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The natural law worldview developed over the course of almost two thousand years beginning with Plato and Aristotle and culminating with St. Thomas Aquinas in the thirteenth century. This tradition holds that the world is ordered, intelligible and good, that there are objective moral truths which we can know and that human beings can achieve true happiness only by following our inborn nature, which draws us toward our own perfection. Most accounts of the natural law are based on a God-centered understanding of the world.

After the Natural Law traces this tradition from Plato and Aristotle to Thomas Aquinas and then describes how and why modern philosophers such as Descartes, Locke and Hobbes began to chip away at this foundation. The book argues that natural law is a necessary foundation for our most important moral and political values - freedom, human rights, equality, responsibility and human dignity, among others. Without a theory of natural law, these values lose their coherence: we literally cannot make sense of them given the assumptions of modern philosophy.

Part I of the book traces the development of natural law theory from Plato and Aristotle through the crowning achievement of Thomas Aquinas. Part II explores how modern philosophers have systematically chipped away at the only coherent foundation for these values. As a result, our most important moral and political ideals today are incoherent. Modern political and moral thinkers have been led either to dilute the meaning of such terms as freedom or the moral good - or abandon these ideas altogether. Thus, modern philosophy and political thought are leading us either toward anarchy or totalitarianism.

The conclusion, entitled Why God Matters, shows how even the philosophical assumptions of the natural law depend on a personal God.

Among the stirring, illogical episodes described here:

- A band of desperate religious refugees find themselves blown hopelessly off course, only to be deposited at the one spot on a wild continent best suited for their survival

- George Washington's beaten army, surrounded by a ruthless foe and on the verge of annihilation, manages an impossible escape due to a freakish change in the weather

- A famous conqueror known for seizing territory, frustrated by a slave rebellion and a frozen harbor, impulsively hands Thomas Jefferson a tract of land that doubles the size of the United States

- A weary soldier picks up three cigars left behind in an open field and notices the stogies have been wrapped in a handwritten description of the enemy's secret battle plans--a revelation that gives Lincoln the supernatural sign he's awaited in order to free the slaves

When millions worry over the nation losing its way, Medved's sweeping narrative, bursting with dramatic events and lively portraits of unforgettable, occasionally little-known characters, affirms America as "fortune's favorite," shaped by a distinctive destiny from our beginnings to the present day.

From the spoiling of this relationship followed the decay of the entire family, and almost overnight, our once pro-life culture became pro-lifestyle, embracing everything that felt good. Sixty million abortions later, women aren't showing signs of health, happiness, and fulfillment. Increased numbers of divorce, depression, anxiety, sexually transmitted disease, and drug abuse all point to the reality that women aren't happier, just more medicated.

Huge cultural shifts led to a rethinking of womanhood, but could there be more behind it than just culture, politics, and rhetoric?

Building off the scriptural foundations of the anti-Christ, Carrie Gress makes an in-depth investigation into the idea of an anti-Mary--as a spirit, not an individual--that has plagued the West since the '60s. Misleading generations of women, this anti-Marian spirit has led to the toxic femininity that has destroyed the lives of countless men, women, and children.

Also in The Anti-Mary Exposed:

Bishop Robert Barron, one of the leading Catholic figures in the world and among the most active on social media, has enjoyed thousands of fruitful religious arguments. In this book based on talks delivered at Facebook and Google, he explains why religion at its best opens up the searching mind, and how we all believer and unbeliever alike can share better discussions about God.

Born to Love is a clear, solid presentation of Catholic teaching on homosexuality and related topics. Fr. John Waiss' presentation is well grounded in John Paul II's personalist philosophy and Theology of the Body, making convincing arguments that are accessible to all. He focuses on the intrinsic good of the person and on the true meaning of sexuality as created by God. This is much more helpful than a list of "do's and don'ts."

Born to Love is written as a dialogue that gives it a personal, easy-going feeling and avoids treating homosexuality in a generic or abstract manner. The story is engaging, capturing the reader's interest while piquing his curiosity about what is coming next. Fr. Waiss' many years of pastoral experience gives the dialogue an authentic feel. Yet his great strength is the ability to present Church teaching positively, thoroughly, and methodically, while remaining completely faithful to Catholic doctrine. He does it with great compassion.

YOUNG PEOPLE will find in Born to Love insights on how to deal with friends and peers who may advocate the homosexual persuasion as valid and wholesome as any other. They will discover how they can be truly compassionate while sticking to the truth of their Faith, being true to themselves as well as to God.

PARENTS will find in Born to Love suggestions for improving their relationships with their children-no matter what age-relationships that will be the foundation of their future identity as persons. They will learn that improving all their relationships (including with God) is the best help they can offer, especially when faced with a loved-one who has embraced the gay-lesbian lifestyle. They will also learn that compromising their own beliefs and values not only hurts their relationship with God and others, but also makes their child's or relative's identity even more amorphous and tenuous.

SEMINARIANS and PRIESTS will experience in Born to Love a great pastoral approach that is based on a solid foundation of biblical anthropology. This is Theology of the Body practically applied.

TEACHERS and YOUTH MINISTERS will learn from Born to Love to understand the very personal nature of same-sex-attraction and how to lead the young people to follow their personal path to the fullness of life, love and relationships, based on embracing Church teaching and giving oneself as Christ did on the Cross, realizing that a happy life always involves sacrifice.

Born to Love analyzes the Bible's teaching on homosexuality in-depth, addressing common objections and misconstrued scriptural arguments. Fr. Waiss shows how the Church's teaching fits the unified teaching on sexuality in the Bible.

Born to Love also addresses questions such as: What aspects of homosexuality are personal choices? What aspects are not? What does the science say? Born to Love gives straightforward answers that go beyond common myths and stereotypes to get to its root-causes. The science is well documented.

How to approach political issues is also addressed, such as "gay-marriage" or gay adoption: Are these civil rights, as interracial marriage is? How should we support families through our civil laws and institutions?

The author takes the "love the sinner, hate the sin" approach to a new level, showing Christians how to help family, friends, and colleagues-whether or not they struggle with same-sex-attraction-to develop a healthy, personal identity by developing strong, non-erotic, and unselfish relationships.

-Fr. Benedict Groeschel, C.F.R.-priest, author, psychologist, and TV show host-writes the Foreword that introduces the book.

The Once and Future Hegemon

In a world bristling with dangers, only one enemy poses a truly mortal challenge to the United States and the peaceful and prosperous world that America guarantees. That enemy is China, a country

-that invented totalitarianism thousands of years ago

-whose economic power rivals our own

-that believes its superior race and culture give it the right to universal deference

-that teaches its people to hate America for standing in the way of achieving its narcissistic "dream" of world domination

-that believes in its manifest destiny to usher in the World of Great Harmony

-which publishes maps showing the exact extent of the nuclear destruction it could rain down on the United States

Steven Mosher exposes the resurgent aspirations of the would-be hegemon--and the roots of China's will to domination in its five-thousand-year history of ruthless conquest and assimilation of other nations, brutal repression of its own people, and belligerence toward any civilization that challenges its claim to superiority.

The naïve idealism of our "China hands" has lulled America into a fool's dream of "engagement" with the People's Republic of China and its "peaceful evolution" toward democracy and freedom. Wishful thinking, says Mosher, has blinded us to the danger we face and left the world vulnerable to China's overweening ambitions.

Mosher knows China as few Westerners do. Having exposed as a visiting graduate student the monstrous practice of forced abortions, he became the target of the regime's crushing retaliation. His encyclopedic grasp of China's history and its present-day politics, his astute insights, and his bracing realism are the perfect antidote for our dangerous confusion about the Bully of Asia.

This is an exclusive interview of Cardinal Müller, the head of the Vatican Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, and one of the most outstanding Catholic figures in theology today. As a theologian, he strives to give God's answers to men's questions. As the Prefect of the CDF, he has a privileged perspective on the worldwide state of the Church on doctrinal, moral and theological matters, and the questions Catholics and others have today on those matters.

But what questions do our contemporaries have? And what answers do they demand from the believer? People today do not see their lack of faith as a tragedy, but what does worry them profoundly is their lack of hope, for which--making matters worse--they try to make up with shallow substitutes like optimism. The key question today therefore is one of hope. And they wonder whether there is hope for the now, they wonder whether they can find it in Christianity--and they wonder, above all: What is the foundation of Christian hope?

This interview with Cardinal Müller therefore takes hope as its basic subject: it is a report on hope. It is an in-depth discussion of hope in relation to faith and love, and in relation to Jesus Christ, the Church, the family, and contemporary society.

Praise for Catholic Priests Falsely Accused:

"This is an important topic, and not just for priests and bishops! Everyone should be concerned about this. Please check out Catholic Priests Falsely Accused: The Facts, The Fraud, The Stories."
- Rev. John T. Zuhlsdorf ("Fr. Z"), "What Does The Prayer Really Say?", wdtprs.com

"[T]he chilling tale of how decades-old claims of abuse by Catholic priests become 'credible' ... David F. Pierre tells the sordid story the mainstream media won't touch. It rings of both truth and justice. I highly recommend Catholic Priests Falsely Accused: The Facts, The Fraud, The Stories."
- Ryan A. MacDonald, Spero News columnist

"David Pierre's Catholic Priests Falsely Accused is an important volume. By carefully documenting the harrowing stories of priests falsely accused, the author shows that legitimate outrage about abuse can at times boil over into wanton hysteria. May this book serve as a clarion call for even-handed and impartial justice for all, so that future tragedies may be avoided."
- Rev. Thomas G. Guarino, S.T.D., Professor of Systematic Theology, Seton Hall University

"Mr. Pierre's book is an eye opener! Meticulously researched and clearly written, it is a must-read for anyone with questions about the sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church."
- Rev. Kenneth Gumbert, O.P., M.F.A., Providence College

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We must continue to demand justice and compassion for victims of Catholic clergy abuse. This is not optional.

However, there is a side of the Catholic Church abuse narrative that is not getting the attention it warrants. Countless priests in the United States have been falsely accused of committing horrendous child abuse.

Topics in this book include:
... how the most recent and reliable figures reveal that one third of accused Catholic priests in a major archdiocese were accused falsely;
... the stunning court declaration with the opinion from a retired FBI investigator that "one half" of all accusations are "entirely false" or "greatly exaggerated";
... the American cardinal who has been the target of not just one - but two - completely bogus abuse accusations;
... how accusers have retained huge monetary settlements even though their allegations later proved to be false;
... the father of an accuser who appeared at the funeral of an accused priest and apologized for the false allegation that his son leveled;
... proof that the agenda of the advocacy group SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests) has little to do with the protection of children and everything to do with bludgeoning the Catholic Church;
... the Catholic archbishop who tells of being spat upon by a member of SNAP;
... the monsignor who waited five years to be exonerated of abuse charges even though his alleged victims denied having been molested;
plus much more.

This is the side of the Catholic Church abuse narrative that the media has not told you. This book is fast-paced, informative, and impeccably researched. There is no other book like this one.

Fr. Michael Chaberek is a Polish Dominican who has studied creation doctrine from Old and New Testament accounts to the Church Fathers, to the Medieval Scholastics (especially St. Thomas Aquinas), to the Vatican's internal and public papers of the 19th and 20th centuries--and on into our own times and the pronouncements of recent popes. His new book gathers all doctrinal statements on evolution and presents the history of the engagement of Catholicism with natural science since Darwin presented his theory in 1859. What he finds is a clear path that gradually became twisted and over-grown. His exploration of that path is both scholarly and engrossing.

"Finally, a book that tells the full story of Catholic reflections and Magisterial statements down through the centuries on issues of creation and evolution. From the meditations of the ancient Church Fathers to the statements of Popes Pelagius I and Leo XIII, there are many hidden treasures to be found here. Fr. Chaberek combines historical, philosophical, and theological scholarship in a book that is both comprehensive and engaging. This book will be an eye-opener for many, and will quickly become the standard and essential work on the subject."--ROBERT STACKPOLE, director, John Paul II Institute of Divine Mercy

"In Catholicism and Evolution, Fr. Michael Chaberek surveys perennial Catholic teaching, plumbs the depths of Catholic philosophy and historical theology, and analyzes the best scientific evidence to date. In the process, he shows that certain elements of Darwinian evolution are not only incompatible with Catholic belief, but largely lacking in evidence. He shows also that despite her clear historical teaching, the contemporary Church lacks an unambiguous statement of how Catholics should understand this question. I expect this to become the definitive book on Catholicism and evolution."--JAY W. RICHARDS, co-author of The Privileged Planet; editor of God and Evolution

"Darwin and his contemporaries thought the cell was a simple blob of jelly, protoplasm. Modern science has discovered the exact opposite, that astoundingly sophisticated technology undergirds life. Father Michael Chaberek probes the implications of this and other surprising developments in his erudite study of Catholicism's collision with Darwinism."--MICHAEL BEHE, author of Darwin's Black Box

"Catholicism and Evolution is a thorough exposition of the history of the debate over evolution, especially the theory's proponents and opponents within the Catholic Church. This book should be on the shelves of any concerned with this subject, or indeed any who would like to fully grasp the controversy's roots in the Church."--ANN GAUGER, Senior Research Scientist, Biologic Institute

"Fr. Chaberek has done Catholics and all Christians a great service by describing the progression of the present controversy over creation, intelligent design, and theistic evolution from the Bible and early days of Christianity until today. His book will open eyes."--BRUCE CHAPMAN, Founding Fellow, Discovery Institute

FR. MICHAEL CHABEREK O.P., S.T.D. is a member of the Polish Dominican Province, with a Doctorate in Fundamental Theology from Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University in Warsaw.

Cardinal Christoph Schonborn's article on evolution and creation in The New York Times launched an international controversy. Critics charged him with biblical literalism and "creationism."

In this book, Cardinal Schonborn responds to his critics by tackling the hard questions with a carefully reasoned "theology of creation." Can we still speak intelligently of the world as "creation" and affirm the existence of the Creator, or is God a "delusion"? How should an informed believer read Genesis? If God exists, why is there so much injustice and suffering? Are human beings a part of nature or elevated above it? What is man's destiny? Is everything a matter of chance or can we discern purpose in human existence?

In his treatment of evolution, Cardinal Schonborn distinguishes the biological theory from "evolutionism," the ideology that tries to reduce all of reality to mindless, meaningless processes. He argues that science and a rationally grounded faith are not at odds and that what many people represent as "science" is really a set of philosophical positions that will not withstand critical scrutiny.

Chance or Purpose? directly raises the philosophical and theological issues many scientists today overlook or ignore. The result is a vigorous, frank dialogue that acknowledges the respective insights of the philosopher, the theologian and the scientist, but which calls on them to listen and to learn from each another.

In June of 2015, five cardinals and forty-five bishops representing fifty African countries met in Accra, Ghana, to prepare for the October 2015 Synod on the Family.

In his opening remarks--included in this volume--Robert Cardinal Sarah encouraged the bishops of Africa to speak with one voice during the synod:

I encourage you to speak with clarity and with one credible voice and with filial love of the Church. Be conscious of the mission of the Church; protect the sacredness of marriage which is now being attacked by all forms of ideologies that intend to destroy the family in Africa. Do not be afraid to stress the teaching of the Church on marriage.

In a major six-page interview released during the same period in the French magazine Famille Chrétienne , Cardinal Sarah said:

At the synod next October we will address, I hope, the question of marriage in an entirely positive manner, seeking to promote the family and the values that it bears. The African bishops will act to support that which God asks of man concerning the family, and to receive that which the Church has always taught. . . . Why should we think that only the Western vision of man, of the world, of society is good, just, universal? The Church must fight to say no to this new colonization.

These African pastors provide much food for thought and reflection about modern Western culture and our personal lives, as well as an introduction to the Synod. The title of the book comes from a phrase used by Blessed Pope Paul VI, which in our time beautifully expresses the universality of the Church and the increasing role played by African Church leaders. Among the contributing cardinals and bishops are Robert Cardinal Sarah, Francis Cardinal Arinze, Christian Cardinal Tumi, Théodore Cardinal Sarr, Archbishop Samuel Kleda, and more.