The Indispensability of Virtue by Donald DeMarco

The Indispensability of Virtue by Donald DeMarco

The Indispensability of Virtue

by Dr. Donald DeMarco

Virtue, in a word, is strength. For Shakespeare, “Virtue is bold.” Virtue gives us the ability to do the right thing at the right time. A person’s character consists of the various virtues he has cultivated.

Virtue is variable and versatile. There is a virtue for every moral challenge. We need courage in the face of danger, wisdom in a crisis, love for all occasions, and kindness on a daily basis.

This book is a series of 32 highly distinctive articles. Each one of them centers on a virtue or a virtuous activity. Its aim is to make virtue attractive as well as dramatic, by demonstrating its importance in a variety of situations. We should all aspire to be virtuous, for it is through virtues that we become fully ourselves. Indeed, virtue is indispensable.

Paperback $14.95 | Kindle $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“In The Indispensability of Virtue, Dr. Donald DeMarco offers a luminous reminder that moral character is not optional but essential for human flourishing. His clarity, conviction, and philosophical depth renew the reader’s confidence in virtue as the heart of a truly civilized society.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, author of The Narrative Spirituality of Dante’s Divine Comedy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Donald DeMarco, author of 45 books, including most recently Without God Nothing Makes Sense and Commonsense for a World of Common Nonsense, is a Senior Fellow of Human Life International. He is professor emeritus at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo, Ontario, and a retired professor of Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. He is a regular columnist for St. Austin Review and has written over a hundred articles for the website Truth and Charity. He is on the editorial board of Social Justice Review, a board member of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College in Ontario, Canada, and a Corresponding Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. In June 2015, he was awarded the prestigious Bishop Exner Award for “Catholic Excellence in Public Life.” He and his wife, Mary, have 5 children and 14 grandchildren.

OTHER CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY BOOKS

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis by Dr. Donald G Boland As with every great philosopher and theologian, the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, though perhaps the clearest expressed of all, has inevitably been subject to a variety of interpretations....

read more
Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight by Dr. Ronda Chervin En Route Books and Media has reprinted Ronda Chervin and Lois Janis’ book Voyage to Insight with fresh, exciting graphics. It can be read straight through or you can add your own insights into the book and even dialogue about...

read more
Dialogue and Doublespeak: Realpolitik and the Misuse of Language by Donald G. Boland

Dialogue and Doublespeak: Realpolitik and the Misuse of Language by Donald G. Boland

Dialogue and Doublespeak: Realpolitik and the Misuse of Language

by Dr. Donald G. Boland

In Dialogue and Doublespeak, Donald G. Boland unmasks the deceptive language shaping modern politics, culture, and morality. Drawing on Aristotle, Aquinas, and Chesterton, Boland exposes how sophistry and “Realpolitik” distort truth and erode justice. With a critical assessment of William D. Lutz’s Doublespeak, this book offers a penetrating analysis of linguistic manipulation in philosophy, economics, and public life. Essential reading for those seeking clarity, logic, and faith in an age awash with confusion.

Paperback: $12.95 | Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“Donald Boland’s work pierces through the fog of political deception, reclaiming truth in the tradition of Aristotle, Aquinas, and Chesterton. Dialogue and Doublespeak is both timely and timeless—a courageous defense of clarity, reason, and faith.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, co-author with Ronda Chervin of Catholic Realism

​ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Donald G Boland Ll. B. (Sydney), Ph. D. (Angelicum) is a founding member of the Centre for Catholic Studies Inc. in Sydney Australia and is one of its former Presidents. He practiced for a number of years as a lawyer having a degree in law from the University of Sydney. Over much the same time, having obtained a doctorate in philosophy from the University of St. Thomas in Rome, he has taught philosophy and law in both Catholic and secular educational institutions, such as the University of Technology, Sydney, the University of Newcastle, the Aquinas Academy, the Centre for Thomistic Studies Inc., now operating under the name of the Centre for Catholic Studies Inc., and various Catholic seminaries, such as those of the Marists and the Vincentians. His doctoral thesis was on the concepts of utility and value in economics as found in the works of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas.

OTHER CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY BOOKS

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis by Dr. Donald G Boland As with every great philosopher and theologian, the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, though perhaps the clearest expressed of all, has inevitably been subject to a variety of interpretations....

read more
Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight by Dr. Ronda Chervin En Route Books and Media has reprinted Ronda Chervin and Lois Janis’ book Voyage to Insight with fresh, exciting graphics. It can be read straight through or you can add your own insights into the book and even dialogue about...

read more
Transgenderism Two: Evidence and Identity by Francis Etheredge

Transgenderism Two: Evidence and Identity by Francis Etheredge

Transgenderism Two: Evidence and Identity

by Francis Etheredge

Over the course of a number of years, the author has gravitated to a question which has come to the fore more and more: Can a person change his or her sex? What seemed like an occasional, anecdotal questioning, has emerged as a major crisis, especially among young people and their families. But, what is more, this is not an abstract question; it has profound implications for the health and well being of many people, many institutions, and society as a whole.

As we explore the roots of this phenomenon we begin to realise that it has grown out of an anti-woman feminism which goes back decades and which, like a virus, has spread far and wide, residing in many institutional policies, mentalities, and encroaching upon justice in the workplace and in society generally. But, going further than describing the extent and nature of gender ideology, an idea that has been imposed on people and societies, it is necessary to examine its explicit or implied philosophy. For, with respect to an increasing number of young people, often girls, it is leading to the life-changing destruction of healthy sexual organs which, in some cases, are replaced with “facsimiles” of the opposite sex.

Drilling down, then, into human identity entails focusing on the depths of the human person, the crucial sensitivity needed to aid each young person with his or her formation. But, in view of the society in which we live, this book is also about being informed about the social context in which questions of identity are being asked and answered.

Paperback: $TBA | Kindle $9.99

Author Articles

“Conception: A Contradiction?” by Francis Etheredge, Homiletics and Pastoral Review (December 11, 2020), available here.

Testimonials

“In this sequel to his earlier book on Transgenderism, Francis Etheredge examines the political and social dynamics of the transgender movement. In a special way, he provides evidence of the harm done to women by transgender policies. He likewise explores the political landscape of transgenderism, taking note of recent efforts in the USA, the U.N., the United Kingdom, and Australia to promote and confront gender ideology. This book is highly recommended for all people of good will who are concerned about the spiritual and social realities of the transgender movement.” – Robert Fastiggi, Ph.D., Professor of Dogmatic Theology, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Detroit, Michigan

“In Transgenderism Two: Evidence and Identity, author Francis Etheredge helps us further traverse the murky legal, social, political, and medical bioethics of the transgender world-wide landscape. From the United Nations to our state courtrooms to our community sports teams to our schools’ bathrooms to our own backyards, we need to know what we’re really dealing with in this rapidly disintegrating cultural malaise. Confused discussions, incorrect judgments, and myriad misperceptions flowing from radical gender ideology are leading to rampant discrimination and the physical, social, and emotional harming of, particularly, vulnerable young people and their families, as well as the entire society. Only when issues of gender identity and sexual confusion are considered in light of the deeper understanding of the truth, goodness, and beauty of the human person, the full meaning of man and woman, as such, and with acknowledgment of the hard work of honest compassion in truly painful circumstances, can insights be found to confront and defeat this perverse ideology.” – Kiki Latimer, author of Home for the Homily

“Francis Etheredge successfully and thoughtfully brings to light the greater questions associated with gender ideology relating to the dignity of the human person, cultures, medical procedures, and law. Through an honest discussion, he unveils discrepancies and unrealistic expectations of governments and societies in their perpetuation of gender ideology. Providing information, facts, and highlighting unresolved issues which have arisen in the above sectors, Etheredge demonstrates that far more needs to be done to protect our youth and societies to ensure their greatest good. —Kimberly Bruce, M.A. Theology, and author of The Gender Link to the Human Soul and Look at the SON: The Fruit of Medjugorje. She frequently writes for the Marian.org and TheDivineMercy.org websites and other Catholic media

“Francis Etheredge has taken on the challenge of consolidating current, interdisciplinary, evidence-based research essential for society’s understanding of best practices for people with gender dysphoria. This extensively researched book is a clarion call for a drastic change in direction. Minor children, especially, are at grave risk of being harmed by current medical approaches and, for that and other reasons, many jurisdictions, including the United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, France and New Zealand, have stopped the use of puberty blockers and hormone treatments shown to cause harm. They all recommend ongoing monitoring and counselling as children develop through the natural stages. Etheredge’s passion and concern for the best interests of transgender people is rooted in his strong faith in the God who made us all in His own image and likeness as stewards of the gift of our bodies, not as owners who may choose to refashion our bodies as we desire.” – Dr. Moira McQueen, CCBI, University of St Michael’s College

Transgenderism Two: Evidence and Identity is a book whose time is now. In Transgenderism Two, Francis Ethridge combines sound philosophy, theology and medical science to guide readers through lucid critical thinking exercises regarding human identity and personhood. He reminds readers that these material and spiritual entities are perfectly united and rooted in Christ, as he simultaneously exposes how transgenderism deconstructs this reality and leads to harmful chaos. Given our Lady of Fatima’s warning against the pervasive ‘diabolical disorientation’ of modern times, Transgenderism Two: Evidence and Identity should be read by all Catholics—most especially parents and grandparents, teachers, theologians, health professionals, and the entire Catholic magisterium, from the humblest parish priest to the Pope himself.” – Michelle A. Cretella, MD, member of the board of the John Paul II Academy for Human Life and the Family, an international lay apostolate founded by the original members of St JP II’s Pontifical Academy of Life

Review by Christine Sunderland

Francis Etheredge, bioethicist and gifted writer, in this important sequel to Transgenderism: A Question of Identity, considers recent testimony and legal judgment that identifies who we are. The evidence is powerful, derived from the United Kingdom Supreme Court (April 2025), the United States Department of Health and Human Services (May 2025), and the Family Court of Australia (April 2025). In discussing these documents he explores the interweaving of law and license, of definitions and precedents, and the dangers of confusing and conflating opinion with fact.

 

The world is taking notice of clinicians who are possibly engaged in malpractice and, at the very least, are not respecting the vow to “do no harm” to their patients, conducting lucrative surgeries in this brave new world of gender dysphoria, insurance payments, and idealogue medicine.

 

The great threat, of course, is to vulnerable children, under the age of consent, who, through words and social media persuasion, make decisions regarding their gender. These are adolescents and younger, minors who cannot fully understand the life-altering consequences of their choices. As a result, healthy organs are removed without parental consent or with misinformed, coerced parental consent. Ideology has infiltrated medicine through schools and media. Those who disagree are silenced in the name of discrimination.

 

In his discussion of the formation of human identity, Etheredge considers the scientific consensus that concludes we are fully formed at conception and what this means in terms of our gender. With reference to numerous authorities and extensive footnoted research, he underpins his discussion with philosophy – truth and reality, words and meaning, giving the reader a foundation of reason. For we are outward creations of an inner reality, echoing the Christian definition of sacrament. It seems that we are, after all, sacramental and whole creatures, children of a loving God, created in his image.

 

As a mother, grandmother, and writer, I am particularly grateful for Francis Etheredge’s immense undertakings in this vital field of bioethics. As he ends on a hopeful note, I add my own hope that he finds a large audience for this commonsense and timely dose of truth and reality. Bravo!

 

Christine Sunderland, Anglo-Catholic Novelist
Trinitytide, 2025

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mr. Francis Etheredge is married with eight children, plus three in heaven.

Francis is currently a freelance writer and speaker and his “Posts” on LinkedIn can be viewed here. Poetry; short articles; autobiographical blog; excerpts from books; and “Philosophize: A Ten Minute Write.”

For a list of all of Francis’ books published by En Route Books and Media, click here.

See Francis’ other books, too, entitled Scripture: A Unique WordFrom Truth and truth: Volume I-Faithful ReasonFrom Truth and truth: Volume II: Faith and Reason in DialogueFrom Truth and truth: Volume III: Faith is Married Reason.

He has earned a BA Div (Hons), MA in Catholic Theology, PGC in Biblical Studies, PGC in Higher Education, and an MA in Marriage and Family (Distinction).

Enjoy these additional articles by Francis Etheredge:

OTHER CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY BOOKS

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis by Dr. Donald G Boland As with every great philosopher and theologian, the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, though perhaps the clearest expressed of all, has inevitably been subject to a variety of interpretations....

read more
Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight by Dr. Ronda Chervin En Route Books and Media has reprinted Ronda Chervin and Lois Janis’ book Voyage to Insight with fresh, exciting graphics. It can be read straight through or you can add your own insights into the book and even dialogue about...

read more
Being American after the Destruction of Gaza: A Letter to Pope Leo XIV by Donald G. Boland

Being American after the Destruction of Gaza: A Letter to Pope Leo XIV by Donald G. Boland

Being American after the Destruction of Gaza: A Letter to Pope Leo XIV

by Dr. Donald G. Boland

A passionate Catholic critique of Western complicity in Gaza’s devastation, Boland’s letter to Pope Leo XIV challenges moral silence, drawing on history, theology, and conscience to confront violence, injustice, and the urgent need for prophetic witness in the face of modern atrocities.

Paperback: $12.95 | Kindle: $9.99

Omer Bartov on Genocide in Gaza
John Mearsheimer: The Palestinian Genocide and How the West Has Been Deceived Into Supporting It
Mother Agapia Shares Horrific Details of Christian Persecutions at the Hands of Israel
Peter Beinart - "Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning" | The Daily Show
Judge Napolitano Judging Freedom & Jeffrey Sachs: CIA manipulations

TESTIMONIALS

“‘An irrational patience sows vice, nurtures neglect, and not only invites bad people to evil, but also the good ones.’ (ST: IIa, IIae, Q 158, Art 8). Dr. Boland’s forthright letter opposes this moral evil with clarity and much instruction.” – Frank Calneggia, editor of the selected works of Frits Albers

“Donald Boland’s letter is a courageous, unflinching call to conscience, demanding that Catholics confront complicity in injustice. A prophetic, necessary witness for those committed to authentic moral clarity.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, co-author with Ronda Chervin of Catholic Realism: A Framework for the Refutation of Atheism and the Evangelization of Atheists

​ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Donald G Boland Ll. B. (Sydney), Ph. D. (Angelicum) is a founding member of the Centre for Catholic Studies Inc. in Sydney Australia and is one of its former Presidents. He practiced for a number of years as a lawyer having a degree in law from the University of Sydney. Over much the same time, having obtained a doctorate in philosophy from the University of St. Thomas in Rome, he has taught philosophy and law in both Catholic and secular educational institutions, such as the University of Technology, Sydney, the University of Newcastle, the Aquinas Academy, the Centre for Thomistic Studies Inc., now operating under the name of the Centre for Catholic Studies Inc., and various Catholic seminaries, such as those of the Marists and the Vincentians. His doctoral thesis was on the concepts of utility and value in economics as found in the works of Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas.

OTHER CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY BOOKS

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis by Dr. Donald G Boland As with every great philosopher and theologian, the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, though perhaps the clearest expressed of all, has inevitably been subject to a variety of interpretations....

read more
Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight by Dr. Ronda Chervin En Route Books and Media has reprinted Ronda Chervin and Lois Janis’ book Voyage to Insight with fresh, exciting graphics. It can be read straight through or you can add your own insights into the book and even dialogue about...

read more
Common Sense for a World of Common Nonsense by Donald DeMarco

Common Sense for a World of Common Nonsense by Donald DeMarco

Common Sense for a World of Common Nonsense

by Dr. Donald DeMarco

In Common Sense for a World of Common Nonsense, Dr. Donald DeMarco examines modern moral confusion through sharp, philosophical essays that contrast virtue with ideology. Divided into “Common Nonsense” and “Common Sense,” the book critiques issues like gender ideology, abortion, and relativism while affirming tradition, rationality, and Christian values. Rich with references to Scripture, Church teaching, and classic thinkers, this work defends the indispensable role of common sense in moral clarity and cultural renewal.

Paperback $14.95 | Kindle $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

Common Sense for a World of Common Nonsense is a clarion call to reclaim moral clarity through reason, faith, and virtue—essential reading for anyone navigating today’s cultural confusion.” – Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP, author of The Narrative Spirituality of Dante’s Divine Comedy

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Donald DeMarco, author of 45 books, including most recently How to Flourish in a Fallen World and In Praise of Life, is a Senior Fellow of Human Life International. He is professor emeritus at St. Jerome’s University in Waterloo, Ontario, and a retired professor of Holy Apostles College and Seminary in Cromwell, Connecticut. He is a regular columnist for St. Austin Review and has written over a hundred articles for the website Truth and Charity. He is on the editorial board of Social Justice Review, a board member of Our Lady Seat of Wisdom College in Ontario, Canada, and a Corresponding Member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. In June 2015, he was awarded the prestigious Bishop Exner Award for “Catholic Excellence in Public Life.” He and his wife, Mary, have 5 children and 14 grandchildren.

OTHER CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY BOOKS

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis by Dr. Donald G Boland As with every great philosopher and theologian, the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, though perhaps the clearest expressed of all, has inevitably been subject to a variety of interpretations....

read more
Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight by Dr. Ronda Chervin En Route Books and Media has reprinted Ronda Chervin and Lois Janis’ book Voyage to Insight with fresh, exciting graphics. It can be read straight through or you can add your own insights into the book and even dialogue about...

read more
The Invention of Philosophical Rationality: An Introduction to Philosophy by Way of the Presocratics by Fulvio Di Blasi

The Invention of Philosophical Rationality: An Introduction to Philosophy by Way of the Presocratics by Fulvio Di Blasi

The Invention of Philosophical Rationality: An Introduction to Philosophy by Way of the Presocratics

By Fulvio di Blasi

Fulvio Di Blasi’s The Invention of Philosophical Rationality explores the foundational role of Presocratic philosophy in shaping Western thought. Through an interdisciplinary approach that integrates philosophy, science, and theology, Di Blasi argues that early Greek thinkers were not merely precursors to modern science but authentic philosophers who pioneered rational inquiry. He emphasizes the transition from mythology to rationality, as seen in the works of Thales, Heraclitus, and Pythagoras, where logos (reason) and physis (nature) became key concepts in understanding reality​. The book critiques contemporary positivism, advocating for a holistic vision that acknowledges the interwoven nature of philosophy and theology. Di Blasi highlights Aristotle and St. Thomas Aquinas as key figures in advancing Presocratic insights, linking early metaphysical inquiries to modern philosophical debates. Written in an accessible style, the book serves as both an introduction to philosophy and a call to rethink the historical significance of early rational thought​.

Paperback $29.95 | Kindle $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“There is no better way to introduce someone to philosophy than through the ideas of the very first philosophers, the Presocratics.  Fulvio di Blasi’s fine book does the job in a way that is agreeably relaxed and humorous in style without sacrificing philosophical depth.” – Edward Feser, Professor of Philosophy, Pasadena City College 

“Filled with engaging, probing, and student-friendly chapter-by-chapter narratives, glossaries, study questions, and further insights and reading recommendations, Fulvio Di Blasi’s The Invention Of Philosophical Rationality is an excellent introduction to philosophy that is suitable for a wide range of audiences—including those beginning in the sciences of physics, chemistry, and engineering. The book’s centerpiece consists in Di Blasi’s (i) ‘scientific’ approach whereby he shows that the Presocratics philosophize in a continuum concerning ‘the logic of becoming’ and (ii) serious consideration, as his final chapter encapsulates, of the intensive Presocratic concern with the cosmic place and role of divinity. While working through Presocratic philosophy in a manner pleasing to Aristotle in Metaphysics 1, Di Blasi straightforwardly and perceptively introduces his reader to the discipline of philosophy and to widely held philosophical presuppositions. Di Blasi’s book is a much-needed introduction To Philosophy By Way Of The Presocratics.” – Dr. Barry David, Department of Philosophy, Ave Maria University

“This is a remarkable text. When I received the manuscript, I asked why anyone would teach the Presocratics to undergraduates. But now I see that the idea is brilliant. The biggest challenge in teaching philosophy to undergraduates is to show why we do philosophy in the first place. Di Blasi takes us back to the original philosophers who asked those fundamental questions that lie at the heart not only of philosophy but of science and every other branch of learning. To contemporary minds These Presocratics may seem wrong-headed, but the questions they asked were astute and reveal the questions that we too often unconsciously pass over. Here is an excellent book to get undergraduates—and perhaps the rest of us—thinking aright.” – Dr. Adrian J Reimers, Professor of Philosophy, Holy Cross College, South Bend, Indiana

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


FULVIO DI BLASI is an attorney (Italy), a legal mediator, and a Thomistic philosopher, having earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from the University of Palermo. He directs the Thomas International Center for Philosophical Studies (United States) and has taught at the University of Notre Dame (United States), the LUMSA Law School (Italy), the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross (Rome) and the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin (Poland). He is also a member of the Italian Society of Medicine (SIM) National Scientific Committee and represents SIM in the COVID inquiry commission of the Italian Senate.

OTHER CATHOLIC PHILOSOPHY BOOKS

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis

The Thomist Tradition: Avoiding Scylla and Charybdis by Dr. Donald G Boland As with every great philosopher and theologian, the thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, though perhaps the clearest expressed of all, has inevitably been subject to a variety of interpretations....

read more
Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight

Voyage to Insight by Dr. Ronda Chervin En Route Books and Media has reprinted Ronda Chervin and Lois Janis’ book Voyage to Insight with fresh, exciting graphics. It can be read straight through or you can add your own insights into the book and even dialogue about...

read more