5 middle schoolers who protested trans athlete’s participation banned from future competitions

Middle schoolers who protested trans athlete's participation banned from future competitions: Five West Virginia middle schoolers who protested a transgender athlete’s participation in a track and field competition have been barred from future meets — prompting the state attorney general to ask the US Supreme Court to weigh in on transgender student-athlete bans for a second time.

The world’s second-biggest Catholic church is about to debut more new Marko Rupnik mosaics — but abuse victims warn ‘in Rupnik, sexual dimension can’t be separated from creative experience’

Victims: Rupnik's art cannot be separated from abuse claims: For the rector of the world’s second-largest church after St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Aparecida in Brazil, May 11 will be a day of celebrating the inauguration of the southern facade’s mosaics, all created by Father Marko Rupik. But alleged victims of the disgraced former Jesuit and many faithful are not in celebratory mood...

New York Resident Arrested in St. Peter’s Square ‘Armed Like a Butcher’ Was on ‘Most Wanted’ List in US

Armed%20New%20York%20resident%20arrested%20in%20St.%20Peter%u2019s%20in%20Rome%20was%20on%20%u2018Most%20Wanted%u2019%20list%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: A man arrested earlier this month in St. Peter’s Square while carrying three 8-inch knives is a former convict and fugitive from the law in New York state. Moises Tejada, 54, is on the Most Wanted Fugitives list of the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision because, authorities there say, he violated the terms of parole from state prison on kidnapping and robbery convictions.

Hungry Priests Are Not Needy Priests

Upstream Podcast: Hungry Priests are Not Needy Priests on Apple PodcastsLENCIONI: The position of a priest can be the loneliest position in the world. All humans have a fundamental hunger to be appreciated, yet very few of our Spiritual Fathers fully receive or seek this out. Affirming what you know is good and true about another person is not only necessary, but essential, for the nourishment of any relationship. This can begin with you...

The Pope says you’re welcome. But are you interested?

The%20Pope%20says%20you%u2019re%20welcome.%20But%20are%20you%20interested%3F%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureLAWLER: In the latest, broadcast by CBS (with a more extensive version to air in May), Pope Francis is asked about the many Catholics who have left the Church. His answer is revealing in several ways. He insists that there is “always a place” for Catholics in the Church. “If in this parish, the priest doesn’t seem welcoming, I understand,” he says; “but go and look elsewhere”...

Mothering Sunday: The baptismal holiday we missed in America

Mothering Sunday: The baptismal holiday we missed in America | Catholic CultureMIRUS: It’s a little late for this year, but I’ve just learned, for the first time in my life, of the special day called Mothering Sunday, observed in the United Kingdom and some other related countries. Contrary to some sources, this is not an opportunity for people to visit their mothers, and it doesn’t have much to do with the movie of the same name. Rather, this observance originated in the Middle Ages on the fourth Sunday in Lent...

Begotten by Love: A Reflection on the Sixth Sunday of Easter

Begotten%20By%20Love%3A%20Scott%20Hahn%20Reflects%20on%20the%20Sixth%20Sunday%20of%20Easter%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHAHN: God is love, and He revealed that love in sending His only Son to be a sacrificial offering for our sins. In these words from today’s Epistle, we should hear an echo of the story of Abraham’s offering of Isaac at the dawn of salvation history. Because Abraham obeyed God’s command and did not withhold his only beloved son, God promised that Abraham’s descendants...

This book offers support and hope for Catholic dads who have lost a child

Bryan Feger: The Grief of Dads | Respect Life Radio: “Men seem to have a delayed grief relative to women,” says Bryan Feger, co-author of The Grief of Dads: Support and Hope for Catholic Fathers Navigating Child Loss from Ave Maria Press. “And usually that's because they're focused on providing care and support for their wife, and so they delay their grief.”

What Do Atheists Believe?

(4) What Do Atheists Believe? - by Stacy TrasancosTRASANCOS: Words are the way we communicate from one mind to another. A word is external expression of an internal idea, but it is not a mechanical or quantifiable act in binary code with precise meaning. The same word can mean different things to different people. To “believe” is such a word. Previously (What is Atheism?), I used Graham Oppy’s book, Atheism: The Basics, for the definition of atheism...

The Fruitful Trials of St. Paul

The Fruitful Trials of St. Paul | Parishable ItemsFELTES: Imagine if Osama bin Laden, after masterminding terrorist attacks, had repented and begun proclaiming Jesus Christ and the Gospel? Christians might understandably still be afraid of him and wary of his claimed Christian conversion. In the first century, prior to his famous conversion, St. Paul had intensely persecuted God’s Church and tried to destroy it...

Shows like ‘Ghost Hunters’ are silly. For centuries, the world’s expert in paranormal investigations has been the Catholic Church...

Catholic%20Paranormal%20Investigations%20%u2013%20Jimmy%20AkinAKIN: These days, there are numerous ghost hunting and paranormal TV shows. A few examples include Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, Kindred Spirits, Paranormal Lockdown, and Help! My House Is Haunted. Frankly, these shows are silly. Shows like this are not taken seriously by competent paranormal investigators. However, what is a Catholic to make of the subject of paranormal investigations itself?

Pope Francis to Visit Verona for a Trip Centered on Peace and Justice

Pope Francis to visit Verona for a trip centered on peace and justice | Catholic News AgencySANTUCCI: After completing a one-day trip to Venice, Pope Francis is set to return to northern Italy in late May for a visit to the city of Verona, where he will attend events focused on peace and justice while also meeting with clergy, laity, and inmates. The Holy See Press Office on Monday released the pope’s schedule for the one-day trip scheduled for May 18 on the vigil of Pentecost.

Here’s a Catholic spiritual hand grenade for you...

A Catholic Spiritual Hand Grenade! - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: I have a charism that causes problems for me periodically. It can feel like I am tossing a spiritual hand grenade into the room and walking out before it goes off. But, before I tell you more about it, I want to make sure we all understand charisms the same. A charism is a gift of the Holy Spirit, given for the good of others, so the person with the charism becomes a channel of God’s love for others.

Pope Francis Visits Venice to Speak to the Artists and Inmates Behind the Biennale’s ‘Must-See’ Prison Show

Pope visits Venice to speak to the artists and inmates behind the Biennale's must-see prison show | AP News: Venice has always been a place of contrasts, of breathtaking beauty and devastating fragility, where history, religion, art and nature have collided over the centuries to produce an otherworldly gem of a city. But even for a place that prides itself on its culture of unusual encounters, Pope Francis’ visit Sunday stood out.

Beep baseball is like regular baseball, but it’s the hitter, not the ump, who’s blind. And its World Series is coming in July...

Blind baseball World Series coming to St. Charles - Webster Journal: Close your eyes and imagine standing in the outfield of a big baseball game. You can’t see the ball but after the pitcher winds up, you hear the crack of the bat. Your first step is backwards as you get your first view of the ball, flying further and further away as the ball rapidly approaches the grassy surface. The only thing you can do is reach out your glove as you run at full throttle, then you hear the sudden puff of the ball hitting your glove.

This Sunday, Jesus Is the Vine Leading From Genesis to Heaven, Through You

This%20Sunday%2C%20Jesus%20Is%20the%20Vine%20Leading%20From%20Genesis%20to%20Heaven%2C%20Through%20You%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: Jesus compares himself to a plant in the Gospel reading for Mass on the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year B. In fact, this Gospel comes from the night before he died, in the Last Supper Discourse, after he had spent much of the last week of his life comparing himself — and us — to plant life. After entering Jerusalem, he cursed a fig tree that was providing no fruit...

What you pray for, virtual priesthood, and an Eastern mystery

What you pray for, virtual priesthood, and an Eastern mysteryCONDON: I must say, I think everyone at Catholic Answers is taking the AI priest debacle — and it has been a bit of a debacle — in pretty good humor. It takes an admirable dose of humility to admit that you spent several months and thousands of dollars building and testing a thing, only to watch Twitter break it for you in a matter of hours. By contrast, I think a lot of the critics of the “Fr. Justin” app have become a bit over-invested in the whole thing

Church in South Korea Sees 24% Rise in Baptisms

Church in South Korea sees 24% rise in baptisms: The number of baptisms in South Korea increased by 24% in a year, according to statistics published Wednesday by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Korea.

Did Pope Francis Just Endorse ‘Parish Shopping’?

Did%20Pope%20Francis%20Just%20Endorse%20%u2018Parish%20Shopping%u2019%3F%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: In an interview released on Wednesday, Pope Francis endorsed a practice that used to be frowned upon but now is a robust phenomenon among practicing Catholics: choosing their own parish. Pope Francis granted an interview to Norah O’Donnell of CBS News...

Pope Francis May Visit United States in September After UN Invitation

Pope Francis may visit United States in September after UN invitation | Catholic News AgencyGAGLIARDUCCI: Pope Francis is reportedly considering returning to the United States in September to speak before the United Nations General Assembly. The news was initially reported by the French Catholic newspaper La Croix and has not yet been officially confirmed by the Vatican. A source from the Vatican Secretariat of State, meanwhile, told CNA this week that...

The Fullness of Life: Bishop Erik Varden’s Resurrection of Chastity

The%20Fullness%20of%20Life%3A%20Bishop%20Erik%20Varden%u2019s%20Resurrection%20of%20ChastitySTAUDT: While Lent offers us a clear path of conversion, turning away from the world, Easter invites us into God’s own life. In Lent, we seek to die with Christ; in Easter, we must live with him. It appears an anticlimactic season after the rigors of prayer and fasting, but Lent is ordered to Easter as a period of training to live a more joyful and integrated life in Christ.

Pope Francis Gives Interview to CBS News on Ukraine, Gaza: ‘a Negotiated Peace Is Better Than a War Without End’

Pope Francis says of Ukraine, Gaza: "A negotiated peace is better than a war without end" - CBS News: Pope Francis pleaded for peace worldwide amid ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza, telling CBS News on Wednesday that "a negotiated peace is better than a war without end." "Please. Countries at war, all of them, stop the war. Look to negotiate. Look for peace," the pope, speaking through a translator, told "CBS Evening News" anchor and managing editor Norah O'Donnell during an hourlong interview at the guest house where he lives in Rome.

What Every Catholic Needs to Know About Conspiracy Theories, and How to Help Loved Ones Who Fall for Them

New%20Advent%3A%20Here%u2019s%20the%20Truth%20About%20Conspiracy%20Theories%2C%20and%20What%20Every%20Catholic%20Needs%20to%20Know%20About%20ThemSTEFANICK: I’m so blessed to have Dr. Peter Malinoski back on the show to chat about this. We chat about some fascinating questions, such as how do we tell the difference between the truth and a conspiracy? Does it really matter, meaning, is it on us to figure out what's going on behind the scenes? How do we not fall into the sin of trying to be omniscient? Is doomsday prepping good, or can people take it too far? Is Christianity a conspiracy theory?

What should you do if your employer asks you to sign a non-discrimination policy?

The Slippery Slope of Non-Discrimination Policies: To Sign or Not to Sign?| National Catholic RegisterBRUGGER: Since you have no intention of denying any rightful moral or professional claims to your gender-confused colleagues, signing such a document should pose no problems. But since you are dealing with the whole area of gender ideology, you will likely be expected to “respect” false claims. If there were no bad consequences of refusing to sign the non-discrimination policy, you should refuse.

Cardinal Fernández: New Document on Discerning Apparitions ‘Being Finalized’

Cardinal%20Fern%E1ndez%3A%20New%20Document%20on%20Discerning%20Apparitions%20%u2018Being%20Finalized%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterPENTIN: The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith is putting the finishing touches to a new document that sets out clear rules on discerning apparitions and other such supernatural events. The dicastery’s prefect, Cardinal Victor Fernández, told the Register April 23 that he and his staff are “in the process of finalizing a new text with clear guidelines and norms for the discernment of apparitions and other phenomena.”

Can You Really Run on Top of a Train, Like in the Movies?

Can You Really Run on Top of a Train, Like in the Movies? | WIRED: Just because you see something done in a movie, that doesn't mean you should try it yourself. Take, for example, a human running on top of a moving train. For starters, you can't be sure it's real. In early Westerns, they used moving backdrops to make fake trains look like they were in motion. Now there's CGI. Or they might speed the film up to make a real train look faster than it really is.

Cincinnati’s Catholic Xavier University lists abortion in its health insurance plan

Catholic Xavier University lists abortion in health insurance plan | The College Fix: Xavier University’s health insurance plan not only appears to cover abortion – it looks like the school specifically added it into the coverage. But the Catholic Cincinatti university denies its student health insurance plan covers abortion. A “policy endorsement” on the plan appeared to delete an “exclusion” of abortion.

Welcome to the Reign of Gay, Ecclesiastical Edition

Welcome to the Reign of Gay, Ecclesiastical EditionOLSON: Taking chastity seriously requires a belief that communion with God, life in Christ, and holiness are more important than our desires, our inner turmoils, and our existential crises—and, in fact, that they fulfill those desires, calm those turmoils, and solve our crises. In short, the answer to the Reign of Gay and Tyranny of Trans is to accept and embrace the Kingdom of Christ in our hearts and minds

Benedict XVI: What is the source of objections to Catholic sexual morality?

What is the source of objections to Catholic sexual morality? - The Catholic Thing: We find our starting point in the plausible assertion that modern man would find it difficult to relate to the Church’s traditional sexual morality. Instead, it is said, he has come to terms with his sexuality in a differentiated and less confining way and thus urges a revision of standards which are no longer acceptable in the present circumstances...

Catholic Answers Pulls Plug on ‘Father Justin’ AI Priest After Social Media Firestorm

%u2018Father%20Justin%u2019%20Falls%20From%20Grace%3A%20Catholic%20Answers%20Pulls%20Plug%20on%20AI%20Priest%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterMATTMCDONALD: Father Justin, we hardly knew ye. Less than two days after debuting an artificial intelligence (AI) priest character to overwhelmingly negative reviews, Catholic Answers has given “Father Justin” the virtual heave-ho. The lay-run apologetics and evangelization apostolate, based in El Cajon, California, told the Register that it will replace him on its app with a lay character named “Justin” within a week.

Here are the strengths of Dignitas Infinita — along with 7 notable ambiguities in the document

Dignitas%20Infinita%3A%20Strengths%20and%20Ambiguities%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20Report: Do human beings have infinite dignity? Certainly, those who through baptism receive a share in the divine nature, which is by definition infinite, also share in the infinite dignity of that nature. This is surely what Pope St. John Paul II had in mind when he said...

The Church Draft: God’s Divine Roster for an Apostolic Age

The%20Church%20Draft%3A%20God%u2019s%20Divine%20Roster%20for%20an%20Apostolic%20AgeELMER: As the NFL draft approaches at the end of April, speculation runs rampant among fans about which players their teams will take and which areas of their rosters have the greatest needs. As a lifelong fan of American Football, I have spent countless hours poring over articles, highlight tape and opinion pieces, trying to predict what my team might do with their picks.

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins Meets Pope Francis, Follows Microsoft and IBM in Signing Vatican’s ‘Rome Call for AI Ethics’

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins meets Pope Francis, signs AI ethics pledge at Vatican | Catholic News AgencyMARES: The CEO of Cisco Systems signed the Vatican’s artificial intelligence ethics pledge on Wednesday, becoming the latest technology giant to join the Church’s call for ethical and responsible use of AI. Chuck Robbins, the chief executive of the multinational digital communications conglomerate...

Whether you realize it or not, you are made for contemplation

Made for Contemplation: 3 Practical Applications for Everyday - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: Perhaps the most overlooked truth about human life is that we are made for contemplation. All of us. It’s not that our activist and practical age directly rejects this. Almost worse, our customs, practices and expectations take for granted that anything called contemplation is simply peripheral...

Walk by the Spirit, Avoid the Flesh

Walk by the Spirit, Avoid the Flesh | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: The death of Jesus Christ on the cross revealed the greatest act of love that destroyed the works of the Devil, defeated the authority of sin and death, and provided a salvific path for all God’s children to embrace if chosen. Jesus’ death was not an accident or a mistake in judgment by a few unruly men. The entire mystery of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection...

Former Car Thief Explains How Car Theft Actually Works — and What You Should Do to Protect Yourself

New%20Advent%3A%20Former%20Car%20Thief%20Explains%20How%20Car%20Theft%20Actually%20Works%20%u2014%20and%20What%20You%20Should%20Do%20to%20Protect%20Yourself: Hondo Underwood is a former car thief. He stole hundreds of cars in and around Denver between 2016 and 2017.

The Ancient Biblical Sermons Break All the Modern Rules — So Maybe We Should Re-Examine Our Rules...

The Ancient Biblical Sermons Break All the Modern Rules - Maybe the Rules Should Be Re-Examined - Community in MissionPOPE: The first reading from Sunday’s Mass features an excerpt from a sermon by St. Peter. The contents of the sermon are very similar to others recorded in the Acts of the Apostles by Saints Paul and Stephen. What is interesting is that these ancient sermons break almost every rule (written and unwritten) of modern preaching! Consider the following...

Joe Rogan, Tucker Carlson, Elizabeth Anscombe, Consequentialism and The Bomb

The Bomb | Charlotte was BothWELBORN: Over the past few days, there has been discussion on X/Twitter – and I suppose elsewhere – of the morality of the United States dropping the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Not that this is a new discussion, but it rose again because of Tucker Carlson’s strong statement on Joe Rogan’s show that the act was immoral...

On the Vine: Looking Ahead to the Fifth Sunday of Easter

On%20the%20Vine%3A%20Scott%20Hahn%20Reflects%20on%20the%20Fifth%20Sunday%20of%20Easter%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHAHN: In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells us that He is the true vine that God intended Israel to be, the source of divine life and wisdom for the nations (see Sirach 24:17–24). In Baptism, each of us was joined to Him by the Holy Spirit. As a branch grows from a tree, our souls are to draw life from Him, nourished by His word and the Eucharist. Paul in today’s First Reading seeks to be grafted onto the visible expression of Christ the true vine...

Texas Carmelites Reject Oversight of Vatican-Appointed Federation

Texas Carmelites reject oversight of Vatican-appointed federation: Carmelite nuns at a Texas monastery say they will not accept the Vatican’s designation of a U.S. Carmelite federation to oversee them, amid an ongoing dispute with their local bishop.

Our Politics Needs Gratitude — and Forgiveness

Our%20Politics%20Needs%20Gratitude%20%u2014%20and%20Forgiveness%20%7C%20National%20ReviewLOPEZ: ‘Is forgiveness and being forgiven an important part of gratitude?” I was asked this as Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel, an Iraqi-born Assyrian bishop in Sydney, released a statement from a hospital forgiving the teenager who stabbed him during Mass last week. We were in Manhattan talking about gratitude as a civic virtue...

5 Times Jesus Revealed Himself in the Holy Eucharist to Non-Catholics

5 Times Jesus Revealed Himself in the Eucharist to Non-Catholics| National Catholic RegisterARMSTRONG: “What a strange feeling it is to be looking at what by all appearances is a piece of bread in a little glass compartment in the center of a very simple gold monstrance and feel like you are the one being stared at.” Emily Bleicher shared this experience with the Register about her witness to the true presence of Christ in the Eucharist when she was a Protestant. Through a moment of grace, she recognized Jesus beyond her own understanding.

The Pro-Life Movement Has a Storytelling Problem

The Pro-Life Movement Has A Storytelling ProblemGRESS: Many years ago, a friend visiting an Eastern European country diligently wrote several postcards, stamped them, and then dropped them in what he thought was a mailbox. It turned out to be a very elegant trash can. Of course, his postcards never made it to their intended recipients. In the pro-life movement, messaging can often be like my friend’s simple mistake...

What is truth? A journalist asks Pilate’s question

What%20is%20truth%3F%20A%20journalist%20asks%20Pilate%u2019s%20question%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureLAWLER: “What is truth?” That cynical question, memorably posed by Pontius Pilate, is enjoying new currency today, thanks to public statements by Katherine Maher, the newly installed head of National Public Radio (NPR). ”We all have different truths,” Maher told a TED talk audience, explaining that there are...

In the Psalms: A peculiar argument to win God’s favor

In%20the%20Psalms%3A%20A%20peculiar%20argument%20to%20win%20God%u2019s%20favor%20%7C%20Catholic%20CultureMIRUS: In the Psalms, one of the arguments used with some frequency by those who feel abandoned by God runs like this: First, a rhetorical question is asked about whether the dead can praise God, the presumed answer being “No”. Second, the conclusion is drawn that God should aid the one who calls upon Him...

Where Did Jesus Appear After Rising from the Dead? Was it Jerusalem or Galilee?

Did%20Jesus%20Appear%20to%20the%20Disciples%20in%20Jerusalem%20or%20Galilee%3F%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHARROLD: One of the more puzzling elements in the Gospel descriptions of the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus is the fact that Matthew’s Gospel ends on a mountaintop in Galilee, while Luke’s account concludes near Bethany and the Mount of Olives, just a short distance from Jerusalem and almost a hundred miles south of Galilee.

Pope’s Regina Coeli: ‘Jesus the Good Shepherd Awaits Us With Open Arms’

Pope at Regina Coeli: Jesus the Good Shepherd awaits us with open arms - Vatican News: At the Regina Coeli on Good Shepherd Sunday, Pope Francis reminds us that Jesus loves us without limit, giving His life for us. He prays that we may go meet the Lord and allow ourselves "to be welcomed and lifted up by the loving arms of our Good Shepherd."

A new Catholic college — Rosary College — is born in Greenville, South Carolina

A New College Is Born ~ The Imaginative ConservativePEARCE: Last year, I received a phone call from Father Dwight. “Joseph,’ he said, “I have an idea.” “Well,” I quipped, laughing. “That’s a first!” “We should start a Catholic college in Greenville,” he continued. “It’s needed and we can do it.” My initial reaction was to tell him that he was crazy. This time, however, I stopped myself from saying it. Twice bitten, thrice shy.

Husbands and Wives Need Husbandry and Housewifery

Husbands and Wives Need Husbandry and Housewifery - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: “This destroyed household that now stands between the sexes is a wound that is suffered inescapably by both men and women.” My eyes were opened when I read these words of Wendell Berry. My wife’s suffering in a home arrangement that has shown itself more and more to be unnatural is in fact also very much my problem; indeed, a problem for our marriage.

What Jesus said about the Good Shepherd almost got him killed...

This%20Sunday%2C%20What%20Jesus%20Said%20About%20the%20Good%20Shepherd%20Almost%20Got%20Him%20Killed%20%u2013%20Benedictine%20College%20Media%20%26%20CultureHOOPES: The Gospel we hear on Good Shepherd Sunday is the climax of a three-chapter-long confrontation in the Gospel of John between Jesus and Jewish leaders. It starts with Jesus teaching in the Temple during the Feast of Tabernacles and in the course of the showdown, he compares himself to “living waters” and calls himself “the light of the world.” He twice references his own divinity saying...

A Blessing, Jobs for the Boys, and Roman Holiday

A blessing, jobs for the boys, and Roman holidayCONDON: It has been a fairly wall-to-wall working trip for JD and me these last three days, with surprisingly little time for playing in Roman fountains or tooling around on a Vespa. But even so, it’s hard for us to spend a even few days together and not lapse into a kind of well-worn dynamic. And, if I’m being honest, while we both sincerely enjoy each other’s company, JD and I are very much an odd couple when we travel.

Cause for Canonization Opened for Helena Kmiec, Young Polish Lay Missionary Killed in Bolivia in 2017

Cause for canonization opened for young Polish lay missionary killed in Bolivia | Catholic News Agency: Archbishop Marek Jędraszewski of Krakow, Poland, announced the decision to begin the process of beatification and canonization of Helena Agnieszka Kmiec, a young lay missionary murdered in Bolivia in 2017.

House Republicans Call for NCAA Ban on Biological Men in Women’s Sports

House%20Republicans%20call%20for%20NCAA%20ban%20on%20biological%20men%20in%20women%u2019s%20sports%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20Agency: A group of 17 House Republican lawmakers, led by Rep. Claudia Tenney from New York, is urging the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to prohibit biological men from participating in women’s sports.

What Is Humanity’s Infinite Dignity?

What%20Is%20Humanity%u2019s%20Infinite%20Dignity%3F%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterCHAPP: When I was in Rome last October covering the Synod on Synodality I had dinner with a rather well-known priest friend who is frequently, but mildly, critical of Pope Francis. I asked him why his critique of the Pope is not as harsh as some others who accuse this Pope of heresy. He responded by saying that...

Is Cardinal Parolin actually papabile?

Is Parolin actually papabile?CONDON: This week saw reports drawn from another book-length interview from Pope Francis, this time detailing the pope’s own recollections of conclave politics from 2005 and 2013. As the pope continues to discuss conclaves, past and future, attention is beginning to focus on the likely frontrunners to succeed him, whenever the day may come.

Free Speech Wins: Belgian Court Overturns ‘Nazi-Like’ Ban on Conference Featuring Cardinal Müller

Free Speech Wins! Belgian Court Overturns Ban on Conservative Conference| National Catholic RegisterPENTIN: Belgium’s highest court ruled late last night that a conference upholding conservative values in the public square could go ahead in the country’s capital after a Brussels district mayor had ordered police to shut it down yesterday. Emir Kir issued the order to halt the National Conservatism conference that was scheduled to take place April 16-17...

When you read ‘Catholicism Everywhere,’ you will enter body and soul into a more joyful and appreciative Catholic life

Catholicism Everywhere: | Catholic CultureMIRUS: It’s a good title, but it’s not mine. Instead, Catholicism Everywhere is a delightful new book from Sophia Institute Press, a coffee-table sort of book which highlights the Catholic origins of and contributions to just about every aspect of our lives from the calendar and health care, through food and fashion and gardening...

Benedict's Birthday, and Roman Jalapeños

Benedict's birthday, and Roman jalapenosJDFLYNN: Greetings from Rome, where Ed and I have traveled for a few days of Pillar meetings. Well, actually, I got here this morning, and Ed will show up in a couple of hours. First, let me acknowledge that when Ed and I travel, The Pillar produces just a little bit less. For example, I’ve got two important news reports I had hoped to write while I was on airplanes yesterday...

Restoring the Catholic grand-dame of New Orleans

Restoring the Catholic grand-dame of New Orleans - Catholic Herald: In its more than 300 years of existence as a topographically challenged city pummelled by a holy trinity of natural disasters – fire, flood and pestilence – one sacred building less than 200 metres from the Mississippi River has framed the religious, cultural and political life of this oddest and most exotically Catholic of American cities: New Orleans.

Belgian Police Forecefully Shut Down National Conservatism Conference; Local Mayor Cites ‘Anti-Gay and Anti-Abortion’ Views of Attendees

National Conservatism Conference: Police told to shut down right-wing Brussels event: Brussels police have been ordered to shut down a conference attended by right-wing politicians across Europe, including Nigel Farage and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Organisers say the National Conservatism Conference in the Belgian capital is continuing, but guests are no longer allowed to enter. Local authorities had raised concerns over public safety.

The Shepherd’s Voice: Looking Ahead to the Fourth Sunday of Easter

The%20Shepherd%u2019s%20Voice%3A%20Scott%20Hahn%20Reflects%20on%20the%20Fourth%20Sunday%20of%20Easter%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHAHN: Jesus, in today’s Gospel, says that He is the good shepherd the prophets had promised to Israel. He is the shepherd-prince, the new David—who frees people from bondage to sin and gathers them into one flock, the Church, under a new covenant, made in His blood. His flock includes other sheep, He says, far more than the dispersed children of Israel...

From movies to streaming video, we live in a numbing age of visual sermons...

(4) Are Americans still taking Communion at shopping malls?MATTINGLY: This is not a journal article that dates back to my Communicator on Culture days at Denver Seminary. This is an article from early in my life as an Orthodox Christian, when I was asked — by the publishing team with the Antiochian Christian Archdiocese — to explain to clergy and laypeople what I learned from teaching mass-communication subjects in a seminary.

Canadian doctors amputate 2 healthy fingers of man with ‘bodily integrity dysphoria’

Canadian Doctor Amputates Healthy Fingers of Man with Body Integrity Dysphoria: In “the first described [case] about digits amputation,” Canadian doctors surgically removed two healthy fingers from a young man experiencing “body integrity dysphoria” (BID). The sad, bizarre account, published March 27 in the open-access journal Clinical Case Reports, is linked to surgical interventions for gender dysphoria...

Does God have room for me?

Does God have room for me? | Knowing Is DoingTORRE: Some time ago a message was forwarded to my attention about a gentleman inquiring about the OCIA process. The message in itself was nothing out of the ordinary as the gentleman wanted to know when he could start the OCIA because he had been studying and searching for a long time...

I Applied to Be a NASA Astronaut. You Can Too...

I Applied to Be a NASA Astronaut. You Can Too | TIME: Recently, I applied to become an astronaut. I would like to be able to say that there is a non-zero chance I will be accepted, but sub-zero is more like it. Not a whole lot of people who can actually recall Sputnik—which, for the record, was launched on Oct. 4, 1957—quite make the age cut to climb on top of a rocket. Still, I filled out the nine-page form and sent it in, even if I have no doubt I’ll wind up in the cosmic slush pile.

Are kale, broccoli and Brussels sprouts really all the same plant? The short answer is yes...

Are kale, broccoli and Brussels sprouts really all the same plant? | Live Science: Kale, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens and kohlrabi have unique nutritional values, and we think of them as distinct vegetables. Yet, they all share the same species name. Could they all really come from the same plant?

‘Little Miracle of Lille’: How a Candlelight Mass Gathers Hundreds of Young People Every Week in France

%u2018Little%20Miracle%20of%20Lille%u2019%3A%20How%20a%20Candlelight%20Mass%20Gathers%20Hundreds%20of%20Young%20People%20Every%20Week%20in%20France%7C%20National%20Catholic%20Register: “The good makes no noise,” St. Francis de Sales would say of Lille’s candlelight Mass. Indeed, while France regularly shows itself to be at the forefront of the de-Christianization of the West and recently made headlines for its constitutionalization of abortion, the embers of Christian renewal are already igniting — quietly yet powerfully — on the country’s northern horizon.

Australian Police Arrest Male Following Stabbing Attack in Sydney Church

Australian police arrest male following stabbing attack in Sydney church | Catholic News Agency: Australian police have confirmed another stabbing incident in Sydney after shocking video footage of a man apparently attacking a church leader went viral on social media on Monday.

Assisted Suicide in Minnesota? Critics Point to Canada as Cautionary Tale

Assisted suicide in Minnesota? Critics point to Canada as cautionary tale | Nation/World | gazettextra.com: Kathy Ware was on Instagram recently when she saw a story about Canada's medical assistance in dying law. It shook her. "Alberta judge greenlights euthanasia for 27-year-old autistic woman DESPITE objections from her dad, who says she's healthy — just 'vulnerable' due to mental health problems," read the headline from the Daily Mail, a British tabloid. Ware thought of her adult son, Kylen, whose disabilities render him nonverbal, barely mobile and dependent on round-the-clock care.

Scotland’s New Transgender ‘Hate Crime’ Law Already Showing How It Leads to Tyranny

Scotland%u2019s%20Trans%20%u2018Hate%20Crime%u2019%20Law%20Shows%20How%20It%20Leads%20to%20TyrannySTEPMAN: Scotland’s new “hate crime” law already is demonstrating how it will be used to squash dissent and free speech. The so-called Hate Crime and Public Order Act, which went into force in Scotland on April Fools’ Day, adds age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, and transgender identity to a list of protected classes.

‘Wars and Rumors of War’: Iran Responds to Israeli Attack on Embassy With Drone and Missile Barrage

2024 Iranian strikes in Israel - Wikipedia: On 13 April 2024, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), in coordination with the Iraqi Popular Mobilization Forces, Lebanese group Hezbollah, and the Yemeni Houthis, launched attacks on Israel codenamed Operation True Promise, using drones, cruise and ballistic missiles. The retaliatory attacks were launched in response to the Israeli airstrike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus...

Pope calls for every effort for dialogue and peace in Mideast

Pope calls for every effort for dialogue and peace in Mideast - Vatican News: At the conclusion of Sunday's Regina Coeli, Pope Francis makes a heartfelt appeal to halt the spiral of violence in the Middle East and for all nations to favour negotation and peace efforts, while assisting those suffering in Gaza.

I’m sad to see Lent gone. And I prefer to carry it with me throughout the year...

Lent Throughout the Year ~ The Imaginative ConservativeDEAVEL: It sounds mildly heretical. No doubt some would call it, without historical accuracy, Jansenist. Most people would say it’s masochistic or perhaps a sad manifestation of that great modern bogeyman, “Catholic guilt.” But I’ll say it anyway. I’m glad for the bacon and the other goodies of Easter, but I’m sad to see Lent gone. And I prefer to carry it with me throughout the year.

Remembering miracles, a gambling man, and radical reality

Remembering miracles, a gambling man, and radical realityCONDON: This newsletter is coming to you from swinging London, where we are on a family visit. It is, sadly, a long way to come, and we don’t manage it as often as we would like. The kid was surprisingly good on the plane ride over, as it happened, which certainly made the trip a little easier for all concerned. But gone forever are the days when trans-Atlantic jet lag was something I laughed off with two large drinks and a quick nap.

When Ideology and Blasphemy Meet

When ideology and blasphemy meetWEIGEL: In May 1993, the “World Russian People’s Council,” a “meeting place” for those “concerned about the present and future of Russia,” was created at the instigation of Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk (now Patriarch of Moscow and head of the Russian Orthodox Church). Kirill is now the presiding officer of the Council, which met on March 27 in Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Savior...

Dinosaurs probably didn't roar. This is what they really sounded like...

Dinosaurs probably didn't roar. | Interesting Facts: If asked what a dinosaur sounded like, many people would likely recall the roaring T. rex of Jurassic Park. However, that earth-shaking bellow seems to be a case of Hollywood exercising some creative liberty. While we don't know what these reptiles really sounded like, since they mostly died out some 66 million years ago, scientists at least have some reasonable ideas based on the anatomical structures of well-preserved fossils...

4 Lingering Questions After ‘Dignitas Infinita’

Four%20Lingering%20Questions%20After%20%u2018Dignitas%20Infinita%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: By most accounts, Dignitas Infinita, the Vatican’s new declaration on human dignity, has been received by the Church largely without a hitch. In fact, it might be one of the least controversial high-profile documents we’ve seen from the Francis pontificate in recent years. This is especially true when compared to the last declaration...

Wait: Is human dignity NOT infinite?

Wait: Is human dignity NOT infinite? | Catholic CultureMIRUS: One of the problems many highly committed Catholics have when they read and respond to documents issued or approved by Pope Francis is that we do not trust Pope Francis’ ability or willingness to address challenges to the Catholic Faith clearly and correctly. This is no great secret: Everyone is aware of the conundrum it presents. However, we must also realize that this confusion cuts both ways...

Did Jesus Really Descend Into Hell?

Did%20Jesus%20Really%20Descend%20into%20Hell%3F%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20Center: In reciting the Apostles Creed, the Christian faithful affirm that Jesus “descended into hell” following His crucifixion and death. But is this literally the case, and does the Creed use the word “hell” in the same way that we understand it today? The hell which Christ descended into following His death was not quite the same as the hell we imagine today...

Don’t brush right after you eat. Dentists say there’s one thing you should do after every meal that’s better for oral (and overall) health...

Don%27t%20brush%20right%20after%20you%20eat.%20Dentists%20say%20there%27s%20one%20habit%20that%27s%20better%20for%20oral%u2014and%20overall%u2014health%20%7C%20Fortune%20Well: Oral health isn’t one of the most exciting self-care practices, but it’s an important one. What’s going on in your mouth is a strong indicator of your overall well-being. So brushing and flossing every day isn’t just a bid for your dentist’s approval, it’s a win for your overall health.

Building Bigger Barns While Kneeling Before the World

Building Bigger Barns While Kneeling Before the World - Irish RoverMISCAMBLE: The mood is rather bullish, at least in parts of Notre Dame right now. Last year the university gained admission to the American Association of Universities (AAU), reputedly the nation’s leading organization of research-intensive universities. The money continues to roll in to America’s best-known Catholic university...

Iraq’s Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako Returns to Baghdad After Self-Imposed 9-Month Exile

Iraqi cardinal returns to Baghdad after 9-month absenceCOPPEN: Cardinal Louis Raphaël Sako returned to Baghdad Wednesday at the personal invitation of the country’s prime minister, nine months after leaving the Iraqi capital. The leader of the Chaldean Catholic Church left Baghdad in July 2023, in protest at a decision by Iraq’s president to rescind a 2013 civil decree recognizing him as the head of Chaldean Catholics...

Piers Paul Read, the writer of ‘Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors,’ has written an excellent new ‘History of Catholic Church’

%u2018Alive%u2019%20Writer%20Piers%20Paul%20Read%20Pens%20Tour-de-Force%20History%20of%20Catholic%20Church%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterTURLEY: “I thought I would like her to know about the Church not just because I’m a Catholic but also because it is part of our culture,” says Piers Paul Pead, speaking to the Register. The “her” he is referring to is his non-Catholic granddaughter, currently a student at Oxford University. She is, he says, “clever” but freely admits that she knows nothing about the Catholic faith...

From Papal Secretary to Nuncio? Reports of a Diplomatic Role for Archbishop Georg Gänswein Unconfirmed

From papal secretary to nuncio? Report of a diplomatic role for Archbishop Georg Gaenswein unconfirmed | Catholic News AgencyWIMMER: Not for the first time, it has been reported that Pope Francis is considering a diplomatic role for Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the former private secretary to the late Pope Benedict XVI. According to Argentinian newspaper La Nación, Gänswein may be appointed to nuncio, or papal ambassador, though the country for this posting has not been disclosed.

Missouri high-school students makes mosaic of Father Augustus Tolton with 20,400 dice

Tolton Catholic senior makes Fr. Tolton mosaic with 20,400 dice | The Catholic Missourian: Nate Pfenenger took his chances, rolled the dice and came out a winner. Specifically, he turned 20,400 black dice into an intricate, larger-than-life-size mosaic portrait of Venerable Father Augustus Tolton. “I didn’t think it was going to be a big thing,” said Nate, a senior at Fr. Tolton Regional Catholic High School in Columbia. “I just thought it would be a really fun and memorable art project.”

Understanding the Scriptures: A Reflection on the Third Sunday of Easter

Understanding%20the%20Scriptures%3A%20Scott%20Hahn%20Reflects%20on%20the%20Third%20Sunday%20of%20Easter%20%u2013%20St.%20Paul%20CenterHAHN: Jesus in today’s Gospel teaches His apostles how to interpret the Scriptures. He tells them that all the Scriptures of what we now call the Old Testament refer to Him. He says that all the promises found in the Old Testament have been fulfilled in His Passion, death, and Resurrection. And He tells them that these Scriptures foretell the mission of the Church—to preach forgiveness of sins to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson on Dogma

Sam Harris and Jordan Peterson on Dogma - Word on FireKACZOR: Whatever “dogma” is, Sam Harris certainly doesn’t like it. In his recent conversation with Jordan Peterson, Harris repeatedly condemns dogma, and Peterson repeatedly tries to moderate this condemnation. Harris notes correctly that dogma is “a Catholic term.” But what exactly is being condemned? The target is moving. First, Harris defines dogma as a belief that is held in spite of the fact that there’s no good evidence for it...

Which Mary Should Catholic Women Follow?

Which Mary Should Catholic Women Follow?| National Catholic RegisterGRESS: A new study has revealed that Gen Z is the first generation where more women are leaving religion than men. This shocking flip in the gender divide is another mile marker that women are on the wrong path. I recently published the book The End of Woman: How Smashing the Patriarchy Has Destroyed Us to navigate and understand contemporary trends among women...

Pope Francis Revives Traditional Papal Title ‘Patriarch of the West’ in 2024 Annuario Pontificio

Why is Pope Francis embracing the patriarchy (of the West)?: Pope Francis has revived the papal title Patriarch of the West, bringing back the style which has fallen in and out of usage over the centuries and was most recently dropped by Benedict XVI in 2006.

Kickoffs will look radically different in the NFL next year. Here's how and why...

The NFL's new kickoff rules: Why they changed and how they'll work : NPR: The upcoming NFL season will feature what may be the most significant change to gameplay in professional football in years: a dramatic alteration to rules around the kickoff, one of the game's most iconic plays.

SSPX Priest, Former U.S. District Superior, on Trial in France for Abusing 7 Children

SSPX Priest on Trial for Abusing 7 Children: A priest of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) is on trial for abusing seven children. On April 4, Fr. Arnaud Rostand, former U.S. district superior, appeared in criminal court in Gap, France, where he is charged with sexually assaulting multiple minors from 2002 to 2018 in France, Switzerland and Spain.

Reconsider Your Lawn Today

Reconsider Your Lawn Today - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: I was shocked to learn that my cousins in a suburban community were fined by their homeowners association (HOA) for having clover in their lawn. Doing a little research I discovered this is not unusual; in fact many HOA’s have rules that forbid a wide array of beneficial species including native grasses and wildflowers.

Totality or Nothing: What the Solar Eclipse Revealed About God

Totality or Nothing: What the Solar Eclipse Revealed About God| National Catholic RegisterTIMCLARK: Awesome is an overused word. On Monday, I was lucky enough to experience a total solar eclipse. It was ... awesome. Although I think I could easily give a dozen reasons why I found it so moving, I will offer just two. First, consider that a total solar eclipse is almost universally acknowledged to be one of the most incredibly beautiful sights in all of nature...

‘Dignitas Infinita’ and the Roots of Human Dignity

%u2018Dignitas%20Infinita%u2019%20and%20the%20Roots%20of%20Human%20Dignity%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterDESOUZA: Dignitas Infinita, the new declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), affirms that “every human person possesses an infinite dignity” and enumerates assaults on that dignity, with particular attention to new developments in “gender theory.” While the sections dealing with abortion, surrogacy and gender ideology contain nothing new...

Dignitas Infinita isn’t a perfect text, but it’s a strong one

Dignitas Infinita: Not a perfect text, but a strong one | Catholic CultureMIRUS: I was pleasantly surprised by the latest declaration from the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, “Dignitas Infinita” on Human Dignity. I say this because of the tendency of the current pontificate to place greater emphasis on the aspects of human dignity the modern Western world tends to agree about...

I’ve Been at NPR for 25 Years. Here’s How We Lost America’s Trust...

I%u2019ve%20Been%20at%20NPR%20for%2025%20Years.%20Here%u2019s%20How%20We%20Lost%20America%u2019s%20Trust.%20%7C%20The%20Free%20Press: You know the stereotype of the NPR listener: an EV-driving, Wordle-playing, tote bag–carrying coastal elite. It doesn’t precisely describe me, but it’s not far off. I’m Sarah Lawrence–educated, was raised by a lesbian peace activist mother, I drive a Subaru, and Spotify says my listening habits are most similar to people in Berkeley.

Do Human Beings Have Infinite Dignity?

Do%20Human%20Beings%20Have%20Infinite%20Dignity%3F%20%u2013%20Building%20Catholic%20CultureSTAUDT: The Vatican’s new document, Dignitas Infinitas, published by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) begins, “Every human person possesses an infinite dignity, inalienably grounded in his or her very being, which prevails in and beyond every circumstance, state, or situation the person may ever encounter.” I believe this statement to be false, because only God is infinite...

Never-Before-Seen Images of Padre Pio Released to the Public

Foundation releases never-before-seen images of Padre Pio | Catholic News AgencyROMANOWSKY: To mark its 10th anniversary, the St. Pio Foundation in the United States has released 10 never-before-seen photographs of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, better known as Padre Pio.

READ HERE: Declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith ‘Dignitas Infinita’ on Human Dignity

Declaration%20of%20the%20Dicastery%20for%20the%20Doctrine%20of%20the%20Faith%20%u201CDignitas%20Infinita%u201D%20on%20Human%20Dignity: Every human person possesses an infinite dignity, inalienably grounded in his or her very being, which prevails in and beyond every circumstance, state, or situation the person may ever encounter. This principle, which is fully recognizable even by reason alone, underlies the primacy of the human person and the protection of human rights...

New Vatican Document ‘Dignitas Infinita’ Condemns Gender Transition, Surrogacy, Abortion as Violations of Human Dignity

Vatican document on human dignity condemns gender transition, surrogacy, abortion | Catholic News Agency: The Vatican’s top doctrinal office issued a declaration on the theme of human dignity on Monday that addresses growing concerns such as gender theory, sex changes, surrogacy, and euthanasia in addition to abortion, poverty, human trafficking, and war.

Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord: ‘The Angel of the Lord Declared Unto Mary’

The Angel of the Lord Declared Unto Mary| National Catholic RegisterGRONDELSKI: Using our liturgical calendar, let’s put ourselves at the end of March in northern Israel more than 2,000 years ago. Living in Nazareth is a young man named Mary. She was an observant Jewish girl raised by her parents, Joachim and Anne. She was perhaps in her teens (remember the lifespan of the times) and probably very poor. As regards the latter, so was Joseph, the man to whom she was engaged, even though — somewhere long ago — his family was part of the line of the great King David.

Great American Eclipse: ‘The Heavens Declare the Glory of God; The Sky Proclaims Its Builder’s Craft’

Total eclipse and the Church: Eclipses - both solar and lunar - have long been a source of fascination. In ancient times, solar eclipses were seen as omens of doom. The Scriptures describe the sun as ceasing to shine for three hours during Jesus’ crucifixion, which some scholars have attributed to some type of unusual mega-eclipse.

For Popes, meeting the press has always been risky business

For Popes, meeting the press has always been risky business | CruxALLEN: Pop(e) Quiz: Which of the following modern pontiffs gave a high-profile interview to a journalist on extremely sensitive subjects, the result of which was controversy inside and outside the Catholic Church, compelling Vatican officials and spokespersons to issue ‘clarifications’ which did relatively little to calm the waters?

Pope Francis Transfers Vicar of Rome Cardinal De Donatis to Vatican Post

Pope Francis transfers vicar of Rome Cardinal De Donatis to Vatican post | Catholic News AgencyMARES: Pope Francis has transferred the vicar of Rome, Cardinal Angelo De Donatis, to a different post as head of the Vatican’s Apostolic Penitentiary, the Vatican announced on Saturday. De Donatis, 70, has overseen the administrative needs of the Diocese of Rome as cardinal vicar since 2017. His reassignment leaves the important post of vicar general of Rome vacant until the pope appoints his successor.

Encounter Christ’s Divine Mercy

Encounter%20Christ%u2019s%20Divine%20Mercy%20%7C%20Parishable%20ItemsFELTES: On Easter Sunday evening, all of the apostles (besides Judas and Thomas) were gathered behind locked doors in the Upper Room. Yet the Risen Jesus came and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” St. Luke records that they “were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost.” So to reassure them, Jesus asked...

Caitlin Clark: How the Catholic Basketball Star Captivated a Nation

Caitlin Clark: How The Catholic Basketball Star Captivated A NationLISI: Iowa basketball star Caitlin Clark is a lot of things to many people. To fans, she’s known for breaking NCAA records. To her teammates, she’s the one they are looking at to spearhead a national title run after getting Iowa to the Final Four. And to those in the sports marketing business, she’s a budding star who will be playing in the WNBA next season.

The U.S. military has been pushing DEI and LGBTQ policies. So how is recruiting going?

(4) Crossroads -- Asking faith questions about future U.S. soldiersMATTINGLY: Try to imagine an America in which families that have, for generations, urged their children to serve in the armed services stopped doing precisely that. Clearly, economic issues — think slow-rising salaries, housing costs for military families, day-care costs and more — are affecting recruiting. You can read all about that in this report by Stars and Stripes. These are logical, valid angles for reporting.

Save the date, parlor games, and the art of the meal

Save the date, parlor games, and the art of the mealCONDON: The octave is one of my favorite liturgical expressions of reality as the Church understands it. As most of you know, I am somewhat obsessed with the idea of time — how we conceive of the idea, how we measure it, and how we relate to a God who came “in time,” exists “out of time” and is waiting for us at the end of time...

No, Richard Dawkins, cultural Christianity is not enough

No, Richard Dawkins, cultural Christianity is not enoughBRISCOE: In a striking turn of events, renowned atheist and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins recently declared himself a “cultural Christian” during an interview with Rachel S. Johnson of LBC. Dawkins’ declaration was sparked by his reaction to the Mayor of London’s decision to celebrate Ramadan with 30,000 lights on Oxford Street rather than Easter...

Kurt Cobain, 30 Years Later: Our Joy-Shaped Hearts Were Created for Heaven’s Fullness, Not Nirvana’s Emptiness

Kurt%20Cobain%2030%20Years%20Later%3A%20Joy-Shaped%20Hearts%20Created%20for%20Heaven%u2019s%20Fullness%2C%20Not%20Nirvana%u2019s%20Emptiness%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterSIMONSON: The teenagers, many girls especially, went crazy for Frank Sinatra. A little while after that the teenagers, again girls in particular, all went crazy for Elvis. After that the teenagers got themselves caught up in Beatlemania. And then, not too long after that, the teenagers got really into. ... To read such a list, arriving at Taylor Swift today and leaving plenty of space for those future iconic musicians, would feel much like reading an Old Testament listing of kings.

‘Dignitas Infinitas’ to Be Published Monday: How Will Cardinal Fernández Influence the Vatican’s Gender Ideology Response?

How%20Will%20Cardinal%20Fern%E1ndez%20Influence%20the%20Vatican%u2019s%20Gender%20Ideology%20Response%3F%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterLIEDL: When the Vatican releases a document on human dignity April 8 that addresses gender ideology, it won’t be the first time that Rome has tackled the vexing topic. Pope Francis has spoken out frequently on the phenomenon, which holds that one’s identity is independent of their bodily sex, calling it “the ugliest danger of our time” just last month.

A Very Short Guide to Understanding the Scope, Purpose, and Doctrinal Weight of Papal Documents

A Very Short Guide to Understanding the Scope, Purpose, and Doctrinal Weight of Papal Documents | Church Life Journal | University of Notre Dame: When the pope speaks, Catholics tend to listen. Confusion often arises, however, when we do not have the tools to know how to properly listen. Using examples from Pope Francis’s pontificate (and some from other pontificates) we will outline the various types of papal writings in their scope, purpose, and doctrinal weight. One way to approach reading papal documents is to think of them as differing genres...

This is the evangelization skill every Catholic disciple needs...

The Evangelization Skill Every Catholic Disciple Needs! - Catholic Missionary Disciples - College Station, TXLEJEUNE: Most Catholics rarely evangelize and when they do, it may not be in the most effective manner. If you are a Catholic disciple and would like to become a better evangelist, then hang on to your hats, because I fully believe in the tactic I want to explore with you below. Is it full-proof? Of course not. But, it is effective, impactful, and anybody can use it...

Here’s the latest weather forecast along the solar eclipse’s path of totality

The Latest Weather Forecast along the Total Solar Eclipse Path | Scientific American: From cloud coverage to clear skies, here’s up-to-date weather conditions expected along the path of April 8’s total solar eclipse...

Making Easter the Cornerstone of Our Year

Making Easter the Cornerstone of Our Year - LifeCraftCUDDEBACK: It is near impossible to overstate the significance of Easter. It stands out as primary and unique for at least three reasons. While the focused celebration of Easter is for a set time—first an intense week (eastern Christianity has the lovely name of ‘Bright Week’), then stretching out to fifty days—this celebration is entirely predicated upon permanence. Indeed, this celebration is only possible if it is perpetual.

Westminster Cathedral forced to turn people away due to unprecedented numbers attending Easter Triduum

Westminster Cathedral forced to turn people away due to unprecedented numbers attending Easter Triduum - Catholic HeraldCOLSY: Staff at Westminster Cathedral were compelled to turn away people hoping to attend Mass due to reaching full capacity over the Easter weekend. Westminster Cathedral, which is the mother church of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, and has a capacity of 3,000 people, was unable to let any more people in for its Good Friday liturgy on 29 March. “This Easter morning our hearts are full of hope and joy – so too is this Cathedral,” said Cardinal Vincent Nichols two days later during Easter Sunday Mass.

Former terrorism officials question ‘radicalization’ study that lists peaceful pro-lifers

Former%20terrorism%20officials%20question%20%u2018radicalization%u2019%20study%20that%20lists%20peaceful%20pro-lifers%20%7C%20The%20College%20Fix: Two terrorism experts questioned a University of Maryland center’s labeling of a pro-life group as a “terrorist” organization. The former employees of the Department of Justice and Homeland Security spoke to The College Fix about the university’s research database, “Profiles of Individual Radicalization in the United States,” or PIRUS.

Did the Holy Father violate the obligations of conclave secrecy? Yes and no...

Pope Francis and Conclave Secrecy| National Catholic RegisterDESOUZA: Regarding the strict confidentiality of what goes on in a conclave, Pope Francis said that while cardinals are sworn to secrecy regarding conclave proceedings, “the popes have license to tell it.” Is that correct? Or is it a version of what former president Richard Nixon infamously told British television host David Frost, “When the president does it, that means it is not illegal”?

‘Budding Shoots of Christian Revival’ — Catholic Churches Worldwide Reporting Bigger Easter Crowds, Prominent Conversions, More Easter Vigil Baptisms in 2024

Did we just see the budding shoots of a Christian revival this Easter? - Catholic Herald: The Easter edition of the Spectator took a refreshingly upbeat stance on the State of Christendom, with Justin Brierley setting out his argument that we are seeing a Christian revival in England.

We just finished the 40 days of Lent. Now it’s time for those other 40 days (the ones after Easter Sunday)...

Those%20*Other*%20Forty%20Days%20%28the%20Ones%20After%20Easter%29%20%u2013%20Jimmy%20AkinAKIN: We’re all familiar with the idea that Lent is forty days long, and it used to be true that Lent involved forty days excluding Sundays, though this isn’t true now, given revisions to the Church’s liturgical calendar. The length of Lent is inspired by the forty days that Jesus spent in the wilderness before he began his public ministry...

Famed Director Martin Scorsese to Produce 8-Part Docuseries on the Life of Saints

Famed Director Martin Scorsese To Produce 8-Part Docuseries On The Life Of SaintsLISI: He’s made plenty of movies featuring sinners. Now, he’s turning to the life of saints. Famed movie director Martin Scorsese — known for mob movies such as “Goodfellas” and the “The Departed,” for which he won an Oscar for best director — signed a deal with FOX Nation to produce and host an eight-part docudrama series on saints.

French Government Cracks Down on Catholic Priest Who Said Homosexual Relations Are Sinful

French government cracks down on Father Matthieu Raffray, who said homosexual relations are sinful | Catholic News Agency: The French government has initiated a series of legal measures against Father Matthieu Raffray for calling homosexual relations sinful and for describing homosexuality as a “weakness.” On March 15, the priest of the Institute of the Good Shepherd posted a video on Instagram in which he encouraged the faithful to fight against their weaknesses.

As His Wife Joins the Catholic Church, Jordan Peterson Says Easter Is ‘the Core Story of Humanity’

As%20Wife%20Joins%20the%20Catholic%20Church%2C%20Jordan%20Peterson%20Says%20Easter%20Is%20%u2018the%20Core%20Story%20of%20Humanity%u2019%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterQUINONES: Psychologist and author Jordan Peterson spoke about Easter as the “core story of humanity” in an interview with EWTN News In Depth hours before his wife, Tammy, joined the Catholic Church this Easter at Holy Rosary Church in Toronto. Tammy Peterson’s faith was formed through praying the Rosary while she struggled against a rare form of cancer...

‘Easter People,’ the News, and the ‘Tion’ Season

'Easter people', the news, and the 'tion' seasonJDFLYNN: For me at least, it was a gift to experience the liturgies of the Triduum, a gift that thousands of people entered the Church at Easter, and a gift to renew my own baptismal promises, as my children and Mrs. Flynn renewed theirs. When the liturgy tells us to renew our baptismal promises, it might not seem like a big deal.

Scientists seek to understand why animals act strange during a solar eclipse and are asking the public to document their behavior

Scientists Seek To Understand Why Animals Act Strange During A Solar Eclipse And Are Asking The Public To Document Their Behavior TwistedSifter: We’ve been lucky enough over the past several years to see at least one solar eclipse here in the United States. With another one – this time a total eclipse for people from Texas all the way to Maine – occuring on April 8, 2024, it’s a good time to talk about all of the strange phenomenons that occur along with it.

Easter, Creation, and Holiness

Easter, Creation, and holinessWEIGEL: What came first: Creation, or God’s covenants with the People of Israel and the New Israel, the Church? The question may seem odd, even silly. Chronologically, it’s obvious that the divine act of creation preceded the divine acts of covenant-making: no creation, no “People” with whom God could enter a covenant relationship...

Your sins are the enemy of your own resurrected joy

Risking Hellfire | Catholic CulturePOKORSKY: We are all familiar with the saying from the classic Godfather movie. Whacking an enemy is “business, not personal!” There is merit in invoking good business practices in our national—and international—controversies. But neglecting the personal consequences of our choices is a mistake...

Radical ideological orthodoxy trammels parental rights, needs of children

Radical%20ideological%20orthodoxy%20trammels%20parental%20rights%2C%20needs%20of%20children%20%u2013%20Catholic%20World%20ReportRUSSO: Discrimination against Christians continues unabated as for the third time in four years public officials have sought to not allow qualified Christians to serve as foster or adoptive parents because they reject the current orthodoxy on gender ideology.

Florida Supreme Court Approves 15-Week Pro-Life Law, Allows Abortion Amendment on Ballot

Florida Supreme Court approves 15-week pro-life law, allows abortion amendment on ballot | Catholic News AgencyPINEDO: The Florida Supreme Court ruled to allow the state’s 15-week abortion ban to take effect while also allowing a broad abortion amendment to be added to the November ballot. The separate rulings uphold Florida’s 15-week abortion ban while also clearing the path for a proposal that opponents say could invalidate almost all the state’s pro-life laws and enshrine abortion up till the moment of birth in the state.

From Mobile Kitchen to Mitre: Bishop-Elect’s Food Truck Feeds Body and Soul

From%20Mobile%20Kitchen%20to%20Mitre%3A%20Bishop-Elect%u2019s%20Food%20Truck%20Feeds%20Body%20and%20Soul%7C%20National%20Catholic%20RegisterMATTMCDONALD: It’s the Ides of March, and Father James Ruggieri, the bishop-elect of Portland, Maine, is asking about the differences between East Coast rap and West Coast rap. It’s the latest installment in a long-running conversation with a tall Black man standing in front of a table where the priest and other volunteers are giving out food. The man, who thinks of himself as an East Coast rapper, said the people in rehab preferred gangster rap. He has something he wants to get off his chest.

Pope Francis: I Was ‘Used’ Against Ratzinger in 2005 Conclave, but He Was ‘My Candidate’

Pope%20Francis%3A%20I%20was%20%u2018used%u2019%20against%20Ratzinger%20in%202005%20conclave%2C%20but%20he%20was%20%u2018my%20candidate%u2019%20%7C%20Catholic%20News%20AgencyLIEDL: Pope Francis said he was “used” in the 2005 conclave in an effort to block the election of Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, though he supported the candidacy of the man who soon became Pope Benedict XVI. “He was my candidate,” Francis said of his predecessor in excerpts from the forthcoming book “The Successor,” published by the Spanish newspaper ABC on Easter Sunday.