Since Dorothy Day & Thomas Merton are Hot Topics Due to Pope Francis…

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 10:42 am By Tony Rossi

Since Pope Francis referenced Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton in his address before Congress, there might be people looking for more information on these two important figures in modern Catholic history. Well, there’s a perfect source to find out about them along with two other great authors – Flannery O’Connor and Walker Percy. Check out the Christopher Award-winning book “The Life You save May Be Your Own: An American Pilgrimage” by Paul Elie. Here’s the book description: The story of... Read more

Fox News Anchor Shepard Smith Criticizes Those Who Politicize Everything Pope Francis Says

Last updated on: September 23, 2015 at 9:05 pm By Tony Rossi

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith today criticized those who are denouncing Pope Francis for being too political – or at least for siding with left wing politics. Smith makes the point that the leader of the world’s Catholics, who is walking in the footsteps of Jesus and the apostles, is citing “universal truths,” not being political. To be clear, Shepard Smith is defending the Pope. He makes some important points in the video clip below. Read more

Bill Murray and Others Offer Jokes for the Pope – and a Good Cause

Last updated on: September 23, 2015 at 1:43 pm By Tony Rossi

Today, I discovered a website called JokeWithThePope.org, which is sponsored by the Pontifical Mission Societies, “the Catholic Church’s official support organization for overseas missions since 1822, providing for a global network of people who are making a difference for communities in need around the globe. These change-makers offer help to the most vulnerable communities of our world. They provide essential education and health care, social outreach and advocacy, and pastoral service. They offer spiritual comfort. They make the difference for... Read more

If You Replace Devils with Devils, You Get Hell on Earth

Last updated on: September 21, 2015 at 10:10 am By Tony Rossi

(Photo property of Kirsten Luce for The New York Times) I generally use this space to share stories of people who light a candle rather than curse the darkness, but today I’m highlighting a level of darkness that’s screaming for some light. This horrific story was revealed in a New York Times article by Joseph Goldstein, with the headline: U.S. Soldiers Told to Ignore Sexual Abuse of Boys by Afghan Allies. Here is the article’s opening: KABUL, Afghanistan — In... Read more

“Captive” is a Compelling Hostage Drama with a Touch of Grace

Last updated on: September 18, 2015 at 7:56 am By Tony Rossi

“That’s a bunch of church crap,” says escaped murderer Brian Nichols (David Oyelowo) to widowed mother Ashley Smith (Kate Mara) during a scene in the new movie “Captive.” While Nichols is holding her hostage, Smith tries to make conversation with him to avoid getting killed, so she brings up the topics of faith and God. Nichols, however, doesn’t want to hear it because he notes his father went to church every Sunday, but was a mean drunk the rest of... Read more

Jim Gaffigan: I Love Talking About Religion & Making It Appeal to Others

Last updated on: September 17, 2015 at 9:33 am By Tony Rossi

The recently opened Sheen Center for Thought and Culture in downtown Manhattan hosted a panel discussion and screening of Jim and Jeannie Gaffigan’s TV Land comedy series “The Jim Gaffigan Show” this past Tuesday night. Though I wasn’t there, The Christophers’ Father Jonathan Morris served as the moderator and discussed the topic of religion with the couple who incorporate their own Catholicism into the show. Notably, they draw laughs from the Church without mocking it or denigrating it. That approach... Read more

Michael Keaton on His Role as Reporter Who Exposed Church’s Sex Abuse Scandal

Last updated on: September 16, 2015 at 10:00 am By Tony Rossi

During his 2015 Golden Globe acceptance speech for Best Actor, “Birdman” star Michael Keaton referenced his family’s Catholic roots, saying, “My name’s Michael John Douglas, I’m from Forest Grove, Pennsylvania. I’m the son—seventh child—of George and Leona Douglas. And I don’t ever remember a time when my father didn’t work two jobs. When my mother wasn’t saying the rosary or going to Mass or trying to take care of seven kids in a rundown farmhouse, she was volunteering at the... Read more

Miss America Pageant Should Ditch Divisive Political Questions & Use Nurse’s Monologue as Model

Last updated on: September 15, 2015 at 3:20 pm By Tony Rossi

(Photo property ABC/The Miss America Organization) The old joke used to be that Miss America contestants would answer, “World peace,” when asked what they would want to accomplish during their reign if they won the contest. I have no idea if any of them ever actually gave that answer, but that was the joke. In my opinion, the “world peace” response would have been a step up from the questions the finalists had to answer at this past Sunday’s pageant,... Read more

Actor David Oyelowo Talks His New Film “Captive” & the Perpetually Redemptive Grace of God

Last updated on: September 15, 2015 at 8:58 am By Tony Rossi

Actor David Oyelowo made a big impression on American moviegoers as the star of the Christopher Award-winning film “Selma,” in which he portrayed Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. But David has been a successful actor both in England and the United States for some time. He’s had roles in movies like “The Help” and “Lincoln” – and he’s even part of the Star Wars universe doing the voice role of Imperial Agent Kallus on the animated series “Rebels.” David has... Read more

God Loved Me in My Brokenness, Says Fmr. Meth Addict, Hostage Hero & Subject of Film “Captive”

Last updated on: September 15, 2015 at 9:19 am By Tony Rossi

“I’m gonna die, and this is what I deserve.” That was the first thought that went through Ashley Smith Robinson’s mind when escaped murderer Brian Nichols took her hostage outside her Atlanta home in 2005. Ashley was a meth addict who frequently promised herself that she would quit drugs so she could be a better mother to her young daughter, Paige. She would beg God to change her life – but when He did, she would do drugs again. Now,... Read more