It doesn’t take any great powers of observation to notice that there are many more women than men in church on any given Sunday. Why is that? If we want more Catholic men at Mass, what can we do? How important is it for men to attend church? There are a number of possible answers to the “Why” question. Machoism plays a role—church is only for boys and old men; grown men are too self-reliant for church. Also, today’s secular... Read more
Why do people join a Bible study? Obviously, to learn more about the teachings of the Bible! Why do theologians continuously study the Bible? Same answer: to learn more about the teachings of the Bible! Gee, after nearly 2000 years of New Testament study, and several hundred years of Old Testament study before that (which continues today), haven’t we just about exhausted all there is to learn? In a word: No! That’s not only because we can never fully understand... Read more
Legislatures around the world are increasingly passing bills that allow for euthanasia and assisted suicide. This is a trend that Catholics must resist, and we can do so by educating ourselves and others about palliative care. Allow me to recommend an excellent book on this subject: That Good Night: Life and Medicine in the Eleventh Hour, written by Dr. Sunita Puri (2019). This book is not technical or academic. It is biographical, easy-to-read and a fascinating meditation on Dr. Puri’s... Read more
There are some people who think Catholics are not Christians. I don’t know how they come to that conclusion, but an equally outrageous notion is that Catholics don’t read the Bible. When we lived in Bible-belt country, on occasion I would hear Christian people emphasize that they went to a Bible-based church. I thought, “What other kind of base could there be?” I suppose they could have been comparing their churches to those offbeat religions that blend Western and Eastern... Read more
We all have moments of doubt, maybe even long periods of doubt about the existence of God and the truth of Christianity. What keeps me believing, though, are the miracles. If there are miracles, there has to be a God. Sometimes Christianity and the existence of God seems so silly. Some unseen, almighty being created and controls everything? What a laugh! That’s okay for ignorant primitives trying to explain natural phenomena, but not educated people. Let’s get real about that... Read more
There is a serious need to teach pro-life feminism. As we approach potentially profound changes in abortion laws and the inevitable cultural upheaval, we need to correct the misconceptions about what helps women achieve equality. One way to answer this need is to develop a college-level course (or courses) in pro-life feminism. Perhaps if we create courses in pro-life feminist history, women’s bodies, political activism, and related studies, there could be a minor in pro-life feminism. A college course would... Read more
Having just celebrated Catholic Schools Week, I want to pay tribute to Catholic education and emphasize how critical it is not only to the future of our children, but to the future of our culture. There is an excellent article on this subject, “Why Catholic Schools Matter,” by Jack Butler that appeared in the National Review on February 3, 2022. https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/why-catholic-schools-matter/ Butler comments that there is “always something a bit countercultural about attending Catholic school. To attend Catholic school is... Read more
Do you sing at Mass? You should! The music is not just background accompaniment to the experience of Mass. Rather, Catholic hymns are an integral enhancement of the liturgical message. The music carries a meaningful link to the message of the readings. These follow a different theme at each celebration. For example, on the Feast of the Epiphany, the first reading comes from Isaiah (60:1-6)—he predicts the coming of the nations to the light of Christ “bringing gold and incense.”... Read more
Kneeling during a Catholic Mass has always seemed to me to be an important act of worship. I always wondered why Protestants didn’t kneel, and after researching the question, I am more convinced that kneeling is a needed act of humility. History of Kneeling in Church There is actually a lot of history, and perhaps myth, behind the practice of kneeling. For starters, there are 23 references to kneeling in the Bible. The instances all deal with respect, worship, supplication... Read more
When over a fourth of children in the United States are growing up in fatherless homes, there is a need for St. Joseph as a model for men as men and fathers. This fatherlessness is a serious crisis because, according to the National Center for Fathering (using data from reliable government and education sources): 63% of youth suicides are from fatherless homes. So are 90% of all homeless and runaway children, 85% of all children who show behavior disorders, 80%... Read more
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