It seems like Coptic Christians in Egypt got a great boost of moral support — from the local Muslim population. In what is an extraordinary gesture, the kind which is rare to find in a world of strife, thousands of Muslims went to Egyptian Churches for Christmas, offering themselves as “human shields” in order to keep the Christians secure from attack. Read more about it here. H/T: Brian Saint-Paul. Read more
We at Vox Nova are happy to bring you this post today from Professor Tim Muldoon of Boston College. Thanks to Professor Muldoon for sharing this with the VN community. ______________________________________________________________ OK, bad pun. But it’s hard to avoid the fact that there’s suddenly a fascination with all things demonic. Consider this Discovery Channel series in production, cooperating with the Vatican (though the article does not specify who or what office of the Holy See). Then there are the films... Read more
I’ll give some credit to Boehner – he had the CBO cost his bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act. But the news that comes back is not good at all for the Republicans. Over the next decade, repeal would add $240 billion to the deficit. Funny how a party that claims to care about the deficit fails its first test. What about premiums? In the individual market, they would a bit lower, but only because “the average insurance policy in this... Read more
I found this great video in honor of the Theophany from the Dormition of the Theotokos Orthodox Church, Norfolk, VA. Christ is Baptized! In The Jordan! Read more
The Republican party won the “lie of the year” award for its claim that the Affordable Care Act represented a “government takeover of healthcare” – a pretty impressive achievement in an era of ubiquitous political slime! Until now, they could safety lie and oppose, offering no constructive suggestions whatsoever. But now they are in power, they are in a bit of a bind. They are making a priority out of repealing the Affordable Care Act. But they couldn’t be bothered with actually doing... Read more
My little brother Ian, who will turn 24 this month, has just been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. Today I received a phone call from my Dad saying that I should start looking at plane tickets to Winnipeg. I have started a Facebook group, Prayers for Ian, which you are welcome to join. Through it I am organizing a Novena to St. Peregrine, patron saint of cancer patients. (My first son’s, and Ian’s first nephew’s, middle name is Peregrine. ... Read more
At the time, it was clear that the just war conditions did not apply in Iraq. Most obviously, there was no way it was a last resort, and the arising “disproportionate” evils had the potential to be catastrophic. Alas, as the years pass, the true horror of these evils is still coming to light. We are witnessing the complete destruction of the Christian presence in Iraq, with the ancient and veritable church of the east facing extinction. Our Christian brothers and sisters live... Read more
The Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation does excellent work. America hosts a great guest blog from Jeffery M. Abood of this organization. He notes that over the past half century, the Christian Palestinian population has fallen from 18 percent to 2 percent. The Pavlovian American response, never inclined to disfavor Israel, would be to blame Islamic persecution. Not so: “Contrary to current popular opinion in this country, the Christians there are not leaving because of the Muslims. For 1500 years, the... Read more
In the furor over the Pope’s comments on condoms this rather remarkable passage from Light of the World has been little discussed: The perspectives of “Humanae Vitae” remain valid, but it is another thing to find humanly accessible paths. I believe that there will always be minorities that are deeply persuaded of the correctness of those perspectives and that, in living them, will be so fully rewarded that they will become for others a fascinating model to follow. We are... Read more
Doctor Who is an extraordinary television series – it is, to be sure, my favorite. The newest head-writer-producer, Steven Moffat, is one of the best writers the series has ever had. Even though I sometimes think he adds too many double-entendres, thinking they will please the parents, his stories are filled with so much wit, and intelligent plotting, that the more one views them, the deeper and more thought out the story ends up being. This year, he wrote the... Read more
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