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This Insights eNewsletter was sent to subscribers on November 8, 2016.

eNewsletter Subject: A time to tear down and a time to build

The third chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes opens with this famous line: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” My title is taken from verse 3 of this chapter.

Most obviously, the title applies to the Benedictine monks at Norcia, whose work was torn down by an earthquake. I alerted everyone on Sunday to Thomas Van's firsthand account, including pictures, of his recent visit there: Norcia just before the earthquakes: My time with the monks.

In a less physical sense, tearing down and building is highly relevant to modern politics. Americans are particularly distracted by political perils just now. I offer my own thoughts: A word about the futility of politics in the West, on election Tuesday in America.

In this context, it is sad but noteworthy that fundraising for CatholicCulture.org has dropped like a stone over the past several days, probably because of the potent distraction of politics. It's a shame. We still have $23,234 in gifts that we can get matched—if those gifts are given.

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