March 2019

SVNDAY EDITION

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament via Adorecast

☩​ Team Catholify

Forgiveness Leads Us To Love As Christ Loves

. . .Oftentimes in our anger & suffering at the hands of others we forget that human beings are complex. . . ☩ Constance T. Hull at Catholic Exchange

Requirements of Conjugal Love: Blueprinting for a Lasting Marriage in Christ

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines the Sacrament of Matrimony as a “matrimonial covenant, by which a man & a woman establish between themselves a partnership of the whole of life. . . ☩ Paul Chutikorn at Homiletic & Pastoral Review

How to Keep Our Eyes on Jesus Through the Crossroads of Life

In New York City years ago, there was a pastor in the Garment District who advertised his church as the “crossroads of the world”. . . ☩ Fr. George W. Rutler, Th.D., at Catholic Exchange

Four Prominent Converts Describe Their Journeys of Faith to the Catholic Church

Testimonies from Bishop James Conley, Mother Mary Augustine, Scott Sullivan & Msgr. Peter Wilkinson ☩ Jim Graves at National Catholic Register

Burying the Alleluias: Living Lent at Home

There are several “new” traditions that our families can adopt in order to bring more meaning to Lent. . . ☩ Cynthia Millen at Catholic Stand

Marian Consecration: Protection from Sin & Evil

Entrusting ourselves to Mary becomes especially real through the spiritual exercise of Marian Consecration as taught by Louis Marie de Montfort & Maximilian Kolbe. ☩ Kathleen Beckman at Catholic Exchange

“How Shall This Be?”: A Call to Humility for a New Pentecost

☩ Douglas G. Bushman at Homiletic & Pastoral Review

Five Steps to Begin Overcoming Bitterness

☩ Gregory Popcak, Ph.D., at Catholic Exchange

Islam in the Lex Orandi of the Old Roman Martyrology

☩ Peter A. Kwasniewski, Ph.D., at New Liturgical Movement

Mike Aquilina & Jim Papandrea Co-Authors Of “How Christianity Saved Civilization”

☩ Dan Burke at Catholic Spiritual Direction

The Common Cross Of Anxiety

Some saints were as prone to worry & anxiety as the rest of us are. ☩ Charlie McKinney at Catholic Spiritual Direction

Zachary Thomas Reviews “Tradition & Sanity” by Peter Kwasniewski

For the millennial generation, the discovery of the old Mass has been like finding a pearl of great price, inexplicably boxed away in the attic. ☩ Gregory DiPippo at New Liturgical Movement

The Theology of Stepfatherhood

EDach of us, all day – every day, are constantly searching how to find God & how to understanding who we are in relation to Him. ☩ David L. Gray at DavidLGray.info

The Problem with Prooftexts

It is not unusual to hear Protestants say that Catholics can’t prove their beliefs from the Bible. Although we do fine with the Trinity or the divinity of Christ, they say, when it comes to its distinctive doctrines Catholicism must depart from the Bible and rely on human tradition. ☩ Douglas M. Beaumont at Catholic Answers Magazine

Why do Catholics use crucifixes that show Jesus on the cross?

The use of crucifixes by Catholics follows an ancient tradition that honors the supreme sacrifice of Jesus. ☩ Philip Kosloski at Aleteia

New Resource: Online Commentaries on the Mass Propers & Readings of the Usus Antiquior

I am extremely excited to announce a new web resource that places many classic commentaries on the usus antiquior Sunday & Holy Day Masses at preachers' (& laity's) fingertips: Sermonry. ☩ Peter A. Kwasniewski, Ph.D., at New Liturgical Movement

A religious upbringing greatly helps adolescents

A Harvard study finds that actively religious parents have a lasting, positive effect. ☩ Arthur Goldberg at Mercatornet

How old was Mary when she was pregnant with Jesus?

The Virgin Mary was entrusted with an enormous task at an early age. ☩ Philip Kosloski at Aleteia

Integralism & the Logic of the Cross

Objections to Integralism. . . ☩ Brother Edmund Waldstein, O. Cist., at Adoremus

Q&A Marriage Spirituality & The Domestic Church

What are some methods for couples to overcome distractions in prayer? . . . ☩ Dan Burke at Catholic Spiritual Direction

Let’s Talk About Character

☩ Pete Socks at Catholic Stand

Banner in the Sky: One of the Best-kept Secrets in Children’s Literature

☩ Stephen FitzPatrick at Crisis Magazine

Our Diaconal Call: Accompanying Families Through Miscarriage or Stillbirth

☩ Deacon Gerard-Marie Anthony & Dr. Sabine Heisman at Catholic Stand

How Mary Helped Political Commentator Sohrab Ahmari Find the Church

☩ Patti Maguire Armstrong at National Catholic Register

Reflection: A Necessity of the Spiritual Life

☩ Fr. Nicholas Blackwell, O. Carm., at Catholic Stand

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SATVRDAY EDITION

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament via Adorecast

☩​ Team Catholify

Islamic Terrorists Ramp up Attacks on Nigerian Christians

Islamic terrorists killed more than 120 Christians and burned dozens of homes in northern Nigeria in a series of attacks they have waged since February. ISIS-affiliated Boko Haram militants and Muslim Fulani tribesmen have hammered Christian villages in the Kaduna, Benue & Borno state, spurred on partly by Kaduna Gov. Nasir El-Rufai’s dubious claims that 133 people, mostly Fulani, were murdered on the eve of Nigeria’s presidential elections. ☩ Joshua Gill at The Stream

Cultural Catholicism

Mark is joined by Tricia Bruce to discuss the large swath of Americans who self-identify as “partially Catholic”—neither completely in nor completely out of the Church. ☩ Mark Bauerlein at First Things

Officially Uncompromising Catholic Photo

Years ago I heard an old bishop growl, “Meno chiacchiere – più processioni. . . . Less jabbering – more processions”. . . ☩ Fr. Z's Blog

Underground bishop, vicar general detained in China’s Hebei province

A bishop of the underground Church in China’s Hebei province and his vicar general were placed in detention this week, and a lay Catholic activist was jailed in Hong Kong. ☩ Catholic News Agency via The Catholic World Report

Immoderate Desires: The Deadly Sin of Lust

Lust — is it even a sin anymore? ☩ Anthony S. Layne at Catholic Stand

Pope Francis Issues Child-Protection Laws for Vatican City State, Roman Curia

Under the new law, promulgated March 29, officials are obliged to report ‘without delay’ any knowledge or well-founded suspicion of abuse. ☩ Hannah Brockhaus at Catholic News Agency via National Catholic Register

Semana Santa in Seville, Spain: A Holy Week celebration like no other

☩ V.M. Traverso at Aleteia

Saint Alphonsus Liguori’s 3 Rules for Fundraising

☩ Brice Sokolowski at CatholicFundraiser.net

How popes have addressed the conquest of the Americas

☩ Catholic News Agency via The Catholic World Report

One Less Day From Dying Young

☩ Kat Larson at Ignitum Today

Sohrab Ahmari’s Modern-Day Confessions

New York Post op-ed editor, Sohrab Ahmari, was twelve years old when he proclaimed himself an atheist. Angry about various things in his life, and alienated by the re-Islamization of his native Iran, he decided to curse God. . . ☩ Julia Meloni at Crisis Magazine

Copyright & Moral Right

A recent article on The Guardian tells us that novelist Francis Spufford has penned an unauthorized sequel to C.S. Lewis’s Narnia series that may never see the light of publication, which is sparking a small flurry of debate about copyright. ☩ Jonathan McDonald at Dappled Things

What is Education?

I urge you to answer this question for yourself before you read on. I myself am constantly reformulating my answer and expanding on what is education and how we can do it, as I watch my children grow. ☩ Julie Machado at Catholic Stand

St. John Paul II’s Record of Combating Abuse Is Defended by His Longtime Secretary

Cardinal Dziwisz: Pope’s actions are ‘reference for all those committed to fighting against the crime of sexual abuse of minors by clerics.’ ☩ Catholic News Agency via National Catholic Register

Calling a Spade a Spade: ‘Recomposing’ Human Remains Promotes Sacrilege

Commentary: Because his body is the body of a person — a human person redeemed by Christ, who ‘became flesh and lived among us’ — that body is sacred, a temple of the Holy Spirit, a sacramental. ☩ John M. Grondelski, Ph.D., at National Catholic Register

The Politically Incorrect Francis—14 Shocking Statements

Let’s be honest. Actually, let’s state the obvious. Many orthodox Catholics have had it with Pope Francis, as have non-Catholic conservatives who liked previous popes. . . ☩ Paul Kengor, Ph.D., at Crisis Magazine

“Are You Catholic or Christian?”: 10 Things Catholics Are Sick of Hearing

How often do you hear these misconceptions about the Catholic Church? ☩ ChurchPOP

An Early Medieval Biblical Narrative - The Story of Susanna Carved in a Crystal

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent is the day on which the Roman Rite traditionally reads the longest epistle of the year, the story of Susanna in the thirteenth chaper of the book of Daniel; I have previously written on the history of this passage’s liturgical use. ☩ Gregory DiPippo at New Liturgical Movement

The Genuine Art of the Processional Banner

We haven't yet had the opportunity to give much consideration to the world of the processional banner where the liturgical arts are concerned & today I wished to begin to remedy this omission ☩ Shawn R. Tribe at Liturgical Arts Journal

Podcast: Evangelizing & Morality: Birth Control & Same-Sex Attraction

☩ Dave VanVickle & Michael Gormley at Every Knee Must Bow

Order of Malta Pushing Gay Heroes in Comics

☩ The Eponymous Flower

Notes on The Gates of Hell

☩ Maureen Mullarkey at Studio Matters

Vicious letter to a young, faithful priest

☩ Fr. Z's Blog

Your Closet: More Chant Less Chaos

☩ Meghan Ashley Styling

Six Ornamental Cope Hoods

☩ Shawn R. Tribe at Liturgical Arts Journal

SATVRDAY EDITION Read More »

FRIDAY EDITION

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament via Adorecast

☩​ Team Catholify

Declining Sacramental Life of the Church an Alarming Trend

Regular churchgoers have known for a while now that Mass attendance is not what it used to be. . . ☩ Msgr. Robert Batule at Crisis Magazine

Catholic Churches Are Being Desecrated Throughout France and the Authorities do Not Know Why

Since early February, vandals desecrated more than a dozen Catholic Churches throughout France. They’ve looted, burned, destroyed statues, threw consecrated hosts all over the floors, and marked a cross on the wall with human feces. ☩ ChurchPOP

Liturgical Beauty and Joyful Evangelization

The experience of the Tridentine Mass ☩ Gregory DiPippo at New Liturgical Movement

Highlighting Same-Sex Attraction Is a Mistake

The orthodox Catholic blogosphere has duly noted the mostly same-sex nature of the scandals plaguing the Catholic Church. . . ☩ Peter Jermann at Crisis Magazine

Google, Amazon & Other Corporate Giants Target Texas Religious Protection Bills

Google, Amazon, IBM and Texas businesses banded together to oppose several Texas bills offering religious exemptions to businesses and state license holders. ☩ Joshua Gill at The Stream

In Defense of Distributism

Some of the worst critics of Distributism are Catholics, and by that I mean Catholics who give a free pass to the Laissez-faire mindset of the Austrian school of economics. ☩ Shane Schaetzel at Complete Christianity

Saint Alphonsus Liguori’s 3 Rules for Fundraising

☩ Brice Sokolowski at CatholicFundraiser.net

The fascinating history of the “We adore you, O Christ” prayer from the Stations of the Cross

☩ Philip Kosloski at Aleteia

Texas Bill Protects Doctors’ & Lawyers’ Religious Liberty

☩ Fr. Matthew P. Schneider, L.C., at Through Catholic Lenses

RIP Ring-gate

☩ Fr. Z's Blog

A ‘God Problem’ at the New York Times

When I saw that the New York Times had published an argument against the existence of God with a URL that contained the phrase “philosophy-God-omniscience,” it brought out my inner Catholic-apologist-geek. . . ☩ Trent Horn at Catholic Answers Magazine

Remains Found in Kansas Identified as Missing Priest

The Comanche County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that human remains found in a pasture are those of Father Marvin Reif, a Catholic priest who has been missing for two years. ☩ Cloe Langr at epicPew

Hatred of Christians Lead to Support of Sexual Minorities?

We generally believe that those who support LGBT rights dislike Christians because of their opposition to progressive sexual values. But a new study suggests that animosity toward Christians actually causes support for sexual minorities. ☩ George Yancey, Ph.D., at Public Discourse

The argument over Pope Pius XII’s response to the Holocaust is political, not historical

Pius XII did what he believed was right, and Jewish leaders after the war praised him lavishly for it. ☩ Russell Shaw at The Catholic World Report

Amazon Still Gives Southern Poverty Law Center Veto Power Over Charity Program

The Southern Poverty Law Center’s ongoing crisis hasn’t cost the left-wing nonprofit its privileged status with Amazon, which gives the SPLC broad authority to determine which charities and nonprofits can participate in its AmazonSmile charity program. ☩ Peter Hasson at The Stream

Finding My Voice To Speak Against Abortion

. . .But it’s wisdom born of pain. . . ☩ Betty Parquette at Catholic Stand

She Opened the Legislative Session With the ‘J-Word’

The modern virtue-signalers are expressing outrage again. ☩ Jeffrey S. Trimbath at The Stream

Stop Apologizing for Being Catholic

When I talk about Catholicism with my colleagues who are repping the St. Benedict medal and Rosary hanging in their car, I don’t witness apologetics; I witness apologies. Why? ☩ Zach Blodgett at ChurchPOP

Sympathy for a Lesser Devil

It is grievously erroneous to see John Milton’s Paradise Lost as a Christian work. ☩ Joseph Pearce at National Catholic Register

Introducing the Work of Benedicamus

Continuing on with our considerations of late of new vestment work, I recently came across a Polish vestment maker, Benedicamus, whose work has caught my attention. ☩ Shawn R. Tribe at Liturgical Arts Journal

Would you like some scripture with your Minecraft?

The popular sandbox building game has become a medium for telling biblical narratives. ☩ J.P. Mauro at Aleteia

Archbishop Wilton Gregory asked to lead Washington archdiocese

☩ J.D. Flynn, J.C.L., & Ed Condon, J.C.L., at Catholic News Agency via National Catholic Register

Who can become an exorcist?

☩ Philip Kosloski at Aleteia

LA Religious Education Conference draws protesters

☩ California Catholic Daily

Your Closet: More Chant Less Chaos

☩ Meghan Ashley Styling

Commitment to Change

☩ Noel Ethan Tan at Ignitum Today

Catholics Should Be Wary of ‘Elite’ Colleges

☩ Patrick Reilly at National Catholic Register

FRIDAY EDITION Read More »

THVRSDAY EDITION

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament via Adorecast

☩​ Team Catholify

An open letter to Cardinal Reinhard Marx

Your Eminence, the German Church — the Catholicism of my ancestors — is dying. ☩ George Weigel at The Catholic World Report

The Pope and the Pendulum: The First Mechanical Clock Was a Medieval Catholic Invention

The clock reveals to us the passage of time, but telling time wasn’t always as easy as it is today: from sundials to the hourglass, no method was very accurate until the first mechanical clock – a medieval Catholic invention by Pope Sylvester II. ☩ Billy Ryan at uCatholic

Marian Blue, Gold & White Vestments from Benedicamus

For those who admire blue vestments for Marian feasts but who do not live within locales where this privilege is available, take heart, there are some options available to you that remain within both the letter and spirit of the law. ☩ Shawn R. Tribe at Liturgical Arts Journal

What’s Really Behind the Vatican Newspaper Controversy?

Andrea Monda said he did not interfere in the printing of the monthly companion magazine Donna Chiesa Mondo (Women Church World), in the wake of the resignation of the founder of the multilingual magazine, Lucetta Scaraffia, and its all-female board. ☩ Edward Pentin at National Catholic Register

How secularization is killing middle America

Tim argues that the root cause of our problems; crumbling families, despair, political dysfunction, is the erosion of community and local, civil institutions, most especially church. ☩ Caroline Roberts at Acton Institute Powerblog

How to eliminate 99% of all poverty

☩ Rev. Ben Johnson at Acton Institute Powerblog

Following up: might cardinals have been authorized to disclose conclave secrets?

☩ Philip Lawler at Catholic Culture

Where do exorcists go to school?

☩ Philip Kosloski at Aleteia

Catholic Modesty

☩ Jacinta Boudreau at Ignitum Today

What Became of the Spirit of the Liturgy? Implementation of Sacrosanctum Concilium A.D. 1963—1965

Considering that so much of the debate about liturgy today is concerned with the rite of Mass itself—Ordinary vs. Extraordinary form, or the merits of proposed changes in the rite—the following statement from a book by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger (Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI) may be surprising ☩ Susan Benofy at Adoremus

Hack Your Way to Holiness – Off the Shelf 117 with Patti Maguire Armstrong

Leading a holy life doesn’t have to be difficult. Simply put we just need to persevere. ☩ Pete Socks at Catholic Stand

The mental health crisis among America’s youth is real – & staggering

Social media has drastically restructured their daily lives. ☩ Jean Twenge at Mercatornet

Jim Caviezel gave what may be the greatest Catholic address of the 21st century

The famed actor of 'The Passion of the Christ' called for the next generation to “send Lucifer straight back to hell.” ☩ J.P. Mauro at Aleteia

Book review: 'Rethinking Poverty' by James P. Bailey

Although the book shares the same title as Barry Knight’s Rethinking Poverty, Bailey’s argument takes a markedly different approach. He starts from the premise that the role of assets and asset-building has been vastly undervalued in the development of public policy on poverty and addressing the needs of the most vulnerable in society. ☩ Andrei Rogobete at Transatlantic Blog via Acton Institute

Science Is Never Settled

In his 2006 documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore promotes the view that anthropogenic (man-made) global warming (AGW) is fact and has caused nearly every malady in recent history from hurricane Katrina to the spread of malaria. . . ☩ Regis Nicoll at Crisis Magazine

A natural fertility app is found to be as effective as other family planning methods -

A first-of-its-kind prospective study. ☩ Shannon Roberts at Mercatornet

“Strive” offers men a challenging, unique 21-day detox from porn

The STRIVE program, says Bill Donaghy, is a “progressive journey for men, taking them deeper into their own lives and then out into the wider circles of accountability and fraternity.” ☩ Jim Graves at The Catholic World Report

The Catholic Position on the Electoral College

Is there a Catholic position on the Electoral College? Is there a “Catholic algebra” or a “Catholic chemistry”? ☩ Deacon James H. Toner at Crisis Magazine

Saint Patrick the Musical

☩ Donald R. McClarey, J.D., at The American Catholic

New University of Dallas President Focuses on Rigorous Scholarship, Fidelity, Shared Governance

☩ Carl E. Olson at Catholic World Report

Your Closet: More Chant Less Chaos

☩ Meghan Ashley Styling

The More Children a Woman Has, the More Slowly She Will Age, Study Suggests

☩ Claudia Harmata at People Magazine

Pope Leo XIII Teaches Fundraising

☩ CatholicFundraiser.net

THVRSDAY EDITION Read More »

VVEDNESDAY EDITION

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament via Adorecast

☩​ Team Catholify

The Ancient Mass in “House Churches” Was Not as Informal as Many Think

These “houses” were usually rather sizable, with a central courtyard or large room that permitted something a little more formal than Mass around the dining room table. ☩ Mark Rothe at Community in Mission

Did Maltese Archbishop Propose a Preferential Option for Gays?

The recently concluded Vatican summit on clerical sexual abuse did not prove disappointing to the many Catholics who had no expectation that it would address the main source of the problem: active homosexuality among clerics. . . ☩ Jeffrey Tranzillo, Ph.D., at Crisis Magazine

Evangelizing the bayou: This Poor Friars Priest Canoes a call to church

"The Lord’s voice resounding over the waters" - Psalm 29:3. ☩ J.P. Mauro at Aleteia

The Holy Spirit’s Guide To Correcting Error In The Church – Video

Is there a way that the Holy Spirit has specifically revealed to deal with false teaching in the Church? It is important to note that this video is NOT about the current abuse crisis but rather about false teaching in the Church & how to deal with it in a manner in keeping to the clear admonitions in the New Testament. ☩ Dan Burke at Catholic Spiritual Direction

What Should We Make of Bishop Barron?

Bishop Barron: The Hit-And-Miss Prelate ☩ Jonathan B. Coe at Crisis Magazine

What I Believe "Real" Evangelization Looks Like

I believe so many souls – especially young people – are searching for “the answer.” They are looking everywhere, and coming up empty. And, I believe with all my heart, mind, soul and strength that the answer begins with walking through the door of “Fear of the Lord.” ☩ Fr. Richard Heilman at Roman Catholic Man

Lenten Gardening: The Examen, Mortification & the Practice of the Opposing Virtue

☩ Suellen Brewster at Catholic Stand

More Reasons to Question the Holy See’s Accord with China

☩ Joan Frawley Desmond at National Catholic Register

Interesting: Dominus Iesus Vs. God Wills Diversity Of Religion

☩ Fr. John Hunwicke at Fr Hunwicke's Mutual Enrichment

Catholics & The Kissing Of Rings. . . Or Not; Wherein Fr. Z Rants

☩ Fr. Z's Blog

Pierre Manent on Machiavelli, Luther, & the Eclipse of the Natural Law

For most participants in modern political discourse, human rights are real and natural law is not. . . ☩ Nathaniel Peters, Ph.D., at Law & Liberty

Manufacturing The Postmodern Child

In his conversation with Sir Roger Scruton, Jordan Peterson mentioned that in his native Ontario, elementary school teachers are teaching children a postmodern approach to literature. . . ☩ Rod Dreher at The American Conservative

Fr. Carl Reid appointed Ordinary of Our Lady of the Southern Cross

Pope Francis today named Fr. Carl Reid, the dean of the Canadian deanery of St. John the Baptist of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, Ordinary of Australia’s Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of the Southern Cross.. ☩ Deborah Gyapong at The Anglicanorum Coetibus Society

A Whole New World: Readings for Laetare Sunday

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is known as “Laetare Sunday,” from the Latin Introit of the Mass, “Laetare Jerusalem,” “Rejoice, O Jerusalem” (Isa 66:10). ☩ John Bergsma, Ph.D. at The Sacred Page

Blacklisting Chick-fil-A

In San Antonio, a popular fast-food chain becomes the target of a progressive crusade. ☩ Mark Pulliam at City Journal

Is Easter a Pagan Celebration?

There is a thread of radical Protestant Fundamentalism that likes to attack traditional Christian celebrations — particularly Christmas and Easter. . . ☩ Shane Schaetzel at Complete Christianity

New Catholic women’s organization arrives with a bang

First FemCatholic conference hosts Chicago gathering of 400+. ☩ Theresa Civantos Barber at Aleteia

Religious superiors can now dismiss members for desertion

☩ Catholic News Agency via California Catholic Daily

Your Closet: More Chant Less Chaos

☩ Meghan Ashley Styling

Jesuit-run homosexualist Amerika’s latest pro-sodomy blasphemy

☩ Fr. Z's Blog

Pope Leo XIII Teaches Fundraising

☩ CatholicFundraiser.net

VVEDNESDAY EDITION Read More »

TVESDAY EDITION

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament via Adorecast

☩​ Team Catholify

Cardinal Sarah: “The Church is dying because the shepherds are afraid of speaking with truth & clarity,”

The Church is living a “mystery of treason,” a “mystery of Judas”, Curia Cardinal Robert Sarah writes in his new book “Le soir approche et déjà le jour baisse” (Fayard), ☩ Mark Lambert at De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

Politicizing pediatrics: how transgender guidelines undermine trust in medical authority

The American Academy of Pediatrics is prioritizing the opinion of a five-year-old over the judgment of the child’s parents. ☩ Leonard Sax at Mercatornet

Bring your parish back to life: here’s how

Mass attendance is up 12 percent, income has more than doubled at Star of the Sea Parish in San Francisco ☩ Fr. Joseph Illo at Catholic Herald via California Catholic Daily

Cardinals violating their vows: a ho-hum story?

America magazine is running a story about the conclave of 2013. The story— excerpted from the forthcoming The Election of Pope Francis, by Gerard O’Connell— includes a precise account of the voting on the cardinals’ first ballot. ☩ Philip Lawler at Catholic Culture

Pope Francis promotes a pervert - everyone just shrugs

. . .one of the stand out moments of the Vatican cringe-a-thon Abuse Summit was a journalist from Crux asked how can we believe that this is the end of cover-ups, "when at the end of the day, Pope Francis himself covered-up for a Bishop in Argentina who had gay porn on his phone". . . ☩ Mark Lambert at De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

Morocco’s hidden Christians see pope trip as a chance to push for freedom

☩ Ahmed Eljechtimi at Reuters

Structures, traditions, & hierarchical accountability

☩ Adam A.J. DeVille, Ph.D., at The Catholic World Report

Under pressure, UK to reconsider asylum application of Iranian Christian

☩ Catholic News Agency via The Catholic World Report

Your Closet: More Chant Less Chaos

☩ Meghan Ashley Styling

City Votes to Make Itself a “Sanctuary City” for Unborn Babies

A New Mexico city voted to become a “sanctuary” for unborn babies last week in response to pro-abortion Democrats’ push to expand late-term abortions. ☩ Micaiah Bilger at Life News

Should You Kiss The Pope's Ring?

. . .for some reason this video that has surfaced on Twitter showing Pope Francis deliberately refusing to allow people to kiss his papal ring has got me riled up. ☩ Fr. Dwight Longenecker

Cardinal Danneels, Euthanizer Of Belgian Catholicism

His period in office saw an unparalleled decline in the Church’s fortunes, with the influence of the once mighty Belgian Church reduced to insignificance. Danneels was also implicated in the cover-up of child abuse, but despite this he enjoyed the confidence of Pope Francis to the end. ☩ Rod Dreher at The American Conservative

The Resurrection of Realism, Beauty Will Save the World

It is not a coincidence that the very last thing we ever expect to see in church is modern art or an abstract painting, such as a blank page, a single brick, or splashes of paint, as some sort of “intellectual” revelation to massage one’s ego. Why? Many would immediately answer that it just does not belong there, and they are right, it doesn’t. ☩ Igor V. Babailov at Faith & Culture

Men Inspiring Men: The Amazing Knights of Divine Mercy Schola Cantorum

This year, my Knights of Divine Mercy Schola Cantorum have been invited to sing for the closing Mass for the 2019 Men of Christ Conference, on March 30 in Milwaukee. Somewhere between 3,000-4,000 men will gather with Archbishop Listecki & many other priests to call men to Strength & Courage. . . ☩ Fr. Richard Heilman at Roman Catholic Man

Inside The (Southern) Poverty (Law Center or SPLC) Palace

A lot of people have known for a while that the Southern Poverty Law Center is an extremely effective grifting operation. ☩ Rod Dreher at The American Conservative

The Role of Sacred Music in Catholic Education

Although there’s nothing in it about Roman weather or the various sites you might like to visit on a trip to the Vatican, French journalist Frédéric Martel’s In the Closet of the Vatican: Power, Homosexuality, Hypocrisy is a curious sort of Baedeker to the ins and outs of the Vatican City State. ☩ Jennifer Donelson at New Liturgical Movement

God’s Trunk Show: An Apologia for Glorious, Priestly Vestments

. . .The Mass is also an anticipation of and participation with the heavenly worship in the throne room of God. . . . ☩ Fr. Michael Rennier at Adoremus

Altarworthy & Jasper Artisans Guild Vestment Collaboration

It is very rare anymore that one might feature something relatively 'novel' in approach, yet still distinctly traditional. ☩ Shawn R. Tribe at Liturgical Arts Journal

Quæritur: How early can the Easter Vigil begin?

Since this night is the most important of the year, you want to get it right. Right? That includes the right time when the rite is to begin. The symbolism of the light in darkness is important to the meaning of the rite. And the purpose of our liturgical rites is to have an encounter with mystery. The signs and symbols are important. ☩ Fr. Z's Blog

Prayers for Caroline Farrow

☩ Deborah Gyapong at The Anglican Coetibus Society

Pope Leo XIII Teaches Fundraising

☩ CatholicFundraiser.net

Study Commission: no evidence women were ordained to the diaconate

☩ Fr. Z's Blog

An Exorcist Comments on Walmart’s Satanic Products

☩ Patti Maguire Armstrong at National Catholic Register

Evangelizing on the Web: An Interview with New Advent Founder Kevin Knight

☩ Joseph Pearce at Faith & Culture

6 Rules of minimalism according to the saints

☩ Maria Paola Daud at Aleteia

TVESDAY EDITION Read More »

MONDAY EDITION

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament via Adorecast

☩​ Team Catholify

Pope Francis, the hidden schism is not really new

The German Bishops’ Conf. latest decision to convoke a local Synod that will lead to binding decisions on sexuality, priestly celibacy & reduction of clerical power was not a surprise. . .the decision shed light once more on a well-known problem: the hidden schism within the Catholic. . . ☩ Andrea Gagliarducci at Monday Vatican

3 Powerful Reasons It Will Take the Laity to Renew the Church in Crisis

It is said that for the Catholic Church to be renewed it will take the laity. ☩ Fr. Bill Peckman at ChurchPOP

In Edmonton, growth puts pressure on Catholic school enrollment

Edmonton’s Catholic schools are at full capacity and may soon have to turn away students, although school district officials are hopeful that new funding from the Alberta government will be announced. ☩ Catholic News Agency via The Catholic World Report

Catholic Journalist Could Face Prison Time for Using “Wrong Pronoun to Describe Transgender Girl” on Twitter

A Catholic journalist was asked by police to come in for questioning over tweets that allegedly “misgendered” an individual, potentially an offense under the United Kingdom Malicious Communications Act. ☩ uCatholic

Tradition Meets Technology at the New Monastery of the Carmelites of Wyoming

Adherence to tradition needn't mean utter avoidance of modernity & technology & in this particular story we learn of how the Carmelites of Wyoming have learned & utilized technology in a way that is helping bring traditional design & noble materials. . . ☩ Shawn R. Tribe at Liturgical Arts Journal

Science Builds on Faith: STEM Studies Grow From Catholic Roots

☩ Elisabeth Deffner at National Catholic Register

Inspiring Ways Catholics Can Effectively Evangelize

☩ Sim. Rizkallah at ChurchPOP

Your Closet: More Chant Less Chaos

☩ Meghan Ashley Styling

Pope Leo XIII Teaches Fundraising

☩ CatholicFundraiser.net

What on earth is a ‘social justice hackathon’?

Michael Novak, an American Catholic political scholar best known for his demonstrations that democratic capitalism & Catholic social teaching are compatible, Catholic scholars from think tanks & educational institutions come from all over to deliver speeches on current social issues & the solutions they have discovered through their work. ☩ Jacob Comello at Catholic News Service via Crux

The Bad Poetry of Modern Hymnody

In an earlier column, I asked why we could not sing hymns from the Christian treasury, which is nearly two thousand years old, and which features composers with names like Bach and Handel and poets from Prudentius to Thomas Aquinas to Isaac Watts, the Wesleys, and John Henry Newman, rather than silly, sloppy, banally sentimental, and often ungrammatical lyrics set to off-off-Broadway show tunes. ☩ Anthony M. Esolen, Ph.D., at Crisis Magazine

The Hypocritical SPLC, the Hateful Hate List People

There’s enough truth in the Southern Poverty Law Center’s famous list of hate groups to hide one huge example of hate: the SPLC’s own. ☩ Tom Gilson at The Stream

In South Carolina, statewide Catholic Bee tests religious knowledge

How well would you do if you had to answer questions about the Catholic faith while standing in front of a room full of people Students faced that challenge recently at the first Diocese of Charleston Catholic Bee in early March at St. Anne School in Rock Hill, which drew 30 Catholic school students in third through eighth grades from four local Catholic schools. ☩ Christina Lee Knauss at Catholic News Service via Crux

Proper Liturgy Needs Doctrinal Truth

Liturgical thought today seems to downplay the importance of doctrine while elevating the significance of practice. The harmony of lex orandi as the criterion of lex credendi is questioned. Dogma and liturgy seem to have parted company. We need to choose which side we are on. . . ☩ Fr. James V. Schall, S.J., at Crisis Magazine

Is Religion Just a Social Construct?

One of the arguments against religion is that it’s a social construction – that is, that religion (particularly, belief in an interventionist or “moralistic” god, meaning a god interested in human affairs and morality) is something invented by society, in order to regulate its citizenry. ☩ Joe Heschmeyer, J.D., at Shameless Popery

Alternative spring break to Mexico opens eyes, hearts of students

☩ Denis Grasska at Catholic News Service via Crux

Catholic Charities works to meet needs of Inland Empire’s poor

☩ Press-Enterprise via California Catholic Daily

The 10 most dangerous countries for Christians

☩ J.P. Mauro at Aleteia

Don’t Get Old In Belgium

☩ Rod Dreher at The American Conservative

Is the Bible without error

☩ Philip Kosloski at Aleteia

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☩​ Team Catholify

Pray For Your Priests by Name

Pray for priests, so that each & every one of them will repeatedly say yes to the call he has received. . . --St. John Paul II ☩ Patty Knap at National Catholic Register

The Glorious Music of Heinrich Biber

50 years ago, most music lovers had not heard of Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber, 1644-1704. Now he has claimed his place in the canon of great composers. ☩ Michael De Sapio at The Imaginative Conservative

How to Start a Family Rosary

“The family that recites the Rosary together reproduces something of the atmosphere of the household of Nazareth.” —St. John Paul II ☩ Sherry Antonetti at National Catholic Register

The Shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary in Fontanellato, Italy

The church was founded at the beginning of the 16th century, and became particularly famous after a plague in the region in 1630, which hit the town itself very lightly. ☩ Gregory DiPippo at New Liturgical Movement

‘Victoria’ is Refreshingly Pro-Family & Pro-Marriage

What Albert and Victoria have in their marriage is good and beautiful, and even a show made in an amoral society cannot hide that. ☩ Susanna Spencer at National Catholic Register

Temptation is inevitable; sin is not

Lent is an opportunity to do intensively what should be done normally. ☩ Fr. Peter M.J. Stravinskas at The Catholic World Report

Saint Francis de Sales on Aridity in Prayer

☩ Rick Yoder at The Amish Catholic

Seven Religious Talk About the Habits They Wear

☩ Jim Graves at National Catholic Register

Fifteen Catholic Bible Verses You Can Easily Memorize

☩ Becky Roach at Catholic Link

Can We Love Tradition Too Much?

☩ Peter A. Kwasniewski, Ph.D., at New Liturgical Movement

Only for those who possess Latin Monastic Breviaries: Hymns for St. Benedict

In the Liturgia Horarum, you have Legifer prudens for Lauds. This was composed by Dom Anselmo Lentini and published (1954) in the periodical Latinitas. Lentini, a very considerable hymnographer, commented that it fitted the munus sociale of St. Benedict, on account of which he was made principal Patron of all Europe by St. Paul V. . . ☩ Fr. John Hunwicke at Fr Hunwicke's Mutual Enrichment

Special Catholics: Parishioners With Down Syndrome Bless the Church With Their Gifts

How positive people make a difference. ☩ Susan Klemond at National Catholic Register

This prayer before a crucifix reminds us of our role in the crucifixion

As much as we like to avoid it, we played a central role in Jesus' Passion. ☩ Philip Kosloski at Aleteia

The Tremulant in French Classical Organ Music

Ludger Lohmann, notable concert organist and Professor of Organ at the Hochschule in Stuttgart, discusses aspects of organ performance, culture, education, and competitions in Germany with Vox Humana Associate Editor Kirk Rich. ☩ Jonathan Young at Vox Humana

Is the Existence of God Probabilistic?

Is the existence of God probabilistic? It is if human intellectual knowledge is the inference of probability. This essay is intended (1) to acknowledge that yes is the answer of Richard Dawkins. . . ☩ Bob Drury at Catholic Stand

Delighting in the Law

Often we think of the law as something that places limits on our freedom—God’s list of don’ts. But true freedom does not mean we can act however we please without punishment. . . ☩ Erin Cain at Ignitum Today

You Shall Not Take the Name of the Lord, Your God, in Vain

In Exodus 20:7, the Lord God provided a simple commandment: “You shall not invoke the name of the LORD, your God, in vain. For the LORD will not leave unpunished anyone who invokes his name in vain.” ☩ Dan Byron at Catholic Stand

5 Habits Of People Who Have A Good Prayer Life

☩ Becky Roach at Catholic Link

Did You Know St. Patrick’s sister is also a saint?

☩ Philip Kosloski at Aleteia

St. Joseph: The Springtime Saint

☩ Masha Goepel at Catholic Stand

Our Gifts Are On Loan

☩ Noel Ethan Tan at Ignitum Today

Reflections on The Mass

☩ Ray Sullivan at Catholic Stand

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☩​ Team Catholify

UK Denies asylum to Iranian convert to Christianity, saying the religion is not 'peaceful'

The U.K. government agency in charge of immigration has come under fire for denying political asylum to an Iranian convert to Christianity and explaining its decision on its contention that the religion is not peaceful. ☩ Elizabeth Llorente at Fox News

US Bishops: Equality Act Will Hurt More Than Help

Legislation would add anti-discrimination protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, but the USCCB expressed concern about threats to freedom and safety. ☩ Catholic News Agency via National Catholic Register

Financial worries? Here’s some powerful Scripture to help allay your fears

When times get tough, the Bible can add a lot of helpful perspective. ☩ Cerith Gardiner at Aleteia

American Pope? Rare, Report from Pope Francis’s election reveals who got votes

A rare, leaked report about a papal election revealed great uncertainty in the 2013 picking of Pope Francis. . .for the first time top spots for an American & a Canadian. ☩ Michelle Boorstein at The Washington Post

Catholic Priest Stabbed During Mass at St. Joseph’s Oratory in Montreal

Fr. Claude Grou was taken to a local hospital in an ambulance and is in stable condition. ☩ Catholic News Agency via National Catholic Register

Pope accepts the resignation of Chilean cardinal who faces abuse cover-up probe

As was the case with the previous seven Chilean bishops whose resignations Francis accepted in the past year, the Vatican failed to provide an official explanation for Ezzati’s departure ☩ Inés San Martín at Crux

Prayers for Cardinal Pell

☩ Deborah Gyapong at The Anglicanorum Coetibus Society

Your Closet: More Chant Less Chaos

☩ Meghan Ashley Styling

Dots to connect: Rise of Anti-Catholic Violence

☩ Fr. Z's Blog

Pope Leo XIII Teaches Fundraising

☩ Brice Sokolowski at CatholicFundraiser.net

Knockin’ on Heaven’s Doors: Peter Kreeft Points to the Good, True & Beautiful

Book Pick: Doors in the Walls of the World: Signs of Transcendence in the Human Story ☩ Timothy D. Lusch at National Catholic Register

Abortion Kills More Than Babies

Abortion Corrupts the Nature of Women and Men ☩ Jennifer Hartline at The Stream

A Victim of Catholic Clergy Sexual Assault Speaks Out

Commentary: Let us unite in bringing the darkness to light and healing to all. ☩ Krista Keil at National Catholic Register

The Danger of Conflating Sexual Abuse With Abuse of Power

Commentary: The February summit of bishops at the Vatican signaled a turning point in how the Church is framing sexual abuse. ☩ Fr. Raymond J. de Souza at National Catholic Register

San Antonio Calls Chick-Fil-A Store a “Symbol of Hate,” Bans Christian Business From Airport

The persecution of Christian businesses continues. ☩ Steven Ertelt at Life News

Archbishop Chaput to College Students: Following God’s Will Is Answer to Dark Times

‘There’s some good in the world, and it’s worth fighting for,’ he told them, quoting The Lord of the Rings. ☩ Catholic News Agency via National Catholic Register

Here are the only comic adaptations of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth

☩ Philip Kosloski at Excelsior!

Socialism Fails Every Time – A 5-minute Primer

☩ Steve Ray at Defenders of the Catholic Faith

“Dear Fathers, dear seminarians. . .” Wherein Fr. Z rants

☩ Fr. Z's Blog

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FRIDAY EDITION

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☩​ Team Catholify

Christians Die, Media Mum

. . .The “Middle Belt” is, as you probably guessed, ethnically and religiously diverse. In this part of the country, Christians have been on the receiving end of a campaign that Open Doors calls “religious cleansing,” that is, an attempt “to eradicate Christianity” from the region. . . ☩ John Stonestreet at The Stream

Anti-Christian Britain Vs. Asylum Seeker

One isn’t shocked by this or that outrage from post-Christian Britain. But this, from the government, is not just post-Christian, it is forthrightly anti-Christian. . . ☩ Rod Dreher at The American Conservative

Doctors Said He Was in a “Vegetative State.” Then One Day He Just Woke Up

People who are diagnosed as being in a “vegetative state” (PVS) are often warehoused in institutions. After a period of time a decision is often made to withdraw all treatment including the withdrawal of fluids and food to dehydrate the person to death. ☩ Alex Schadenberg at Life News

Father's Ultimate Sacrifice for Son With Down Syndrome Continues to Save Lives

A research fund set up to honor Thomas S. Vander Woude commemorates the heroic sacrifice he made in 2008. ☩ Peter Jesserer Smith at National Catholic Register

Christian Mom & Journalist Faces Jail Time in Britain for ‘Misgendering’

. . .Unlike my opponents, I’m willing to compromise. I’ll take a half a loaf and like it, as long as it’s not baked from sawdust and crawling with maggots. . . ☩ John Zmirak, Ph.D., The Stream

Cardinal DiNardo discharged, expected full recovery

☩ Catholic News Agency via The Catholic World Report

Bearing the Fruit of Repentance: 3rd Sunday of Lent

☩ John Bergsma, Ph.D., at The Sacred Page

Your Closet: More Chant Less Chaos

☩ Meghan Ashley Styling

Pope Leo XIII Teaches Fundraising

☩ Brice Sokolowski at CatholicFundraiser.net

10 Things To Do If Your Lent Plans Fail

What do you do then, when you’ve utterly failed at Lent? Here are ten suggestions to help you to make the most out of your Lenten journey. . . ☩ Shaun McAfee, O.P., at Catholic Exchange

Joseph Was Also Full of Grace

Slowly Understanding Joseph’s Fiat ☩ Susan Skinner at Catholic Stand

Rethinking Baptismal Preparation

The Archdiocese of Paris runs a program for parents expecting a child: “Spiritual Preparation for Parenthood.” I have not been able to obtain a content overview of the program, but it caused me to think about its perspective. We need to enlarge our expectations of this stage in life. ☩ John M. Grondelski, Ph.D., at Crisis Magazine

Catholic Conversions: The Little Rascals

Did you know that not one, but at least two of the Little Rascals have converted to Catholicism? ☩ Scott Smith, J.D., at All Roads Lead To Rome

Intercession of the Saints—Revealed

. . .we considered two rebuttals that some Protestants make against Catholics’ use of Revelation 5:8 in support of the doctrine of the intercession of the saints. And we saw how both don’t work But there are other counter-arguments that a Protestant may spring on you. Let’s look at them here. ☩ Karlo Broussard at Catholic Answers Magazine

Revolutionary War Hero Ethan Allen's Daughter Became a Nun After an Apparition of St. Joseph

Fanny Allen was open to assent to truth when she found mysteries that could not be explained by the oracle of reason alone. Thus she found peace and love. ☩ Stephanie Mann at National Catholic Register

Did You Know? Catholic Blessings for Cheese, Car, Fire, & Many Other “Ordinary” Things

☩ Billy Ryan at uCatholic

Why the Bible Says the Prayers of Holy People Are More Powerful

☩ Dave Armstrong at National Catholic Register

“Follow Me”

☩ Kat Larson at Ignitum Today

Deposition of Relics for an Upcoming Church Dedication

☩ Gregory DiPippo at New Liturgical Movement

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A New Kind of Pornography Addiction for Teens

Bill and Sandy came to my office with their son Kevin, age 15. Kevin was addicted to Internet pornography. He had been viewing it daily on his smartphone for over four years. . . ☩ Peter Kleponis, Ph.D., at Those Catholic Men

The Cardinal Pell Case Reminds the World Why Cardinals Wear Red

“This is what the red color of their habits means: the color of blood and love.” —Pope Benedict XVI ☩ Fr. Roger Landry at National Catholic Register

Pope Francis’ Appointments: A Key Measure of His Pontificate

The Holy Father’s choices have been much less impactful than the diverse range of Church luminaries St. John Paul II appointed early in his own papacy. ☩ Fr. Raymond J. de Souza at National Catholic Register

On the question of a heretical pope

The issue of how to handle a heretical pope, in concrete terms, has not yet been treated in a manner which approaches anything like a true general consent in the entire Catholic tradition. ☩ Bishop Athanasius Schneider at Rorate Cæli

Amid Continued Midwest Flooding, Catholic Groups Step Up to Help

Catholic Charities and other entities are lending a hand in Nebraska and elsewhere. ☩ Catholic News Agency via National Catholic Register

What Does the Church Teach? – Off the Shelf 116 with Jimmy Akin

We are constantly inundated with what people Think the Church teaches but do we really know what the Church Actually teaches? ☩ Pete Socks at Catholic Stand

A tale of two Georges

☩ George Weigel at The Catholic World Report

Pope Leo XIII Teaches Fundraising

☩ Brice Sokolowski at CatholicFundraiser.net

The Decadence Of Godfried Danneels

☩ Rod Dreher at The American Conservative

Francis’ Triduum Schedule: strange lacuna

☩ Fr. Z's Blog

Prostituted People are the Walking Dead: So Why Does Amnesty International Advocate for the Sex Industry?

Few public policy issues have been as quickly and as universally acknowledged as the criminal phenomenon of human trafficking. . . ☩ Eleanor K. Gaetan, Ph.D., at Humanum

Mixed Reviews for History Channel's New Lenten Series ‘Jesus: His Life’

Couldn't a Lenten series just tell the story, without calling Bible passages into question? ☩ Kathy Schiffer at National Catholic Register

Video: Toxic Feminism and its Antidote—Dr. Carrie Gress

Carrie Gress is onto something extremely important. We all talk about the anti-Christ, and toxic masculinity, but what about the anti-Mary and toxic femininity? Isn’t our culture marinating in both? Isn’t this a problem hiding in plain sight? ☩ The Patrick Coffin Show

The Economics & Ethics of “Just Wages” According to Catholic Teaching

As with the concept of the just price, the idea of the just wage combines the subjectivity of the diverse needs and preferences of individuals with the objective demands of justice. The teaching of the Catholic Church on the just wage avoids both the Scylla of economism and the Charybdis of moralism. ☩ Kishore Jayabalan at Public Discourse

Cardinal Barbarin Remains Archbishop, Takes Leave of Absence

Vatican says Francis has not accepted the French cardinal’s resignation, though the prelate has stepped back from the day-to-day leadership of his archdiocese. ☩ Hannah Brockhaus at Catholic News Agency via National Catholic Register

Pro-Lifers Were Belittled for Opposing Embryonic Stem Cell Research, Now Adult Stem Cells the ‘Gold Standard’

During the Great Embryonic Stem Cell Debate, circa 2001-08, I watched “scientists” lie about the low potential for adult stem cells & the cures that were just around the corner from embryonic stem cells. ☩ Wesley J. Smith, J.D., at Life News

There Are No Such Thing As Gays (Or Trannies)

. . .This brings us to the point of asking what sexual intercourse is for. . . ☩ William M. Briggs, Ph.D., at Statistician to the Stars!

Catholicism & Mindfulness: Compatible Practices Or Contrary Spiritualities?

☩ Claire Dwyer at Catholic Spiritual Direction

Moses & a Bible ‘Controversy’

☩ Jimmy Akin at Catholic Answers Magazine

A promising humanities program at Clemson puts the emphasis on the great works of the Western tradition

☩ Mark Bauerlein at City Journal

St. Joseph’s Apparition in the United States

☩ Joseph Pronechen at National Catholic Register

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Bishop’s phone porn didn’t involve minors, but questions remain on move to Vatican

When Pope Francis decided in 2017 to bring an Argentine bishop to Rome and give him a job in the Vatican, the prelate had been accused of “strange behavior” but not of criminal sexual conduct, Crux has learned. ☩ Inés San Martín at Crux

Critics question ‘Equality Act’ exclusion of religious freedom

Federal legislation purporting to guarantee equality explicitly rejects religious freedom protections and would open the gates to anti-discrimination lawsuits against religious believers and institutions who disagree with the bill’s broad view of LGBT discrimination, critics said. ☩ Catholic News Agency via The Catholic World Report

‘Son, Give Me Thy Heart’ — the Extraordinary Life of an Irish-Catholic Priest

Father Seamus O’Kielty passed away as Christendom College’s assistant chaplain, revealing a legacy of faithfully following Jesus Christ in the spirit of old Ireland’s Catholic missionaries. ☩ Peter Jesserer Smith at National Catholic Register

Vatican diplomat accused of corruption & ‘romantic’ relationship while at UN

Archbishop Francis Chullikatt is alleged to have maintained an inappropriate relationship with a woman during his time as the Holy See’s permanent observer to the United Nations. ☩ J.D. Flynn, J.C.L., & Ed Condon, J.C.L., at Catholic News Agency via National Catholic Register

Who were St. Joseph’s parents?

The parents of the foster father of Jesus raised a "just man," who would guard the Savior of the world. ☩ Philip Kosloski at Aleteia

There’s Room In The Democrat 2020 Field For A Pro-Life Candidate

About half of Americans are opposed to abortion, and more are disgusted by late-term and partial-birth abortions. Democrats should stop running radicals if they are serious about winning. ☩ Charles C. Camosy at The Federalist

Sunday best, casual Friday, & ties

☩ John Grondelski, Ph.D., at National Catholic Register

Zanchetta affair exposes a culture of fear, indifference

☩ Christopher R. Altieri at The Catholic World Report

Study: Cohabiting Relationships Are Less Stable Than Marriage

☩ Catholic News Agency via National Catholic Register

Exposing the Anti-Mary: An Interview with Carrie Gress

☩ Shane Kepler at Catholic Exchange

A Rock & Roll Journalist Opens Her Ears to God

“I don’t believe that my experience on October 22, 1999, is going to convert anyone,” says Dawn Eden Goldstein about a key event along her journey to the Catholic Church, “But it converted me, and that’s what matters.” ☩ Christopher S. Morrissey at The Catholic World Report

What We Saw in the New Zealand Mosque Murders? The New Paganism

These killers, the kind of people who shoot up and bomb mosques, hate Christianity as much as they hate Islam. ☩ Peter Wolfgang at The Stream

Book Review: ‘Golden State’ Depicts A World When Telling The Truth Becomes A Crime

Ben H. Winters' detective novel 'Golden State' tells of a dystopian future where honesty is rigorously policed, and succeeds as thought-provoking entertainment. ☩ Clay Waters at The Federalist

Pursuing Beauty Must Be an Intentional Choice

Have you ever watched a sunset and felt something deep in your soul stir to life? This feeling has many names; poets call it nostalgia, theologians call it longing. It comes from an encounter with Beauty and it shakes us to our core. ☩ Haley Stewart at Carrots for Michaelmas

Should Christian Ministries Use Liberal Social Media Platforms to Get Their Message out?

It would be one thing if we sold our souls to these platforms, compromising our message to maintain our good standing. . . . ☩ Michael Brown, Ph.D., at The Stream

‘Leaving Neverland’ & the new sexual morality

What does the unmasking of Michael Jackson actually change? ☩ Carolyn Moynihan at Mercatornet

There’s nothing new about anti-Catholic bigotry

☩ Joanna Bogle at The Catholic World Report

California Threatens the Seal of Confession

☩ Charlotte Allen at First Things

There Are Now 122 Papal Electors

☩ The Eponymous Flower

The Silencing of Christians

☩ Michael Brown, Ph.D., at The Stream

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