Monthly Archives: October 2013

New Martyr and wonderworker Ephraim

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Thomas J. Neal, Ph.D.

Amazing Eastern saint story… The holy New Martyr and wonderworker Ephraim was born in Greece on September 14, 1384. His father died when the saint was young, and his pious mother was left to care for seven children by herself. … Continue reading →

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Toward a More Human State of Economics

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Thomas J. Neal, Ph.D.

October 16, 2013 Maciej Zięba’s book, Papal Economics, offers the right questions (and some good answers) about Catholic social thought Br. Gabriel Torretta, O.P. When Pope Francis was first elected on March 13 of this year, some of the early media … Continue reading →

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Communion trumps Boy-Band, One Direction

Posted on October 20, 2013 by Thomas J. Neal, Ph.D.

Holy Communion or Music Concert? ALMOST 50 years after another boyband laid claim to being “more popular than Jesus”, a Roman Catholic school in Ireland has decided that, despite clashing with a One Direction concert, the date of its pupils’ … Continue reading →

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Convicted nun dies

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Thomas J. Neal, Ph.D.

A saintly woman to seek prayers from… In this photo from 2002, Sister Antonia Brenner consoles inmate Jorge Villalobos inside her converted cell at the notorious La Mesa penitentiary in Tijuana. Brenner died Thursday at the age of 86. (Don Bartletti … Continue reading →

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George Weigel on Francis’ Saints

Posted on October 18, 2013 by Thomas J. Neal, Ph.D.

A papal canonization doubleheader I doubt that Pope Francis has heard of Ernie Banks, the Hall of Fame shortstop. But like “Mr. Cub,” whose love for baseball led him to exclaim “Let’s play two!” before Sunday doubleheaders in the 1950s, … Continue reading →

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Questions about USCCB Action Alerts

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Thomas J. Neal, Ph.D.

Periodically the USCCB’s Department of Justice, Peace and Human Development issues “action alerts” urging American Catholics to contact their senators and representatives to urge them to take one position or another on various legislative deadlocks and initiatives. The latest was today’s … Continue reading →

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Hard Enchantment: Evangelizing Gay Marriage

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Thomas J. Neal, Ph.D.

As I was reading Joseph Bottum’s rambling brief in Commonweal arguing that Catholics should accept legalized same-sex marriage, I happened to dip into Father Dwight Longenecker’s new book The Romance of Religion (Thomas Nelson). There I read in part: “If we believe in good and … Continue reading →

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Justice Scalia on Pope Francis, Hell and the Devil…

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Thomas J. Neal, Ph.D.

On October 6, 2013, the New York Magazine did an in-depth interview with US Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Here’s the link  What do you make of the new pope? He’s the Vicar of Christ. He’s the chief. I don’t run … Continue reading →

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OUR LADY OF KIBEHO: IS ANYONE STILL LISTENING?

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Thomas J. Neal, Ph.D.

Original article location, here. Diane McKelva | Oct 5, 2013 |  The attack on the Westgate Mall in Nairbi, Kenya, is a stark reminder of man’s inhumanity towards his fellow man;  senseless retribution against the innocents for perceived injustices, political gain or religious … Continue reading →

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Our Lady of Muhammad’s Daughter

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Thomas J. Neal, Ph.D.

I saw this fascinating reference to Archbishop Sheen in a Blog commenting on Pope Francis’ recent prayer Vigil that sought Our Lady’s intercession for Syria: Bishop Fulton Sheen wrote of Our Lady of Fatima as the bridge between Christians and … Continue reading →

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