I had a conversation with a reporter yesterday from a prominent newspaper about the ongoing Synod on the Family. We had a great discussion and I appreciated her time. In particular, we talked a lot about people who felt alienated from the Church (and those who are divorced and remarried in particular). The conversation left me in a thoughtful mood. In particular, I was left reflecting on the question, “Why, exactly, do so many people feel excluded by the Church–especially... Read more
The key to dealing with future in-laws who disapprove of your relationship may involve showing them what a good influence you are on their child. In the Springer journal Human Nature, Menelaos Apostolou shares the results of interviews with Greek- Cypriot children and parents and also finds that mothers may be more easily won over than fathers. Children frequently choose mates who do not appeal to their parents. For instance, they may choose individuals who are physically attractive, even though parents... Read more
Are your attempts to seek help actually making things worse? Earlier today, Simcha Fisher featured a guest post titled Married to An Angry Man written by Monica More (a pseudonym). It’s a story about a woman who is struggling in her marriage and who feels that all of her efforts to seek help have failed. My heart broke when I read it because it is a story I encounter so often. I am grateful to Monica for sharing her story because... Read more
Yesterday on More2Life Radio, Bill Donaghy of the Theology of the Body Institute spoke of what he called, “Digital Contraception”; times when we let screens (phones, tablets, laptops, etc) come between us and opportunities for communion with others. I didn’t discover this in time for yesterday’s show, but psychology actually has a name for this phenomenon, “Partner Phone Snubbing” or “Pphubbing.” A new study by Baylor University examines the frequency and impact of Pphubbing on intimate relationships…. A provocative new study... Read more
Greg Camacho at the Pilgrim Center of Hope has a lovely review of one of my newest books, Broken Gods: Hope, Healing and the Seven Longings of the Human Heart. In this great new book, Dr. Popcak contends that “when God looks at you, He sees a god” (with a small g). It might seem crazy or even blasphemous, but that’s only because we’re used to seeing ourselves as broken, struggling, failing and frustrated. Subtitled Hope, Healing, and the Seven Longings... Read more
Moms and dads, I want to let you in on a secret. You don’t need permission from your children’s coaches, teachers, youth ministers, scout leaders, etc, etc, etc, to have a family life. All those people have to ask YOU permission to borrow your kids. NOT the other way around. At my wife and my recent presentation at the World Meeting of Families, the above statement earned an unexpected ovation. In our talk, we asserted the completely counter-cultural and Catholic... Read more
The following is an article I penned for the October issue of Inside the Vatican The upcoming 2015 Synod on the Family gives us an opportunity to ask “What does the Church need to do to support families in this post-modern age?” During last year’s Extraordinary Synod, there was much public discussion about how the Church might respond to the needs of “irregular families”; that is, families impacted by divorce, cohabitation, etc . While this conversations is absolutely necessary, it... Read more
A lot of people are putting out a lot of spin trying to explain away, contextualize, minimize and otherwise dismiss Pope Francis’ meeting with Kim Davis. And guess what? It is all irrelevant. In fact, it’s downright shameful. It really doesn’t matter how the meeting came about or what was said between them. It also doesn’t matter that her life is a hot mess, or that she has done plenty of damage in her own life against the sanctity of... Read more
FREE PARENTING MAGAZINE for Catholic parents! Tender Tidings Fall 2015 now available! In this issue: *Family-centered fitness: body and soul *Dr. Greg explains how to answer your kids’ questions about gay “marriage” *Benedictine wisdom for your family *healthy, homemade snacks for busy kids Read more
A press release from my alma mater… Franciscan University Students to See Pope in Philadelphia Franciscan Alumni and Faculty Also Involved in Papal Visit STEUBENVILLE, OH— More than 220 Franciscan University of Steubenville students along with three Franciscan TOR priests and several Franciscan TOR sisters will travel to Philadelphia for the September 27 open-air Mass celebrated by Pope Francis. The four busloads of students will leave at midnight on Saturday, September 26, and arrive near dawn to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the site for Pope Francis’ final public event... Read more
Faith on the Couch
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