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Egypt – Murder by the Cathedral

A representative of international Catholic pastoral charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) has given a first-hand account of last weekend’s mass protest in Egypt in which at least three people died in a drive-by shooting near Assiut’s Coptic Catholic Cathedral. Passing on appeals for prayers for peace from two senior clerics, ACN’s Neville […]

Sex and the Supreme Court: Your 60-Second Guide to American Fertility

Last week the US Supreme Court ruled against the Defense of Marriage Act, ignoring the fundamental good to society of promoting marriages among those able to bear children, namely, marriages between a man and a woman, and the underlying nature of sexuality itself. Most conservatives believe that children come from sex. Conversely, many liberals believe children […]

Sliding Pictures in Web Banners: Best Practice or Fading Fad?

Sliding pictures in website banners are very popular today. For a long time, I tried to like them. But I gave up because they drive me crazy. That’s because I get interested in the initial picture shown and then it changes. Hey, where’d my picture go? Or, after looking at the picture, I start to […]

Can We Stop Fretting About Modesty?

Seems like, lately, everyone’s been writing about how much women should wear, why it matters (or doesn’t), how too-strict standards can be emotionally damaging, and how we’re all contributing to the rape culture. I agree that modesty is important, but I’m sensing an unhealthy dose of fear, insecurity, judgment, and tunnel vision. Guys, we all […]

Profiles In Courage: A Champion of Death and Her Catholic Supporter

The Texas baby blood war played out in Austin and in the national media last week. The abortion industry marshaled its legislative enablers (also known as members of the Democratic Party) at the state capital. The abortionists’ ire was directed at a proposed law that would impose a ban on abortion after 20 weeks of […]

Tabb’s Poetry XXV

Five poems by John B. Tabb.

Why Confirmation?

 In this column I have frequently referenced findings about the dismal way in which many Catholics look at the sacraments.  I think the problem is more than just the usual ranting and ravings about a liberal church, how horrible things are after Vatican II, true as all these clichés are.  Instead the problem stems from […]

Poem: “Final Vows”

Final Vows 10/28/04 If in this hour we are not one, All is not right with my soul. For we have chosen to wed this moment. You and I ….each a part of this moment. We are joined O lord for you have beckoned me. We are joined O Lord because I came willingly. Even […]

Mock ‘Marriage’ and the Death of Freedom

While poorly decided U.S. Supreme Court cases are a dime a dozen, prior to last Wednesday, two stood out among the most wretched and constitutionally groundless in American History. First was the 1857 Dred Scott decision. Among other things, it robbed African-Americans of both their U.S. citizenship and their dignity. Next came the 1973 ruling […]

Requiem for the Ballerinas

The corruption of innocence is a deadly sin, because it corrupts the innocents. Better a millstone be tied around the necks of those who corrupt the innocent and they be flung into the sea, said Jesus. He really never pointed out too many particular sins attaching to them a ‘woe betide’. About the only other […]

America’s Most Charming Couple is Back

Yup, it’s them again. America’s most charming couple is back in the news. You remember, don’t you? We were introduced back in May when Albert Garland (a pseudonym), published a piece on Babble with the charming sub-headline: “My wife’s expecting twins — and I’m not happy about it.” Things only went downhill from there. Well, […]

The Real Racism Question of the Day

The current question of racism is a red herring. It’s easier to focus on a single word uttered by a single celebrity than it is to address the real issue and tragedy of racism. The “N” word is an abomination to me. Thirty-eight years ago, I lived briefly as a Yankee in the heart of […]

Insurrectionary Options: Ballots vs. Bullets

It is time for believers in God and country to get real, and face the fact that the enemy is at the gates and starting to come over the wall. They might not feed us to the lions, but already they’re throwing us to the lawyers. Just ask Baronelle Stutzman, the Christian florist in Tri […]

‘Gay’ Marriage and Contraception

In view of the June 26 Supreme Court decisions on “gay” marriage, it is time for serious Catholics to examine how this perverted situation came to pass. Let’s start with the use of the word “gay” and American Life League’s internal style guide. At ALL, we never use the word “gay.” The guide states that […]

Reflections on Gettysburg

What a different country this might have been if, 400 years ago, someone had suggested, “Let’s pick our own cotton.”

He’s Not a Hitter, He’s a Baby Sitter!

“Let’s go, he can’t hit, he can’t hit.” “Stop the game! How dare you suggest that the batter, an innocent 12-year-old child who only wants to make contact with the ball, cannot hit! Have you considered how your ridicule will harm his self-esteem? As the umpire of this game, I forbid you to utter such […]

When “Anti-Discrimination” Laws Become a Serious Danger

The fight against “discrimination” reaches a new extreme in Germany, where the Bundesärztekammer (BÄK), a body representing the country’s healthcare professionals, has proposed to abolish a ban against homosexuals to act as blood donors. The BÄK announced its intention to work towards the lifting of this prohibition, which it described as “discriminatory”. The ban has, […]

Christ in My Beloved: A Cop’s Wife Counts Her Blessings

For nearly two decades, I’ve been the wife of a police officer. Invariably, friends whose husbands do not require body armor to go to work ask how I cope with the inherent dangers of his job. They ask, as politely as possible, how I can live with the every-present possibility of being widowed and having […]

Sex-Trafficking in China

On June 19, 2013 the State Department released its annual report, “Trafficking in Persons Report.” China received an automatic downgrade to the lowest ranking, Tier 3. The State Department acknowledged the one-child policy as the “key source of demand” for sex-trafficking within the country, but remained silent on revoking the policy in its recommendations for […]

Helping Our Children Discern Their Vocations

When I grow up, I’m going to be a priest and a policeman.” “I want to be a nun who rides horses and sings. Can a nun have babies?” “Mummy, when I grow up I’m going to marry you.” I smile as I remember these statements made by some of my children when they were […]

Book Review: The Catholic Baby Name Book

Considering that no one in my family is expecting, it might seem strange that I have been so happily perusing a baby name book.  But The Catholic Baby Name Book by Catholic Lane Senior Editor, Patrice Fagnant-MacArthur, is a complete delight and of nearly the same interest whether you are looking to name an expected […]

Haha

Poem: “Jim” and “And Then There Were Nine”

Jim This one’s for you, the man you’ve become. There were many years we had no connection, for whatever reason we’ve made the correction. We’ve missed so much because of the choices we’ve made, and there seems little time to make up the gain. So before it is too late for you to know, that […]

Re-Evaluating Television: Questions of Morality

One of my fondest memories of my grandmother is watching Little House on the Prairie with her when I was a child.  Knowing she loved Little House on the Prairie, one Christmas I decided to purchase the first season of The Waltons for her.   I am not entirely sure if she ever watched any of […]