How should we wage the pro-life fight, and what can we learn about using the tools of the world (like political solutions) from the story of David and Goliath?
Tag: faith
The Science of Miracles
What happens when an atheist doctor and historian is given access to the Vatican’s Secret Archives to investigate miracle claims? Just such a thing happened in the early 2000s, and both the story behind it, and the doctor’s conclusions, are worth recounting. Her findings also refute the claims of those, like Richard Dawkins, that “miracles, by definition, violate the principles of science.”
The Theology of Giving
This week, a quiet war is taking place in houses across America (and indeed, across much of the world). Will it be be a time of thanksgiving, giving honor and glory to God for the many blessings with which He has blessed us? Or will it be a time of Black Friday sales and buying… Continue reading The Theology of Giving
Joe Biden, Fr. James Martin, and Denying Communion to Pro-Choice Politicians
On Sunday, Fr. Robert Morey, a priest in South Carolina, denied Communion to presidential candidate Joe Biden. It didn’t take long for Biden’s own bishop (Bishop Malooly) to criticize the priest for “politicizing the Eucharist,” and Fr. James Martin quickly attacked the priest’s actions: Besides, a priest has no idea what the state of a… Continue reading Joe Biden, Fr. James Martin, and Denying Communion to Pro-Choice Politicians
Do Catholics Over-Emphasize Sexual Sins?
Pope Francis recently criticized priests (and the Church more broadly) for over-emphasizing sexual sins. Is that a fair charge?
Were Early Churches Governed by Individual Bishops, or Groups of Elders? (Bullet Version)
What does Christ want the structure of the Church to look like? And what did the early Church look like? I’ve just written a thorough exploration of that question, but I know that the length (5000 words) is going to be too much for some readers, and that the sheer volume might it hard to… Continue reading Were Early Churches Governed by Individual Bishops, or Groups of Elders? (Bullet Version)
Were Early Churches Governed by Individual Bishops, or Groups of Elders?
This post is admittedly long. If you want a shorter version with just the major take-aways, try this version instead. What does Christ want the structure of the Church to look like? And what did the early Church look like? Broadly speaking, there are two camps: Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans: Local churches were run by a… Continue reading Were Early Churches Governed by Individual Bishops, or Groups of Elders?
How the News and Politics is Destroying Your Soul (And What You Can Do About It)
We live in a strange age. It’s an age marked by contention, strife, and factionalism. This is true in the Church and in the realm of politics (both in the U.S. and in many other countries). You’ve got uncharitable pro-Francis and anti-Francis Catholics bashing each other, and uncharitable pro-Trump and anti-Trump Catholics bashing each other. So what’s going on, and what can we do about it? Here’s what Neil Postman, C.S. Lewis, and St. Paul might say about where we’ve gone wrong, and what we can individually do about it.
Why the Seemingly Anti-Marian Passages in the Bible?
There are a couple of passages which, every time they come up in the Readings at Mass, admittedly make me cringe a little. The first is from Luke 8:19-21 (we just heard the parallel version from Matt. 12:46-50 at Mass on Tuesday): Then his mother and his brethren came to him, but they could not… Continue reading Why the Seemingly Anti-Marian Passages in the Bible?
The “3-2-1 Examen”: An Easy Way to Revolutionize Your Spiritual Life
Yesterday, I was on the local Catholic radio station here in Kansas City, and one of the topics that came up was growth in prayer, and in particular, the need for a nightly “examination of conscience” or “examen.” I shared the “3-2-1 Examen,” which I learned from a priest of Kansas City- St. Joseph, Fr.… Continue reading The “3-2-1 Examen”: An Easy Way to Revolutionize Your Spiritual Life