WASHINGTON — In an escalation of the U.S. bishops’ campaign against “grave threats to religious liberty,” Bishop William Lori of Bridgeport, Conn., endorsed three bills designed to strengthen First Amendment rights.

The bishop, who heads the newly established Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty for the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops testified before Congress yesterday, Oct. 26.

“I am here today to call to your attention grave threats to religious liberty that have emerged even since June — grim validations of the bishops’ recognition of the need for urgent and concerted action in this area,” said the bishop. “I focus on these because most of them arise under federal law and so may...READ MORE

Thanksgiving came early on the campus of the University of Notre Dame this fall for supporters of the Center for Ethics and Culture there, as the school announced that O. Carter Snead would be succeeding David Solomon as the center’s director.

When Solomon was told last year that his term would be ending at the conclusion of this academic year, supporters of the center and the Fund to Protect Human Life, which relies on the center for administrative support, were alarmed. The move has been understood as retribution for his outspoken criticism of the administration’s awarding of an honorary degree to President Barack Obama, an ardent supporter of legal abortion, in principle and...READ MORE

WASHINGTON (EWTN News)—Cardial Donald Wuerl, the head of the Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., will serve as the chief coordinator for the upcoming gathering of bishops on evangelizing societies that are becoming increasingly secular.

“The synod’s theme chosen by our Holy Father appropriately reflects his recognition that in this secular and materialistic society, where people listen in sound bites and slogans replace explanations, we must remember that Christ and his message give true and lasting meaning and joy,” said Cardinal Wuerl in an Oct. 25 statement.

“We must have the excitement and enthusiasm of those Christians of the early Church, going out and telling people for the first...READ MORE

NEW YORK — Ten years after 9/11, plans have been settled to rebuild the only church that was destroyed during the attacks on the World Trade Center.

The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America has spent the last decade in a tug-of-war with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which owns the land under the World Trade Center, over the future of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The small church sat in the shadows of the Twin Towers but was crushed when they collapsed on Sept. 11, 2001.

On Oct. 14, both parties announced that they had finally reached an agreement.

According to Father Mark Arey, director of the Office of Inter-Orthodox, Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations, St....READ MORE

Nude Beauty for Porn Addicts - Marc Barnes, Patheos/Bad Catholic

Praying for the Holy Souls: The Soul You Help may be Your Own - James Curley, Catholic Lane

2 November Indulgences Coming Up, Have a Plan? - Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, WDTPRS?

Why Two Judgments? - Msgr. M. Francis Mannion, Our Sunday Visitor

My Life in Roses - Fabiola Garza, VirtuousPla.net

Should Spiritual Directors Charge for their Services? - Dan Burke, Catholic Spiritual Direction

No Catholic Church, No Scientific Method  - Scott Locklin, Takimag

Editing Down the Catholic “Core” - Terry Mattingly, Get Religion

Shooting the Messenger: What Church Teaches on Her Own Authority - Dr. Jeff Mirus, Catholic Culture

Central...READ MORE

VATICAN CITY — A new Vatican document that calls for the creation of a new global authority to regulate financial markets and a tax on financial transactions has been praised by some for reminding world leaders to uphold the dignity of the poor.

But it has also been roundly criticized by others for being out of touch with political and economic reality.

The 41-page document, drawn up by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and published Oct. 24, was aimed at contributing to the upcoming G-20 Summit Nov. 3-4, which will be devoted to the ongoing global economic crisis.

Titled “Toward Reforming the International Financial and Monetary Systems in the Context of Global Public...READ MORE

Six Practical Means to Overcome Sins & Faults of the Tongue - Sr. Laus Gloriae OCD, Integrated Catholic Life™

The Changing Face of Catholic Social Though - Fr. Thomas D. Williams LC, Crisis Magazine

Learn Church’s Triumphs, Shortcomings, Gain Perspective on Faith - Thomas Craughwell, Our Sunday Visitor

Mea Culpa - Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Standing on my Head

The Truth about Assisi, Never-Before-Seen Words from B16 - Sandro Magister, Chiesa

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse - Taylor Marshall, Canterbury Tales

Standing for Everything Will Get You Nowhere Fast - Motley Monk, The American Catholic

Lebanese Patriarch Urges Vigilance to Avoid Arab Winter - Benjamin Mann, Catholic News...READ MORE

VATICAN CITY — A Christian must never yield to the temptation “to become a wolf among wolves,” but should work instead to build a kingdom of peace in which Christ is King, Pope Benedict XVI said today, Oct. 26, at a special Liturgy of the Word on the eve of tomorrow’s special day of prayer for peace in Assisi, Italy.

Addressing pilgrims this morning in the Paul VI hall, the Pope said, “It is not the sword of the conqueror that builds peace, but the sword of those who suffer and give up their own lives.” He reminded the faithful that they must journey like Christ: “not with the might of war or the force of power ... but with the giving of self, with love carried to its extreme...READ MORE