In the musical Oklahoma! Ado Annie and Will Parker sing a song about love saying that it’s “All or Nuthin’.” What they didn’t realize is that they were also making a profound philosophical and theological statement. It is All or Nuthin’. From the ridiculous to the sublime, Blessed Cardinal Newman writes in the Apologia, “I came to the conclusion that there was no medium in true philosophy between atheism and Catholicism, and that a perfectly consistent mind, under those circumstances... Read more

An excerpt from my upcoming book, The Romance of Religion: In Fiddler on the Roof the jolly Jew Tevye sings a magnificent toast: “To life, to life, L’chaim, l’chaim, l’chaim to life!” He sings his anthem to life at his daughter’s wedding in the midst of grinding poverty, persecution and pogroms. His praise of life and love and “all things illimitably ‘yes’” is all the more poignant and powerful because he sings with joy from a broken heart. This is... Read more

The Anchoress lets rip here–giving plenty of links and updates on the HHS Mandate firestorm. Read more

I used to see Professor Stephen Hawking almost every afternoon when I lived and worked in Cambridge, England. The famous physicist would be moving along in his motorized wheelchair with his wife walking behind assisting him whenever necessary. I look back at that time and wonder what it would have been like if I’d had the nerve to invite him in for a cup of tea and a chat. In this article published last Spring about Hawking he is quoted as... Read more

Whenever language is being manipulated, suspect the Father of Lies. I heard an interesting slant on the HHS Mandate debate on the radio this morning. The commentator noted that left wing journalist and former Clinton White House aide, George Stephanapoulos, in one of the primary debates raised the question of whether states had the right to ban contraception. Romney took the question and was flabbergasted. “No one is suggesting that anyone bans contraception! What’s the point of this question?” The... Read more

Here’s an essay on love for Valentine’s Day. Enjoy! Read more

This piece was first published over at Integrated Catholic Life. A reader has asked for it to be published here too. If you like it please share. “I know I have been forgiven because I’ve been to confession, but I don’t feel forgiven!How can I find peace and know that I’m forgiven? ”  This is one of the most frequent questions I get as a priest. A similar question comes up with the problem of forgiving others, “Father,” the person asks, “my... Read more

from The Catholic Thing Mr. Clyde King, the steady sacristan at my parish here in northern California approached me one day after Mass last year, asking if perhaps I could fill in for him for about ten days. He might be going out of town, though this was not yet assured; he wanted to line someone up, with plenty of notice, just in case.  He was planning, or rather hoping, to go to Lourdes; he has been battling melanoma since... Read more

We’re reminded that the White House wants to ensure that all women receive the necessary “preventative care”. Why not give the unborn children the “Preventative Care” they need to preserve their lives? What on earth does “Preventative Care” mean? Why it means contraceptives of course, and once that’s accepted and everyone yawns and says its okay after all, the term “preventative care” will include abortions. The only thing both forms of “health service” prevent is human life. What is so... Read more

If anyone is interested in understanding the heart of Anglicanism I leave you with this quote from Vic–a very nice fellow who is an Anglican priest who visits this blog.  …two positions within that church that might appear to be contradictory should perhaps not be contrasted with each other, for each will exist only as an attempt to relate to that perfect truth about God that is still in process of being revealed. Two people, looking at different sides of... Read more