Essays, Stories & Poems
Just Say No
Just Say “No” to Cancel Culture! Just say “Yes” to Free Speech! This is the Wisdom the Wise Guy offers freely to American Catholics and their timid leaders. Americans have always valued free speech – even if our practice has sometimes fallen short. Free speech is...
Sitting in the Sun
I’m sitting in the sun, Florida sky so blue Clouds perfectly placed And a gulf breeze That lightly shakes The palm tree fronds. Properly pool attired Paperback in hand, Drink by my side, I’m grooving in the warm bright sun. Stretched out in the lounge chair I face...
Dances with Wolves
Black Lives Matter (BLM) has fired up support for racial justice and stoked controversy across America in the Year of the Virus. Catholics have experienced similar reactions – some have become ardent supporters of BLM, and others have expressed concern or outright...
Dear Wise Guy
Dear Catholic Wise Guy, I’ve been following you for your years. I’m a fallen-away Catholic and don’t go for your heavy-duty religious stuff. Still have a little faith, though I know the Fellow Upstairs ain’t too happy with me. Street-smarts are my only wisdom, and I...
Summer of Our Discontent
Now is the Summer of Our Discontent. A double-whammy afflicts our land: a deadly virus that spreads fear, sucks up hospital beds, and kills; and a political rage over police brutality that shouts, trashes, and burns. And kills. This dynamic duo feeds on itself, with...
On the Job Barking
MEMORANDUM FOR: EMPLOYEES OF DEPARTMENTAL ACCOUNTING DIVISION SUBJECT: On-the-Job-Barking 1. It has come to my attention that certain employees in this division are barking on the job. One of you begins barking, apparently as a diversion from the daily routine, or a...
Lord, Protect us from Fundraisers
Lord, protect us from fundraisers! Preserve us from trash bag sales, Halt the hawking of Pizza, popcorn, flowers, and the like On our property, Especially in the church. Limit the dinners, auctions, festivals, and parties we throw to fill our coffers. Seeing the...
These Least Brothers of Mine
Christians agree we are saved by God’s grace, but disagreements – sometimes sharp - arise as to how this grace operates. We use different words to describe our eternal salvation. One phrase is “being in a state of grace;” another is “being saved.” By “state of...
What is a Traditional Catholic?
On his web page the Catholic Wise Guy proclaims himself a “Traditional Catholic (TC).” This means, he adds, that he believes in “traditional Catholic theology and morality.” To further understand Traditional Catholic thinking, the Wise Guy advises the reader to pick...
Are Most Wars Caused by Religion?
The Catholic Wise Guy decided to investigate the oft-repeated claim that most wars are caused by religion. The corollary is if we could just get rid of religion, wars would cease, and worldwide peace would ensue. This concept is expressed beautifully in the John...