The blogosphere is abuzz about a CNN story that details a surrogate mother's decision to not abort her child despite the baby's biological parents offering her $10,000 to do so after ultrasounds showed that the baby had major issues including a heart defect and a cleft palate.

While many have strong feelings on this issue, looking at the comments left on the woman's site from "pro-choicers" is an absolute horror. These comments were placed on the woman's personal blog just today. I present to you the defenders of "choice":

How unfortunate for everyone that you decided to bring a child into the world that was not yours, either legally or ethically, and has little chance to...READ MORE

There is this great scene in the movie 'The Incredibles' when Buddy is pretending to be Mr. Incredible's sidekick.

Police Officer: Wait. You mean he got away?

Mr. Incredible: Uh-huh. [gestures to Buddy sitting angrily in the car] Skippy here made sure of that.

Young Buddy: IncrediBoy!

Mr. Incredible: You're not affiliated with me!

When I first heard of the antics of Father Andrea Maggi, a parish priest in Northern Italy, I yelled to no one "You're not affiliated with me!"

I have defended the right of well meaning people to disagree with the Pope's prudential decision to resign. What I don't defend is the asshattery disguised as disagreement. To protest against the Pope's...READ MORE

The comedian/actor Jim Carrey tweeted earlier this week a hateful message about the Catholic Church mocking the sacrament of confession and the Church's teaching on sexuality. Here they are:

I get ppl's need 4 absolution bt being cleansed by a skunk won't make u smell better.You can ask God directly. #themiddlemanispopeless ;^•>+

I knew the sickess in the catholic church all stems from the denial of human sexuality.Gay or straight. #denyingsexleavesyoupopeless 8^•>+   

I don't know about you but i may go off the rails if they don't find a new Pope soon! #lifeispopeless

There r good Catholics bt if a good woman allows her kids 2 b molested by their step father bcuz...READ MORE

With the Catholic Church so much in the news these days, we have a real opportunity to explain the Church to those unfamiliar.  Problem is, most people don't have a frame of reference for understanding the Church.  But I think I can solve that problem. I have developed this handy guide to explain Catholic terms to non-Catholics in with a frame of reference that everyone can understand.

Think of the Church as a Car Company.  Here is a glossary of common terms.

Confession: The repair department. For the measly price of a few 'Our Fathers', 'Haily Marys', and repentance you can have your car returned to factory condition.

Protestant: 500 years ago, mistaking the owners manual for the...READ MORE

I've noticed something troubling recently at Mass. It's parents at Mass without their children. And I'm not talking about the wee ones who cry and eat Cheerios in the pew. Actually I still see them quite a bit and am glad for it. It's the teens I don't see.

I've noticed parents that I've seen for years bringing their little ones to Mass suddenly flying solo as their children become teenagers.

What's going on? Is it some misguided notion that you shouldn't force religion on teenagers? Is this a trend you see at your parish? It seems pretty foolish to me. If you ask me, parents should be forcing teenagers to do all sorts of things, shouldn't we? If we see our children veering in a...READ MORE

Of all the possible advice I could give to a new Pontiff, perhaps the most important would be on the subject of name selection.

I wouldn't presume to tell the new Pope what name to pick, but I feel very qualified to tell him which names not to pick. All of the names below are previous names of Popes that should not be repeated. Let's just say they would send the wrong message or offer too many opportunities to detractors.

Hilarius

Picking this name is just asking for trouble. Trust me, Holy Father, it will be very difficult for you to be taken seriously. Why give them such easy ammunition? You might as well call yourself Pope Chuckles I. Not a good idea.

Simplicius

While...READ MORE

Composer Gavin Bryars was living in London working on a documentary about people living in poverty. During the recording, a number of people being interviewed broke into drunken maudlin ballads and even loud opera. But one old man, who, according to Bryars, was not drinking, sang a small verse of a religious song called "Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet."

He sang it without irony. He sang it seemingly in childlike faith despite his dire circumstances.

The recording of the old man was never used in the film and it was returned to Bryars. When Bryars listened to it at home he found something beautiful in the old man's singing. He improvised a simple accompaniment to the verse that built...READ MORE

In the discussion following the abdication of Pope Benedict XVI and in the lead up to the conclave, the amount of misinformation, hyperbole, and un-Catholic nonsense being spewed on the internet has been staggering. No, I write not about the silly season currently underway with the mainstream media or even progressive 'Catholic' publications. No, I refer to the misinformation, hyperbole, and un-Catholic nonsense being spouted by well-meaning Catholics who think they treasure orthodoxy.

Catholic comboxes all over the internet are overflowing with rubbish written by well-meaning but woefully misinformed Catholics. I do not wish to single out any individual comment or commenter as my aim...READ MORE