Robert Klein Engler

Pope Francis: A Jesuit Who Turns to the Franciscans

For part of my higher education I attended a university run by Jesuits. At that time we told the joke that the only difference between the Jesuits and the Communists was that the Communists locked you OUT of church and the Jesuits locked you IN.

Notes on Argentina and the New Pope

1. The New World: Pope Francis is the first Pope from the New World. This is significant because for almost 1,500 years the continents of the New World were not supposed to be where they are. The world for the Romans and many who followed them was made up of Europe, Africa and Asia. Now, we have a Pope from a country no one imagined at the time of St. Peter, a Pope who has the ability to see the whole world, not just in his imagination, but as a NASA photograph, spinning in the darkness of outer space.

An Internet Autopsy: How did Ambassador Stevens Die?

According to a CBS News/AP story, posted on the Internet (September 12, 2012, 10:37 AM), US ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens died of "severe asphyxia," sometimes referred to as smoke inhalation. It was reported to the media by a Libyan doctor, but was not an official autopsy report. In spite of this unofficial report, most Americans believe the ambassador was murdered.

Social Justice at the University

Now that summer vacation is over, many college and university students will return to their studies of social justice. These students will have plenty of time to prepare for the next United Nations World Day of Social Justice on February 20, 2013.

Mexico and the Fundamental Transformation of the United States

There is another fundamental transformation of the United States taking place besides the one that will happen with Obamacare. That other transformation is the one caused by illegal immigration, especially illegal immigration from Mexico.

Will Catholics Save the Republic?

Writing in the American Thinker, Jim Yardley claims, "Taking on the Catholic Church over contraception mandates in his health care bill has to be one of the biggest "oops" moments in the District of Columbia."

Remembering The Titanic and the Fort Dearborn Massacre

This year in Chicago we commemorate the anniversary of two events that happened 100 and 200 years ago. Ironically, the sinking of the Titanic and the Fort Dearborn Massacre also happened 100 years apart.

Rock and Roll and Obamacare

“Live at Leeds” was The Who's first live album. Decca and MCA Records released the album in the United States on May 16, 1970. Although the album came out at the beginning of a new decade, it looked back to the previous one.

The US Catholic Bishops and Obamacare: Some Options

Barack Obama's ability to attract the Catholic vote helped him get elected US President in 2008. "Nationally, Obama captured 53% of the Catholic vote, a 13-point swing from 2004 and the largest advantage among the group for a Democrat since Bill Clinton..." (Link)

The War of 1812: A Lesson on the Politics of Forgetting

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem. The year 2012 marks the 200th anniversary of the United States declaring war on the British Empire. The War of 1812 gave the United States the "Star-spangled Banner" and a victory at the Battle of New Orleans. The War of 1812 is sometimes called the Second War of Independence. It is also called the Forgotten War.

Obama Against Pope Benedict: A Case of Diplomacy and Betrayal

Now that the recent controversy over contraception and health insurance between US Catholics and Obama has left the front pages, many in the media think things will go on as usual between the Vatican and the Obama administration. They couldn't be more mistaken.

Hope against hope: Obama and the Pope

(This review was first published 4 years ago in Chronwatch. Because Chronwatch is now defunct, it is no longer available online. Given recent events, I thought you might like to see an updated version- RKE.) It so happens that in the last election cycle two books were circulating that had hope as their theme. One was a thick book, "The Audacity of Hope," by then presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama. The other was a thin book, "Saved in Hope," by Pope Benedict XVI. The two books couldn't be more different.

Aristotle, Marx and a classical education

Many educators ask about the value of a classical education these days. With the high costs of a university degree, why read dead Greek and Roman authors when a student could study something practical like accounting or Chinese?

The political witch-hunt for Herman Cain

Is it too much to say that Herman Cain’s treatment by the liberal media in recent weeks resembles the mass hysteria of a witch-hunt?

Are the New Democrats Liberals?

We hear Democrats don’t want to be called liberals anymore. Focus groups say the word “liberal” has negative connotations. We hear Democrats prefer to be called progressives. That word has a more positive ring. “Progressive” reminds people of going forward. It’s all a matter of optics.