Why aren’t you Protestant, Muslim, or Hindu? Because your society and/or your parents didn’t teach you that. There is no good reason to choose any one religion over another. Abemore introduces an argument against Catholicism that’s actually one I’ve struggled with. Am I Catholic because that’s simply how I’ve been raised? Is my faith no more than an attempt to please my parents? No, is the short answer. The long one follows: 1. No, because of converts. While I am... Read more

That’s the question. I’d like you, be you an ex-Catholic or an atheist, a Protestant or a Buddhist, to answer. Any honest responses will be given equally honest attention, neither “slanging [nor] silence”. For, as the Anglicans become Catholic, as the Eastern Orthodox Church declares greater communion, as members of even the Lutheran Church seek entrance, and as the Church herself grows ever greater throughout the world, the time swiftly approaches when your reason for staying outside of the Universal Church will be... Read more

Haters gonna hate. Alright, today’s the day. For those of you who might actually live in Ireland, let me explain how we Americans celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. We congregate, pull up our family trees, point out the maiden name of our mothers and grandmothers, claim a 1/4 Irish status, even if we know it’s less, and start partying like we actually know anything about your country. We eat corned beef, cabbage and potatoes, and pretend like we’ve been eating them... Read more

I went to confession and Holy Communion last week, and theoretically – in my head and based on what my faith teaches me – I was made new. Theoretically, I was a Saint walking out of that confessional, in the state of grace,  a being born again. I say this was mere theory because – while I believe it to be totally true – there was no feeling of ‘being new’ that accompanied Reconciliation, no sensation of water washing over... Read more

There are times – frustrating times – when our religion is a leap of faith; a walk into the yawning darkness. There are times when our daily prayer crumbles into daily mantra, and we feel guilty of every charge the new atheist brings against us; we are brain-washed, we are ignorant, we were fools ever to believe. There are times of dryness. There are times when God really seems dead. And then there is Every Time Else. And Every Time... Read more

…was taught by Planned Parenthood. Which is funny, because they’re stupid. In walks the lady with her box of condoms, handing out surveys. I forget the exact questions, except that they all had yes or no answers, and – sadly – no answer entitled, “what the hell is wrong with you, that’s the dumbest thing anyone’s ever asked me in my life.” So I was forced to write it in. Wait, one question I do remember: “Do you think birth control... Read more