Here is the link to the US Bishop’s Papal Visit site. View the Pope’s address to the American people recorded before his visit. Read more

Organ Recital for Adam The whole world of music was there beneath  your dancing fingers and your flying feet. I heard tubas, trombones, foghorns, bells and flutes, whale songs, birdcalls, clarinets and lutes. Bassoons, sackbuts, wolves howling at the moon; The plaintive cries of oboe, owl and loon.   The diapason rumblings deep to deep  were the sighings of subterranean giants lost in sleep. Then far above the grave-deep decibels the tiny tintinnabulation of the bells. I heard from the... Read more

…go together like a horse and carriage… (or even a surrey with the fringe on top?) In a thread on the lesbians next door I said they were living a lie, and my observation evoked this comment:  Father, with due respect, in the couple’s eyes, it’s not a lie at all. They believe (one would assume) that marriage is a lifelong committment of a loving, monogamous couple, a committment that involves respect, support, love — all the things that many,... Read more

One of the problems facing Catholics in the present moral mess is how to deal with the friends, family members, neighbors and acquaintances who are in, err… irregular relationships. We’re not supposed to be judgmental and self righteous. “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” and all that. At the same time, we have a duty to uphold the truth, point out error and protect our children. This is not to assume that all homosexuals are predators. The protection... Read more

Moral Theology Question of the Day: If an Episcopalian bishop is allowed to leave his wife and family to live with his boyfriend, why is a Mormon bishop not allowed to have more than one wife? Seems unfair to me. Read more

After celebrating Mass facing the Lord I can report these favorable effects from the priest’s point of view: I don’t have to worry about where to look I don’t have to worry about what my face looks like I can weep at the beauty and wonder of it all without concern I can worship more freely and fully I feel more at one with the people of God I am on a journey to God with the people I am... Read more

Today at school I was asked what one of our middle school girls should do: a neighboring lesbian couple have had a baby by artificial insemination, and they would like the girl to babysit for them. I’m sure every reader has a modern moral nightmare within their own circle of friends and family. The worst one I know is of an old friend whose daughter became a lesbian, moved to New England and got ‘married’ and then announced that her... Read more

Last week I began saying Mass in our daily Mass chapel at St Joseph’s Catholic School facing East. I do so on two days of the week, while facing the people on the other three days. I’m also taking time to explain the change and what it means and why we are doing it. We will also begin the changeover at St Mary’s quite soon. I hope to post some photographs here on the blog of both celebrations, as well... Read more

I love getting to know new saints, and as a priest, you have to meet them as you work through the church year–observing the different feasts and memorials. I had known of St John Baptist de la Salle and the Christian brothers, but didn’t know the details. It seems in every age God raises up a saint to renew Catholic education and open the minds of a new generation to the mysteries of God’s love. St John Baptist de la... Read more

If we are to build beautiful churches it will cost money. Lots of money. The pragmatists look at the price tag and pull back. “Surely we can make some cut backs!” “Surely we should be giving this money to the poor.” “Surely we don’t need quite such a big church or quite such expensive fittings.” There are a couple of considerations. First, the question of building beautiful churches for posterity or giving to the poor should not be either/or. We... Read more