious states go in peace, forming two countries from one. Lincoln believed such a peace would only be illusory, setting off […]
Read More Birthing PainsBy Charlie Johnston In America we settle disputes with ballots, not bullets. Fascists use bullets and violence to get their way. Communists use coercion and force to achieve their aims. Authoritarians rig elections to make their depredations look genuine. In America, we settle disputes with ballots, not bullets. But we have the biggest fascist, communist, […]
Read More We Hold These Truths…By Charlie Johnston In the early morning hours of Friday, May 1, 2026, Bishop Rene Henry Gracida entered eternity a little more than a month before what would have been his 103rd birthday. Bishop Gracida was the author of the Blog, Abyssus Abyssum Invocat (Deep Calls to Deep) – which was also his episcopal motto. […]
Read More Bishop Rene Gracida Passes Into EternityBy Charlie Johnston The feud between Pope Leo and President Trump is dominating a lot of Catholic headlines these days. Many are saying that the Pope has gone completely political and is outside of any legitimate authority he has. Others argue that faithful Catholics must do whatever the Pope says (God forbid he ever starts […]
Read More Appearance and Reality: The Triumph is on the HorizonBy Charlie Johnston You have probably heard by now that the last remaining criminal charge against David Daleiden has been expunged and dismissed. It began over 10 years ago when Harris County in Texas (Houston) convened a grand jury to investigate Planned Parenthood (PP) after the revelations Daleiden made in his undercover videos (most of […]
Read More A Champion Prepares a Cultural GamechangerBy Charlie Johnston I am repeating my traditional story of Good Friday today, “Epitaph.” But first I want to recall one of the two most odd Easter Masses I have ever participated in. It was 20 years ago at a parish in the far north suburbs of Chicago, a different one than I would usually […]
Read More Imitate HimBy Charlie Johnston A lot of people and commentators are deeply concerned the Republicans are going to blow the midterm elections. It is not an irrational concern. Wobbly Republicans have blown a lot of elections over the years. With too many Republicans in the Senate taking the “20” side of the 80-20 issue of voter […]
Read More Midterm MadnessBy Charlie Johnston I think I gave the wrong impression when I wrote passionately about Pope Leo’s formulaic statement opposing American action on Iran, where he said that negotiation is the only answer and that violence never solved anything. Both were trite, nice-sounding platitudes that are easily and quickly disproven. But it did not signal […]
Read More Do Whatever He Tells YouBy Charlie Johnston The candidate whose campaign I was managing, Kat Wall, was defeated in her bid to oust a liberal Republican incumbent on Tuesday, March 3. In the process, though, she helped spark and add to a vitally important reform movement in Texas. Two very bright spots happened on that Tuesday night. My old […]
Read More The Emerging New World OrderBy Charlie Johnston Our community lost one of its charter supporters and friends to begin Lent. Anne Baker passed away at 101 in the assisted living facility where she had been in Florida for the past couple of years on the morning of Ash Wednesday. Anne was the mother of our dear friend and chief […]
Read More Transitions
A Sign of Hope 