GK Chesterson On the Goodness of Social, Historical Institutions
A friend sent me this quotation by GK Chesterton from the early 20th century. (Suppose) There exists … a certain institution or law; let us say for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the […]
Intelligent Replies to Idiotic Comments, Part 2, (Gasp!!!)
“But same sex couples already have children!” This is not, strictly speaking, an idiotic comment, since it is a statement of fact. However, I want to call your attention to the exasperated gasp (EG for short) that usually accompanies this comment. The EG is designed to intimidate the listener into believing that some deeply important […]
Demographic Winter on Catholic Radio of San Diego
On my radio program on Monday, I will be interviewing Don Feder, talking about Demographic Winter and the World Congress of Families Summit in Moscow. Tune in on-line at www.catholicradioofsandiego.com to listen. Or listen live in the San Diego area on AM 1000 KCEO. All you Lefties: tune in and find out if concern about […]
The Issue is Never the Issue
Red diaper baby David Horowitz is an expert on the mentality of the Radical Left. In his pamplet Barack Obama’s Rules for Revolution, (which I highly recommend, by the way) David makes the following point: An SDS radical once wrote, “the issue is never the issue. The issue is always the revolution.” In other words, the cause-whether […]
Intelligent Replies to Idiotic Comments
“Nothing so terrible has happened in Massachusetts or Canada, so let’s just have same sex marriage.” Marriage is the social institution that connects generations to each other. Redefining marriage changes the basic structure by which the generations relate to one another, including who counts as a parent. We will not experience the most significant consequences of redefining marriage […]
Todd Wilken’s last question
Issues Etc host Todd Wilken’s last question to me was, “If you had 30 seconds to talk to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sibelius, what would you say to her?” (This was regarding the requirement (which is simultaneously silly and offensive) that all insurance carriers provide contraception with no co-pay.) I simply said, “You need to go […]
Mandatory contraception coverage
I did my issues etc radio show on this today, and we talked about it on my Monday night Catholic Radio of San Diego program: “Health insurance plans must cover birth control as preventive care for women, with no copays, the Obama administration said Monday.” Later in the article, we learn: a government study last […]
Mazal Tov to Ari and Samantha Mendelson
Mrs. Mendelson just gave birth to their fourth child yesterday. The ever irrepressible Ari wrote on his facebook wall: “Thinking of various, creative and brazen ways to trick, fool or deceive my new daughter. She was, after all, born yesterday.” (Everyone please note: this is a joke. Don’t get upset! Betsy has full authority to […]
What About Non-Gay Suicide Risks?
Yet another story blaming gay suicide on society’s failure to conform to the desires of the Sex Radicals and Gay-ists. So I wonder, did you know: divorce doubles a man’s risk of suicide, but does not particularly affect women’s propensity to commit suicide? (Augustine Kposowa, Journal of Epidemiology and community Health, 2000; 54: 254-261) Swedish adolescents […]
Symbol of Stupidity
I’ve noticed that writing about symbols is a sure way to generate a lot of hate mail from my “feel the love” Friends With Wrong Ideas. But here goes anyway. Regular Ruth Readers have heard me say many times that “equality” is not a stand-alone concept. The term “equality” needs a referent: who is equal […]
Ohio Court Gets a Custody Case Right
Note: This post was researched and written by Mr. Austin Muck, second year law student at SMU, and legal intern for the summer at the Ruth Institute. Dr J Recently the Supreme Court of Ohio appropriately decided a case that protected the constitutional right of parents to determine what is in the best interest […]
Catholic Radio at ITAF!
We have just confirmed that Catholic Radio of San Diego will be broadcasting live from the opening event of our ITAF conference. We are very excited about this development. Live broadcasts make the event more fun, and they make for good radio. The host that evening will be Hugh Largey. We expect that I will […]
Now that we lost a big one in New York…
Now that we lost a big one in New York, I have an idea: let’s all the social conservatives stand around in a circle and criticize each other. NOT! I stumbled over two separate social conservatives criticizing the Catholic Church in New York for not doing enough, here and here. These articles were mostly repeats […]
On the difficulty of getting kicked out of the Catholic Church
Critics of the Catholic Church claim that the Church wields authoritarian control over all its members. The Pope and the bishops ruthlessly suppress all dissent, debate or disobedience. To those who think this way, I have two words: Andrew Cuomo. Andrew Cuomo, Governor of New York, lives in the Governor’s Mansion with a woman to […]
Fathers need recognition as husbands, too
by Jennifer Roback Morse // originally published at NationalReview.com and MercatorNet In the wake of Father’s Day there is a great article on the Ruth Institute blog about honouring husbands. Jennifer Roback Morse talks about the importance for children of seeing their parents loving and admiring each other Father’s Day is a day for honoring […]
Why we can’t get the govt out of the marriage business
In my previous post, rebutting the Libertarian Party of MN’s position on same sex marriage, I mention that I have written about why the government can’t really get out of the marriage business. It is interesting to me how common this argument has become. I think lots of people just wish this whole topic would […]
The Incoherent Libertarian Position on Marriage
The Libertarian Party of Minnesota has taken a position on the proposal to place a marriage amendment on the ballot for the voters of Minnesota. I am taking the time to rebut this paragraph because this kind of argument has become all too common, even among those who have every desire and intention to expand […]
What is good? What does “ought” mean?
Philosopher Thaddeus Kozinski takes up these questions in his very interesting article in today’s Public Discourse. His bottom line: “am I saying that only an ethics rooted in the divinely revealed truth of creation-as-gift and creator-as-love can coherently and adequately make sense of the universal experience of ought? Indeed I am, though I think that […]
Doing What Comes Naturally?
Here is a video, shown at a GLBT Fun Sex Seminar event at Texas A&M, partially paid for with taxpayer money. This video is so explicit, that You Tube requires you to affirm that you are over 18 to watch it. This video was brought to light by Aggie Conservatives, who are asking to either defund this […]
Billionaires for Eugenics
The website is slightly unhinged, but I love this headline. Billionaires for Eugenics. The solution to the problems of poor people is to have fewer poor people. The way to have fewer poor people is not to uplift the poor people, but to get rid of the poor people. Indirectly of course, by having them have […]
CA AG Sophistry in the on-going drama of Prop 8
The on-going drama of Prop 8. The opponents of Prop 8 are willing to gut the state’s voter initiative process in order to defend the same sex “marriage” decision imposed on the state by the Supreme Court back in 2008. Let’s see: the State Supreme Court overturned a citizens’ legislative initiative and declared the male/female […]
Same-Sex Marriage and the Assault on Institutional Integrity
Same-Sex Marriage and the Assault on Institutional Integrity is Matthew Franck’s article over at the Public Discourse on the shameful behavior of King and Spaulding in ditching the defense of DOMA. Non-lawyers don’t normally think about this aspect of the lawyers’ duty: the rule of law depends to a great degree on the probity of […]
Free emergency contraception linked to rise in teen STI rates
As if on cue, from my previous post, I stumbled over this article published in Infectious Diseases in Children March 2011. I wonder if the editors of Maria Talks will change any of their “scientific” information. Don’t hold your breath…. Free access to the “morning-after pill” has not reduced teenage pregnancy and may be associated with […]
In Massachusetts, your tax dollars at work
The AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts is a not-for-profit, community-based health organization whose mission is to stop the HIV/AIDS epidemic by preventing new infections and optimizing the health of those already infected. The AIDS Action Committee (AAC) developed the Maria Talks website with funding from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH). (ie, with tax dollars.) […]
Truth never fears debate
So what do you make of the fact that The Life Style Left avoids debate? I think they want compliance, not discussion. From a defense of Paul Clement’s decision to stay on the as DOMA”s defender: The truth is never afraid of a good debate. At the core of the First Amendment is the idea […]
Why No Adoption in the DE case? Does it Matter?
I haven’t seen many details on the Delaware case I posted the other day. But one fact is clear: the non-mother in same sex couple did not do a second party adoption. If she had done an adoption, she would have the same parental rights as the woman who went to Kazakhstan to adopt the child […]
Bored to Death
Bored to Death is the title of an article by philosophy professor Russell Snell. He talks about boredom as the “stance toward the world most evident in the historical and social space of contemporary Western life.” Many of us no longer find the world beautiful, or good, or of worth, and since the world and […]
SC PIE: Dr Pat Fagan
Next up at SC PIE: Dr. Pat Fagan of the Family Research Council, and incidentally, a member of the Ruth Institute Academic Advisory Board. He is showing this audience of African American faith leaders some of his charts. among his results: His index of belonging, showing over 80% of black children do not spend […]
Baby Boomer Regrets
USA Today has a story about Baby Boomers and their regrets. most of them are about money: (we didn’t save enough) or about health (I should have used more sunscreen and exercised more.) As a BB’er myself (born in 1953), let me add something to the discussion: I regret that I spent so many years […]
SC PIE: Dr Freda Bush
I’m at the SC Parents Involved in Education abstinence education meeting for African American clergy and Teachers. First speaker is Dr. Freda Bush of the Medical Institute for Sexual Health. http://www.medinstitute.org/public/ at the She is an OB-GYN, and also the author of “Hooked.”
In honor of Lent,
let’s talk about forgiveness and reconciliation. In my booklet, “101 Tips for a Happier Marriage,” I have a whole section called, “Forgiveness is More Important than Sex.” Why is that? People forget a great sexual encounter five minutes after it is over. But they’ll remember their grudges for a lifetime. So, I was reading Jesus […]
Revisiting the Rainbow Coalition
I get it that the advocates of same sex marriage don’t like to admit this, but: the movement for natural marriage is a genuine rainbow coalition. Our movement cuts across race, religion, and ethnicity. Here is more evidence, from Rhode Island. This Hispanic Pastors Coalition held a prayer rally in favor of natural marriage. look here. […]
More on the NEA Representative’s UN speech
The presentation at the UN Committee on the Status of Women that talked about “orgasm, oral sex and masturbation” in the schools generated a lot of controversy, around the internet and right here at the Ruth blog. One of our permanent commenters suggested that I go listen to the whole speech, and that I would […]
Maybe you thought sex ed was supposed to reduce teen pregnancy…
A representative of the NEA, the US’s largest teachers union, has a different idea about the purpose of comprehensive sex ed. She tells all to the UN’s Commission on the Status of Women. Comprehensive sex education is “the only way to combat heterosexism and gender conformity,”(NEA representative, Diane) Schneider proclaimed, “and we must make these issues a […]
More Leftist Images
This video has been circulating in pro-life circles. I’m interested in the images of the signs carried by the pro-abortion people. Pause the video around 3 minutes, and run it slowly for the next 15 seconds. You will see: “Life Begins when you stand up to Christian Fascists” “Abortion on Demand without Apology” “Abortion Providers Save […]
The Leftist Idiom Among the Gay Radicals
This article in the Baptist Standard isn’t particularly interesting. It is the photo that interests me: The Clenched Fist is an image straight out of the Hard Left playbook. They are getting careless, and letting the mask slip. Up until now, the Sex Radicals have done a pretty good job of steering people away from […]
Response to Alex Cohen’s Open Letter to me
My internet and facebook friend, Alex Cohen, has written an open letter to me, entitled “A Question to the CPAC Boycotters.” Here is my response. Dear Alex, I didn’t attend CPAC. However, it does not follow that the Ruth Institute or I boycotted CPAC. Ruth Institute is a c3 organization that has never gone to […]
Supporting those who choose chastity
For those who have chosen chastity, here is an interesting news story from USAToday that I think affirms the chaste lifestyle: There’s a worrisome uptick in the incidence of certain head and neck cancers among middle-aged and even younger Americans, and some experts link the trend to a rise in the popularity of oral sex […]
Rev Ron Sider: What would you accept as proof?
In his much-discussed First Things article, Bearing Better Witness, Rev. Ron Sider offers his view of the same sex marraige debate. I submitted a letter to the editor of First Things, and chose not to participate in the on-line discussion, pending publication of the printed letter. I am pleased to say that my letter was […]
Safety in Biology
The stories from Anonymous Us are very powerful. Here is an extract from one called Safety in Biology: When I tell people I wish I had been raised by my real father often they are offended and say things like, “Your real father is the man that raises you, kisses your scrapes, tucks you in, […]
In-Person Report from the March for Life in DC
Friend of Ruth, Steve Hicks, sends this report from the March for Life in DC. Jan 24 2011 – Wash DC It may have well been called the “youth march” for life! I don’t know what the numbers were yet, but I stood and listened to the youth bagpipe band playing on the curb of […]
Mental Health, without Modifiers
So, the bottom line of that story on women’s mental health is this: we are really really depressed. All of us. Depression is expected to become the world’s second biggest health problem after heart disease by 2020, according to the World Health Organisation. This is not an easy society in which to live, for anyone.
Mental Health of Women…. and Men
Betsy blogged this story about a week ago, and no one has picked up on it and chatted about it. The bulk of the story was about women in depression: a depressing enough story in itself. I read the whole thing, hoping the authors might have some insight as to why this is all happening […]
Husbands or Employers?
Security in the workplace is taking the place of security in marriage. I have been saying this for some time. But now, the major league self-styled feminist groups are coming right out and saying it. Women and children don’t need stability in marriage if they can have stability in employment. CNSNews.com asked both activists if […]
The Life Movement is a Youth Movement: Part 3
Youth at the Vigil Mass for Life 2011 Our roving reporter and Friend of Ruth, Steve Hicks, sent us this photo from the Vigil Mass for Life at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The place was packed with young people. Look at them stretched out on the floor in the aisle.
The Life Movement is a Youth Movement: Part 2
Berkeley Students for Life, at the 2010 West Coast Walk for Life
Milennials: Be part of the solution to the marriage problem
Here is my open letter to young adults world-wide. Below, some extracts: My challenge to you is this: do you, or do you not, want married love to last a lifetime? Would you be willing to commit yourself to lifelong married love? No more messing around. No more excuses. No more waiting for the government and the politicians to “do something.” It is time to get serious. It’s time to stop complaining about the sad state of marriage and start doing something about it. Are you willing to take the Reel Love Challenge? “It is my hope and my wish to get married. When I get married, it is my intention to stay married for the rest of my life. I commit myself to doing all I can for the common good of my marriage and my family.” If you are already married, take this version of the Reel Love Challenge: “It is my intention to stay married for a lifetime. I commit myself to doing all I can for the common good of my marriage and my family.” According to a recent report, “By the time they have reached ages 15 to 17, 55 per cent of teens have parents who have rejected each other, either through non-marriage or separation/divorce." Young adults: this report is about you. The question is: are you going to do something to break this cycle for your own children? This is the core of the marriage movement: a personal commitment to lifelong married love, a next generation movement cutting across religion and race, country and class. Take the Reel Love Challenge.
The Pro-life Movement is a Youth Movement: Part 1
If you attend any marches or rallies this weekend, send us your photos! I am especially interested in photos of young people at the marches. The mainstream media barely cover these events at all, and never seem to mention that the pro-life movement marches are filled with people under twenty. These Friends of Ruth are doing […]
A simple pro-life project
This weekend, pro-lifers are commemorating the tragic anniversary of Roe v Wade. The Catholic Bishops have urged people to pray, fast, do penance. And they have urged the clergy to preach on pro-life themes. Here is a simple pro-life project anyone of any religion, can do. If your clergy preach on pro-life themes, this weekend or […]
Is the U.K. Promoting Out of Wedlock Births?
Wow this really caught my attention: Unemployed Father of 10 Having 5 More Children The article is about a guy who’s fathered up to 15 kids by the age of 25. There are potentially ten women involved. I am completely mystified as to why these women are willing to bear his children. He’s not handsome, […]
Changing Passports: Changing Reality
The new policy changing US passports to say “parent 1” and “parent 2” is something I predicted in my CD series “Same Sex Marriage Affects Everyone” back in 2008! Gay rights activists say “reflects the reality of the modern family.” I say it obscures the biological reality that children have one mother and one father. And […]
US Abortion Rate Up Slightly
I will be doing my regular Luthern Public Radio show on this story. Go here for Issues Etc. Or wait for the Podcast…. Gotta go: there’s the call!
Aristotle’s Ethos, Pathos, and Logos – in Which Do You Excel?
Ethos: the source’s credibility, the speaker’s/author’s authority Logos: the logic used to support a claim (induction and deduction); can also be the facts and statistics used to help support the argument. Pathos: the emotional or motivational appeals; vivid language, emotional language and numerous sensory details. Located here. A recent blog comment by “RuthRocks” triggered a […]
Pro Choice and Informed Choice
Caution: very graphic content follows. Clicking the links below may result in shock or sadness. I notice only pro life groups create abortion videos to use in trying to persuade people to their cause. Why don’t pro choice groups create their own videos showing abortions? Is there something biased in the pro life’s abortion videos? […]
Reel Love Challenge on the Web!
We’re excited! The Reel Love Challenge is getting some coverage! Check out these sites that have picked up the story: CharismaMag.com talks about RLC LifeSiteNews.com talks about RLC Do you know people who can spread the word about the Reel Love Challenge? Please share this link with them: Reel Love Challenge Thank you!
More on the Incest Case
Matthew Franck writes today about how we have lost the moral vocabulary to even talk about what’s wrong with incest. natural hierarchies, duties, and trusts are shattered by incest, even between “consenting adults.” But the recent discussions of this matter reveal how decayed is our moral vocabulary for considering it, how nearly lost is any […]
Young Adults: Be Part of the Marriage Solution!
The Ruth Institute Launches Contest to Promote Positive Views of Lifelong Marriage SAN MARCOS, CA – The Ruth Institute, a project of the National Organization for Marriage Education Fund, announces its first annual Reel Love Challenge, a video contest for young adults, aged 18-30. The contest is open to all young adults, married or single, […]
Teaching our children about morality is not optional
Here is a thoughtful article by Friend of Ruth, Rev. Dr. Dale Kuehne. He starts with this example, to illustrate how morally unglued we are becoming: I recently had a discussion with a Middle School student in which s/he shared that s/he was bi-sexual. Having done a fair amount of research on sexual orientation, my […]
What is Nature’s Purpose for Sex?
I’m wondering what you all think. What is nature’s purpose for sex? I think nature intended sex for procreation. I base this on the physiology of the act. When man has an orgasm, he ejaculates a fluid known as semen. Within the semen are sperm, which are reproductive cells. The sperm are ½ of the […]
Pro-Marriage, not anti-gay
Some of our commenters seem to be surprised that the Ruth Institute is “transitioning away from its anti-gay advocacy…. Why is there an article about abortion here?” Actually, if you look over the life of this blog, you will see a lot of discussion about abortion, contraception and artificial reproductive technology. You will also see […]
“Marriage Equality” Equals State Expansion and Less Freedom
In a recent article about “marriage equality,” I addressed a couple of the common considerations regarding love and the marriage debate. I then received a question regarding one of the points I made, asking for clarification. Here is the question I received: “You wrote in the article, ‘The state has other reasons for supporting man/woman […]
Delaying Sex= Better Relationships
A new article in the Journal of Family Studies looks at over 2,000 individuals in their first marriages and assesses the impact of delaying sex on the quality of their relationship. Individuals were categorized as either having: • Early sex (before dating or less than one month after they started dating). • Late sex (between […]
Is Marriage merely a social construct?
Over at the Public Discourse Ryan Anderson and Sherif Girgis, young proteges of Robby George, respond to Prof Andrew Koppleman’s claim that marriage is nothing but a social construct. They get the better of Prof Koppleman, but there is one point I would add, for the benefit of the libertarians who come around this site. […]
Teen Abortion – Is MTV’s "No Easy Decision" a Contradiction?
The Short Version If the unborn are not human, why is having an abortion “no easy decision?” If the unborn are not human, having an abortion should be an easy decision, like having a mole or a tooth removed. The Long Version While browsing the Internet, I came across an article talking about MTV’s show […]
An Orthodox Catholic Explains Why She Appreciates Orthodox Jews
My friend Michael Rosen posted a lovely article called “An Orthodox Jew Explains Why He Loves Christmas Music,” which I gladly reposted on the Ruth Institute blog. His article inspired me to share these thoughts. When Jewish families observe the Sabbath, they are giving a tangible sign of faithfulness to God. We have Orthodox Jewish […]
An Orthodox Jew explains why he loves Christmas music
I love this article, “Why this orthodox Jew loves Christmas music.” by fellow San Diegan, Michael Rosen. Let me be clear: I am deeply proud of my faith, which I practice rigorously. While I genuinely respect the tenets of other creeds, I abhor religious syncretism of all sorts, and I have no desire to observe […]
Why We Need an Incest Taboo
Albert Mohler weighs in on the incest controversy that we have already discussed on this blog. I want to add one point that I haven’t seen anyone raise. People seem to think that the “ick” factor is not significant because it cannot be entirely explained on rational grounds. (Mohler’s quote from Wm. Saletan is to […]
The Prop 8 Rainbow Coalition
One of my earlier observations has dropped out of the conversation: the pro-marriage effort is an inter-faith, multi-racial coalition. If you think of Jesse Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition, he was trying to emphasize the ethnic diversity of his followers. We supporters of Prop 8 can make the same claim: we had the overwhelming support of African […]