Well, the higher-ups in the Republican Party are doing some soul-searching and trying to figure out why they lost the presidential election and lost seats in the Senate, even as they expanded retained their House majority. According to Scott Rasmussen, the GOP Establishment has figured out what the problem is—it’s their own voters. “A primary problem” is the term that’s used, and it’s ... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Don’t like the 2012 Republican presidential field? Blame George W. Bush, says conservative columnist Philip Klein. http://is.gd/uxXhFU Do you still support Herman Cain-style harsh anti-immigration rhetoric? Here’s your wake up call: “The Coming Latino Majority” in the U.S. Catholic Church. ... More

UPDATE – I posted a photo of this earlier (see below). But via MatthewJLB, here’s video of it actually happening: Taylor Marshall at Canterbury Tales spots this heartbreaking photo: Taylor accurately observes: At the recent economic “occupy” demonstration in Rome, the protesters decided to take their anger out on…our Blessed Mother! What?… Did the Virgin Mary... More

“Envy is sadness at another’s good,” wrote Fulton Sheen in Victory Over Vice. “In our time, envy has taken on an economic form.” What happens when an entire political party crafts its appeal and reelection strategy around envy? Sadly, the Democratic Party has been doing just that for a long time, and with renewed vigor under the presidency of Barack Obama. President Obama demands that ... More

Welcome to the Lunchtime Reader, where we assemble important stories to keep your eyes on. Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston denounced an effort to get physician-assisted suicide on the Massachusetts ballot. “We hope the citizens of the Commonwealth will not be seduced by language [such as] dignity and compassion, which are means to disguise the sheer brutality of helping people to kill themse... More

Recently in this space, I wrote about a little-noticed June 3 visit to the Vatican by Vice President Joe Biden, a self-professing “pro-choice Catholic.” Biden was in Rome for a ceremonial function, and got an invitation from the Holy Father. Both sides were tight-lipped on reasons and details. The visit wasn’t even listed on the pope’s daily public schedule. “I have no comment,” ... More

Father Robert Sirico answers the critiques of liberal Christians like Jim Wallis who think members of the Tea Party are against all government involvement in economic matters. Wallis said that the Tea Party members were Libertarians who “believe in the myth of the sinless market.” Said Fr. Sirico: I have no doubt there are people on the fringes of the tea party movement who hate gove... More

Deal Hudson’s Catholic Advocate is a solid voice in the conservative pro-life movement Here are three recent stories that caught my eye and deserve more attention. First, look how some Catholic Democrats are trying to defend their anti-life votes: Rep. Kathy Dahlkemper (D, PA-03) is running for her second term in Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District against Republican Mike Kelly. R... More