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

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

The pre-conclave era has its first bumper crop, unsolicited advice for the new pontiff and the Church.  Following the laws of supply and demand, the value of this crop is diminished by its very abundance. As such, I am reticent to throw my golden nugget onto the pile of leaden advice, yet I must.

I have no advice on what geographical region from whence the new Pope should ascend, nor do I care about the color of his skin.  I don't know if charisma need be among his charisms.  I would not presume to tell the future pontiff or the cardinal-electors what should be the focus of his pontificate. 

Orthodoxy aside, there is one thing and one thing only that I would ask from our new pontiff....READ MORE

Truth? What was my initial reaction upon hearing the news of the Pope's resignation? I was ticked.

While it is certainly possible for a Pope to resign, no Pope has done it for the last 600 years. The Papacy has a 'til death do us part' thing to it.  We are supposed to bury Popes, not throw them retirement parties.

While my mind understands that this Pope must have a very good reason for resigning, my heart still breaks a bit.  Maybe that is the reason I am so upset, I don't really understand the reason.  The Pope's simple statement on the matter is that the Papacy requires "both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which, in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to...READ MORE

Question: Is it sexist to ask young women to be ladylike?

It would seem so.  Earlier in the week it was reported that a Catholic High School asked its young women to sign a pledge not to curse.

The media descended with its charges of sexism and the school quickly relented and opened the pledge up to boys.

While I am not in favor of either gender cursing, I have no problem with asking young women to be superior to their male counterparts.  Even in a coed school (which may or may not be such a great idea) we need to teach our boys to be men and our girls to be ladies.  And guess what, ladies don't curse (much).

I think it is perfectly sensible and reasonable to single out girls for...READ MORE

The relief of Cardinal Mahony of public duties in L.A. by Archbishop Gomez is likely just the beginning of the end for Cardinal Mahony.

As the Deacon's Bench reports via Rocco Palmo, the current steps have little canonical impact and most of Cardinal Mahony's faculties and prerogatives derive directly from Rome.

However, in all likelihood, Archbishop Gomez consulted with Rome in his effort to distance the Diocese from the evil work of these men and that the other Vatican shoe is sure to drop soon.  I hope real soon.

All this got me to thinking about Cardinal Mahony's legacy.  For those of us who watched it at the time, it is hard not to think of Cardinal Mahony without also thinking...READ MORE

An excerpt from an interview with a President in the future...

Amid conservative anger over the President's proposals to curb religious violence, the President says he sometimes attends Church.

Asked if he ever attends Church, the President said he did so occasionally when visitors to his retreat were interested in that sort of thing.

"Up at Camp David, we do service all the time," he said. "And I have a profound respect for the traditions of religion that trace back in this country for generations."

"And I think those who dismiss that out of hand make a big mistake".

The President's plans for tighter religion control were drawn up after last month's massacre at a Church in...READ MORE

When I was a kid, there was one way to insult another kid that I never really understood.  You would supposedly insult another kid and his mother by saying "your mother wears combat boots."  I never really knew what that meant, until now.

It seems that Leon Panetta, in his last act as Secretary of Defense, will announce today that women can now take on direct combat roles.  Yes, women will now be allowed in combat.

As Catholics, we are often accused of being patriarchal and of denigrating the role and importance of women.  Now, that is complete nonsense, of course.  If you merely recognize the fact that men and women are inherently different and have different roles to play in life...READ MORE