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The Incoherence of Federal Sex Policy: Title X, Medicaid, and the Eisenstadt Decision

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 […]

Easter Entertainment: JONAH, A VeggieTales Movie

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 […]

Total Commitment

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, […]

Rare Good News About Christians in the Midle East: Bearing Witness in Lebanon

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 […]

Don’t You Ever Give Up!

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 […]

Imperfect Justice in Snyder v. Phelps

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 […]

The Samaritan Woman and the Original Meaning of Lent

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 […]

Comic: Influence From The Other Side

Dewey’s Disciples: From Madison to Maryland and Beyond

“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 […]

What If We Just Said ‘Pray’?

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 […]

ACLU Attempting to Criminalize Christianity: ‘Communism is the Goal’

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 […]

Reflections on Latin and the Catholic Church’s Memory and Identity, Part Four

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 […]

Intercessor of the Unborn

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 […]

The JP2 Generation Tells Its Story: Part Three, Fr. Dan Hoffman

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 […]

Poem: “Annunciation”

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

Poem: “Playthings of the Gods”

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 […]

S. Vitale

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 […]

Q&A with Herb Meyer: How to Analyze Information

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 […]

Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie — Blu-ray Combo Pack Released

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, […]

Contraception: The Reason Catholics Have Abandoned Confession

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 […]

Courtship vs. Dating — Why Dating is More Likely to Get You Married

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 […]

The Sorrowful Mysteries at Planned Parenthood

Last fall, I participated in the 40 Days for Life prayer vigil at our local Planned Parenthood.  It was the first time I had done this, and I was a bit fearful. (Will I get arrested?  Will people yell at us?)  On the contrary, the experience was humbling and incredibly moving. After the 40 Days […]

The Evil Force That is Girl Scout Cookies

If you want to run with the true powerhouses of the world, look no further than the Girl Scouts.  Put down that box of Thin Mints and think about it. How many grocery stores will let you set up a rickety card table outside their doors and sell, cash only, cases of ground beef or […]

R-Rated Movies in the Catholic High School

[Editor’s note: This document was prepared on behalf of a group of Catholic parents to address issues locally that may also be going on elsewhere in the country. It is published here as a resource for parents who may find it useful.] Having chosen [a Catholic School] does not relieve [parents] of a personal duty […]