Category Archives: Miscellaneous

Originally at: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/21/opinion/a-medieval-antidote-to-isis.html by Mustafa Akyol ISTANBUL — THE recent massacres in Paris and San Bernardino, Calif., demonstrated, once again, the so-called Islamic State’s ability to win over disaffected Muslims. Using a mixture of textual literalism and self-righteous certainty, the extremist group … Continue reading →

Originally at: http://www.cruxnow.com/life/2015/12/26/star-wars-the-return-of-the-transcendent/ by Charles C. Camosy “Daddy, he’s real.” She had seen computer-generated Yoda from the prequels, but upon seeing the actual puppet in “The Empire Strikes Back,” Simon Pegg’s daughter couldn’t contain her wonder. When Pegg (who has a cameo … Continue reading →

Originally at: http://www.religionnews.com/2015/12/18/last-minute-politics-overshadow-historic-pan-orthodox-council/ by Tom Heneghan PARIS (RNS) A religious summit last held more than 1,200 years ago suddenly risks being downgraded or postponed because of Syria’s four-year civil war. This unexpected twist has come as the world’s Orthodox churches, the second-largest ecclesial … Continue reading →

Originally at http://www.thepublicdiscourse.com/2015/12/16174/ by Carson Holloway The holiday season has many traditions, some ancient, some modern. Among the most recent is a paradoxical one: complaints, yearly renewed, about the public recognition of Christmas as a religious celebration. As these observances get underway, … Continue reading →

Originally at: http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/belief/2015/dec/17/magical-thinking-about-progress-wont-save-planet-earth by Giles Fraser Perhaps, as never before, we look to the future to deal with the problems of the present. We anticipate future successes, then price them into the challenges of today. Take the recent Paris climate summit, a … Continue reading →

Originally at: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/christianity-brave-new-world-benedict-option/ by Rod Dreher Michael Hanby, who teaches philosophy of science at Catholic University’s John Paul II Institute, recently gave a powerful lecture in Philadelphia, at the invitation of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese there. It speaks deeply to the … Continue reading →

Originally at: http://www.catholicvote.org/isis-announces-systematic-killing-of-children-with-down-syndrome-but-theyre-not-the-only-ones/ by JD Flynn Early Monday morning, news agencies began reporting that ISIS clerics have issued an oral fatwa calling for the systematic killing of children with Down syndrome and other genetic disabilities. According to reports, nearly 40 disabled … Continue reading →

This video below exemplifies the well-known saying, “There are no great things to accomplish in this world, only small things done with great love.”

Originally at: http://www.cruxnow.com/faith/2015/12/10/more-young-women-than-you-think-consider-becoming-nuns/ by Michael O’Loughlin An estimated 250,000 young women in the United States have given serious thought to joining religious communities, but if sisters and nuns hope to attract new members, they’ve got to do a better job explaining the … Continue reading →

Originally at: http://ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/pagan-plot-vatican by Michael Sean Winters Who would have thought that a light show could cause such a stir! Archbishop Rino Fisichella, who oversees the Council on the New Evangelization, made the decision to use the façade of St. Peter’s basilica … Continue reading →