The International Catholic Legislators Network, founded in 2010 to bring Catholic and other Christian elected leaders together, has opened up its courses for this spring to the general public.
The Origins of Totalitarianism and its Revival Today (detailed information and registration: https://
Despite remarkable advances in the area of fundamental rights, democracy and the rule of law, we see a worrying and steady rise in totalitarian regimes, movements and ideologies around the world and on every continent. This course explores how both soft and hard totalitarian movements are brought about and function, whilst also studying what history can teach us about bringing them to an end.
Understanding Human Dignity and Applying Human Rights (
This course provides a detailed insight into the key international human rights institutions and instruments such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various other United Nations and regional (AU, EU and OAS) treaties and how they apply. The course aims to give especially those working in and for public office a better grasp of the human rights landscape and help them navigate it’s oftentimes treacherous waters.
In Search of the History and Reality of Islam (detailed information and registration: https://
The dialogue between Christianity and Islam is much spoken about today, yet the public statements and policies provided by political and church leaders surrounding this challenging topic are often hampered by a lack of understanding about the reality of (Political) Islam. This course provides factual and unbiased insights into its history, practices and way of thinking by a Catholic scholar born and raised in the Middle East.
The above comes from a March 25 email sent by the International Catholic Legislators Network.
Excellent! I encourage readers to go to their website and check out the course offerings as well as their resources (under the Resources tab).
Even if you are not a civic or church leader, you’ll find valuable, useful information there. If you’d like to grow in your understanding of the Christian view, the truth, of marriage & family, life, religious liberty and more, take a look. The references are to Church documents explaining the what and why of Catholic belief.
Especially if you disagree with some of what the Church teaches, I urge you to find out what and why the Church teaches what she does. You owe that to yourself, to your own honesty and integrity as a human person (made in the image of God, whether or not you realize that).
Yes, excellent to see diversity in the pic.
I’m quite confused here. For example, Islam is a reality. I don’t subscribe to it, being a believing Catholic Chiristian, but Islam is a reality. Not my thing, not my taste, but what is the point in debating whether Islam is a reality?
No one is denying the reality of Islam. The course is The History and Reality of Political Islam.
Yet, is Catholicism “your thing” or “your taste” or do you believe that it is true (which means true for all people)?
“The ongoing dialogue between Christianity and Islam is much spoken about today, especially where it regards the way in which individual countries and regions deal with mass immigration of people from the Middle East and parts of Africa that adhere to the Mohammedan faith, and their integration into democratic and pluralistic societies. Countries around the world also continue to grapple with the threat of Islamic terrorism that is both home-grown and imported. The public statements by political and church leaders surrounding these challenging issues are often hampered by a lack of understanding about the reality of Islam. This course seeks to provide a factual and unbiased insight into its history, practices and way of thinking by a scholar who was born and raised in the Middle East, whilst now living in Europe, and who studied and experienced the relevant texts and traditions from his youth onwards.”
I have zero idea what you are trying to say.
YFC: “being a believing Catholic Chiristian . . .”
. . . except when it comes to homosexuality.
Juan I’m pretty sure I believe more about what the Church teaches about homosexuality than you do.
You want to know what faithful Catholics are really up against? Read about, but don’t watch, the video by Lil Nas X called “Montero”. It is thoroughly satanic, explicitly satanic, and ties homosexuality and gay sex acts to satan. Lil Nas X is even releasing satanic tennis shoes as part of his song/video promotion. The LGBT cult is satanic. This is the most explicit admission of it. This is what faithful Catholics trying to live virtuous lives and trying to raise virtuous children are up against in society. This is now mainstream entertainment: exalting satanic gay sex. This is what some Catholic priests and bishops are trying to make acceptable in the Church today.
Sorry, but the courses outlined in the article are for eggheads like George Weigel. They are for think-tank types or those who would attend the Napa Institute retreat at a posh winery in Northern California. They are for people who, while sipping expensive wine and smoking cigars, fancy themselves at the vanguard of the New Evangelization while discussing academic theological concerns.
You want to know where the rubber meets the read in Catholics trying to live faithful lives and what they are up against? You want to know what lay Catholics face on the front lines? It’s things like Lil Nas X and his gay satan video and tennis shoes.
Kevin, is it possible you underestimate many of our lay faithful? I think you do. Many adult Catholics take their faith quite seriously and are engaged in lifelong learning and formation. I’m nowhere near as smart as George Weigel. But, that doesn’t mean I can’t learn from people smarter than me. And, I don’t drink expensive wine or smoke cigars. (I prefer a Dos Equis Ambar and nachos.)
Watched the sample of “Principles of Law and Justice” by Dr. Christian Alting von Geusau , and it was excellent. I hope I spelled his name right.
CCD for Catholic pols (LOL). Kinda late, no? Futile too:
They’ll sign up (or not) for the same reason they kiss babies.
Pessimism springs eternal!
(to modify Alexander Pope)
Do you have hope?
Do you believe in answers to prayer?
Should we not support worthy endeavors?
It’s almost Good Friday,
but Resurrection Sunday is coming!
Wishful Thinking also springs eternal.
(to modify you ☺)
Results over intentions. Doubtless they mean well.
No. the Lord judges by effort and desire not by results. Keep praying.
“I do not believe that the solution to our problem is simply to elect the right people. The important thing is to establish a political climate of opinion which will make it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right thing. Unless it is politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right thing, the right people will not do the right thing either, or if they try, they will shortly be out of office.” – St Milton Friedman