2012-01-17T10:56:35-05:00

Last updated on: January 17, 2012 at 10:56 am   By

The undertone of blood-lust in last night’s GOP debate was unmistakable, and it emanated from both the stage and the crowd. Rick Perry proposed that South Carolina is at war with the federal government and the Obama Administration. Where have we heard that before? Newt Gingrich gained the biggest applause of the night with two words: “Kill them.” Of course, all the candidates except Ron Paul counseled war against Iran or any other foe of Israel. And uppity Negro Juan Williams was jeered mercilessly when... Read more

2012-01-16T13:26:07-05:00

Last updated on: January 16, 2012 at 1:26 pm   By

“A true revolution of values will soon cause us to question the fairness and justice of many of our past and present policies. On the one hand we are called to play the good Samaritan on life’s roadside; but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s... Read more

2012-01-16T12:57:50-05:00

Last updated on: January 16, 2012 at 12:57 pm   By

Introduction and Part II “Holiness, salvation, and a crown of incorruption are given to the man who bears misfortunes cheerfully and with thankfulness. To control anger, the tongue, the belly and sensual pleasures is of the utmost benefit to the soul.”[1]   (more…) Read more

2012-01-13T19:46:40-05:00

Last updated on: January 13, 2012 at 7:46 pm   By

In a recent ad for Mitt Romney, Mary Ann Glendon says the following: “Mitt Romney should be welcomed as a great success story for the pro-life movement”. Any evidence, Mary Ann? Of course, many defenders of Romney tout his conversion to the pro-life cause. And indeed, conversion is great. We love it! But in his only real post-conversion chance to prove himself – on his health care law – Romney fell flat. In fact, if you compare the Romney and Obama... Read more

2012-01-13T16:04:15-05:00

Last updated on: January 13, 2012 at 4:04 pm   By

After a long, tough week marked by the usual turmoil and stress, it’s easy to forget that our fundamental calling is to love. In I Corinthians 13, St. Paul gives us a long list of things love “is.” Easy ain’t one of ’em. And yet Jesus says, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.” We have to love, no matter how tired we are, or disappointed, or pissed off.... Read more

2012-01-12T22:30:47-05:00

Last updated on: January 12, 2012 at 10:30 pm   By

That was the Swiss-based news service Ecumenical News International‘s assessment of Pope Benedict’s latest selection of 22 new cardinals, the majority of whom are European, with Italy having the largest single representation.  (ENI’s full article does not appear to be available, but the full story can be found here.) Much as I prefer to differentiate myself from our church’s liberal reactionaries who love to hate the Big Bad Hierarchy’s every move, this worries me a bit.  My concerns are twofold, having to... Read more

2012-01-12T16:23:13-05:00

Last updated on: January 12, 2012 at 4:23 pm   By

In August 2009 I wrote a post about Tim Tebow. In it, I pointed out the rabid anti-Catholicism embedded in his father’s protestant-evangelical mission in the Philippines. What I never could have imagined then was that Tebow’s celebrity would only surge from that point forward. To my amusement and embarrassment, it is the most read post I have ever written here by a lot—a whole lot. This week, we find ourselves in total Tebowmania. The evidence is everywhere: Sportscenter is... Read more

2012-01-12T09:33:07-05:00

Last updated on: January 12, 2012 at 9:33 am   By

UPDATE: The fisking and fact-checking of the following video  has been so thorough and convincing that I have no choice but to withdraw my recommendation that anyone watch it, except perhaps as an example of how not to make a political documntary. Far from being merely inaccurate in some details, it appears that the producers, representing a Super PAC supporting Newt Gingrich, deliberately set out to misrepresent the facts and mislead viewers. The exposure of their mendacity is no doubt providing great... Read more

2012-01-11T21:06:47-05:00

Last updated on: January 11, 2012 at 9:06 pm   By

Once upon a time, the American Catholic Church was ferociously anti-communist.  I was reminded of this when I ran across a digital reproduction of an anti-communist tract published by the Catholic Catechetical Guild Educational Society in 1947: (more…) Read more

2012-01-10T11:07:53-05:00

Last updated on: January 10, 2012 at 11:07 am   By

I don’t know when it began. I know that when I first began to pray my rosary daily it was work. It was frankly very difficult for me and uncomfortable, but I believed in the value of asking Mary every day for her intercession so I continued even if it was difficult. Lately, though, I have noticed that when I am praying, I feel a deep joy within me. It is a sense of freedom as I realize that I... Read more

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