Professor Robert George of Princeton University, and co-author of the Manhattan Declaration, is heading to Benedictine College, Atchison, Kansas on Friday, July 15 to address medical doctors and medical professionals in a keynote speech on their conscience rights as part of a larger week dedicated to renewing the culture. An excerpt from the Manhattan Declaration, […]
Today we visit the basilica of San Marco. First dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist, the church was later also dedicated to Pope Saint Mark, who once lived on this site. This is one of Rome’s oldest churches, built around the year 336. Known as Titulus Marci, this was one of the original twenty-five titular […]
In a 1972 decision widely hailed by the political classes, the Supreme Court opined in Eisenstadt v. Baird, “If the right to privacy means anything, it is the right to be free from unwarranted government intrusions into matters so fundamentally affecting a person as the decision whether to bear or beget a child.”1 Imagining that […]
When our children were young, my best friend shared a VeggieTale movie with us saying, “Your kids will love it; mine do!” She was right, not only did they love it, but my husband and I enjoyed them too. The characters are fun to watch and the Bible stores come to life in a way […]
What does “Total Commitment,” mean? Well, the synonyms for “commitment” are: promise, pledge, binder, obligation, dedication, and loyalty. There is an old story about the Chicken and the Pig who were walking along the road. They saw a sign for Perkins Restaurant showing an ad for ham and eggs. The Chicken said to the Pig, […]
In a recent interview, Father Raymond Abdo, the Provincial of the Discalced Carmelite Fathers in Lebanon, said that the most important thing that can be done for Christians in the Middle East is to help them not to emigrate, because everyone from the East should “bear witness to the Faith in the East.” Speaking to […]
We buried a dear friend today. We’ve known Betty and her husband, Norm for more than 20 years and in the last few months the breast cancer Betty valiantly battled for nearly that same amount of time finally took her life. In the interim, we ended up working together on various projects and committees and […]
On March 2, the Supreme Court issued a decision in the case Snyder v. Phelps that illustrates the difficulty of balancing competing claims to rights and justice in our judicial system. The court overturned a lower court’s $5 million tort judgment against Pastor Fred Phelps of the Westboro Baptist Church of Topeka, Kansas, for invasion […]
Lent’s a time of introspection. We read Exodus, and watch the Israelites grumbling, even after the amazing things God had done for them (Ex 17:3-7). In them, we recognize ourselves. For many of us, then, Lent is time for the spiritual equivalent of New Year’s resolutions. We set aside work on ourselves for forty days […]
As Lent progresses, we may find ourselves concentrated inward, often reflecting on the sacrifices or commitments that we have made on our Lenten journey thus far. We think about abstaining from meat on Fridays, about skipping dessert and about increasing our prayer life. All of these practices are an important part of maintaining discipline during […]
“More than 10,000 union members and supporters swarmed the State Capitol here,” began an ecstatic People’s World, describing the scene in Annapolis, Maryland. The masses assembled “to protest proposed changes to teacher’s pensions and to respond to the recent attack on unions in Wisconsin.” The CPUSA organ was there, reporting triumphantly, ready to storm the […]
The “reform of the reform” is afoot and some folks are none too pleased. How’s that for an understatement?! For instance, about fifteen months ago, America Magazine featured an essay by the longtime pastor of St. James Cathedral in Seattle, Fr. Michael Ryan, belittling the new English translation of the Roman Missal; accusing the bishops […]
Irony is defined as “the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning.” The term doublespeak means “evasive, ambiguous language that is intended to deceive or confuse.” There is perhaps no greater example of ironic doublespeak than inclusion of the phrase “civil liberties” within the inapt designation: “American Civil Liberties […]
Part Four, The Church’s Memory and Identity Continued: In the previous installments of this series (part one, part two, part three), I discussed the role of various influential theologians and laymen who effectively acted as “interpreters” of Vatican II. Their actions, I argued, led to a lot of confusion about what the Council taught and […]
It’s been a month since the passing of Dr. Bernard Nathanson who died of cancer at the age of 84. I’ve been waiting for NARAL (originally known as the National Association for the Repeal of Abortion Laws) to offer some tribute to this man who was a founding member of their group. And where has […]
Presented in cooperation with Greg Schlueter and JP2Journey.com: The JP2 Generation Tells Its Story, remembering World Youth Day 2002 and the impact of Pope John II. Part Three, Fr. Dan Hoffman There are not many things more beautiful than the joy of the Lord! As we embarked on the third day of this pilgrimage of […]
Annunciation Lest all be lost to sin’s increase and praise redound to Satan’s lie of dark renown, when angels speak what God decrees and men confound there is a grace that does abound. Stephen Pohl
Playthings of the Gods Playthings of the gods Who aren’t really gods but still… Paul and Peter warned us Of their errands and effronteries And we who ape their powers Pretend possession of their insights But they are greater rebels Deep in their conspiracies Between their world and this A gulf exists They peer across […]
Today we visit the church of San Vitale, located on the bustling street of Via Nazionale. In the late fourth century a small chapel was built here to honor the martyrs Saint Gervase and Saint Protase. In the fifth century a wealthy woman named Vestina donated money to build a larger basilica and the church […]
Dr. Paul Kengor: Herb Meyer, you’re a favorite here at The Center for Vision & Values at Grove City College. You did our Ronald Reagan Lecture in February 2009, which was truly captivating (click here to watch). You did one of our Freedom Readers lectures last year (click here). And you’re also no stranger to […]
with Sue Formica In true Veggie Tales Fashion, Bob and the Gang bring a familiar bible story to life. “Jonah”, a 2002 “Big Idea” production, takes the viewer on a not-so-straight voyage into the ancient city of Nineveh, into the well-known tale of “Jonah and the Whale.” The story begins with bickering, jealousy, teasing and contention, […]
After the death of Dr. Bernard Nathanson last February, we were reminded that somebody once asked him why he became a Catholic. Because, said Dr. Nathanson, (who’d been a leader in the movement to legalize abortion and performed or presided over many thousands of abortions, then seen the light and become ardently prolife) no other […]
When I was single, the books I read recommended something called “courtship.” The problem was…it didn’t work, either for me or for anyone around me. So if you have a commitment this weekend, it is a good time to think about how courtship and dating philosophies differ, and why dating is more likely to get […]
