The lives of chaplains have become increasingly complicated, as, especially in the military, they’re often asked to minister without making inconvenient references to God. No doubt, we’ll come to regret not allowing people hired to give spiritual guidance to actually do that, but at least for now, being a chaplain still means something — and it certainly did in the past. In my email box today is news of an upcoming special that honors those who serve the cause of... Read more
Over at CatholicVote, I look at the way that Pope Francis’ visit to the U.S. has dominated the news coverage the last few days. There’s so much love for, and interest in, him — and yet most of TV and movies is indifferent or hostile to Catholicism. As the Apostles would tell us, this is not so much a problem as an opportunity. Here’s a taste: I’m not asking you to go out there and exclusively produce religious art. These... Read more
In a world full of appointed ambassadors and official representatives, sometimes the most interesting international interactions happen in the least likely way — and feature the least likely folks. Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch — a k a “Beast Mode” — is one of most intimidating players in the NFL. He’s not the largest, but he may be one of the fiercest and most determined. Rather than me describing Lynch in action, just take a look: Born in 1986... Read more
Reports are coming out of Mexico that the father and brother of Alejandro Monteverde — the co-writer and director of the 2015 faith-based film “Little Boy” — were murdered in Mexico. Per the Latin Times: Juan Manuel Gómez Fernández and Juan Manuel Gómez Monteverde were kidnapped when they left their home in Tampico, Tamaulipas 16 days ago, their bodies were found in Pueblo Viejo, Veracruz on September 19, officials informed. The victims were reported missing to the authorities on September 4, 2015. A communicate issued... Read more
In my latest piece for The Tidings, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, I profile former Minnesota Vikings and Baltimore Ravens player Matt Birk, a Harvard economics grad, husband, father and Catholic revert. He was also recently named the head of football development for the NFL, based in New York. What he has to say about the Faith — and football — is impressive and inspiring. Here’s a taste: “The NFL team,” he said, “it’s probably the most... Read more
If anyone worried that the issue of Planned Parenthood and the sale of aborted-baby body parts would fade away from the news, those who tuned into the two GOP presidential debates on Wednesday, Sept. 16, got an earful. Standing in front of a retired Air Force One at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California, several of the candidates addressed the string of undercover videos dealing with the organization’s trade in the body parts of aborted infants for... Read more
The Queen of Soul is going to sing for the Vicar of Christ. Today (Sept. 14), ESM Productions announced that legendary singer Aretha Franklin will perform for Pope Francis at the Festival of Families on Sept. 26, one step in the pontiff’s Apostolic Visit to the United States. Catholic actor Mark Wahlberg is host of the event, along with Catholic comic Jim Gaffigan, star of Comedy Central’s “The Jim Gaffigan Show,” and Grammy-nominated rock band The Fray, which has also... Read more
Over at CatholicVote, I offer some thoughts on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and on the new feature-length documentary about him, available in theaters and elsewhere. Here’s a taste: The fact that Jobs tried to deny his eldest child and was cruelly indifferent to her mother (despite having himself been conceived out of wedlock and then adopted); that he could be tyrannical, demanding and autocratic at work; that he was averse to sharing (credit, profits, etc.) and positively allergic to paying American taxes;... Read more
In the latest issue of The Tidings, the newspaper of the Los Angeles Archdiocese, I offer a followup to my previous interviews with Bishop Robert Barron — click here and here for those — with a more in-depth profile, which goes into his vocation and vision for the Church. Here’s a taste: As for his own vocation, Bishop Barron, 55, said he was drawn into the Church as a teenager because of St. Thomas Aquinas’ arguments for the existence of... Read more
EWTN is going to get some serious competition in the papal-news business when Pope Francis comes to our shores (or thereabouts) starting on Sept. 20. In an unprecedented move, Time Warner Cable is creating an entire channel to broadcast the whole shebang. Here’s today’s release: TIME WARNER CABLE TO LAUNCH SPECIAL PAPAL VISIT CHANNEL FEATURING COMPLETE COVERAGE OF POPE FRANCIS’S HISTORIC VISIT TO CUBA AND THE UNITED STATES IN SEPTEMBER *** Papal Coverage to Commence on September 20th on Channel 199; Live Sunday Mass from Revolution... Read more
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