The call came within a day or two. The MRI’s clanging and clanking and suffocating were still with me. But now, something new. Something perhaps not totally unexpected. Something that, apparently, was going to radically consume the next few months of my life. If not end it. “Get over to the nearest emergency room right now. You have a brain aneurism. Let’s not have you stroke out before you get there.” Words that you don’t want to hear from your... Read more
While we await the June 18, 2015 release of Pope Francis’ encyclical on the environment, Laudato si (or “Be Praised”), some American politicians just can’t seem to help themselves. First, GOP Presidential contender (and Catholic) Rick Santorum had this to say on June 3 (quoted in thehill.com): The church has gotten it wrong a few times on science, and I think we probably are better off leaving science to the scientists and focus on what we’re really good at, which is theology... Read more
1) The Soul: How The Beauty of Creation Can Lead a Soul to God, by Philip Kosloski 2) The Power of Nature: Photographer Captures One Amazing Supercell, Two Tornadoes In Colorado 3) The Heroes Among Us: How ‘Hero’ Bus Driver Stopped Kidnapping in Progress on His Bus 4) So Much Beauty: Peacocks. Yes, Peacocks! . . . and Flannery O’Connor! via Kathy Schiffer 5) Change: Encouraging Signs of Life 6) The Least of These: A Compassion Barometer – rate yourself! 7) This: (via Wikimedia... Read more
Bruce Jenner has got me thinking about the Holy Spirit. Okay, just bear with me a minute. Actually, Father Jim Martin started this train of thought with this – what I’m intentionally calling a throwaway – tweet last month (click to enlarge): Because it’s not really crucial to my point here let’s put aside, for the moment, the actual words of Christ as recorded (and translated) in John 14:26: But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my... Read more
The floodgates have opened and everyone seems to running for the nearest exit. If those remaining are not literally drowning, it’s clear that the ground beneath is indisputably shifting. We can feel it. Bruce becomes Caitlyn. Ireland says yes. Long established norms are, themselves, ridiculed as intrinsically disordered. The Church, we are told, is a barrier to human progress, to individualism, to self-expression. A Church of No! instead of a Church of Yes! I came back to this place two years ago – 41 years after I... Read more
Regular readers of Grace Pending know that I am a huge fan of Father Robert Barron, who is, among many other things, the founder of the dynamic Word On Fire ministries. Referring both to his ubiquitous media presence and his extraordinary teaching gifts, I have often said that Father Barron is this generation’s Fulton J. Sheen. Father Barron’s latest publication, Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture, is an enormously important – and hopeful – message for a Church which often finds its... Read more
Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24) It’s much easier to believe than to know, isn’t it? Belief provides just enough heft to prop open the door of doubt. And doubt readily accommodates us by licensing our freedom, our independence, and our ego-driven id. Actual knowledge means a surrendering into – a relinquishing of options that, in truth, may never have existed. And while magic rarely makes demands, knowledge and truth always... Read more
With Memorial Day weekend now upon us, we remember and honor all who have battled and died for our freedom – and, at times, for our very survival. As Pope Francis has reminded us, war is madness. It is nothing less than a failure of the heart. But that is all the more reason why we must take the time to honor those men and women whom we, as a country, have called upon to fight on our behalf. Francis,... Read more
Contrary to popular belief, Catholics are not, and never have been, monolithic in their non-doctrinal, political views or thinking. Nor are they required to be. Not by the local parish, not by the Archdiocese, and certainly not by the Pope. Behold the great diversity within the Universal Church: Gay – just ask Eve Tushnet A supporter of the death penalty An opponent of the death penalty A supporter of the 2nd Amendment A supporter of further gun restrictions A supporter of tougher immigration... Read more
“From the standpoint of religious freedom, you might say it’s a choice between the Little Sisters and Big Brother. I’m going with the Little Sisters” – Jeb Bush, Liberty University Commencement Speech Say what you will about Jeb Bush (and much can be said), with those words last week he neatly framed the increasingly caustic debate over religious freedom – especially religious freedom as expressed in the public square. Actually, to label it a “debate” is to engage in an act... Read more
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