Christian Persecution: From the Dali Lama to Great Britain, Six Quick Takes

Last updated on: December 29, 2014 at 8:31 pm By Rebecca Hamilton

This week’s six quick takes include examples of the increasing hostility toward Christians and Christianity worldwide. They range from government punishment of Christian business owners for practicing their faith in Great Britain, to the rise of government harassments and arrests of Christian religious leaders in Eastern Europe. Also included are remarks by the Dali Lama that seem to blame the victims of violence for their own persecution. He specifically pointed to the martyrdom of a Christian missionary in India in which the missionary... Read more

Is China Planning to Change the One-Child Policy?

Last updated on: December 29, 2014 at 8:31 pm By Rebecca Hamilton

An intriguing article in the Shanghaiist speculates that perhaps China is considering revising their one-child policy. This article is based on recommendations that came from The China Development Foundation, which is a government think tank. The recommendations include going to a two-child policy in some provinces this year and moving toward a national two-child policy by 2015. Whether or not these recommendations will be enacted, it sounds as if they will still leave the decision of how many children a... Read more

Gay Marriage Moves Forward in Two States

Last updated on: December 29, 2014 at 8:32 pm By Rebecca Hamilton

Gay marriage laws moved forward in legislative bodies in Illinois and Colorado this week. Colorado’s civil partnership bill and Illinois’ bill that would legalize same sex marriage passed the senate in each state. Both of these still still have to go before the respective state’s Houses of Representatives and be signed by the governors. In both states, the governors have said that they will sign the bills, if they get them. The move to legalize gay marriage is moving rapidly... Read more

Pope Benedict’s Last Mass: “The Church Belongs to Christ”

Last updated on: December 29, 2014 at 8:33 pm By Rebecca Hamilton

He “appeared wan and spoke very softly.” His homily was interrupted repeatedly by applause and he received a standing ovation. A banner was strung at the back of the room reading “Grazie Santita” (Thank you Your Holiness.) Today, Pope Benedict XVI celebrated his last public mass as pope. “As you know, I have decided to renounce the ministry that the Lord gave to me on April 19, 2005,” he said. “I did this in full liberty for the good of... Read more

Remember: Thou Art Dust

Last updated on: February 13, 2013 at 10:09 am By Rebecca Hamilton

And the Lord God formed man from the dust of the earth … Ashes to ashes, dust to dust … I am going to die. You are going to die. Public Catholic has enough regular readers that it is a statistical certainty that at least one of us, perhaps more, will die this year. Our souls, as the Scriptures say, will be required of us. We have unbelievers who post on this board who tell us that nothing awaits us... Read more

A Few Quick Takes on Obama’s State of the Union Address

Last updated on: December 29, 2014 at 8:34 pm By Rebecca Hamilton

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President Obama gave his annual State of the Union Address tonight. There were no surprises in the speech. Most of what the President said has been in the news for a long time now. In fact, several of his major proposals, such as gun control, have been the subject of presidential speeches or press conferences in the past few weeks. I agree with some of his ideas and disagree with others. Quite a bit of the speech was filler of... Read more

Okie Snow: Be Careful What You Wish For Girl

Last updated on: December 29, 2014 at 8:34 pm By Rebecca Hamilton

I have always loved snow. Snow in Oklahoma means an automatic unscheduled holiday. Employers close down their businesses, churches and schools cancel services. We stay home from work, go to the grocery store and stock up on food, put the movies on tv and kick back. Like I said, it’s a holiday. This happens mostly because we are so totally unprepared to deal with snow and ice. We don’t have the clothes for it, don’t know how to drive on... Read more

Should There be a Retirement Age for Popes?

Last updated on: December 29, 2014 at 8:35 pm By Rebecca Hamilton

Pope Benedict’s resignation, effective February 28, is not precedent setting. It has been done before. However, the question remains: What does it mean for the Church as an institution? Now that a pope has resigned, the possibility of a papal resignation is much more present than it was before. By doing it, the Holy Father has made it possible for all of us to consider that his heirs on the throne of Peter might do it also. It is no longer... Read more

Consider the Source. Then Consider the Rock.

Last updated on: December 29, 2014 at 8:35 pm By Rebecca Hamilton

I haven’t had time to watch the news today, but I gather that some venues moved to negativity about the Church and the Holy Father almost as soon as the news of his resignation was delivered. I also heard some crude things about both Pope Benedict and the Catholic Church at work today. My feeling about all this is, Consider the source. I mean that literally. Think about the source, the basis for this nastiness. It comes from anger because... Read more

A Few Quick Takes on Holy Father’s Resignation

Last updated on: December 29, 2014 at 9:44 pm By Rebecca Hamilton

Quick takes from news reports on the Holy Father’s resignation: Pope Benedict XVI will revert to his old title of Cardinal Josef Ratzinger after his resignation. Cardinal Josef Ratzinger will be able to participate in the conclave to elect the new pope, but Vatican sources says he will not do so. The resignation announcement was a surprise, even to Vatican officials: “The pope took us by surprise,” said Father Lombardi, who explained that many cardinals were in Rome on Monday... Read more