The Return to Order Moment

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.

Our Christmas gift to you is a meditation by the only diocesan parish priest to have been canonized a Saint – indeed, he is the patron Saint of Parish Priests. Saint John Marie Vianney (1786-1859) is known to many as the Cure d’Ars. His priesthood began in August 1815, only two months after the Battle of Waterloo. The Church in France lay in tatters after the disaster of the French Revolution and the Reign of Napoleon. After a quarter-century of turmoil, many Frenchmen had forgotten whatever training in the Faith they had before 1789. It fell to priests like the Cure d’Ars to restore the Faith to those who lost it during the tumult. Here is a sermon given by Saint John Vianney on Christmas Day. It comes from a marvelous book, The Sermons of the Cure d'Ars: For the Sundays and Feasts of the Year, published by Mediatrix Press, which has graciously given permission for The Return to Order Moment to bring it to you. The book is available through the Mediatrix Press website at https://mediatrixpress.com/product/sermons-of-the-cure-dars-for-the-sundays-of-the-year/.

Critical Race Theory has been called “an idea that is so absurd that only an intellectual could believe it.” Indeed, many intellectuals and pseudo-intellectuals do believe it – and many of them are helping to inflict Critical Race Theory on America’s children. Critical Race Theory is part of the so-called woke movement. Wokeness, in turn, is a component of the so-called Social Justice narrative that afflicts modern America. Why do so many people listen to the siren song of Social Justice? What can be done to preserve the remnants of American Christian society? To read the essays in their original format, please use the following links: A Glimpse into the Minds of “Social Justice Warriors” at the University of Texas (returntoorder.org) Is an Anti-Woke University in the Middle of Weird Austin Enough? (returntoorder.org) For Those Fighting Left-Wing Critical Race Theory, the Future is Local and Vocal (returntoorder.org)

President Biden is the epitome of a breed that is sometimes called the “cafeteria Catholic.” He claims belief and frequently attends Holy Mass. Yet at the same time, his actions and political positions fly in the face of Catholic teaching. That is most apparent in his promotion of procured abortion, but it does not stop there. President Biden’s vision is thoroughly modernist. It is in line with the so-called “spirit of Vatican II.” At the same time, it has little in common with the faith of his working-class forbearers – of whom he claims to be so proud. This contradiction is apparent in several aspects of his presidency. Three of them are discussed in this podcast. To read the essays presented here in their original form, and to see the footnotes in Mr. Solimeo's essay, please refer to teh following links: https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/11/did-pope-francis-tell-president-biden-to-continue-receiving-holy-communion/ https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/05/the-family-is-the-only-thing-missing-in-bidens-american-families-plan/ https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/05/the-president-jumps-into-the-critical-race-theory-battle/.

There is nothing more basic than the fight between good and evil. Everything else in life hinges on the monumental struggle between God and Satan. Indeed, most people define their lives based on which side they embrace. Until recently, Satan’s favorite tactic was to convince people that he did not exist. This turned on the idea that Satan does not need for people to swear allegiance to him. He only needs to prevent people from following God. However, in the past few years, Satan has made himself far more prominent. This podcast looks at three weapons that Christians have at their disposal in the war against Satan - exorcism, confidence in Our Lady, and the angels. To read the articles in their original form, please use the following links - https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/10/exorcist-reveals-strongest-weapons-in-war-on-satan/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/10/how-lepanto-teaches-us-to-confide-in-our-lady/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/09/understanding-saint-gabriel-by-his-high-mission/.

The Leftists’ War on Culture continues unabated, even while the leftists themselves deny that it is happening. All around us, we see the wreckage of cultural institutions that were once thought to be unassailable. At the same time, the left tries to convince us that everything is fine – in fact, they tell us that it is getting better by the minute! In this podcast, we focus on three aspects of the peculiar world of the "woke." The first essay looks at the implications of the 2021 Virginia elections, and especially the role that social issues played in it. Then, we turn to the "National Sex Education Standards," which have no connection to any national or state organization, other than those that promote promiscuity, The third topic looks at the self-destructive behavior of liberal institutions - in this case the Art Institute of Chicago - when they are confronted with "woke" demands. To read the essays in their original form, please use the following links - https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/11/the-war-on-the-culture-war-flares-up-again/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/11/why-sex-ed-teachers-are-thrilled-with-return-to-in-person-learning/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/11/when-radicals-turned-on-centrists-at-chicago-art-institute/.

Most modern day people are unfamiliar with an old and erroneous set of ideas called Gnosticism. Yet, as you will hear, Gnosticism is the root of the errors that modern society faces. Both Communism and the Sexual Revolution have their roots in Gnosticism. Since modernism and post-modernism are the spawn of Communism and the Sexual Revolution, they can be called the descendants of this ancient heresy. Long-time TFP supporter, Mr. Vincent Gorre explores both the root and the branches of Gnosticism. To read this essay, please use the following link - https://www.tfp.org/gnosticism-the-force-behind-the-chaos/ . Thank you for listening.

Until recently, the word woke was a past tense verb – as in the sentence, “He woke at dawn.” Now it is a noun, and a very destructive noun at that. The word is a kind of shorthand term that describes both leftists and the Marxist society into which they want to plunge us. As with most leftist ideas, “Wokeness” germinated for a long time before emerging into the light. It sat in the compost heap of modern academia and grew deep roots. Then, it matured and sent its shoots out into the wider culture. Today, the Return to Order Moment examines the culture of the Woke. To read the essays in their original published form, please go to https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/07/an-invitation-to-awaken-to-the-woke-revolution-around-us/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/10/why-woke-warriors-aim-to-strangle-classical-music/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/10/how-lgbtq-activists-attack-birdwatchers-as-subversives/. Thank you for listening.

All of the world’s societies draw near a crossroad. A time of decision approaches. Will we continue down the absurd and selfish path that society has taken for the past several centuries? Or will we take a careful look at the signs, and select a new path? These questions are too large to be answered in a half-hour podcast. All we can do here is to raise the question and suggest a course of action. That is our purpose. There are real answers and even some signs that a guarded optimism is in order. To read the essays in their original published form, please follow these links - https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/10/why-metaphysics-can-fix-this-mess-america/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/10/why-the-abortion-and-transgender-issues-are-two-sides-of-the-same-coin/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/10/what-will-a-post-roe-america-look-like/. Thank you for listening.

In Two Thousand Nineteen, Pope Francis began discussing a set of ideas that have come to be referred to as “The Economy of Francesco.” Vatican News described it as, “a worldwide movement of young people who aim to change the current economic models and craft a future that is more inclusive and just.” As the idea has taken shape over the last two years, one aspect of it is becoming increasingly apparent. Throughout the discussion, there is little, if any, discussion of the supernatural power of God or of humanity’s need to rely upon Him as the source of all that is good. While such omissions are commonplace in economic plans drafted by governments and other secular organizations, they are startling when they are inspired – indeed even named after – the world’s best known religious leader. This episode examines the many ways in which "The Economy of Francesco" is really more a prescription for Socialism, rather than a moral and ethical framework.

Today, the Return to Order Moment is honored to bring you two essays written by the founder of the international TFP Movement, Professor Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira. Both essays describe the virtues and actions of Popes named Gregory. However, their names, their loyalty to the Catholic Faith, and the fact that both occupied the Throne of Saint Peter are all that these two men have in common. Four Hundred years separated them, and the problems that they faced were very different. The first is Pope Gregory the First, usually known as Saint Gregory the Great. Pope Saint Gregory the Great was so influential that fifteen subsequent popes took his name. Not all of them lived up to his example, but one in particular did. He was also canonized a saint, Gregory the Seventh. Pope Saint Gregory the Seventh was born about the year 1015. He was Pope for twelve years – from 1073 to 1085. Professor Plinio summed up his importance in the title of an essay that he wrote in 1972, Saint Gregory the Seventh, the Pope Par Excellence. One quick note, in two places Professor Plinio refers to Pope Paul the Sixth, who was pope at the time this essay was written. Certainly, it takes little imagination to substitute Pope Francis’s name, for the situations that Professor Plinio describes still exist today.

For decades, the left has peddled its own bizarre definition of freedom. It is a freedom that denies personal responsibility. In the real world, there can be no freedom WITHOUT personal responsibility. They deny personal responsibility while asserting that individual freedom is absolute. This is impossible. To give any person license to do whatever they want inevitably infringes on the rights of others. I cannot give you the ability to take whatever you want without taking away rights from those who already own the object of your desires. No one can have rights unless he respects the rights of others. In the process of shifting blame from individuals, they shift it to their enemies. Society in general, conservatives, businesses, and especially the Church are singled out for their scrutiny. Today, the Return to Order moment looks at three aspects of the left’s attempts to shift responsibility to places that is does not belong.

The Chinese Communist Party wants to become the strongest power on earth. To do this, it must defeat two adversaries – the United States and the Catholic Church. It works tirelessly to accomplish both goals. China’s great advantage is that they are unified while the U.S. and the Church are divided. China has artfully manipulated those divisions to its own advantage. China is very good at hiding their flaws, while drawing attention to their enemies’ inconsistencies. They lie about conditions in their own country, knowing that their own captive press and the leftists in American media will repeat those lies. It is long past time for the leaders of the U.S. and Holy Mother Church to awaken to the dangers that Red China represents. To read the articles, please use the following links: https://www.tfp.org/the-centennial-of-the-chinese-communist-party-and-the-bitter-fruits-of-the-vatican-china-agreement/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=You+Have+New+Rabid+Marxists+Teaching+Your+Children&utm_campaign=TFP210921+You+Have+New+Rabid+Marxists+Teaching+Your+Children&vgo_ee=RzhDWAj2ZtedKt6qm5Yg%2FTpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D https://www.tfp.org/the-china-threat/ https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/04/america-must-go-beyond-wishful-thinking-about-china/ Thank you for listening.

Currently, the Congress of the United States looks like a hive of bees that have lost the ability to make honey. They know something is wrong, but they lack the intellect and imagination to do anything about it. These sentiments are reflected in many everyday Americans. Ever since the Great Depression, the government has stepped in to solve – or appear to solve – our problems. We allowed them to quietly and gradually gain power. We were happy to let elected officials and bureaucrats do the heavy lifting. Inflation, Covid, rising crime rates and Afghanistan are all signs that government is failing. It is time to look for different solutions from different people. Those different people are ourselves. To read the original articles, please use the following links - https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/09/we-need-americans-with-grit-and-who-get-the-job-done/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/09/what-happens-when-a-just-in-time-world-breaks-down/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/07/the-stressed-out-consumer-needs-wisdom-not-more-marketing/. Thank you for listening

During the Campaign of Two Thousand Twenty, Joseph Robinette Biden, Junior presented himself as the grown-up in the room. He held out the promise that he would restore order after the so-called chaos of the Trump Administration. His knowledge, seasoned by over four decades on the national stage, would guide us out of the twin disasters of Covid and the urban violence that dominated news during the summer of Two Thousand Twenty. Now that he is President, a very different picture emerges. He has allied himself with the most extreme left wing of his party. At the same time, he has presided over what may be the biggest foreign relations disaster in American History – perhaps even eclipsing the calamity of the War in Vietnam. This episode of The Return to Order Moment assesses aspects of both the revolution and the disaster. To read the articles, follow these links: https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/09/with-the-fall-of-afghanistan-we-enter-a-dangerous-new-world/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/08/why-does-the-right-wing-media-ignore-the-major-issue-behind-bidens-eviction-moratorium/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/08/drafting-women-into-combat-spells-the-death-of-chivalry/.

Modern Western Culture, and especially American culture, worships the idea that everything should be new. Everyone wants new clothes, new cars, new houses, and even a new morality. To be “dated” is to be discarded. The desire for the modern carries a heavy psychological cost. When we dispose of our past, we become rootless, isolated, and alone. One of the goals of the American TFP is to help people to see that tradition is not a burden to be discarded. It is a guide to a life more in line with our own human nature and our need to walk with God. WIthin the European societies of the Middle Ages, there are many conditions that could remedy many of the defects in our own times. To read the essays, please refer to https://www.tfp.org/magazines/crusade_mag_vol_45.pdf, pp 26-29, https://www.tfp.org/how-the-medieval-social-order-found-the-balance-between-the-local-and-the-global/, and https://www.tfp.org/time-to-return-to-medieval-courtesy-books/.

Since he came to the Papal throne in Two Thousand Thirteen, many have had reason to doubt Pope Francis’s allegiance to Church tradition. Since so many of the Church’s basic teachings rely upon traditional doctrines, this is a major problem. This episode of the Return to Order Moment looks at two situations in which Pope Francis appears to be determined to discard traditional Catholic practice and teaching. The first concerns Pope Francis’s recent statement that severely restricts the use of the Traditional Latin Mass. The second concerns a recent handwritten letter that Pope Francis sent to Fr. James Martin, SJ, which implies support for the LGBTQ agenda that Fr. Martin promotes. To read the articles and examine the copious footnotes, please follow these links: https://www.tfp.org/pope-franciss-traditionis-custodes-and-the-traditional-latin-mass/ and https://www.tfp.org/in-a-handwritten-letter-pope-francis-endorses-fr-martins-pro-homosexual-activism/.

Since World War II, humanity has deceived itself by believing that a single global government could bring peace and harmony. The appeal of globalism is as understandable as it is unworkable. The globalist’s error begins with pride. They believe that humans perfect themselves and create a God-less “brotherhood of man.” If all people decide to set aside their selfish vices, we can all live in harmony. That is not reality. The new global man does not lose his vices. In fact, he adds the vice of materialism. What global man does lose is himself. His individuality is swallowed up in a world of sameness. This episode looks at three aspects of the global menace, and why each should be rejected. To read the articles, please refer to https://www.tfp.org/magazines/crusade_mag_vol_44.pdf Pages 4-5, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/08/why-the-global-minimum-tax-threatens-american-sovereignty/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/08/the-contradictions-of-the-climatarians-an-eco-sect-that-wants-to-change-the-world/.

No event since the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001 is likely to have more far-reaching consequences than the shameful set of events being played out as this episode is being recorded. The media – both on the left and the right – have said much about the ignoble way in which President Biden abruptly ended U.S. involvement in Afghanistan. Much of that coverage consists of ill-advised attempts to apply the biases of the radical left or the isolationist right to a conflict that neither group understands. Mr. James Bascom brings you a fresh view of the war, enlightened by his insights into World History and Western Christian Culture. To read the article, please refer to https://www.tfp.org/neither-peace-nor-honor-in-afghanistan/.

For much of the summer of 2021, the American TFP has been holding public events to raise the awareness of Americans to the conditions in Communist Cuba. This included a successful petition drive asking President Biden to help deliver Cuba from the Communist yoke. However, political help will not be enough. Far more important is the supernatural assistance that only God can give. This episode of the Return to Order Moment considers the nature of Cuba’s – and our – need for Divine help. To read the essays, please refer to https://www.tfp.org/when-will-our-eyes-finally-open-regarding-cuba/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/08/cuba-is-a-consequence-of-not-heeding-our-ladys-fatima-message/, https://www.tfp.org/tfp-asks-when-will-pope-francis-condemn-the-cause-of-poverty-in-cuba/, and https://www.tfp.org/the-marvelous-story-of-our-lady-of-charity-of-cobre-patroness-of-cuba/.

There is no question that the Papacy is in crisis. The Return to Order Moment and many other podcasters have discussed the various crises of Pope Francis’s pontificate in great detail. Over its 2000-year history, Holy Mother Church has faced and overcome many crises – most of which looked as dire to those living through them as our current crisis does to us. In today’s episode of the Return to Order Moment, long lime TFP member and historian, the late Jeremias Wells tells the story of a time during which three different men claimed to be the rightful pope. This article was published under the title “The Great Western Schism” in the March-April 2002 issue of Crusade magazine. We tell this story in the hope that our listeners will draw encouragement from the historical resilience of the Church founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ who promised us that He would not forsake her. To read the original article, please go to https://www.tfp.org/magazines/crusade_mag_vol_56.pdf, pages 17-19. Interested readers can read three of the four books that Mr. Wells used as sources of information online by using the following links - Philip Hughes, A History of the Church, Volume III, https://archive.org/details/historyofchurch0003hugh, Louis Salembier, The Great Schism of the West https://archive.org/details/greatschismwest00salegoog/page/n4/mode/2up, and Joseph Gill, S.J., Eugenius IV, https://archive.org/details/eugeniusivpopeof01gill.

Educational theories seldom make it into national news. Critical Race Theory (CRT) is an exception. As many states and localities base curriculum on it, parents openly reject it. Other states are trying to banish any traces of its Marxist influence. Much coverage of CRT is pessimistic, and with good reason. Informing the American public about its harms is critical. However, the situation is not lost. The CRT controversy exposes the left’s true motives – which they desperately want to conceal. Our task is to expose the leftist lies. To read the essays in this podcast. please refer to https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/06/13-ways-christianity-influences-daily-life-that-secularists-hate/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/07/with-higher-education-in-crisis-is-it-time-to-discern-a-calling/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/06/defeating-the-arguments-favoring-critical-race-theory-at-public-meetings/. Thank you for listening!

If you want to know what the so-called Democratic Socialists have in mind for the United States, you need only look ninety miles south of Florida. Ever since 1959, Cuba has been ruled by the sort of government that modern leftists crave. If you want to see how well this Socialist Utopia works, you need only look at the demonstrations that rocked Cuban cities. The best way to assist the downtrodden Cuban people escape Socialism is for our government to support those demonstrators. This episode explores the reasons that modern leftists are so enthralled with the Communist regime in Cuba, and urges President Biden to throw the weight of the United States behind the overthrow of the Communists. To read the essays, please refer to https://www.tfp.org/president-biden-end-cubas-communist-regime-once-and-for-all/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/07/why-leftists-keep-backing-cubas-communist-regime/, and https://www.tfp.org/10-reasons-to-reject-socialism/. To add your name to our petition drive, please go to www.tfp.org/freecuba.

These are troubling times within the Catholic Church. We look around us and find a curious dilemma. Many Catholic laymen and some of the hierarchy lift high the Church’s timeless traditions. At the same time, the Pope and others among the highest leaders of the Church behave as though these traditions are obstructions to their goals. Mr. James R. Bascom analyzes this curious situation in his essay, President Biden, Holy Communion, and the Catholic Civil War. To read this article and view the footnotes, please refer to https://www.tfp.org/president-biden-holy-communion-and-the-catholic-civil-war/.

“The Big Lie” has long been a key weapon in the Socialist’s arsenal. Publically, they repeatedly profess their support for American values like human rights, freedom of speech, and responsible use of natural resources. At the same time, they promote policies that endanger people, cancel those whose opinions they oppose, and erode our energy infrastructure. This episode of the Return to Order Moment will examine these leftist lies, and the hypocritical words behind them. To read the articles, please refer to https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/06/democrats-dont-say-we-want-socialism-or-to-defund-the-policeeven-when-we-do/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/06/an-identity-crisis-at-the-aclu-leads-it-to-discard-the-first-amendment/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/06/how-the-greens-are-taking-down-big-energy-from-within/.

Since the establishment of the Church by Our Lord, 266 men have served as pope. Over those two millennia, many of them left their fingerprints on both the Church and history. For that reason, there is always a good deal of discussion about the legacy of any pope. Most of these idle speculations are worthless. However, very few men have examined the actions of Pope Francis and their importance with a greater scholarly background than Luiz Sérgio Solimeo. This episode of the Return to Order Moment will bring you Mr. Solimeo’s insights into three aspects of Pope Francis’s career. To read the articles and gain access to the footnotes, please follow the links to https://www.tfp.org/for-pope-francis-the-holy-eucharist-is-the-bread-of-sinners-for-saint-thomas-aquinas-it-is-panis-angelorum/, https://www.tfp.org/is-pope-francis-enabling-homo-heresy-inside-the-church/, and https://www.tfp.org/pope-francis-submits-to-religious-leaders-opposed-to-our-lord-jesus-christ/.

What do you see when you watch the television news footage of the ‘mostly peaceful’ demonstrations that have taken place over the last year? Like most people, you probably notice the fires first. However, the next time that you see some of this film, look at the mostly young people doing the protesting. These are haunted faces – hostages of anger and rage. If you asked them why they are so angry, they would probably say something about racism and oppression. But, yet, the vast majority of those protesters are White. Their clothing is that of the middle class. That means that, according to Critical Race Theory, they are among the oppressors. There is good reason to pity those caught up in the insanity of the impulses that the world describes by the four letter word, “woke.” They are spending their lives working toward an illusion of “social justice.” It gnaws at their souls, dooming them to be permanently angry unless they can escape its spell. This episode of the Return to Order Moment examines the bizarre world of “wokeness.” To read the articles, please refer to https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/05/is-moms-apple-pie-a-symbol-of-oppression/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/05/is-woke-broke-the-perils-of-living-in-a-parallel-universe/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/06/in-a-world-of-invisible-sculptures-everything-is-crazy/.

The modern world has embraced so-called transgenderism with the fierceness of a mother bear protecting her cubs. That is an apt analogy, because this class of people was an invention of the so-called Gender Studies movement. They pretend to protect human rights, but their real goal is right out of the Karl Marx playbook – the destruction of the traditional family. Mr. James Bascom’s essay, “Why the Book Irreversible Damage Will Not Stop the “Transgendering” of Children,” examines that situation and the ways that it displays realities that the Gender Theorists would prefer that you not know about. Mr. John Horvat describes the likely outcome of that revolution in his essay, “This Is What Will Come After the Transgender Revolution.” To read the articles and see the footnotes in Mr. Bascom's article, please refer to https://www.tfp.org/why-the-book-irreversible-damage-will-not-stop-the-transgendering-of-children/?PKG=TFP210601&utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=How+Liberal+Law+Can+Destroy+Business&utm_campaign=TFP210601+-++How+Liberal+Law+Can+Destroy+Business&vgo_ee=RzhDWAj2ZtedKt6qm5Yg%2FTpxdzkQNl9LgdxZ9pnzLRY%3D and https://www.returntoorder.org/2019/07/this-is-what-will-come-after-the-transgender-revolution/.

Modern Americans often treat History as a kind of Trivial Pursuit game, only played by those who enjoy such esoteric pursuits. In reality, History is far more important. In the best sense, it is the story of God’s providence for humanity, the capstone of His creation, as described in the book of Genesis. Indeed, much of Holy Scripture consists of books of History. In today's podcast, Mr. John Horvat explores this providential idea of history and compares it to the political situation in the early twenty-first century. Then, Mr. Edwin Benson discusses the secularist urgency to replace God and everythign supernatural with their idea of an all-powerful state. In the last essay, Mr. Horvat discusses the need to return to a sense of Natural Law, especially in light of the Supreme Court's Bostock v. Clayton County decision. To read the essays, please refer to: https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/01/recovering-a-providential-vision-of-history-after-the-election/ https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/04/a-battle-plan-for-defeating-the-secularist-state-religion/ https://www.returntoorder.org/2020/06/natural-law-judges-are-the-only-way-to-save-the-judiciary/

The Crusaders of the Middle Ages shed their blood to free the Sepulcher of Our Lord Jesus Christ from the hands of the infidels and to establish a Christian kingdom in the Holy Land. Those of us who have not been called upon to shed our blood like these martyrs can, and must, pray and act to free the world not only from the errors of Communism and Islam, but also those of the cultural revolution sweeping the West, possibly toward persecution as well. Our constant aim should be to restore the Kingdom of Christ, that His will may be done “on earth as it is in Heaven.” The principles for the restoration of Christendom are what Plinio Corrêa de Oliveira outlines in the article we present here. To read the article, go to https://www.tfp.org/magazines/crusade_mag_vol_49.pdf (pages 13-19).

Perhaps no pope – certainly no pope in modern history – has persistently created controversy and concern among faithful Catholics than the current pontiff, Pope Francis. The pope is given to words and gestures that are often ambiguous. Then, he refuses to clarify the concerns that his conduct raises. Within those raised to respect the office of the Papacy and its occupants throughout history, Pope Francis’s attitude creates great conflict. During Holy Week Two Thousand Twenty-one, he placed a picture of Our Resurrected Lord leaning over the body of the traitorous disciple, Judas. Again, both Catholics and non-believers are left to wonder, what can such a gesture mean? In this podcast, the renowned Catholic scholar and author, Luiz Sérgio Solimeo, examines both the pope’s action and its implications. To read the article, please go to https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/05/pope-francis-and-his-obscene-judas-painting/.

As we do occasionally, this episode of the Return to Order Moment will focus on a single person, in this case Saint Thérèse of Lisieux. First there is a short biographical sketch of this "Doctor of the Church." The heart of the podcast is a meditation written about Saint Thérèse by the founder of the international TFP movement, Professor Plinio Correa de Olivera in 1971. In it, Prof. Plinio expands on Saint Thérèse’s massage of total devotion expressed by many small sacrifices.

America’s public school system was created in the 1830s. The goal was to produce good citizens. Private and parochial schools were established with many of the same goals. The idea was simple – if this was going to be a government of the people, by the people and for the people – then the people need to be educated. Education is supposed to equip students with basic skills and teach them how to grapple with problems. The goal was that all children would grow up to be able to support themselves and fulfill their duties as citizens of their states and nation. Catholic schools added the idea that children should learn the basics of the Faith. Unfortunately, modern schools – public, private, and parochial – are falling under the control of radicals. Their goal is to replace education with indoctrination. This episode of The Return to Order Moment will look at three issues in modern schools - Critical Race Theory, Multiculturalism, and Distance Learning. To read the articles, please go to https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/03/these-new-words-in-education-are-mangling-student-minds/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/04/why-public-school-students-sing-religious-chants-to-aztec-gods/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/03/scandal-school-officials-now-controlling-students-homes/.

This episode focuses on Mr. John Horvat’s review of the new book, "Beyond Order: 12 More Rules for Life" by Jordan Peterson. First, Podcast Host Edwin Benson will read the article. After that, Mr. Horvat and Mr. Benson will have a conversation about the article and book in which Mr. Horvat expands some of the ideas in his review. Read the article: https://www.returntoorder.org/2018/04/12-rules-for-life-a-book-i-wanted-to-like/

Today, the Return to Order Moment presents “Making Sense of the Chaos that is Destroying America” by James R. Bascom. Listeners who are unfamiliar with the work and principles of Return to Order’s parent organization, the American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property will find this episode especially interesting. Mr. Bascom provides here a kind of introduction to the TFP’s guiding principles, and applies them to the situation that Americans face in the world of Two Thousand Twenty-one. To read the article, please go to https://www.tfp.org/making-sense-of-the-chaos-that-is-destroying-america/

The International “Green Movement” only knows one strategy. It proposes to give all economic power to national governments. Their mistaken premise is that those governments will institute policies that will produce clean air, clean water, and prevent more species from extinction. Such an attitude ignores the fact that totalitarian nations have terrible environmental records. It would come as a surprise to modern-day environmentalists that the Bible and Natural Law provide a better solution. To read the essays, please go to https://www.tfp.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/crusade_mag_vol_161.pdf and https://www.returntoorder.org/2020/05/how-the-coronavirus-shutdown-favors-green-de-development/.

On September 12, 1960, the Democrat’s Presidential Candidate, Senator John Kennedy, described his view of being a public official and a Catholic. “I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Party’s candidate for President who happens also to be a Catholic.” Ever since that time, Catholics who wanted to hold public office – mayors, governors, congressmen, senators, judges and whatever else – followed Mr. Kennedy’s lead. That includes the current President, Joe Biden. Such an attitude is erroneous, raises scandal for the faithful, and imperils the immortal sould of those who act upon it. To read the articles, go to https://www.tfp.org/why-joe-bidens-rosary-is-so-important/, https://www.tfp.org/did-catholic-governor-andrew-cuomo-blaspheme-against-god/, and https://www.tfp.org/statement-on-the-reception-of-holy-communion-by-those-who-persist-in-public-grave-sin/.

There is one, holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church. However, it is divided into three parts. The Church Triumphant consists of those members who have been received into God’s Presence in Heaven. The Church Expectant are those undergoing purification in Purgatory. The last part of the Church is us – the believers on Earth. The term for the Church on Earth is strange to modern ears. It is the Church Militant. As the name implies, our primary task is to fight against Satan and his deceptions. Our Holy Catholic Church needs the Church Militant to defend her. She is being attacked from within and without. The nature of both attacks is the subject of this episode of The Return to Order Moment. To read the essays, go to https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/04/even-if-the-holy-church-is-devastated-by-the-wolves-of-heresy-let-us-stand-with-her/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/04/pope-franciss-abrahamic-religions/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/02/what-does-it-mean-to-be-catholic-the-president-the-cardinal-and-communion-for-pro-abortion-politicians/.

If you asked anybody during the Medieval Period about Gothic architecture, they would not know what you were talking about. The word Gothic developed later, and it was not intended to be a compliment. For centuries, it was common for academics to look upon anything Medieval with disdain. This attitude prevailed despite the fact that Europe was filled with monumental cathedrals and numberless village churches – all beautiful in their various ways. In a very real sense, the rejection of Medieval architecture was a way of rejecting God. This podcast discusses the value of Gothic Architecture and its role in Christian life. To read the essays, go to https://www.returntoorder.org/2018/05/monument-raised-ruin-institution-custom/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/03/how-the-revival-of-catholic-architecture-in-england-changed-the-way-people-prayed/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2018/08/the-architecture-that-feeds-the-soul/.

On March 19, Two Thousand Thirteen, Pope Francis became the Supreme Pontiff of the Holy Roman Catholic and Apostolic Church, replacing the recently retired Pope Benedict the sixteenth. Since that time, he has spoken in a voice so equivocal as to leave theologians and scholars confused and uncertain. Many times, it has appeared that the Pope is more interested in punishing faithful Catholics than he is in struggling against heresy and agnosticism. In this podcast, two eminent scholars, Mr. Luiz Sérgio Solimeo and Mr. José Antonio Ureta describe the often-confusing words and actions of Pope Francis. To Read the Essays go to https://www.tfp.org/pope-francis-if-youre-not-with-the-council-then-youre-not-with-the-church-and-the-council-is-it-with-the-church/ and https://www.tfp.org/let-pope-francis-speak-out/.

Those who try to thrust modernist philosophies, often called “Woke,” present their ideas as inevitable. They proclaim, “We are on the right side of history!” All too often, more traditional Americans, who fear confrontation, yield to the progressives’ shrill demands. That is unfortunate, because most of the leftists’ favorite ideas are logically weak. When courageous citizens arm themselves with facts, the woke ideology can be defeated. Today’s episode of The Return to Order Moment is devoted to sharing those facts, and how they can be used. To read the essays, go to https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/03/a-fearsome-tool-for-those-fighting-the-1619-project/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/01/are-parents-losing-their-children-to-the-whole-child-deception/, https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/02/the-madness-of-woke-ideology-now-denounces-linguistic-racism/, and https://www.returntoorder.org/2021/03/chastity-student-blasts-sex-ed-zealots/.