Tod Worner on the Role of Tradition

"He was a joyful man. Everybody felt so. Simply to look upon him was to experience the oft-forgotten word: Mirth. British journalist and author, G.K. Chesterton's exuberance, wit and charm were as large as his three hundred pound frame. He wrote puckish poems and humorous essays. He drank with the gruff (yet hilarious) Hilaire Belloc and exchanged clever poetry with his wife, Frances. Chesterton was the epitome of mirth. But he was also deadly serious. He argued (without quarreling) with intellectual giants like George Bernard Shaw, H.G. Wells and Clarence Darrow on matters of deep and lasting import. And while he could disarm his opponent with self-effacement and geniality, he would subsequently strike at the heart of the argument with uncanny precision and devastating effect. His weapon of choice? The endurance of Truth, the dignity of man, and the stubborn relevance of common sense."

In a recent commentary, wrier Tod Worner reflected on the ponderings of G. K. Chesterton and other Catholic thinkers regarding the role of tradition and the importance of, while celebrating what we are currently doing, pausing and considering what we may be undoing.

To access his complete post, please visit:

A Catholic Thinker: Don't Dismiss Tradition (A Letter to the Modern World) (10 JUN 15)