A poll from the Pew Research Center reports that fewer Americans than ever believe the Christmas story is historical. The New York Times reports here about the “Christmas Wars” The most seismic change captured by the survey, from a theological standpoint, may be the declining number of people who said they believed the biblical story of Christmas accurately reflected historical events. The survey asked respondents about their belief in four parts of the biblical Christmas story: that an angel heralded the… Read more

When I lived in England there was a brewery that boosted a brand of beer called “Courage” They had a striking ad campaign that featured a pint of their beer with the simple slogan “Take Courage”. The same might be said of a new website launched by the Courage apostolate. For those who are not in the know, Courage International is an apostolate of the Catholic Church which offers support to persons experiencing same sex attraction. It was founded in 1980 by… Read more

Here is this week’s video about the Mystery of the Magi Read more

A new book called The Dictator Pope is making a splash. I’m reminded of a handmade sign my mom had in the kitchen that just said, “Kwitcherbellakin” The Dictator Pope? I have to give full marks for a sensational headline. Dan Hitchens’ and editor at London’s Catholic Herald gives the book some airtime here. Apparently the book rehearses all the same grumbles we have heard already: the Pope fires people with no discussion, there is a climate of fear in… Read more

“I just finished reading Fr Longenecker’s book and I must say I am extremely impressed. He puts forward a very good case not only in support of his position that the Magi are to be regarded as historical figures but also as to where they might actually have been from and who they might have been (hint: not the Christmas card kings coming in on a flying visit from Persia!). He covers the complex archaeological, historical, and scriptural evidence thoroughly… Read more

NBC broadcaster Matt Lauer is the latest celebrity to come unstuck by the New Puritanism. His downfall should make everyone ask a few more probing questions. One of the is on the nature of consensual sexual relations. The generally accepted idea is that as long as two adults consent anything goes. But one of the victims of Matt Lauer said her sexual hookup with Lauer was consensual, but because he was in such a powerful position she felt obliged to… Read more

This article by Kristin Romey at National Geographic summarizes the amazing archeological discoveries over recent years that confirm the general historical background of the gospels. It highlights the discovery of Nazareth, Peter’s House in Capernaum, the “Jesus Boat” found in the mud at the bottom of the Sea of Galilee, the excavations at the Galilean village of Magdala and other important finds. You can go into more detail by reading my friend Robert Hutchinson’s book Searching for Jesus. In connects… Read more

The big news this week is the engagement of Prince Harry to Megan Markle. Nobody likes to rain on the parade, but one or two people have had the temerity to point out that the bride to be has already been (ahem) a bride. The Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster (the leader of Catholics in England and Wales) has tweeted his official congratulations to the royal couple, sidestepping the matter that the bride is a divorcee, but like Pope Francis—who is… Read more