Larger than China’s. Larger than Stalin’s. Here. In the Land of the Free. You can help fix it: I was sentenced 78 months to serve at a federal prison for a white-collar crime. I left home a healthy single mother of two sons, not ever experiencing any serious illnesses. I was a registered nurse who had achieved 3 secondary degrees. I was homeowner and a successful business entrepreneur. I was also six weeks pregnant. Anytime I was transported, I was... Read more
All the this: “‘In the first place, we must correctly realize why abortion in this country (let alone in Europe) came into being. It did not come in with the legalization of contraception 6 years earlier, nor did it come in because of Margaret Sanger, who was a socialist and a Nazi supporter. It did not even come from Eugenics. These are all secondary causes; they are all involved, however, they flow from a primary cause. ‘Abortion came from Capitalism’s... Read more
On this day, thirty years ago, Sherry Weddell and Yr. Obdt. Svt. were received into the Catholic Church at Sacred Heart parish in Seattle, in the very shadow of the Space Needle. I will remember it as long as I live: my first confession (a *powerful* experience of grace and healing), my conditional baptism (it’s complicated), and the experience of saying the Creed with the whole congregation at our back. Plus, were Confirmed. In fact, I received five of the... Read more
…I’ve been thinking about his mission. The prophet Malachi says of him: “Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the great and awesome day of the LORD comes. And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a curse.” (Mal 4:5–6). And his father Zechariah prophesies of the Messiah John announces that, among other things, his mission is “to perform the... Read more
For those old enough to remember the olden days of Catholic listservs, I bear the sad news that Martin Fontenot, who went by the handle “Friar Gordo”, died on Sunday. No details on his death, but please do pray for this good Catholic man. In his memory, I post a selection from his wonderful piece for Catholic Answers magazine called “Anastasia in Ecclesialand”, describing the encounter with many figures, including an owl who sounds remarkably like James White: Just then an owl... Read more
Injustice and the Me-Too Moment: The New Testament gives us two perfect prayers which the Church has taken up and prays every day: one from our Lord, the Lord’s Prayer or Our Father, and one from our Lady, the Magnificat, heard today in the responsorial psalm. “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord…” The Magnificat is a song of joy, appropriate to Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of joy, but it’s also a song of tenderness and fierceness. Tenderness for... Read more
It started this way: “Yikes! Is this true?” The email landed in my mailbox with resounding virtual thud, asking for help for a confused Catholic baffled by one of those Mysteries of the Bible shows on cable TV. I have a private theory that the people who write the Mysteries of the Bible programs used to write for Scooby Doo, Where are You! and just brought a winning formula to their new gig (“Why that was no supernatural occurrence! It was just old Mr Higgins in... Read more
This just came in over the transom: Dear Friend of the C.S. Lewis Foundation, We are writing today to make you aware of a project we are supporting from our long-time friends and conference alumni Ralph Linhardt and Joseph Loconte. A new documentary film series, “A Hobbit a Wardrobe and a Great War,” about the transformative friendship between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien forged amid the trauma of war, is in production! We are delighted to present to you the... Read more
Fun stuff! Read more
A reader writes: Good day to you! I’ve posted this on FB, but I would like to ask for as many prayers as I can. My mother slipped on the stairs and hit her head. After a trip to the E.R. she’s back here at home. Please pray that she may recover swiftly and easily, and please pray for my father and I as we look after her. Please pray for the health and well-being of my parents, and that... Read more
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