By Michael P. Riccards Pope Francis has begun the synod process by insisting that there be a listening exercise from the bottom up so each diocese and probably each mature parish will have focus groups to talk about the church and… Read More ›
Michael Riccards
On President’s Day, a few suggestions for a better way to honor the nation’s chief executives
By Michael P. Riccards Monday is a national holiday unless you are in the retail business. If you sell cars or mattresses or furniture, then you can celebrate the day but still work. Somehow in the 1960s, there was an impetus… Read More ›
A Frightful Anniversary
By Michael P. Riccards The United States has had some great men as presidents, ones who have saved the union and also western democracy. And it has had some mediocre ones who were unable to face the challenges of office…. Read More ›
Election Day 2021: A Simple Revulsion of the Democratic Party
By Michael P. Riccards. Although the media and the professional talking heads are commenting about the gubernatorial race in Virginia, there was a more important one in New Jersey. Sitting in my catbird seat in central Jersey, I can say that… Read More ›
Presidents Day: More Than an Opportunity to Sell Cars, Clothing and Electronics
By Michael P. Riccards When I was a boy, we had off Lincoln’s Birthday and Washington’s Birthday, and the media each year featured stories on each of these great men. Now we have combined the two days into Presidents Day… Read More ›
We must lay before the world that we remain a people of law
By Michael P. Riccards My late mother had a cousin who lost his life on Iwo Jima during the second world war. He was 20 and probably never had a sweetheart My sister insisted we find where he was buried…. Read More ›
No need to prolong a long national nightmare of recrimination
By Michael P. Riccards It will end as it began with agony and patriotic excess. It is true that in the last year the president and his enablers have shown a deep disregard for constitutional government. Now we are facing… Read More ›
We have Reaped the Whirlwind of the Growth of Executive Power
By Michael P. Riccards The founding fathers feared above all executive tyranny. Yesterday American democracy was disgraced by a foul mouth corrupted demagogue inciting violence and a crude take over the capitol. He is guilty of common sedition and with… Read More ›
FDR’s lost speech
By Michael P. Riccards In 1926, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was desperately trying to restore the use of his legs and spent a considerable amount of time in Warm Springs, Georgia. With Louis Howe’s dedication, he still kept his hand in… Read More ›
The pandemic and the equity movement
By Michael P. Riccards As this winter of discontent approaches, the pandemic is worse than ever in large part because we are too stubborn to take even the most simple methods of prevention. The Midwest and Farwest are aflame as… Read More ›
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