From Father Z’s Blog Posted on 7 April 2014 by Fr. John Zuhlsdorf UPDATE 8 April: Bp. Jugis (D. Charlotte) endorses Sr. Jane Laurel and talk at High School _______ You probably saw my post Sister explains the situation. Spittle-flecked nutty, bullying, intimidation ensue. Sr. Jane Laurel, OP, gave a talk at a Catholic High […]
Pope Francis Calls Abortion An ‘Abominable Crime’
From LifeSiteNews Human life is “sacred and inviolable” and “every civil law is based on the recognition of the first and most fundamental right, the right to life,” Pope Francis told an Italian pro-life organization today. The pope thanked the Movimento per la Vita, one of Italy’s leading political pro-life groups, for their work, urging […]
The Reality of Spiritual Warfare
From Archdiocese of Washinton By Msgr. Charles Pope Every ancient prayer manual and guide to spirituality until about fifty years ago had at least one large section devoted to what was known as Pugna Spiritualis (spiritual battle or spiritual warfare). In more recent decades, many spiritual books have downplayed or completely deleted references to spiritual […]
21 Reasons To Go To Confession
From Aggie Catholics There are several questions we need to sort through before we get to the reason we all need Confession. Is the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) necessary to have your sins forgiven or can you go straight to God? Why do we need this Sacrament? Where did it come from? What does sin […]
Words For Reflection This Lenten Season
Bishop Álvaro del Portillo, former head of Opus Dei, will be beatified in Madrid in the fall of 2014. The following is an excerpt from a pastoral letter written by Bishop Álvaro del Portillo on December 25, 1985: …many generations which should belong to Christ and the Church are being lost in these years, and because, […]
This Speech On Abortion By A 12-Year-Old Left Her Pro-Choice Teacher Speechless
From ViralVita At first Lia’s pro-choice teacher told her that she was disqualified from the school’s speech competition because her topic was too controversial. But then she HEARD the speech and was so blown away she changed her mind. Lia went on to WIN the competition! And no wonder. Lia is more articulate than 98% of […]
Prof. Michael McConnell on the Hobby Lobby Arguments
I’m delighted to pass along this item from Prof. Michael McConnell at Stanford. In my view, Michael is probably tied for most influential and respected Religion Clauses scholar in the nation today, both on the Free Exercise Clause side and the Establishment Clause side. He obviously has a perspective of his own on the underlying […]
Contraception Disrupts ‘Language of Love,’ Bishop Conley Teaches
From Catholic News Agency Bishop James Conley of Lincoln hopes his new pastoral letter on the sacrificial “language of love” and the disruptive immorality of contraception will be received “with open hearts and open minds.” “My hope is that people, Catholic couples especially, and also Catholic physicians and pharmacists, will be willing to look at […]
Penance and Mortification – What Is the Difference?
From Catholic.net Question: OK, now I have a better grasp of what we mean by “mortification,” but that has raised another question. Is there difference between mortification and penance or penitence. Answer: This is a very interesting question. The distinction between mortification (synonymous in most spiritual writers with self-denial, abnegation, self-renunciation, dying to self) and […]
Tackle Tempation and Sin or Risk Ruination
From the Archdiocese of Washington The Gospel today says that Jesus was tempted by the Devil in the desert. Hebrews 4:15 also affirms: For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. How exactly a […]