I arrive at the room of the second patient on my list. I don’t have to put on any extra equipment for this one, just the ‘ordinary’ mask and gloves as they have no COVID-19 warnings. Entering the room, again I introduce myself and ask how I can assist them during their stay in the hospital. The elderly patient looks up at me and says “I don’t go to church, in fact I don’t really believe at all in God,... Read more
I am a Catholic Deacon and also a hospital chaplain. I work in a secular hospital, not a religious one. My hospital is in Tucson, Arizona. As I write this, Tucson, Arizona is in the epicenter of the global COVID-19 virus. As I write this, 7 of our 10 units are either fully occupied with COVID-19 patients or partially. This is a reflection on life at Ground Zero in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Beginning Of The Day I walk into the office before... Read more
The home of J.R.R. Tolkien, the legendary author of the The Lord Of The Rings and The Hobbit, will be sold. The famed author was not only talented author, but a faithful Catholic who used his imagination to spread the faith. His home will be put up for sale and a non-profit seeks to purchase it before the listing is public. Establishment Of The Tolkien Center Award winning author Julia Golding and many Hollywood luminaries started a crowdfunding campaign to purchase the late... Read more
As a convert from Protestantism, one of the challenges was the concept of grace. It was taught, and still is, that justification and sanctification were an instantaneous barrage of grace and is a one and done proposition. Granted, this is more of a Baptist, view and can change (rarely) based on denomination. This differs widely from the Catholic view that grace more of a renovation for the soul. Grace As A Declaration Protestant theology looks at grace as a forensic,... Read more
I am a self-professed Bible nerd, and I collect various translations and editions of the Scriptures. This is something that started in my Protestant days and has carried on into the present as a Catholic. As a result, I often get asked what Bible will be suited best for a particular interest. Below are three great examples for people who are looking to not only expand their library, but grow in their faith. 1. The Augustine Bible When I was... Read more
I recently had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Christina Francis about the need for ethical vaccine development. Dr. Francis is the Chairman of the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or AAPLOG for short. We discuss the need for ethical vaccines that do not use cell strands from aborted children, how this is a human rights issue, and the various COVID vaccines that have been, and are being developed. Also learn more about AAPLOG at www.aaplog.org. Why Must They... Read more
I am a newbie on the Patheos Catholic channel. It has been almost a year since my column was established and I want to say thank you. Thank you for sharing, commenting (even the critiques), and allowing my little column to be a small part of your life. Thank You! It has been my goal to give a mix of apologetics, evangelism, and devotional material to help you grow in your faith. Once again I say thank you. Here are... Read more
Bernard Lonergan was a Jesuit priest and one of the most influential Catholic thinkers in the twentieth century. In an effort help others understand the redemption he proposes a theory called the Law of the Cross. Lonergan looked to the development of western culture and developed his theology to include human science and human value. Regarding this William Loewe writes, “it invites theology to enrich itself with the discoveries of the empirical and human sciences and of historical consciousness; more... Read more
One of the things that seems to confuse our non-Catholic Christian brethren is the subject of purgatory. Those who enter purgatory are guaranteed to go to heaven at some point. Purgatory Is Not A Second Chance Purgatory is not a second chance at redemption, and nor is it a permanent destination. The church has always taught what the scriptures teach in Hebrews 9:27, “And just as it is appointed for mortals to die once, and after that the judgment” (NRSV).... Read more
God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is... Read more
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