By Michael P. Riccards

Norah O’Donnell asks tonight, “What will historians say of the Trump verdict in New York City?” I am a modest presidential historian, and I do not know.

When I was a young kid in a four-room coldwater flat on the third floor of grandpa’s apartment, life seemed hard but not so insane. We believed in family, faith and America. Now all of those pillars have crumbled. 

Catholicism had an answer for everything. We had our own Scouts, our own band, our own dances, our own bookstores. I would save up my lunch money to buy the latest paperback volume of Frederick Copleston’s “History of Philosophy.” The pastor was a beloved monsignor whom the family adored. I was an altar boy and never saw any incidences of pedophilia. 

Now my New Jersey dioceses are paying millions that should go to the poor to victims of predatory priests. Even the pope, the so-called liberal pope, recently used an Italian slang word to denounce the “fagginess” of too many priests. We trusted him once. Why is it the Catholic Church is so dependable on women and gay priests and yet treats them both as pariahs? Forty percent of priests are gay, including some bishops and cardinals, and it is the women who have kept the faith alive, at least in my family.

Families were strong bonds; now marriage is a convenient way station to serial relationships. Only the Catholic Church continues to trivialize sex. They are still discussing whether they can bless gay couples, but they have no problems blessing dogs and cats on St. Francis Day. And the Archbishop of Genoa blesses boats.

And now we see the presidency, which twice saved the union, being occupied by very poor specimens of manhood. 

Biden is clearly out of his reach, and Trump is guilty of sedition. I really don’t care if he is a high priced john, lies to the taxmen or denounces immigrants while being  the grandson of an immigrant (as am I). He had so betrayed the office I cannot believe that, even with Biden’s learning problems, voters are taking him seriously. He attacked the very nature of the republic.

Do not my neighbors understand?. That is serious stuff. Yes the price of gas is too high, the level of eggs is foolish, the price of a mortgage is prohibitive, but he may win. 

So Norah, this one historians weeps for his nation.

Michael P. Riccards, a former college president, is the author of 30 books, including “A Republic If You Can Keep it.”

Categories: Jandoli Institute, Michael Riccards, Politics, Uncategorized