The Knights of Columbus magazine Columbia has devoted its December issue to the 4oth anniversary of the closing of the 2nd Vatican Council. Russell Shaw writes his regular column and a second one on Vatican II. (Which mentions his new book...)You can read the article online here.

There is also a book excerpt from "The Right to be Wrong - Ending the Culture War Over Religion in America" by Kevin Seamus Hansson (Encounter Books). (Unfortunately this article in not online.) The excerpt is very interesting, dealing with the "Know-Nothing" party and persecution of Catholics in America. I had read years ago [I believe in The Catholic Home Educator(?)] about the attempts to shut down Catholic schools in Washington State early in the 20th Century (which resulted in a Supreme Court decision recognizing parental rights in the choosing the education of their children), and the fact that many public school systems were built and expanded with the express purpose to "Americanize" (read Protestanize) the new waves of Catholic immigrants from Ireland and Italy. You certainly don't read much about this in the history books in any school system.

Reminder as posted below, John Meehan will be signing his newest book, "Two Towers: the de-Christianization of America and a Plan for Renewal" on December 6th (feast of St. Nicholas) at 7:00 PM (refreshments are at 6:30, followed by talk and booksigning) in the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church parish hall (Louden Road, Concord, NH).