Honoring Memorial Day

Tomorrow is Memorial Day. Please take a moment to pause and remember, it's not about the beach, burgers, and beer.

I'm praying that all our fallen heroes may rest in God's peace.

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord...

Interview with An American Hero

Since I first heard him speak, I've dubbed our U.S. Border Czar Tom Homan "my boyfriend." The man personifies traditional, foundational, positive American values. Among his good qualities are courage, honesty, sincerity, humility, and complete dedication to national service.

When the daily negative news cycle can make one despair that our country is lost, I need only remind myself that Tom Homan is working in a high-level government position to preserve and protect the USA and all of us living in it. I'm convinced we are in the best hands.

The Shawn Ryan Show, Episode #200, is a three-hour interview with Homan. It took me two days to finish, but I watched every second of it. Given that much time, hearing the excruciating details of Homan's many decades of experience in border enforcement are bone-chilling. But Americans who are concerned about our border and national security should watch, listen, and be educated about what law enforcement is facing at our borders.

Tom Homan is a constant reassurance to me that things are getting better. If you want to have some confidence that our country is on the mend, I recommend that you tune in.

May 15, 2025

When the White Smoke Cleared

Holy smoke! An American pope? I never thought such a thing could occur, either in my lifetime or any time after.

Yet today we have Robert Francis Prevost, Chicago native, Villanova University graduate, and cardinal of the Catholic Church for less than two years, taking the name Pope Leo XIV. Go figure!

Pope Leo addressed the massive crowds at St. Peter's Square in Latin, Italian, and Spanish. He did not speak any English in his initial speech. There's a significant message there; he's the pope for all the world. I think that's a good thing to communicate, especially for an American pope.

Although he's been pope for a matter of minutes, the media talking heads are already yammering about how liberal or conservative Leo XIV may be in his approach to the papacy. Could we please give him a moment? I'm viewing this American-born pope as a blessing for the United States. God knows we could use the help.

Pope Leo XIV ~ May 8, 2025

Speculations and Qualifications

Since Pope Francis died last month, a person can barely open a phone or computer without seeing a headline touting the latest "contender" for becoming the next pope. I move to the next story at top speed and have never read a single word of any of those breathless predictions, I'm glad to say.

There is absolutely no way of predicting who the next pope will be. Please don't waste precious time with empty media speculations. It's not a presidential campaign, where polls can make a difference, or a horse race, where odds can matter. God works in more mysterious ways. We will know who the next pope is after the white smoke rises, and not before.

To add to the mystery--and to the fun--most people (even most Catholics) don't realize that the pope can be elected from among any baptized Catholic man who is practicing his faith. Seriously! The Vatican even posted the job requirements on its LinkedIn page in response to a flood of inquiries.

Although you'd have to go back to the early Church for such everyday leaders, the new pope doesn't even have to be a priest. However, he must agree to be ordained a bishop if he accepts the weighty papal assignment. 

With the conclave of cardinals now preparing to choose from amongst their own preferred ranks as they have for centuries, we don't need to be concerned with such a startling scenario. But I can't help thinking that a layman pope might be a healthy and refreshing change for the Church in our troubled times.

I know a couple of men who would qualify quite well--even better, perhaps, than many a cardinal.

From the Vatican website:
"The apostolic seat is vacant"