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Picking a Fight with Educational Establishment featuring Jeremy Tate, CEO of the CLT

In this new episode of Conversatio, Dr. Tom Varacalli welcomes Jeremy Tate, CEO of Classic Learning Test (CLT), for an insightful discussion on the evolving landscape of standardized testing in the United States. Jeremy shares his perspective on how the CLT is providing an alternative to traditional testing methods, the impact of these changes on education, and the future of classical education in America.

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Belmont Abbey College Names Hadley Arkes 2025 Benedict Leadership Award Recipient

Belmont Abbey College Names Hadley Arkes 2025 Benedict Leadership Award Recipient

Belmont, N.C. (February 10, 2025) – The Benedict Leadership Institute at Belmont Abbey College is pleased to recognize Hadley Arkes as the recipient of the 2025 Benedict Leadership Award. This award highlights the achievements of individuals whose lives reflect the heroic leadership of Saint Benedict.

Belmont Abbey College founded the Benedict Leadership Institute in 2016 to develop Catholic leaders and inspire them to transform society in light of their faith. Mr. Arkes is the eighth recipient of the Benedict Leadership Award, being recognized in part for his advocacy and preservation of children’s lives and his adherence to the doctrines of Natural Rights. The award will be presented in a ceremony at Belmont Abbey College on March 13, 2025.

Hadley Arkes is a distinguished American professor, political philosopher, and constitutional scholar, known for his contributions to legal and political theory, particularly within the context of natural law, constitutionalism, and moral reasoning. His work spans several decades, significantly influencing debates in law, politics, and ethics, especially regarding the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution and the moral foundations of law. Arkes has been a leading advocate for a natural law-centered approach to legal reasoning and has played a key role in developing conservative legal thought.

Born in 1940, Arkes earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois. He later earned a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago, where he was a student of Leo Strauss, Herbert Storing, and Hans Morgenthau. He began teaching at Amherst College in 1966, where he developed signature courses on moral philosophy and the Constitution. Those courses would eventually give rise to two of his most well-known books, First Things (1986), from which the Catholic journal took its name, and Beyond the Constitution (1990). His most recent book, Mere Natural Law (2023), springs from his past decade of work at the James Wilson Institute teaching lawyers, judges, law clerks, and citizens the first principles underlying the Constitution.

Arkes is best known for his advocacy of natural law as a framework for constitutional interpretation. His ideas have shaped the conservative legal movement, particularly on issues of abortion and the sanctity of life. He remained deeply involved in efforts to overturn or limit the scope of Roe v. Wade. He played a significant role in creating and promoting the Born-Alive Infants Protection Act in the 2000s, a critical piece of legislation aimed at ensuring that infants born alive after a failed abortion would receive medical care and legal protection.

“Hadley Arkes embodies the principles of leadership and moral clarity that the Benedict Leadership Institute seeks to promote,” says Conor Gallagher, Executive Director of the Benedict Leadership Institute. “His lifelong commitment to the protection of life and the advancement of natural rights serves as an inspiration to all who strive to lead with integrity and purpose.”

A devout Roman Catholic convert from Judaism, Arkes’s religious beliefs profoundly influence his academic and intellectual work. His commitment to the Catholic faith shapes much of his moral and political philosophy, particularly regarding issues like abortion, euthanasia, and the sanctity of life. He advocates for the integration of moral reasoning in public life, believing that religious and moral truths should inform the way laws are structured and interpreted.

Hadley Arkes stands as one of the most respected figures in contemporary political philosophy and constitutional law. His work, grounded in natural law principles and informed by his Catholic faith, continues to shape debates on fundamental issues such as abortion, constitutional interpretation, and the role of morality in public life.

The Benedict Leadership Award is a testament to the impact of individuals like Arkes, who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of justice and the betterment of society through their unwavering commitment to their faith. Prior recipients include Robert Luddy (2024), Nina Shea (2023), Archbishop Charles J. Chaput Benedict (2022), Justice Clarence Thomas (2020), Mr. Michael P. Warsaw (2019), Mr. Leonard A. Leo (2018), and Mr. Carl A. Anderson (2017).

Belmont Abbey College, home of the Benedict Leadership Institute, is a private Catholic liberal arts college located near Charlotte, NC. Founded in 1876 by Benedictine monks, it is recognized by the Cardinal Newman Society as one of America’s top Catholic colleges.

Press Inquiry Contact:

Sarah Bolton, Belmont Abbey College, sarahbolton@bac.edu or 704-461-7016.

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The Catholic Talent Project with Tom Carroll

In the second episode of Conversatio this season, Dr. Thomas Varacalli sits down with Tom Carroll, Director and Founder of the Catholic Talent Project, to explore the current state of Catholic education in America. Tune in as they discuss the challenges, opportunities, and future of Catholic schools in today’s society.

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Let it snow.

A couple of weeks ago, the Abbey closed campus at noon so that faculty and staff could return home before the winter weather struck. For the first time in over two years, meteorologists predicted, we were likely to see real snowfall, and the roads could be treacherous.

I drove home, eyeing a sky already heavy and soberly luminous. And at some point after getting back, reheating my lunch, and sitting down to work, I looked up to find it was snowing.

As adults we’re bound to have a more fraught relationship with snow than we did as kids. Back then it was all about play and the sheer gift of a day off from school. Snow brought a kind of festival, complete with cocoa, backyard adventuring, and that unique form of flight called sledding. These days, we admittedly have heating costs, driving hazards, and interruptions to busy schedules.

But even if we can’t entirely do away with the grown-up anxieties and inconveniences that come with winter storms, watching it fall for the first time in years felt like a much needed reminder to pause and recall that wondering anticipation, and I was glad to open the door and step outside and catch a snowflake or two. It made me think how important it is to embrace those festivals that don’t fall on any calendar. And to lean into the joyful trust that inspired G.K. Chesterton to say, “An inconvenience is only an adventure wrongly considered; an adventure is an inconvenience rightly considered.”

As kids we can’t wait to get outside in the snow. The cold is part of the fun, somehow, or at least no real deterrent. As adults we prefer to enjoy the snow from inside a well-heated house, preferably with a blanket and a mug of some toasty beverage. And to be perfectly clear, I am strongly in favor of that cozy picture, especially if it includes a good book, or good company, or both.

But there’s something necessary, too, in the willingness children naturally have to venture outside, to get tired and cold and hungry in the way of adventure. It makes the warmth of coming home even more wonderful.

This weekend, which is the first in the season of Ordinary Time since the start of this liturgical year, let’s watch for all those opportunities to rejoice, especially the ones that hide in plain sight. Thanks be to God for making us the kind of creatures who play in the snow. Let’s go out to meet the ordinary, festive adventures of our lives, small and great, and not be afraid.

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