Category Archives: Words

12 Top Quotes from World Communications Days (2018-2023)

Listen to my conversation with Matt Swaim on the Son Rise Morning Show (5-22-23), discussing World Communications Day. Click here and jump to the 1:39 mark. This commentary was also published 5-21-23 in “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com. Today is … Continue reading

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Are We Becoming Infophobes?

This commentary is a preview of content that will appear later in “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com. “Phobia” is one of the many words which have been repurposed these days, as in “transphobe” or “homophobe.” So, appropriately, as I coin … Continue reading

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Collaring the Chatbot: Let US Pray!

Can a chatbot pray? I had a chance to converse with Bard, Google’s newest artificial-intelligence product for the masses. It asked me what I wanted, so I typed in a request: “Write a prayer asking God to give AI wisdom.” … Continue reading

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Giving Up Virtue Signals for Lent

Perhaps the biggest takeaway from the Catholic Church’s liturgy for Ash Wednesday (Feb. 22, 2023), other than ashes we will wear on our foreheads, is Christ’s warning against virtue signaling. People of today’s secular culture, seeking to fill their inner … Continue reading

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Don’t Be Resigned to Quiet Quitting

This commentary first appeared in “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com on Feb. 7, 2023. For a phenomenon whose name implies otherwise, “quiet quitting” sends a loud and clear message to all of us sharing responsibility for society’s well-being. We need … Continue reading

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On World Communications: Love is News We Can Use

An updated version of this commentary will be posted today as a special edition of “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com. Pope Francis, posting his 2023 World Communications Day message, has reinforced the sense of urgency and purpose he consistently connects … Continue reading

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A Toast to Dr. King and New Wineskins

A January 16 reflection from Michael McLoughlin in America magazine talked about the need for new wineskins that can hold new wine—in particular, the wine of change and redemption which Christ offers us in the New Testament. The piece pointed … Continue reading

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O Come, All Ye Fretful

First published in “Phronesis in Pieces” at billschmitt.substack.com on Dec. 31, 2022 I came away from Christmas Mass this year with a heightened appreciation of those who had joined the congregation as, let’s say, occasional visitors. Some of them attend … Continue reading

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The Abstract Arts, Framing Reality

Published 10/28/22 at billschmitt.substack.com, reprinted here with some modifications. Previously on Substack … We talked about the “Brights” as a movement of liberal atheists who introduced themselves in a New York Times commentary in 2003 and continued promoting their doctrines of illumination. Those ideas … Continue reading

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Pope Francis Sees a World of Emergencies, Wants a World of Human Encounters

Bill discussed subjects related to this post on Catholic radio with program host Matt Swaim on October 6. Click on the archive here and advance to the 1 hour-17 min. mark. The encyclical sent forth to all the world by … Continue reading

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