Pia de Solenni
Over the past few weeks, as I’ve been listening to all the coverage of Congressman Weiner’s transgressions, I’ve realized that we’re at a crossroads. Read more here. Read more
Over the past few weeks, as I’ve been listening to all the coverage of Congressman Weiner’s transgressions, I’ve realized that we’re at a crossroads. Read more here. Read more
I just posted a piece at CatholicVote.org commenting on a provocative column by LZ Granderson (CNN & ESPN) in which he raises the excellent question of why we rightly criticize high-profile men for misbehaving, but never their complicit and willing partners. Apparently, even in an age when women can behave as badly as men, there are still double standards. Read more here. Read more
Saw the new film Bridesmaids. If you’ve been in a wedding party, especially if you’re a woman, you will identify with some hilarious aspects of the film. But, while the actors are all great comedians and we’re long overdue for seeing women take the lead in comedies, this movie is deeply conflicted…not unlike the situation of contemporary women. Read more here. Read more
I’ve fallen behind in blogging. And I’ve even missed the opportunity of shameless self promotion of linking to a recent column I wrote on the movie Of Gods And Men. Put simply, you must see this movie if you haven’t already. I love that it’s a deeply Catholic movie that appeals to secular audiences. In 2010, it won second place at the Cannes Film Festival. More movie discussion coming next week! (Not as highbrow.) Updated: Here’s another reviewer who... Read more
Memorial Day is more than commemorating the deceased. It’s about honoring what it means to be a soldier, namely that one is ready to lay down his or her life for their country. Every soldier answers that call when deciding to enlist. Read more in my recent article here. Comments and thoughts are always welcome. Read more
Director Roland Joffe’s new film There Be Dragons hits the screens today. The film is about Manolo (Wes Bentley), a man who grows up with his childhood friend Josemaria Escriva (Charlie Cox), the founder of Opus Dei. Two men with similar backgrounds make very different life choices and, yet, they are alike. The film also stars Bond-girl Olga Kurylenko. I saw some early versions of TBD since I was doing some communications work for one of the contractors. (Joffe’s masterpiece... Read more
So the past week or so has seen a bit of controversy surrounding the beatification of Pope John Paul II. My question: Why doesn’t the Vatican use this time as an opportunity to clear his name with regard to the sex abuse crisis? Read more here. Read more
I once had a private tour of part of the apostolic palace (Vatican) and when I was shown a private chapel sometimes used by the Vatican State Department. (I think the frescoes may have been done by Michelangelo, but I haven’t been able to verify it.) Anyway, one of the frescoes features a depiction of St. Catherine of Siena telling Pope Gregory XI to leave Avignon, where a succession of Popes had been for almost 70 years, and get back... Read more
Admittedly, I’m not a huge fan of the royal wedding. Maybe it’s simply because I’m not British. I am, however, attracted to it insofar as it’s a spectacle which offers plenty of fodder for commentary. [ e.g, why they’re spending a fortune (roughly just a little more than the average price of three weddings in the US) to turn Westminster Abbey into an indoor forest.] But there are more interesting topics. Msgr. Campion has a recent article in Our Sunday... Read more
Holy Thursday is an amazing feast and celebration for Catholics. Too often, it gets eclipsed by somber tone of Lent and the impending remembrance of Christ’s suffering and death. Read more here. Read more
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