Where the Rubber Hits the Road

Pope Francis In the Confessional | National Catholic Reporter

Pope Francis: Some cultural challenges from MargaretObrovac

The Russian Veto Against Francis and Bartholomew

A King With a Cross as Throne | ZENIT - The World Seen From Rome

In which I dissent from Fr. Z and his readers | Catholic and Enjoying It!

I appreciate this story is about the American election, but its message applies to Canada as well in as much as we too are plagued with politicians who espouse one set of values when the campaign but fail to live up them once elected. I happen to agree with Mr. Santorum's values because they are Catholic values. I appreciate his openly professing them faithfully. It is refreshing in these troubled times. However I have no idea whatsoever whether or not he'd make a good president and am not taking a position on an election in another country. But it is unique to see a politician on either side of the border so forcefully and completely present the Catholic proposition in an election campaign. Santorum is doing exactly what the Church asks the laity to do... to live out their lives as a only then can uniquely do. He is BEING a Roman Catholic Christian in running for President. He is not just a person running for President who happens to be Catholic and Christian. It's hard...

Married and Ordained. The Minor Leagues of the Catholic Clergy

Nooooo! Dear sweet God, Nooooo.... (sob)  What the hell were the German Bishops thinking? I'm sure they didn't add the books to the list of published works, but they have a MORAL and RELIGIOUS obligation to ensure proper stewardship of the goods of the Church. They were to ensure that such crap doesn't happen. That's a big part of their job as Bishop. They are supposed to be the best and brightest among the clerics; those individuals identified as being worthy of the mantle of leadership. YIKES! If such incompetent oversight is what passes for proper stewardship among the Bishops, they should be fired. But, it is surely right and proper to ask... what the hell is with the Germans? They failed to clean up their own house when they witnessed the sex abuse scandals engulf countries around the world and chose instead to rely on policies and practices that had failed everywhere else. Now they are revealed as being among Europe's leading purveyors of porn.  It...

Q: What’s the difference between a terrorist and a liturgist? A: You can negotiate with a terrorist. Lord, Save Us From Liturgists | Blogs | NCRegister.com

AMEN! AMEN! AMEN! Probably the best summation of the Church's apparent inability to embrace the opportunities that this digital media that I've read to date. FLASH! Fr. Z agrees with the Huffington Post. Imminent fall of sky to follow. | Fr. Z's Blog – What Does The Prayer Really Say?

In celebration today of the 100th anniversary of Marshal McLuhan's birth I offer this interesting article from the Globe and Mail which discusses his Catholic faith and observance. A Catholic Cassandra’s faith - The Globe and Mail

It may be a few difficult days for the Canadian Catholic Church as this trial gets going in Ottawa. I'll post any relevant details. Trial set to begin for Canadian Catholic Bishop on child pornography charges - The Washington Post

I have always believed and taught that God sends NO ONE to hell, but he respects the decisions we make in life as determinate as to where we want to spend eternity. This author explores this question in a concise and insightful way. Choosing Hell | The American Catholic

Amazing what you can learn these days! This is a way cool story. The hermeneutic of continuity: Photo of Sitting Bull wearing a crucifix

Given the fact that it's the end of March and the temperature outside is -17C (with windchill -27C), maybe a hot rum toddy would be a better alternative. Just so long as it won't result in a rush to the bathroom as my municipal water line is frozen AGAIN (2nd time in 3 weeks - last time cost $784 to repair). SIGH! It s "Buy Your Priest a Beer" Week! | Blogs | NCRegister.com

Murphy showed up at Mass one Sunday and the priest almost fell down when he saw him. He'd never been to church in his life. After Mass, the priest caught up with him and said, "Murphy, I am so glad ya decided to come to Mass. What made ya come?" Murphy said, "I got to be honest with you Father, a while back, I misplaced me hat and I really, really love that hat. I know that McGlynn had a hat just like mine and I knew he came to church every Sunday.. I also knew that he had to take off his hat during Mass and figured he would leave it in the back of church. So, I was going to leave after Communion and steal McGlynn's hat." The priest said, "Well, Murphy, I notice that ya didn't steal McGlynn's hat. What changed your mind?" Murphy replied, "Well, after I heard your sermon on the 10 Commandments, I decided that I didn't need to steal McGlynn's hat after all." With a tear in his eye the priest gave Murphy a big smile...

First it was the Catholic chapel at the university in Barcelona; now it's happening in Madrid. The only 'good news' in this latest incident is that the event was captured on video so that people will not be able to claim that Catholics are distorting or exaggerating these events.  Anti-Catholic students protest at university chapel in Madrid Anti-Catholic students protest at university chapel in Madrid :: Catholic News Agency (CNA)

I have published many posts opposing Same-Sex marriage on this blog. It's time to post something that speaks in favor from a Catholic perspective. Comments? Same-sex marriage Maryland: A Catholic's case for gay marriage - baltimoresun.com

SIGH... When will the Bishop's finally get it through their heads that they can no longer rely on 'in-house' investigations of sexual abuse allegations. The protocol in Canada and the USA is supposed to include an automatic referral to civil authorities to investigate. Yes, some priests will fall victim to false allegations, but we should have enough faith in the justice system that the names of anyone falsely accused will be cleared. Besides this, the Church has no one but itself to blame for putting priests in this dangerous position. If the Bishops would have dealt with these issues properly in the first place, innocent priests would not be in such a tenuous position. It is not the priests who are letting the Church down. It's the Bishops! Whispers in the Loggia: In Grand Jury's Wake, "We Have Fallen Short"

Small Town Guy, a regular contributor here asked me to post a copy of the oath that a Roman Catholic priest must swear prior to his ordination. There are many false or previous (pre-Vatican II) versions of this oath which include commitments to fight Protestantism, modernism, etc. that are used to slander the Church in the eyes of some evangelical circles. I thought it appropriate to take the opportunity of his request to post the actual text itself. As always, your comments are welcome. PROFESSION OF FAITH:   I, N., with firm faith believe and profess everything that is contained in the Symbol of faith: namely: I believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our...