CRUX carries an AP story reporting that President Obama has invited a whole range of religious leaders to the White House to meet Pope Francis. Among those who confirmed their attendance at the White House reception are the Rev. Joel Hunter, an evangelical megachurch pastor from Florida who is a confidant of Obama on spiritual matters; the Rev. Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals, which represents about 40 conservative Christian denominations; and the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president... Read more

One of the most troubling things I encounter as a pastor is people’s lack of understanding about sin. On the one hand there are folks who don’t seem to have much of an idea at all. They come to confession and don’t have an idea how to examine their conscience and make a good confession. When they do confess it seems like their idea of sin is “anything that nice people shouldn’t do.” In other words, their conscience has been formed... Read more

My article for Aleteia this week examines Pope Francis’ pleas for mercy and how they are best balanced by the other need for justice. In the realm of religion there seems to be two categories of people according to two personality types. The first you might call the merciful. They say with Jesus, “Neither do I condemn you.” The second are the judgmental. They scold the person saying, “Go and sin no more.” The first are inclined to be too... Read more

What are the factors that attract people to follow Jesus Christ in his church and what puts people off? Here are ten ideas of things you find in a typical Catholic Church or in Catholic culture which are repellent. 1. Self Righteousness – There are few things more off putting than a self righteous know it all. When the self righteousness is religious it’s even worse. You can spot this self righteousness in both the radical conservatives and the radical progressives. They’ve... Read more

My latest article for CRUX outlines how the new procedures for annulments will help my as a parish priest. One of the biggest challenges I have found as a relatively new Catholic priest is what I call the marriage mess. On the one hand, I have to support the full, sacramental understanding of Catholic marriage. On the other hand, I have to embrace and welcome my flock — many of whom are caught up in one way or another in... Read more

From time to time I receive emails from readers who complain about the state of the church. Maybe they say, “I wish I could be near your parish Father. There is no parish within driving distance where the priest teaches the Catholics faith. It’s all fuzzy fuzzy feel good liturgy.” Or maybe they complain about lukewarm Catholics, lax morality, relaxed Catholicism and general apathy. They may be willing to put up with a liturgy they don’t like and music that... Read more

Today the Vatican released two documents updating the Code of Canon Law regarding marriage annulments. This is great news for all of those who were nervous about the upcoming synod of the family. As John Allen comments here, these new rules provide the way forward in the thorny issue of remarriage after divorce. There is now an easier and quicker way to minister to those who have an invalid marriage and have gone through civil divorce. Ines San Martin explains... Read more

  This article from the Washington Post gives a typical progressive slant on Catholic news. The headline suggests that “Conservative Dissent is Brewing Inside the Vatican.” Ho  hum. You can guess the tired narrative: Pope Francis is the great reformer who wants to clean up the corrupt Vatican Bank, open communion to divorced and re-married people, lift the ban on artificial contraception, give the nod to abortion, make way for women priests and green light same sex marriage. Except of... Read more

A reader commented recently that she has a Protestant friend who always refers to St James as “Jesus’ baby brother.” Maybe, and then again maybe not. The early church taught that the “brothers and sisters” of Jesus were his kinsmen from his extended family–most probably the half brothers and sisters from an earlier marriage of Saint Joseph. However, as in most cultures with extended families most anyone in the village or wider family were called “brother and sister”. The fact... Read more