Weekly Summary: 4/25/26
The week in review, from the perspective of a veteran Catholic journalist
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It’s been an unusually quiet week for me. After a reasonably fast start (see Notes below), I came down with a nagging cough that was accompanied by a slight fever, an overall lethargy, and—here’s an unpleasant new wrinkle—intense pain in my knees. I’ve spent much of the week on the couch, napping frequently, limping around just a bit, and hoping for restored health soon.
On the Home Front, Leila and I talked about the imminent danger of a Democratic victory in mid-term elections— a danger compounded by the president’s intemperate rhetorical style. Trump’s pledge to “drain the swamp” has not been fulfilled. And if you didn’t already recognize the danger of handing federal control over to liberal Democrats, this week’s exploding scandal— the indictment of the Southern Poverty Law Center for funding the very extremism it claims to oppose— should be ample warning.
At First Things, Dan Hitchens had an excellent analysis of the Trump-Pope Leo fracas, pointing out the weaknesses exposed on both sides.
A graph that was circulated widely this week (although the information is not at all new) shows the strong conservative trend among young American Catholic priests. Arguably more important, the virtual disappearance of “progressive” clerics among those recently ordained.
And of course the discussion of just-war standards continues, with Edward Feser making a strong argument that approval of a war should require certainty that it is just. To which I add that this is doubly important for a pre-emptive war, since if you only think that an enemy attack is imminent, and you’re wrong, then you are the aggressor
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I threw in "cough" for good measure and got this: "Knee pain combined with cough, fever, and lethargy often indicates a systemic infection like the flu, COVID-19, or a post-viral, reactive arthritis. It may also point to bacterial complications like rheumatic fever (especially if there was a recent sore throat) or early Lyme disease. Seek medical advice if symptoms are severe or persistent."
Phil -- A 2-second AI search revealed this: "Knee pain accompanied by fever and lethargy is a red flag indicating a potential infection, such as septic arthritis (infected joint fluid) or osteomyelitis (bone infection), and warrants immediate medical attention to avoid joint damage. These symptoms may develop quickly and often include intense pain, swelling, and reduced mobility." Get yourself to a doctor, if you haven't already done so.