Stay ConnectedBased on the book, “Return to Order” by John Horvat II, this podcast addresses the root causes of the nation’s moral decay and shows how we can return to those God-given institutions and principles that naturally regulate society and put it back in balance.
Hosted by Edwin Benson, Matthew Miller and John Horvat II himself, the Return to Order Moment brings you insights, analysis and information for a culture in crisis.
Visit our website at: http://www.returntoorder.org/
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If a pollster went through the average American Catholic parish and asked the people in the pews when the current crisis in the church began, he would get a variety of answers. Probably the most popular answer would be, “What Crisis?” Unfortunately, all too many Catholics live in blithe ignorance that a crisis even exists. They have been lulled to sleep by homilies telling them that warm, unfocused feelings of peace and love are all that people need to get to Heaven. Perhaps the second most popular answer would make reference to the abuse scandals of the early 21st century. Others who are somewhat better informed might mention the changes caused by the Second Vatican Council of the early sixties. However, as scholar and author Gustavo Solimeo will explain, the roots of the current Church go back a lot further – to the early years of the 20th century. That is the unfortunate story that Mr. Solimeo explains in his essay, Remaining Faithful During the Current Crisis in the Church.
Notre Dame of Paris is more than a historic site. It is more than a grand cathedral. It is more than an expression of a great culture. Indeed, Notre Dame of Paris is a symbol of Christian culture itself. Since the catastrophic Two Thousand Nineteen fire, the process of rebuilding Notre Dame is becoming a focus of a massive dispute. On one side are those who want to see the great Cathedral restored to its pre-fire appearance. On the other are those who want to seize the opportunity to bring Notre Dame into line with the controversial “Spirit of Vatican II.” This is much more than a dispute over aesthetics. The struggle over Notre Dame is a microcosm of the dispute between traditionalists and modernists that runs from the Church’s highest leaders to the smallest parish. That is the context of today’s episode of the Return to Order moment. To read the essays in their original form, please use the following links - Notre Dame Cathedral: a Jewelbox of Beauty (returntoorder.org) Notre Dame Cathedral: a Jewelbox of Beauty (returntoorder.org), What is the Message of the Fire at Notre Dame Cathedral? - RTO (returntoorder.org), Who Will Save Notre Dame Cathedral from the Wreckovators? (returntoorder.org), and How Notre Dame Cathedral Converted Paul Claudel - Return to Order. Thank you for listening.
The Gospel According to Saint Matthew, Chapter 24: Verse 6 says “And you shall hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that ye be not troubled. For these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet.” Those words, perhaps, occurred to many on February 24, Two Thousand Twenty-two when Russian troops invaded Ukraine, after weeks of speculation that such a move might take place. Nonetheless, many people, including those in the news media and in Ukraine itself, responded to the attack by being surprised. Such an attack appeared foolhardy. Surely Vladimir Putin, a man intelligent enough to hold power in Russia for over twenty years, would never take such an unnecessary risk. This podcast considers the implications of this transcendent event, which threatens the very roots of Western Culture. To read the essays in their original formats, please go to A “Not Normal” 2022 Means It’s Time to Improvise and Dare (returntoorder.org), America Should Uphold Justice and Help Ukraine Against Putin’s 'Unjust War' - TFP, and The End of History Just Ended - The American TFP. Thank you for listening.
Two Thousand Twenty-Two marks the seventieth anniversary of Queen Elizabeth the Second’s accession to the Throne of Great Britain. Her appeal to large numbers of Americans is curious. To many, she represents grace and elegance. Others admire her steadfast sense of purpose. For a few, it may simply be the fact that she has endured so long. Whatever the source of her appeal, it is undeniable. This podcast explores that popularity and then contrasts Queen Elizabeth II with the great Medieval King, Saint Ferdinand of Castile and León. This may seem an odd pairing, but the two have many commonalities. First, both possessed a true concept of the role of the monarch as an inspiration to their people. Second, both made great sacrifices, albeit in very different ways, for their people. Third, and perhaps most important, both possessed a quality that can be called "steel in the spine," a dogged determination to do the best job that they could to lead their people. To read the articles in their original printed formats, please use the following links - A Symbol of Stability in a Gelatinous World - Return to Order and King Saint Ferdinand III and His Conquests for Christ - Return to Order. Thank you for listening.
No one can deny that the United States is in a state of flux. Change is in the air, and none of our political prognosticators can tell us the directions of that change – even though many pretend to. Two phrases have taken increasing prominence in those political discussions – secession and civil war. Much of this may be the loose talk that accompanies uncertainty. However, more sober observers are beginning to say that there may be something to it. It is in this spirit that the Return to Order Moment brings you three articles on that topic, all by scholar John Horvat. To view the articles in their original format, please follow these links - The New Civil War Over Everything - Return to Order, How the New Civil War About Everything Creates Chaos - Return to Order, and How Civil Wars Don’t Start - (returntoorder.org). Thank you for listening.
No other devices have changed daily life more than the computer and its near relation – the Internet. Around the world, millions use them to gain access to information both significant and trivial. New uses are greedily absorbed by “early adopters” who eagerly await the newest toy. “Artificial Intelligence” is that newest toy. The idea of a computer that surpasses human intelligence is one that delights many modern minds. Mr. John Horvat looks seriously at the implications of these wide-ranging developments.
Perhaps the biggest question facing traditional Catholics is one of loyalty. Loyalty to the office of the Papacy – often referred to as “Ultramontanism” – and to the teaching office of the Magisterium is part of being authentically Catholic. Yet, often, the actions of the popes themselves cause great concern, especially when they appear to violate long-held standards. So, how can a conscientious Catholic reconcile the absolute necessity to remain loyal to Holy Mother Church, and yet reject errors, even when they come from Rome? Catholic scholar Jose Antonio Ureta grapples with this important question in this podcast. The original article is heavily footnoted. To see it in its original format, please follow this link - Modernism, Not Ultramontanism, Is the “Synthesis of All Heresies” - TFP
Historically, Protestants have dismissed The Blessed Virgin Mary and sought to remove her from her rightful role in the story of Mankind’s salvation. Against this backdrop, Catholics have always been Our Lady’s defenders. After all, it was she who brought Our Lord into this world. Unfortunately, many Catholic leaders, even those in the highest reaches of the Church now seek to diminish Our Lady's vital role. They are the subject of this episode of The Return to Order Moment. Certainly, God could have chosen another way to redeem us, but He, in His infinite wisdom, decided that the BEST way to do that work was to enlist Our Lady. To that end, He caused her to be born without Original Sin. Only in this way, does the Archangel’s greeting, “Hail, Full of Grace” makes any sense. No one can be sinful and full of Grace at the same time, any more than good can co-exist with evil. To read the articles in their original format, including the footnotes in Mr. Solimeo's article, please refer to the following links: How the Immaculate Conception Can Help Us Understand the Crisis in the Church (returntoorder.org), Pope Francis, a “Critical Devotee” of Mary, the Co-Redemptrix of Our Fallen Human Race - TFP, and Why do the Jesuits Ridicule Faithful Catholics Who Pray the Holy Rosary? (returntoorder.org). Thank you for listening.
As we move into the Year of Our Lord 2022, it is appropriate to take a look back at the year just past. It has been a time of great turmoil. The "mainstream" media presents the various conflicts as being won by leftists. However, that is an illusion. Indeed, every leftist pseudo-victory is more than balanced by the gathering forces that counter this desperate leftist power grab. This podcast looks at seven major stories affecting both the Catholic Church and the government of the United States. To view the essay in its original format and gain access to the copious footnotes, please refer to https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/12/2021-year-in-review-accelerated-self-destruction-of-every-institution-while-an-exhausted-left-confronts-a-resurgent-right/. Thank you for listening.
This week, we are presenting a statement from the American TFP titled “Resist the Betrayal of the West.” This statement was published in Crusade Magazine in the March-April Two Thousand Twenty-one issue. We bring it to you now because the days around New Years’ Day are a time when many people take stock of their lives and resolve to do better in the following year. Indeed, Two Thousand Twenty-one has been a difficult year. Last January, the media told us to be light-hearted. The COVID epidemic was winding down and we were about to have a new president. Surely, Two Thousand Twenty-one would be better. Yet, at the end the year, we are still being told to wear masks, there are many places to which we cannot go, and the new administration has only succeeded in spending more and more money as error piles on top of error. As all this played out, the only organization that could really help, the One, Holy, Roman, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, is hindered from without and divided within. Perhaps the one good thing to come out of Two Thousand Twenty-one is the fact that the forces arrayed against a return to order are even more obvious now than they were a year ago. There are signs that many who ignored the battle before are seeing the danger and taking it seriously. If you are among them, we welcome you to our cause. To read the article, please refer to the following link: crusade-mag-vol-170-March-April-2021.pdf (tfp.org), download the issue and scroll to pages 10-15.
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