Dialogue With Protestant In Response To My Article “Call No Man Father”

Last updated on: December 18, 2019 at 2:52 pm By René Albert

As a Catholic blogger, I’ve immersed myself into joining several social media blogging groups in order to help my articles gain more traffic. Most of the groups I am involved with are generally non-denominational Christian bloggers groups. While my articles are mostly well-received in Catholic circles, general Christian sites tend to be a mixed bag. Most Christian bloggers I’ve come across (Catholic and Protestant) are quite pleasant to engage with. But when it comes to discussing topics and worldviews we... Read more

The Priesthood & “Call No Man Father”

Last updated on: December 17, 2019 at 3:06 pm By René Albert

As an adolescent, I was terrified of one of the priests at my home parish. He was a tall Polish man in his 50’s with a deep voice that was easily perceived as eternally condemning, especially during his homilies. Because of how intimidating he was, I refused every opportunity to serve as an altar boy since I was so afraid to screw up in his presence during Mass. By the time I was in high school, I befriended many Evangelical... Read more

Corey Taylor’s Message To Kanye West Still Relevant

Last updated on: November 18, 2019 at 5:38 pm By René Albert

***CONTENT WARNING: COARSE LANGUAGE*** In a previous article, I wanted to emphasize how new Christian converts (especially celebrity ones like Kanye West) ought to expect hostility and pushback from the secular world. I’m going to digress and say that not all opposition and criticism should be taken as ‘from the devil.’ As it turns out, Kanye’s recent performance at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church has been raising eyebrows for two reasons. The first being that Osteen is widely known for promoting... Read more

Is War Justifiable?

Last updated on: November 15, 2019 at 10:39 am By René Albert

In the wake of All Hallows’ Eve, November is a somber month. Especially considering All Souls Day is two days afterwards — a day when Catholic Christians around the world commemorate and pray for those who have died and anticipate their entry into Paradise. In the wake of All Souls day, Canadians commemorate the lives lost during the First and Second World War on Remembrance Day, which also coincides with Veterans Day in the United States. It’s always interesting to... Read more

Four Types Of Catholics You Will Find In North America

Last updated on: November 12, 2019 at 1:08 pm By René Albert

In almost every culture, there are usually sub-cultures that reside in them. In my observation as a reverted Catholic, I’ve noticed four types of people that seem to be unique to Catholicism in North America. I think it’s important to bear in mind that people who might fall into these categories have fluidity and can wander between the quadrants unknowingly. This list is intended more for self-reflection as opposed to a means of labeling other Catholics as for which category they... Read more

Why I Pray For The Dead

Last updated on: November 5, 2019 at 1:12 pm By René Albert

Anytime we lose someone dear to us, it feels like someone plunged their hand into your chest, ripped a piece of your heart out and ran off with it. Even as time goes by, the void where the fragment of your heart was removed never heals back to its original state. In spite of our loved ones leaving this world for the life hereafter, we never cease to love them. This may be why many cultures emphasize keeping the memory... Read more

A Cautionary Tale For Kanye West

Last updated on: October 29, 2019 at 9:10 pm By René Albert

Kanye West, one of the most well-known rap artists in the 21st century has been stirring some buzz with his newfound passion for God, paired with the release of his new album ‘Jesus Is King.’ While I may not be a fan of Kanye West or his music, I can honestly say that his zeal for Christ is a welcoming one, especially in light of the underlying anti-Christian remorse that lingers throughout the entertainment industry. However, this doesn’t come without... Read more

Why Bother Going To Confession?

Last updated on: October 21, 2019 at 4:52 pm By René Albert

“He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.” — Proverbs 28:13 RSV In October of 2015, I confessed to a Catholic priest for the first time since I was 11 years old. After spending nearly 12 years as an Evangelical Protestant, coming back into Catholicism in my 30’s was a new-old experience. There was a time when I had wrongfully convinced myself there was nothing I could willfully do to separate myself from... Read more

The Surprising Origins of Symbols and Gestures in the Music Scene

Last updated on: October 17, 2019 at 3:53 pm By René Albert

Symbols and gestures have carried significant importance among every culture, religion and group throughout history. These can often be displayed and communicated through the use of the hands. Sometimes a simple wave of the hand can be a greeting or a farewell, or it could be used as a means of acquiring someone’s attention. People who travel and enjoy taking pictures of themselves on their endeavors sometimes use a two-fingered peace sign. What very few people realize is when the... Read more

Paganism, Catholicism and the Amazonian Synod

Last updated on: October 16, 2019 at 4:23 pm By René Albert

As someone who has spent a significant amount of time in the Evangelical community, it isn’t uncommon to hear flippant comments about Catholicism. Often the main points of contention between Protestants and Catholics are the role of Mary, the meaning of the Eucharist, the means of justification through faith and/versus works and interpretation of Scripture to name a handful. Though an argument that is often brought up by Evangelicals is the notion that the Catholic Church is inherently pagan. The... Read more