Robert Edwards

A New & Necessary Book by Jason Craig, Editor of Those Catholic Men

. . .Craig focuses on the essential need for males (boys & unfinished, empty, or despairing men) to leave behind the immaturity of sin & selfishness in order to grow up in virtue & brotherhood. . .

by James Baxter

of Those Catholic Men

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Small Irish Community Seeks Help to Save a Saint’s Iconic Cross – CNA via Crux
A Shocking Loss of Faith: Reflecting on the Closing of So Many Churches – Msgr. Ch. Pope
Towards a Sexual Counter-Revolution – Carolyn Moynihan, Mercatornet
Communist Chinese Police Force Pregnant Christian Woman to Have Abortion – Piao Junying
The New Evangelization Needs a New Hellenization – Mo Waltering, Faith & Culture
Underground Priest: “Catholicism in Communist China is Facing Calamity” – Feng Gang, BW
Robert Spaemann, the Last Great Catholic Philosopher – Sandro Magister, Settimo Cielo
New Chant Schola Launching in London for the Traditional Mass – J. Shaw, LMS Chairman
Vatican Museums to Launch Full Virtual Tour to Increase Accessibility – A. Condodina, Crux
Vatican Foreign Minister Says Intolerance of Christians ‘Last Acceptable Prejudice’ – Crux
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Haven’t Been to Confession in Years? This Priest Provides 3 Great Ways to Prepare Your Heart This Advent

. . .John the Baptist calls us to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord & to be ready for Christ’s arrival, not only in a general way into the world, but also in a particular way into each one of our hearts. . .

from ChurchPOP

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
11 Amazing Facts I Just Learned About Benedict XVI’s Childhood – Sh. McAfee O.P., NC Rgstr
Astronauts Who Read Genesis on Christmas Eve & Got Sued For It – M. Archbold, NC Register
Every Christmas for 7 Years Mary Wagner Jailed for Stopping Abortion, Not This Year – LN
The Friendly Atheist is Factually Wrong about Catholicism & Contraception – Fr Schneider LC
Mass in Extraordinary Form Draws Refugees From Church Turmoil – J. Roberts, NC Register
Bodies as Commodities in Netflixes Altered Carbon – Patrick Malone, Catholic Stand
Miracle in the Classroom – Susan Skinner, Catholic Stand
Reasons for Church Closings Need to Be Fully Examined, Says Lawyer – E. Pentin, NC Rgstr
Christmas 1776: Washington Refuses to be Beaten – Donald R. McClarey J.D., TACatholic
Vatican Conference Grapples With Issue of Decommissioning Churches – E. Pentin, NC Rgstr
Loving Our Neighbors for the Common Good: Subsidiarity, Responsibility, & Change – Acton
Pennsylvania Diocese Opening Faith-Based Addiction Recovery High School – The CWR
How this Classical Catholic School Welcomes Children with Down Syndrome – C Grogan, CNA
Such Faith – Noel Ethan Tan, Ignitum Today
New Threats & Intimidation Against Iraqi Christians – Edward Pentin, National Catholic RegisterXXX
Spiritual Approaches Critical to Veterans Dealing With PTSD – Stephen Beale, NC Register
5 Secrets Of Fundraising We Can Learn From The Saints – Becky Roach, Catholic Link
Into the Deep of Advent – Mary Jo Gerd, We’re Late For Church
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Armenian Apostolic Church Appoints First-Ever Representative in Rome

. . .The Armenian Apostolic Church, one of six in the Oriental Orthodox communion, will have a fixed representative in Rome, similar to the Eastern Orthodox, Anglicans, & Methodists. . .

from the Catholic News Agency

via The Catholic World Report

Shifting Tectonic Plates in Eastern Christianity – George Weigel, The Catholic World Report
Evangelical Ethiopian Helps End Oriental Orthodox Schism – Jay. Casper, Christianity Today
Saudi Crown Prince Shocks Islamists, Visits Coptic Pope – Thomas Lifson, The Amrcn Thinker
The Americanization of an Ancient Faith: The Copts – Shira Telushkin, The Atlantic
Desiccated Ancient Biblical Manuscript Revealed by X-Ray Scan – J.P. Mauro, Aleteia
Ethiopia’s Rock-Hewn Churches are an Ancient Wonder of the World – Zelda Caldwell, Aleteia
Who are the Coptic Christians? – Paul Rowe Ph.D., The Conversation
Egypt’s “Christian-Free” Soccer Traditions – Mai Shams El-Din, Mada Masr via WorldCrunch
The Hard Work of Re-Establishing an Artistic Tradition – David Clayton, New Liturgical Mvmnt
Meet an Ethiopian Priest Who Has to Scale a Cliff to Reach His Church – BBC
In Cairo, Blood Flows Again at Coptic Church – Zenit
Killed for Being (Coptic) Christian – Courtney Grogan, Catholic News Agency
Coptic Orthodox Bishop Found Dead in Suspected Murder – The Catholic World Report
The Return Home: Syriac Christians Celebrate Eucharistic Liturgy in Ravaged Church – CNA
“We Are Copts, & We Are Ready For Anything” – Paul de Dinechin, Aleteia
Coptic Orthodox to Dedicate Church to New Martyrs of Libya – The Catholic World Report
Egypt Court Sentences 17 to Death for Attacking Christians – Samy Magdy, A.P. via Crux
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Why It’s Not Discrimination For Christian Agencies To Only Recruit Christian Foster & Adoptive Parents

. . .the Anti-Defamation League has joined the American left’s ongoing crusade to eradicate faith from our nation’s foster care & adoption agencies. . .

by Jocelyn Davis,

of The Federalist

Fast Train to Failure – Connor Harris, City Journal
Coming Soon: a Religious Struggle for Control of the Internet? – Philip Lawler, Catholic Culture
Can Americans Today Afford to Have Kids? – CNA via The Catholic World Report
Comprehensive Sex Education Undermines Students’ Moral Development – T Puolimatka PhD
Why Puberty Blockers Are A Clear Danger To Children’s Health – Jane Robbins, The Federalist
Doctors in Canada are Euthanizing Patients & Doing Nothing to Treat Them First – W Smith JD
How Can Pro-Lifers Engage in Constructive Criticism? – Fr. Frank Pavone, Life News
How Caring for the Poor Led to the Beginnings of Capitalism – Glenn Sunshine, IfFWaE
Bridging the Ideological Divides Over Ecology & Environment – W. Patenaude, The CWR
NIH Director’s Support for Fetal Tissue Research Draws Pro-life Concern – NC Register
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Twelve Things to Remember about Confession

. . .Catholics are expected to go to confession at least once a year.  Advent is a penitential season, & in the midst of the Christmas rush it’s a good idea to also get to confession. . .

by Father Dwight Longenecker

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
The Untold Story of When the Vatican Was Bombed During World War II – Billy Ryan, uCatholic
New Jesuit Provincial is “Worst of the Worst” – Translation via The Eponymous Flower
Some Men Are Born Eunuchs . . . – Anthony M. Esolen Ph.D., The Catholic Thing
Fishwrap’s MSW vs. EWTN – a Paragon of Self-Parody – Fr. Z’s Blog
Pope Doesn’t Back Down from Skepticism about Gays in the Priesthood – I. San Martín, Crux
Same-Sex Attraction & Unnecessary Shame – Cynthia Millen, Catholic Stand
Other Modern in Fontgombault – Shawn R. Tribe, Liturgical Arts Journal
SSPX: “Rome Doesn’t See Us as Schismatic” – Translation via The Eponymous Flower
Not Magic – California Catholic Daily
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” & the Postmodern Puritans – Anthony S. Layne, Catholic Stand
Losing Our Identity – Regis Nicoll, Crisis Magazine
Catholic Pastor Challenges Delaware City’s Decision to Bar Nativity from Town – NC Register
Five Tips from Fr. Braun for Youth Ministry – Fr. Justin Braun, Catholic East Texas
Here’s Why Advent Is the Perfect Time to Think About the 4 Last Things – Chl. Langr, epicPew
Relief For Your Gift Buying Stress – Meghan Ashley Styling (Catholic)
What Was the Mary Thinking the Week Prior to Giving Birth to Jesus? – Tom Perna, epicPew
3 Ways Catholics Can Better Fundraise in 2019 – Brice Sokolowski, CatholicFundraiser.net
The End & the Eucharist: Advent Wisdom from Newman & Knox – Fr. Charles Fox, The CWR
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Why Did I Choose Catholicism Instead of Another Religion?

. . .my first choice was between religion & no religion.  Religion means a “yoke” or a “binding-back relationship.”  Religion is a relationship with God.  (God here is taken in the broadest sense as at least some higher power, something greater than us.)  So, an atheist is one who believes that there is no God at all, & therefore there ought to be no religion at all. . .

by Peter Kreeft, Ph.D.,

of Catholic Exchange

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
This Cardinal’s 5 Secrets to Sanctifying Your Work – Theresa Zoe Williams, epicPew
Pope Francis Approves Church of England Bishops. . . – Fr. Dwight Longenecker
Second Thoughts on Suicide & Catholic Funerals – John Zmirak Ph.D., The Stream
Parents Are Being Groomed – Jennifer Hartline, The Stream
Popes’ New Comments on Death Penalty: Incoherent & Dangerous – Fr. G. Rutler Th.D. Ph.D.
Are You A Woke Catholic? – Shane Schaetzel, Complete Christianity
Gay Apologist Thomas Reese to Address 2019 LA REC on Clergy Sex Abuse – Jos. Sciambra
News from Rome Concerning Communications – Fr. Z’s Blog
Confusion in Germany Over Holy Communion for Protestant Spouses – E. Pentin, NC Register
How Taiwan’s ‘Silent Majority’ Blocked Same-Sex ‘Marriage’ Momentum – V. Gaetan, NC Rgstr
Poetic Traditional Hymns Put Alternatives to Shame – Anthony M. Esolen Ph.D., Crisis Mgzn
Ten Blessings of Spiritual Reading – Fr. Ed Broom O.M.V., Catholic Exchange
The Anglo-Saxon O Antiphons: O Beautiful Trinity – A Clerk of Oxford
Advent Embertide – Regina Magazine
Advent & Suffering: Finding God in the Cave – Charlie Johnson, Catholic Stand
Canon Law Should Be Changed to Make Catholic Bishops Accountable – Stephen Bainbridge
Dynamic Equivalence, with Some Polyphony: Google’s Translation Issue – New Ltrgcl Mvmnt
Living Advent & Celebrating Christmas in a Secularized, Materialistic Society – Fr. Stravinskas
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Canadian Scam

. . .I recall my sainted mother’s biting comments about the Canadian bilingualism scam back in the Sixties.  Any attempt at affirmative action always ends up rapidly becoming a racket, almost always enriching a very small elite at the expense of everyone else. . .

by Donald R. McClarey, J.D.,

of The American Catholic

Damn Scots! – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
How the Catholic Church Created Our Liberal World – Tanner Greer, The American. . .
The Carbon Tax Riots May Be The Breaking Point For France’s Socialism – Stephen D. Davis
The Riots In France Perfectly Illustrate Why We Need The Electoral College – Auguste Meyrat
Pro-Life Congresswoman Matha McSally Appointed to Senate to Replace Jon Kyl – S. Ertelt
Feminists’ Undue Process – Heather Mac Donald, City Journal  34
Pardon Omnes – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic  28
Two Pakistani Christians Sentenced to Death for Blasphemy – Robin Gomes, Vatican News
Welcome to Nicaragua, Where Being Young & Catholic Seems a Crime – Inés San Martín, Crux
When It Comes to Migration, Vatican’s as Progressive as They Come – Claire Giangravè, Crux
Would Thomas Jefferson Support Today’s Separation of Church & State Doctrine? – G. Galles
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

The Extraordinary Story of a Young Victim Soul Who Saw Heaven & Spoke to the Blessed Mother

. . .“Soon the entire dismemberment and devastation of the Church was cast upon her. . . as Christianity for forty years was divided between popes & anti-popes, so, too, was Lidwina’s body literally separated into two parts. . .

by Georgette Bechara,

of ChurchPOP

Live Perpetual Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament – Adorecast
Celebrate Advent with These 6 Beautiful Austrian Traditions – Chloe Langr, epicPew
The Case Against Pell: New Details Emerge – Ed Condon J.C.L., Catholic News Agency
Quæritur: Pastor Says “Gaudete Sunday, Is No More” – Fr. Z’s Blog
About that Funeral Mass Homily, Some Points – Edward N. Peters J.C.D. J.D., The CWR
“They Have Convicted an Innocent Man” – California Catholic Daily
Seasonal Blasphemy – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
Moral & Mortal Terrors: The Haunting of Hill House on Netflix – Pat. Malone, Catholic Stand
The Mitigating Circumstances Gamble – One Mad Mom
Ghirelli Rosaries – Off the Shelf 103 with Dino Piccinini – Pete Socks, Catholic Stand
Chinese Underground Church Surrenders – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Mother Teresa’s Secret to a Heartfelt Celebration of Christmas – Philip Kosloski, Aleteia
Yes, God Does Love Irony – Donald R. McClarey J.D., The American Catholic
Mercedarian Sisters Beautifully Sing Inspirational A Capella Hymn for Advent – ChurchPOP
What are the “O Antiphons” of Vespers? – Fr. Roger J. Landry, Integrated Catholic Life™
On Evangelizing the Culture & Why Hobbits (Really) Need the Shire – Con. Sweeney, The CWR
How Catholics Can Ensure Their Health Care Doesn’t Fund Abortion – Lau. Brown, NC Register
Pope Francis: Death Penalty a ‘Legalistic’ Value, Not a Christian One – CNA via The CWR
Advent & Christmas: a Reason for the Season – Tom Collingwood Ph.D., Catholic Stand
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Douglas Murray On Europe’s Apocalypse

. . .I finally got around to reading the British writer Douglas Murray’s book The Strange Death Of Europe: Immigration, Identity, Islam recently.  It’s fantastic, & I cannot recommend it strongly enough.  I found several things striking about it. . .

by Rod Dreher,

of The American Conservative

Europe: Pains of an Empire Lost – Jérémie Gallon, Politico
The Molly Maguires – Cathal Brennan, The Irish Story
A ‘Clericalist & Apostate State:’ Why Jacob Rees-Mogg Wants Out of the E.U. – The CWR
Would America Really Lose a War With China & Russia? – Franz-Stefan Gady, The Diplomat
Shakespeare’s Pro-Catholic Broadside – Patrick Sawer, The Telegraph
The German Capital at a Crossroads –  L Beier, H Schmundt & V Weidermann, Spiegel Online
My Regrets Over Hong Kong by Lady Thatcher – Miles Goslett, The Telegraph
The Battle of Lhasa, A.D. 1959: Where It All Began – Massimo Introvigne, Bitter Winter
Czar Vladimir? Putin Acolytes Want to Bring Back the Monarchy – Th. Grove, The Wall Strt Jrnl
On War: Homer’s Advice to Us – Louis Markos, The Imaginative Conservative
The World Nationalism Made – Liah Greenfeld, American Affairs
China’s Crisis of Overconfidence – David Bandurski, The Diplomat
What Does “Stability Maintenance” Mean to Hans in Xinjiang? – Li Zaili, Bitter Winter
China & Russia: A Strategic Alliance in the Making – Graham Allison, The National Interest
U.S. Warns Turkey Not to Wipe Out Syrian Christians, Will Turks Be Defiant? – Joh. De Jong
Bishop Says Iraqi Christians Want to Stay, Contribute to Country – Charles Collins, Crux
Kosovo’s Parliament Votes to Create Army Despite Outcry – Stefan J. Bos, Vatican News
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

Cardinal Cocopalmerio on Anglican Orders

. . .London’s left-leaning Catholic paper The Tablet reports that Cardinal Cocopalmerio– described laughingly as “one of the Vatican’s top legal minds”– thinks there should be a re-think on Pope Leo XIII’s ruling that Anglican orders are “absolutely null & utterly void”. . .

by Father Dwight Longenecker

Heretic of the Week: James Pike – Charles A. Coulombe, Catholic Herald
Anglican ‘Stockpiling Whitewash’ – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Life In Post-Christian Britain – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Methodist Chapels . . . & ‘Bible Sunday’ – Fr. John Hunwicke, Fr Hunwicke’s Mutual Enrichment
O Nach Éisdeadh – David Warren, Essays in Idleness
This Dreaded Prison in London was Where Catholic Martyrs Were Made – K.V. Turley, NC Rgstr
Reviving “the Method” for the Ordinariates – D. Gyapong, The Anglicanorum Coetibus Society
The Noble Army of Martyrs Towers Over the Towers of London – K.V. Turley, NC Register
Church of England to Create ‘Celebratory’ Transgender Liturgies – Ed Condon J.C.L., NC Rgstr
Preaching Coram Sanctissimo – Fr. John Hunwicke, Fr Hunwicke’s Mutual Enrichment
Priests on the (Cricket) Pitch – Boxfacts
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time

The Ukrainian Church: A Multigenerational Divorce

. . .observers strain Google’s capacity to lead us to the truth by searching for quick, neat profiles on all of the leaders & land on any number of websites claiming to possess the absolute truth.  We might find what we want to find: another layer of incriminating evidence exposing the faults of Metropolitan Filaret, a photo of a grotesque icon demeaning Russia (or Ukraine), a headline announcing the seizure of a church, & through it all, we select the sources that support a viewpoint we have chosen to adopt. . .

by Rever. Dr. Nicholas Denysenko,

of Public Orthodoxy

LGBT Fight Comes To Orthodoxy – Rod Dreher, The American Conservative
Russian Orthodox Leaders Terrified They Will Go Same Way as Constantinople – Cthlc Herald
The Russian Orthodox Church Say President Petro Poroshenko May Be a Catholic – Tass
The Split between Kirill & Bartholomew & the Pope Sides More with the Former – S. Magister
Ukraine, the Ecumenical Patriarchate, & Post-Truth: An Orthodox Perspective – Fr. C. Hovorun
What is the Constantinople-Moscow Break All About – Meduza
39-Year Old Metropolitan Epiphanius Elected Head of Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Vat. News
Russian Catholics Hope Ties Won’t Be Affected by Inter-Orthodox tensions – CNS via Crux
New Ukrainian Orthodox Leader Gives First Liturgy, Urges Unity – A.P. via Crux
Russian Orthodox Church Satisfied with Pope’s Attitude to Events in Ukraine – InterFax
Christian Geopolitics & the Ukrainian Ecclesiastical Crisis – Irina du Quenoy Ph.D., War on. . .
The Problem with the Kosovo “Solution” – Fr. Sava Janjic, Public Orthodoxy
Reconceiving Healthcare: Philanthropia & the Vocations of Healing – Public Orthodoxy
Russian Orthodox Church Calls on Pope Francis, U.N. for Help in Ukraine – A.P. via Crux
Ukraine Orthodox Leaders to Approve Break with Russia Church – Associated Press via Crux
New Cold War by Proxy? Religious Conflict on Ukrainian Territory – Victor Gaetan, NC Register
Georgian Patriarch Ilia II: Constantinople/Moscow Clash Source of “Pain” – Tass
Ukraine Prelate says Orthodox Independence is Affirmation of Rights – Allen/San Martín, Crux
Note: A new post is published daily at 12:01 am U.S. Central Time