An inspiring profile of a young deacon (headed toward the priesthood) in Mexico: On the troubled fringes of the northern Mexican city of Monterrey, an aspiring Catholic priest is using his faith to reach out to young gang members and at-risk youth and bring them into his “Gang of Christ.” Less than 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the U.S. border, Monterrey is a wealthy city of corporate trailblazers. But violence is never far away on the outskirts, where bricklayers and... Read more

Sherry Weddell, author of the acclaimed book “Forming Intentional Disciples,” looks at the story of Republican vice presidential candidate Mike Pence—who was raised Catholic and is now a self-described “Catholic evangelical”— as both typical and “a wake-up call”:   In my early days as a Catholic, I remember lively conversations with my first pastor, who just couldn’t take in what I was telling him: that many Catholics were leaving the Church for the evangelical world. He was incredulous. How could they... Read more

Like this: here are the thoughts of the Rev. Bill Peckman, whose Missouri Catholic parish was vandalized and desecrated with human feces last weekend. An excerpt from his blog:  No more that Satan was able to defeat Jesus at Calvary, will he be able to defeat us unless we allow him.  Our God is more powerful than he.  If our parish had been found worthy to suffer violence for the name of Jesus, then so be it.  For we know, the... Read more

A few weeks ago, I blogged on the first poster for Mel Gibson’s new movie, “Hacksaw Ridge.” Now, here’s the trailer, and it’s a stunner. As with the poster, Gibson’s name never appears—though the trailer notes this movie comes from the Academy Award-winning director of “Braveheart.” That says a lot about his standing in Hollywood these days, and obviously suggests those promoting the film fear his name prominently attached to a movie will be be a turnoff. (Also unmentioned in the trailer is... Read more

For all his significant weaknesses and flaws as a candidate, Tim Kaine has this impressive detail on his resume: he spent a year as Jesuit Volunteer in Honduras after college. I envy that choice, and wish I had had the maturity and sense of mission to do something like that when I was in my 20s. But I was selfish and eager to get on with my career. It’s something I’ll always regret. Now, Brendan Busse at The Jesuit Post has offered... Read more

Last weekend, I posted an interview with the head of Democrats for Life in America, which posed the question: “Is there such a thing as a pro-life Democrat?”   Indeed, some of them showed up at the convention in Philadelphia, and Roll Call‘s Melinda Henneberger has this report: The pro-life Democrats trying in vain to point out the self-defeating down-ballot and state-level results of their party’s increasing hostility toward them were not quite as NARAL Pro-Choice America president Ilyse Hogue described... Read more

Readers may remember that I’m a supporter and friend of the Saint Pio Foundation. You may also remember an interview I did last winter with famed sculptor Timothy Schmalz, creator of the “Homeless Jesus” statue that has become ubiquitous.    Now those two worlds have come together. A press release from the foundation today notes: We are happy to announce our partnership with Tim Schmalz, an artist and sculptor devoted to creating art that glorifies Christ. For over 20 years, Tim... Read more

Last week, I posted on the prayer offered by a Brooklyn priest at the GOP convention. This week, a Jesuit from Philadelphia: Jesuit Fr. William Bryon gave an invocation and led more than 20,000 people in prayer Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Center in South Philadelphia on the convention’s penultimate night. He preceded two of the party’s biggest names — President Barack Obama and Vice President Joseph Biden — who delivered their speeches to roaring acclaim. In the invocation, Byron... Read more