I reply to reader “Mike the Analyst”, who has been waiting patiently for a reply ever since he wrote me back in the Pleistocene to say: Sorry about the long message. I’m a Catholic revert and a big fan of your blog and was excited to meet you when you visited my church (Holy Trinity, Gainesville, VA). Lots of great stuff on your blog, but I manifestly disagree with you that the GOP is not truly a friend of pro-lifers... Read more

I reply to reader “Mike the Analyst”, who has been waiting patiently for a reply ever since he wrote me back in the Pleistocene to say: Sorry about the long message. I’m a Catholic revert and a big fan of your blog and was excited to meet you when you visited my church (Holy Trinity, Gainesville, VA). Lots of great stuff on your blog, but I manifestly disagree with you that the GOP is not truly a friend of pro-lifers... Read more

A reader writes: From your post ‘Brother Darwin’s Gospel Hour’, I see that you take advantage for a few pokes of fun at your ‘foolish’, ‘crackpot scientist’ Protestant, separated brethren. However, I am curious to know if you think that the science is actually finally settled about this issue and that the Pope is not merely hedging his bets so as to avoid more embarrassing moments as those about Galileo et al. I am also curious of whether or not... Read more

Harbor the Harborless: in which we continue our look at the corporal works of mercy. On the other hand, as you read it, recall this letter from a good friend and fellow Blessed Sacrament parishioner, which considerably de-romanticizes the homeless: Hey Mark and Jan, Sorry to hear that Cow is plague-ridden. I will keep him in my prayers. Do I have a story for you! My wallet was stolen at church yesterday after the noon Mass, so be sure to... Read more

A reader writes: I was wondering if I could share a prayer request with you and your readers. My husband and I are expecting our first baby, a boy named Ewan, in early October. At our first ultrasound scan last week, the doctor saw some things that troubled him, including a possible congenital heart defect with the added possibility of associated chromosomal abnormalities (such as Down’s). Thankfully, the baby in every other respect appears healthy, normal, and VERY active! We’re... Read more

Prayers you guys offered may have helped here. Well done, team! And thanks be to God through Jesus Christ for prayers answered! Read more

…has his very own podcast now and is making his “Against Heresies” available for listening. Good to see those Fathers of the Church moving into the 21st century. Read more

has no problem with chopping up babies and feeding them to the fish. But they are intensely concerned with the right to a good reputation for nuns who recommend abortion. This is what Jesus called “straining at gnats and swallowing camels.” The redoubtable Ed Peters looks at some of the canonical aspects of the case. Meanwhile, Catholic abortion excusers continue to make common cause with Catholic torture excusers by pretending to be baffled about what O what abortion/torture even is!... Read more

If you haven’t read it, Mercator.net has all sorts of interesting stuff. Check thou it out! Read more

for this editorial. GKC would be proud! I especially like this closing passage: G.K. Chesterton wrote in 1916 that people who purport to defend civilization against barbarians undermine their cause when they resort to barbaric tactics. “The more we insist that the terms must be our terms, the more do we weaken ourselves if the methods are their methods.” During World War I, when some in England demanded that German soldiers captured on English soil be denied humane treatment, Chesterton... Read more