Great advice: In his speech accepting the Heisman Trophy on Saturday night, Alabama running back Derrick Henry said that he gets on his knees every night and prays and advised kids to keep God first, always pray, and know that God will hear their cry. “I just want to talk to the kids that are looking and watching this TV today,” Henry said. “I just want to give you all advice. I am hoping I am someone you can idolize... Read more
From Vatican Radio: The Vatican’s Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life on Monday released a new document focused on the role and vocation of religious brothers in the life of the Church. The document, entitled ‘Identity and Mission of the Religious Brother in the Church’, was presented at a press conference by the head of the Congregation, Cardinal João Braz de Aviz, and its secretary, Archbishop José Rodríguez Carballo. Lay religious men, or brothers as they’re... Read more
The leader of the band that was performing the night of the Paris terror attacks has a surprising backstory: The Eagles of Death Metal frontman, Jesse “The Devil” Hughes has been referred to as a “fascinating walking contradiction” among other things. A film documentary about Hughes’ life called, The Redemption of The Devil is being presented by VICE. The film is a very intimate portrayal of the year that Hughes and Josh Hommes complete the new album of Hughes’ band,... Read more
Wha—? Santa Claus is banned. The Pledge of Allegiance is no longer recited. “Harvest festival” has replaced Thanksgiving, and “winter celebrations” substitute for Christmas parties. New principal Eujin Jaela Kim has given PS 169 in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, a politically correct scrub-down, to the dismay of teachers and parents. “We definitely can’t say Christmas, nothing with Christmas on it, nothing with Santa,” PTA president Mimi Ferrer said administrators told her. “No angels. We can’t even have a star because it... Read more
From The Charlotte Observer: St. Matthew Catholic Church, one of the largest Catholic churches in America, sent an urgent message to its parishioners Friday that the church is adding multiple safety measures to its campus. The safety measures will include uniformed and plain-clothes police officers at all weekend Masses along with hired security guards, Monsignor John J. McSweeney told parishioners in a memo emailed Friday. The Charlotte church is also banning a list of 15 items in all worship halls.... Read more
Detroit has a large Muslim immigrant population, so it is significant that the Archbishop of Detroit, Allen H. Vigneron, issued the following statement two days ago: In light of a public proposal put forth recently to restrict the immigration of Muslims into the United States based on their religion, I thought it would be helpful to remind everyone of the Catholic teaching regarding Islam. Fifty years ago, the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council taught that the Catholic Church treats... Read more
From America: According to Chicago’s Catholic Extension society, Pope Francis plans to celebrate an afternoon Mass near the U.S.-Mexico border during his visit to Ciudad Juárez in Mexico on Feb. 17. The 4 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at the Benito Juárez Stadium “right next to the border.” The Mass will be the culmination of the pope’s visit to Mexico. Also today the Diocese of El Paso, Texas announced that the Mass will include a cross-border component, adding that those... Read more
Uncommon sense, and holy wisdom, from Omar Rikabi: I have a Muslim problem. I am a Christian pastor in North Texas. I am also the proud son of a Muslim immigrant from the Middle East, and I have a very wonderful—and large—Muslim family. This is a problem, because when I hear about San Bernardino, or Paris, or any other terror event, my first prayer is to hold my breath and hope the killers do not have names like mine. This... Read more
In the pages of The New Republic, Elizabeth Bruenig looks at how the phenomenon of Francis has impacted media, and what that could mean for the Church: In America, the role of religion in politics is always grounds for op-eds and letters-to-editors, if not reams of articles and stacks upon stacks of books. This has especially been the case over the last several decades, thanks to the ascendancy of the Religious Right in the late 1970s and early 1980s. But... Read more
“What should we do?” That is the question of the day, isn’t it? In this gospel, we hear that question three times, from three different groups. John the Baptist, you’ll remember, has been calling people to repent and prepare the way of the Lord. And the people respond by asking again and again: “What should we do?” It was a burning question 2,000 years ago. It’s a burning question this morning. And to those of us seeking an answer, the... Read more
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