Last evening, as news spread of the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, social media predictably lit up with reaction. Admirers hailed her as an icon of the fight for equality and an inspiration to those who must carry on with their duties even as they suffer grave illness. Public officials on both the political left and right stepped up to offer condolences and commentary. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden called Justice Ginsburg, “an American hero, a giant of legal... Read more
Every two years for the last sixteen years the calls, letters, and emails would start pouring into Catholic Answers during the summer before an election from Catholics wanting information about how to balance their moral obligations as a Catholic with their civic duties as a responsible citizen. Although I wasn’t involved in the development, writing, or publication of Catholic Answers’ Voter’s Guide for Serious Catholics, first published in 2004, I suspect that one of the reasons it was created was... Read more
“What’s it like, being a female Catholic apologist in a field dominated by men?” *looks around* Oh, you’re asking me? Cool. I’ve always wanted to tackle that question. Let’s get introductions out of the way first. I worked for 17 years as a staff apologist for Catholic Answers, a Catholic apologetics and media apostolate in El Cajon, California (a suburban community in the Diocese of San Diego). Before that, I worked for Catholic Answers as a customer service representative and... Read more
We are a few days past Christmas Day, and Catholics are still caroling. Or, talking about Christmas songs. In a blog post for Aleteia, Simcha Fisher began a discussion of the secular Christmas tune, “Baby, It’s Cold Outside.” If you’re unfamiliar with this song, which has become controversial in recent years, here is a taste of the lyrics (but do read the whole thing): (I really can’t stay) But, baby, it’s cold outside (I’ve got to go away) But, baby,... Read more
Do you remember when you were a kid, putting together your first “grown-up” puzzle? All those small, interlocking pieces, many of them with similar shape and coloring. It was easy enough to find the pieces that ringed the outside of the puzzle, but those inner pieces were more difficult. Sometimes a piece seemed that it must fit in a certain position, but just wouldn’t lock into place correctly. Unless someone older and more experienced with puzzles was there to stop... Read more
Every year around this time, I brace myself for the onslaught of social media posts and essays on St. Maria Goretti, whose feast day is July 6. Until a few years ago, I never realized how controversial St. Maria was, and how difficult it can be for some Catholics (especially women) to relate to her. But the more I see on the Internet about St. Maria, the more I understand why some Catholics do shy away from her. Which is... Read more
In a courtroom recently, families of victims forgave the unimaginable crimes committed against them and their loved ones, and pleaded with a vicious murderer to repent and find God: “You took something very precious away from me. I will never talk to her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again. But I forgive you. . . . You hurt me. You hurt a lot of people. May God forgive you. And I forgive you.” “I forgive... Read more
Patheos’s Catholic bloggers are currently holding a symposium on Why I Am NOT Leaving the Catholic Church, and I decided to throw my two cents into the discussion. Before I get to explaining whether or not I will remain Catholic, first I’d like to look at a few reasons I find insufficient (in themselves, at least) for staying in the Church. Catholicism is true. Yes, well, so is gravity. And, yet, every year, knowing gravity is true, men insist on... Read more
Have you ever wondered why it can sometimes be so much easier to find common ground in discussion with non-Catholics than it is with fellow Catholics? Some months ago, I encountered a Traditionalist Catholic and a Planned Parenthood activist on the same day, and came away asking myself that very question. The day began when I was catching up on the latest on dits in the Catholic blogosphere. I was surprised to find mention on the Traditionalist Catholic news site,... Read more
Call me cynical, but the moment I saw in my Facebook newsfeed that Cuba’s president, Raúl Castro, was thinking of returning to the Catholic Church, I knew that it would not be a cause for joy for many American Catholics but an opportunity for kveteching. First, let’s take a quick look at the story that’s been making the rounds today: President Raúl Castro said the teachings of Pope Francis had persuaded him not only to take a softer line on religion, but... Read more
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