In case you haven't heard, tomorrow begins an unprecedented 14-day campaign of prayer, fasting, education, and public action dedicated to the celebration and protection of our religious liberties. Catholic parishes and dioceses across the country are hosting special Masses, parades, lectures, and other activities to highlight the Fortnight for Freedom, an event asked for by our country's bishops.

“We recommend to our brother bishops that we focus ‘all the energies the Catholic community can muster’ in a special way,” stated the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty in its April 12 statement “Our First, Most Cherished Liberty.” “This special period...READ MORE

Dioceses and parishes across the country are gearing up for the Fortnight for Freedom, which begins June 21 and ends on July 4th, in recognition of our right to religious freedom. Special Masses, processions, parades, speakers, and other events are taking place during the 14-day period. In the first half of Register Radio we spoke with Deacon Claude Lester, chair of a task force in Canandaigua, NY that is celebrating an ambitious "Festival for Freedom." As part of its Festival, the Notre Dame Retreat House will be hosting daily Mass and adoration, as well as nationally-recognized speakers each day of the Fortnight. One day, for example is devoted to the U.S. Constitution; another day is...READ MORE

In the first half of Register Radio, Thomas Peters of CatholicVote spoke about recent corporate efforts by corporations such as J.C. Penny's, Target, and Starbucks, to advocate for homosexuality and push for the redefinition of marriage.

"Over the last year or so, gay rights organizations have stepped up their efforts to get corporations involved," said Peters. "It's not the business of corporations to define marriage."

Peters drew attention to Starbuck's, which not only issued a public statement saying that redefining marriage is one of their "core values," but which has also filed an Amicus brief to try to get state laws protecting marriage between one man and one woman struck down....READ MORE

It's hard to believe that Cardinal Raymond Burke, Cardinal Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura, hasn't published a book up until now. Yet, he's a very busy man. If he had to start somewhere, he has chosen the very best place to begin - with Jesus Christ's central and unifying presence in the Holy Eucharist.

I was fortunate to read an advance copy of the book, and what a book it is!

Divine Love Made Flesh: The Holy Eucharist as the Sacrament of Charity provides a profound spiritual reflection on the source and summit of our Catholic faith. It links the rich theology of the Church with both pastoral practice and the spiritual life. The book, in its structure...READ MORE

In our first half, Michael Hernon, vice president for advancement at Franciscan University of Steubenville explained why the university decided to drop students from its health care plan.

“It was a moral and an economic decision,” said Hernon. “We notified parents and students in mid-April.”

Not only would the insurance have doubled in cost, but it also would have made the university complicit in covering contraception, abortion-inducing drugs, and other services opposed to Catholic teaching.

In addition, Hernon spoke about Franciscan’s decision to be one of 43 Catholic organizations to sue the federal government to strike down the Health and Human Service’s mandate.

“We’ve fought...READ MORE

There are a great many folks who like to talk about the evils of corporations, but what about corporations that support immoral activities in opposition to the common good? Take Target and Starbucks as just two recent examples.

Last week, Target announced that they are donating $120,000 - through the sale of their "Pride" clothing line - to the Family Equality Council, an organization that advocates for same-sex unions and is seeking the defeat of Minnesota's Marriage Amendment.

Looking deeper, the connections are further problematic. Take a look at the University of St. Thomas' Board of Trustees and you'll find that a Target executive sits on the board of the Archdiocese of St....READ MORE

Today on Register Radio, in our first segment, the National Catholic Register’s Rome correspondent Edward Pentin provided some background on Rome’s inaugural March for Life which took place on the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima and Mother's Day - May 13. While abortion has been legalized in Italy since 1978, this was Rome’s first March for Life. In addition to some 15,000 who attended the March from the Colosseum to St. Peter’s Basilica for Mass, the Mayor of Rome, the daughter of St. Gianna Molla, and Cardinal Raymond Burke also participated.

Edward explained that it was a grassroots effort with participation by as many as 150 different pro-life organizations throughout Italy.

Pentin...READ MORE

Reading most press accounts of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s doctrinal assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious, one would think that the Vatican is attacking all of the world’s nuns.

A more correct read of the situation, however, is that the Vatican hasn’t attacked all of the Church’s nuns, but rather it has disciplined a select group of them in the U.S., and it has done so out of love for the Truth. For the past 40 years, some leaders within certain female religious communities - such as some Benedictines, Dominicans, and Franciscans - have wandered increasingly further away from Christ’s Church and her teachings.

The assessment revealed what it...READ MORE