One of the lines I love most about the first Eucharistic Prayer is the prayer for the Catholic Church and all bishops who ‘preach the Catholic faith that comes to us from the Apostles.’ In the creed we profess “One Holy Catholic and Apostolic” Church, and in my discussions with non-Catholic Christians from Reformation communities, I have asked what interpretation they put on the creed as they are not Catholics, but still profess to believe in ‘One Holy Catholic and... Read more

Archbishop Rowan Williams has publicly debunked the traditional Nativity as ‘legend’. Anyone who has read the New Testament in detail will know that the stuff of medieval paintings, crib scenes and Christmas cards include a good deal of non-Biblical ’embroidery’. However, one doesn’t need to deconstruct all of that to somehow prove one’s intellectual credentials. The Archbishop presents himself as an intellectual Anglo Catholic, but all his recent comments do is prove his Protestant mindset. The liberal Protestant is essentially... Read more

If you’re squeamish don’t read this article. It reports the disturbing rise of female binge drinking in the UK, and of course, the attendant rise in unwanted pregnancies, abortion and sexually transmitted infections. G.K.Chesterton said “Every argument is a theological argument.” Behind alcoholism is despair and behind despair is the lack of anything to live for, and behind the lack of anything to live for is the absence of belief and behind the absence of belief is atheism. The atheism... Read more

I was greatly encouraged today to see that St John of the Cross was bald headed, and a very polite female colleague told me today that, “God only created a limited number of perfect craniums, and that’s why certain men are bald…” The prophet Elisha is the most famous saintly baldy. When he was mocked for his perfect cranium by some disrespectful youths, in true grumpy curmudgeonly prophetic style he called on a bear to come out of the woods... Read more

In order to arrive there, To arrive where you are, to get from where you are not, You must go by a way wherein there is no ecstasy. In order to arrive at what you do not know You must go by a way which is the way of ignorance. In order to possess what you do not possess You must go by the way of dispossession. In order to arrive at what you are not You must go through... Read more

Read here about the death threats a British ex-Muslim girl received from her family. The article outlines how capital punishment for conversion from Islam is an integral part of the Islamic religion. In The Independent Dominic Lawson comments on the same issue, saying part of the reason for the rise of Islamic fundamentalism in Britain is the collapse of Christianity. The craziest part of the Islamic horror in Britain is that the politically correct left–in their frenzy to be inclusive... Read more

How silently and secretly God chose to give humanity a new start. How silently and secretly he created the second Eve. How silently and secretly she who would trample Satan underfoot was conceived in this dark world. How silently and secretly God’s plan for redemption began. Read more

The Shriners of Whapping have this interesting story about Fr James Coyle, a priest shot by a Ku Klux Klansman in Alabama in 1921. Read more

This is my first Advent as a Catholic priest. I had forgotten the majestic joy of the season of Advent. It comes to me through the readings in the Divine Office. It comes to me through the somber and majestic prophetic readings at Mass. It comes to me through the violet vestments, the extra candles, the quieter flowers, the sober and joyful hymns. It is the full joy of gestation, the joy of expectation, the tension and joy of waiting... Read more

Evidently the Pullman movie is not as bad as the books. The problem remains that very often the films draw the viewers to read the book. If you’re in any doubt about Philip Pullman’s intentions, here are his own words: “‘I’m trying to undermine the basis of Christian belief,’ says Pullman. ‘Mr. Lewis [C.S. Lewis, author of The Chronicles of Narnia] would think I was doing the devil’s work’” (from the Washington Post, Feb. 19, 2001). And, “I’ve been surprised... Read more