Viktor Vasnetsov is the Russian artist who painted my favorite Madonna and child. The one that used to be my header and is now much smaller in the iconostasis George created. I got this from the Wapping. More pictures by Vasnetsov here and here or just Google image search Vasnetsov. Read more

Fr Ray Blake reports on the Holy Father’s arrival and first address in Africa. Go here. Read more

Along with everything else I have to do–including working with George for the snazzy blog facelift, I’ve been busy putting the finishing touches on my home chapel. At last it’s done and I can show you these neat pics of myself celebrating Mass this morning for St Patrick. Read more

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There is a bogus theory that goes the rounds within Anglicanism which claims that Anglicanism is rightfully independent of Rome because it is simply the ancient Christian religion of the British Isles. This ancient Christianity (it is maintained) was Celtic Christianity, and it existed separate from Roman control. Christianity (according to the theory) first came to Britain through the missionary efforts of St Joseph of Arimathea who was a tin trader. He was an uncle of Jesus Christ and some... Read more

“She could see by their shocked and altered faces that even their virtues were being burned away.” The whole hilarious story of Mrs Turpin and the ugly girl focusses and is turned on this frightening truth. See Flannery O’Connor’s story Revelation. Read more

Did you read about the big scary global warming conference in Copenhagen last week? There was another conference with more eminent scientists saying global warming is not happening, and in fact the planet is cooling down. The left wing papers ignored or mocked that conference. Read about it here. Read more

I was talking to a very nice Baptist fellow the other day who was interested in my journey from Bob Jones University to the Catholic faith. He said, “We go to a very liturgical Baptist Church.” I’m not quite sure what he meant, but he assured me that they had had an Ash Wednesday Service and they were ‘very liturgical’. I expect he means what my Presbyterian mother means when she tells me her church is ‘liturgical’. She means they... Read more

A reader has sent a link to this fascinating opinion piece by a Protestant writer. He predicts a massive collapse of Evangelical Christianity within the next 10 -20 years. I think his analysis is correct in the whole, but I believe he underestimates the tenacity of Protestant religious organizations and their ability to adapt to the changing cultural landscape. How will evangelicalism change? Look to the Episcopalians. Mainstream Evangelicals have always followed the example of the liberal mainline Protestant denominations.... Read more

If you want to read a cross sample of very typical American anti-Catholic attitudes check out the comments on this article about a Catholic school with families in financial crisis. The interesting thing about the new anti-Catholicism in America is how it is no longer just your run of the mill “The Pope is the archpriest of Satan and the great anti-Christ” Protestant bigotry; now the anti Catholicism has a nasty, ignorant, secular, atheistic ring to it. Read more