In these turbulent but expectant times, it is a blessing to know that “joy comes in the morning.” God is with us! Here, the sun rises over the bay in Kodiak: May we be mindful of the needs of others. And, truly, I can think a few institutions more worthy of our support than St Herman Seminary, Kodiak, Alaska. Case in point, see these domes over the seminary chapel? They are no longer. Look closely and you’ll notice the rear... Read more

This document is causing quite a stir. I visited a sick man last week … “Hey, Father, what do you think of this ‘Gospel of Judas?” I helped teach a 7th & 8th grade Church School class this morning … “Hey, Father, what do you think of this ‘Gospel of Judas?” You know, it’s just the World, I tell you. Just the World. Dan Brown has proven that there’s lots of money to be made dissing Christianity these days. It’s... Read more

By now I’m sure you’ve all heard the hoopla about the “missing link” recently discovered in Canada. Even though this find does not challenge intelligent design, there may be good reasons to be skeptical about it. Really? Read on … These fish are not necessarily intermediates, explain Discovery Institute scientists I queried about the find. Tiktaalik roseae is one of a set of lobe-finned fishes that include very curious mosaics–these fishes have advanced fully formed characteristics of several different groups.... Read more

A move by Southern Baptists to bar enlistment of missionaries who profess to speak in tongues as they pray is stirring some controversy within the nation’s largest Protestant denomination.by Anita Wadhwani (The Tennessean) Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention’s international missionary branch say their vote in November to ban the private practice of speaking in tongues – which they call “private prayer language” – is in line with Baptist traditions and the beliefs of most Baptists. Southern Baptist ministers opposed... Read more

Here follows a few excerpts from a worthy piece written by Fr Aris Metrakos of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Columbia, SC.HT: OrthodoxyToday & thanks to FWD from a blog reader. The Next Triumph of Orthodoxy Another Sunday of Orthodoxy has come and gone. Anyone who bothered to attend a Pan-Orthodox vesperal celebration of the final victory over iconoclasm and the accomplishments of the seven Ecumenical Councils — and by all accounts, most American Orthodox stayed home — was... Read more

From ZENIT News Services ROME, APRIL 5, 2006 – The National Geographic Society has announced its intentions to publish an English translation of an ancient text called “The Gospel of Judas” later this month. Q: What is the “Gospel of Judas”? Father Williams: Though the manuscript still must be authenticated, it likely represents a fourth- or fifth-century text, and is a copy of an earlier document produced by a Gnostic sect called the Cainites. The document paints Judas Iscariot in... Read more

From Scripps Howard News Service Most Americans don’t believe they will experience a resurrection of their bodies when they die, putting them at odds with a core teaching of Christianity. The findings of a new Scripps Howard/Ohio University poll surprised and dismayed some of the nation’s top theologians since it seems to put Americans in conflict with both the Nicene Creed and the Apostles’ Creed, ancient statements of faith meant to unify Christian belief. The Nicene Creed, adopted in 325... Read more

Brit Preemies get no respect. Then again, when does “ensoulment” happen? Would someone please step up to the Republican plate … other than Giuliani and McCain? Bill Cosby on old New Orleans … “It’s painful, but we can’t cleanse ourselves unless we look at the wound,” Cosby told the rally of about 2,000 people in front of the city’s convention center. “Ladies and gentlemen, you had the highest murder rate, unto each other. You were dealing drugs to each other.... Read more

Audrey IgnatoffI have written about the devil before, but always in a metaphorical way. However, I now feel that an evil force has come too close to home. Even this embattled “health care warrior” was shocked to the core to learn that school children in my district were being taken on a trip to see an exhibit called “Body Worlds” at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. This goes against all religious and ethical beliefs in the civilized world, and has... Read more

On Wednesday of this week, at two minutes and three seconds after 1:00 in the morning, the time and date will be 01:02:03 04/05/06. This won’t happen again for a thousand more years, until 3006, by which time I hope to be retired. Thanks to FWD from an old friend, Jim. Read more