It’s new-catechist season, and if you know such a person, I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you about the book you want. It’s Classroom Management for Catechists, by me. It’s cheap, short, readable, and gives you a 101 on how to avoid all the stupid things I did as a new religious ed teacher, and instead go directly to putting together a decent class even if you aren’t a genius with magical superpowers. There’s a Spanish version, too. If you... Read more
If there were a morally acceptable candidate offered by either major party, of course you could vote for that person in clear conscience. There isn’t, and therefore many people are settling for choosing the least-bad candidate. Don’t do this. Vote third party. Why? Voting third party is the most effective way for you to bring about a change of regime. It’s more effective than a write-in campaign (barring a massive, united, nationwide campaign, which I don’t see happening). It’s certainly... Read more
Rev. Cindy Maddox (United Church of Christ) wrote a moving piece about grief and funeral processions. That post reminded me of something I’ve been meaning to write for a while: Down here in the land of the backwards and ignorant, over and again I have seen people pull over in respect for the funeral procession when they did not have to do so. You’ll be in a procession that’s going down a four-lane divided highway* and you see on the... Read more
There’s been pearl-clutching in odd quarters ever since Pastor Mark Burns, a South Carolinian, delivered his benediction on the Republican party. I am not a Republican and I won’t be voting for Trump, and I don’t think you should either. I am dismayed by the weaselly justifications some of my fellow Christians are spouting these days in their support for the GOP candidate. Still, it amuses me that the professionally-impious are suddenly offended on our Lord’s behalf for what is, as... Read more
It is no surprise, given the violence and destruction the enemy is wreaking in the physical world, that the Church would likewise be under vicious attack. I’d like to address some questions readers have about professional Catholic blogging, and before I begin, here’s a passage of Scripture I think sets the right framework for us: 3 Whoever teaches something different and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the religious teaching 4 is conceited,... Read more
Over at the Catholic Conspiracy, Tom Zampino lays out the case for just warfare and writes: Any remaining illusions that we, ourselves, are safe anywhere – that we can, somehow, escape the carnage unscathed – have, of course, long since been shattered. Each new attack only serves to drive us further into despair, and deeper into isolation. . . . . . . we can and should urge those who legitimately hold authority over us to use all arms necessary to quickly defeat this... Read more
My Anglican friend Timothy Scott Reeves, who sometimes guest posts here, offered me a reprint well worth your time. Read through to the end. Outwitted and Ignorant: The Problem of “Black Lives Matter” Posted on July 11, 2016 by Scott Some days I think Paul was a bit too optimistic. For example, in II Corinthians he wrote: So I beg you to reaffirm your love…so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his... Read more
So let me tell you a funny story about why you should consider going to this year’s Catholic Writers Conference Live. Fellow Catholic Patheosi Kate O’Hare shared a link to an article about clickbait-mills over at Slate, “Dear Journalists: For the Love of God, Please Stop Calling Your Writing Content.” The gist of the article is this: The label “content” is used as a catch-all for the loads of shoddy garbage that the internet spews out daily in the never-ending quest... Read more
When future generations reflect on the fall of the American republic, they’ll no doubt get a chuckle over our obsession with having every aspect of our lives carefully legislated, to the point that our proto-emperors have now taken it upon themselves to dictate where and how their millions of citizens might relieve themselves. Keep in mind we already have laws concerning toilet problems. Whether you are worried about hygiene, or sound plumbing, or commodes-per-occupant, or sewage treatment, or voyeurism, or... Read more
This week over at the Catholic Conspiracy, we watch me lose my temper at the people who tell me I need to calm down and get along about that porn basket. But they’re taped shut. That doesn’t change the fact that you’re selling pornography at your store. You’re telling the world that it’s fine to buy and sell this stuff. You’re making the decision to attract buyers of pornography to your business. But that guy who runs the stall is... Read more
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