Economics
Leo XIV and Rerum Novarum
Upon his elevation, the new pope announced that he had assumed the name of Leo XIV. For those familiar with Leo XIII, this was a signal that the principles of Leo XIII as expressed in [more…]
Religion
20th Century
Beautiful Kashmir
Never travel to a country that’s a funny colour on the map, or worse still, described by different coloured diagonal lines. Disputed territory is not only the cartographer’s nightmare, but also that of the traveller. [more…]
Christianity
An Appreciation Of The Papacy of Francis I
Might every age get the Pope it deserves? If so, then what of the Age of Francis I? Jorge Mario Bergoglio, once Archbishop of Buenos Aires and the latest Bishop of Rome, died on Easter [more…]
21st Century
Always Worth Saying’s Easter Railway Review
Last week’s trip to Albania being too mainstream, this edition of Railway Review (how I yearn for the return of Question Time!) was going to be of an obscure South American mineral line. Observing the [more…]
Christianity
The New Religion
I myself am I Christian, and the more I see of the world today the more convinced I am that for some people science has replaced religion, and in turn become its own religion. You [more…]
Christianity
A Natural End to The Human Experience?
On the other week’s BBC Question Time from Rotherham, when the subject turned to ‘assisted dying’, a gentleman in the audience commented politics and religion do not mix and religion should be kept out of [more…]
Arts
Basilica Santuario Santo Stefano – The Seven Churches of Bologna
It is a short walk from the twin towers, past the oldest house in Bologna, to Via Santo Stefano. For the most part the journey is under a colonnade of stone, cast in cool shadow [more…]
20th Century
American Journey 1952, Part Three – Washington
John Doe is Asking Awkward Questions The last thing I expected to pick up in this capital city of a great Republic (“the greatest Republic on God’s Footstool,” as I heard a Senator from Illinois [more…]
Culture
OTF Party: What Makes/Made Us Quintessentially English/British?
“Being British is all about driving a German car to an Irish theme pub to drink Belgian beer then going home buying an Indian takeaway to sit on a Swedish sofa in front of a [more…]