Inter-religious dialogue is a hot topic right now, particularly dialogue with Islam. But whenever I consider dialogue and ecumenism with Islam I always come back to one question.

What is the point?

By this question, I don't intend sarcastic commentary that any and all dialogue is fruitless.  I mean it at face value.  To measure the success of any endeavor, you must know what it is we wish to achieve by it.

So what do we hope to achieve with better dialogue with Islam?

First, may I suggest that it is not possible to have fruitful dialogue with Islam itself, but perhaps it is with some Muslims.  This may seem like word games, but I think it is an important distinction.  I will try...READ MORE

Sometimes it is tough to be a both/and Catholic in an either/or world.

Progressives love to drive wedges and their media cohorts love to hit upon them with a sledge hammer.  Language is their chosen soft spot. This has never been more apparent than since the election of Pope Francis just over a week ago.

For two or more generations progressives, both inside and outside of the Church, have hijacked the Church's Social justice teachings to promote things ancillary or even opposed to the Church's teaching.   Pope John Paul II said Catholic social teaching "rests on the threefold cornerstones of human dignity, solidarity and subsidiarity."  Yet, progressives have successfully removed many...READ MORE

After the election of Pope Francis, some of the choices of the Pope have made liturgy a hot topic. So much so, the world renowned expert on liturgy, Cardinal Mahony, as seen at the Los Angeles Religious Education Congresses, has weighed in on the topic on Twitter.

I responded with some thoughts of my own.

I wish I could give a cogent and well thought out treatise on the election of Pope Francis I, hereby and forever dubbed PF1 ( You heard it here first.) But I can't, just as nobody else can. So instead of well-thought out, I give impressions, worries, and even a few thoughts.

First thought. Pope seems like a simple and humble man. I wish I was more like him.

In a time that seems to call for a fair amount of skull-cap cracking, his resume does not jump to the top of the pile. But by no means does that mean he is not up to the task. Bruce Willis didn't send any Euro-weenie bad guys to their well deserved demise until they put him in a spot where he had no choice.

Fr. Longenecker...READ MORE

Consistency being the hobgoblin of small minds, Piers Morgan's giant brain must be hobgoblin free.

Life must be so much easier when you don't let little things like logic and consistency get in your way. Last week, the polished boor that is Piers Morgan made news by getting schooled on the logic and tenets of his supposed faith by an atheist.

While Piers Morgan railed against the teaching of the Catholic Church demanding that the Pope immediately stop teaching things contrary to predilections of Piers, Penn Jillette defended the Church's right to teach what it teaches. You don't have to believe it, you don't have to be a Catholic, but you don't have a right to tell the Church what it...READ MORE

Kristen Chenoweth has been known for her supposed 'Christianity' in Hollywood. But now she has decided that being 'Christian' is no longer enough. Kristen Chenoweth has decided she is Pope.

The actress, who recently starred in a show called Good Christian B**ches (which lasted a shorter time than Manimal due to its Piers Morgan-like ratings), has bestowed upon herself the power to decide what is 'Christian' and what is not. Of course, she uses her new found power to promote 'gay marriage' and bash, you know, actual Christians.

In an interview with the Gay Star News [source]

As a big ally of the LGBT community, how do you feel about the marriage equality fights in the US and across...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

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