Here is an important nbsp story about which we have heard rumors for the past few days apparently confirmed by National Catholic Reporter nbsp In response to the Apostolic Visitation many women s religious orders are according to NCR nbsp not complying with requests to answer the Vatican ques

Cathy Grossman over at USA Today nbsp isn t so sure about the pre-eminence of that greeting nbsp nbsp We re heading for December when zealous guardians of the Say- Merry Christmas -or-you ll-be-sorry movement will be in their glory defending Christianity from a fictional War on Christmas n

Paragraph 1 15 of the devastating Murphy Commission s report into the cover-up of clerical sex abuse of minors by bishops says it all The Dublin Archdiocese s pre-occupations in dealing with cases of child sexual abuse at least until the mid 1990s were the maintenance of secrecy the avoidance of

It is one of the strengths of our political system that Congress frequently exhibits a healthy skepticism of presidential claims That is the balance of powers in action And after eight years of George W Bush rsquo s particular brand of salesmanship when it comes to war fighting Congress can be

Rejoice always pray without ceasing give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you nbsp 1 Thess 5 161-18 nbsp I know this painting above is nbsp most likely nbsp not historically accurate but I ve always loved it for what it says about the American tr

It does not seem proper to leave the Good Word alone on Thanksgiving particularly with the last post clinging to the top of the list I have meant to post earlier but the end of semester and the Society of Biblical Literature meeting in New Orleans gobbled up my time Thanks so much for reading

Today is Thanksgiving Day and like everyone I have many reasons to be grateful and recognize in gratitude the start of any authentic religious experience I hope you all like me will spend the day with loved ones enjoying the delights of table and conversation Suavitas disci not potest nisi del

The era of blog-chair journalism only grows more pronounced nbsp The Washington Post essentially abandoned the rest of the nation this week closing bureaus in New York Chicago and Los Angeles to concentrate its declining resources closer to home Like a legion of other previously well-bureaued ci

A bit of history of religious tolerance nbsp and Jesuit history nbsp with Fr Andrew White S J in 1634 at St Mary s City nbsp nbsp nbsp in colonial Mary-land nbsp Quite fitting for Thanksgiving week See http www washingtonpost com wp-dyn content article 2009 11 24 AR2009112403653 html

Schadenfreude taking delight in the misery of others is a sin a grievous sin indeed one of the most grievous sins because it denies that essential sympathy with the human condition that is so obvious on virtually every page of the Gospels But in the realm of politics filled as it is with out-

A good and timely point from Denise Wilkinson the general superior of the Sisters of Providence of St Mary of the Woods St Mother Theodore Guerin s order on the Sisters website here

Two Sundays ago I nbsp had what writers of an earlier era would call a rollicking good time nbsp speaking to nbsp a group of about 500 Catholics on laughter at least I think they were all Catholics--they certainly nbsp got all the Catholic jokes and was nbsp interviewed on the topic by Marykno

A new blessed story courtesy of CNS and afterwards nbsp a reader s research NAZARETH Israel CNS -- A newly beatified nun from the Holy Land could serve as an inspiration for Christians who remain there said the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem nbsp The Nov 22 beatification breathes upon us a

Kerry Weber our newest editor has just written a lovely book published by Twenty-Third Publications nbsp called Keeping the Faith Prayers for College Students a marvelous compendium of her original prayers she s a good pray-er obviously and inspiring nbsp quotes from figures ranging from St

Catholic bishops need to be a bit more careful about how they approach the media Not only are there real world consequences when they fail to understand how the media works but the media must become a tool for the bishops in evangelizing the culture and correcting the gross ignorance of and bias a

If you enjoyed Matt Nannery s article on advice from the Trappists of Genesee Abbey on the recession you might like this lovely video celebrating their 50th year at the Abbey James Martin SJ

nbsp From the Boston Globe nbsp The war of words between the Catholic bishop of Rhode Island and US Representative Patrick J Kennedy escalated yesterday when Bishop Thomas J Tobin criticized him for disclosing a confidential request the prelate made in 2007 to stop receiving Holy Communion be

No one in America not even President Barack Obama is as compelling a figure in our nation rsquo s political life as Sarah Palin She twitters and they are talking about it on the news that night She shows up and the adoring crowds throng to see her The publishing industry is in free fall with