The hostile reaction to expressions of religious belief by presidential candidates suggests that the cultural and media elite in America remain deeply uncomfortable with robust Christian witness.

Is Rick Perry, who led a prayer rally before announcing his candidacy, too religious to become president? Is Mitt Romney too Mormon — and therefore a fringe candidate? Is Jon Huntsman not Mormon enough — and therefore acceptable?

And, after winning the Iowa Straw Poll the day before, Michele Bachmann tussled with Meet the Press host David Gregory Aug. 14 over whether a woman who believed in St. Paul’s dictum on wives being submissive to their husbands can be a serious candidate.

Misunderstandings...READ MORE

MADRID (EWTN News) — Sister Teresita, the world’s oldest contemplative nun at age 103, came out of the cloister for the first time in 84 years to meet Pope Benedict XVI during his recent visit to Madrid. 

“I pray for you every day,” the Spanish Cistercian nun told Benedict XVI, who took her by the hand and made the sign of the cross on her forehead.

The two met at Madrid’s apostolic nunciature on Aug. 20.

“Saturday was a special day for Sister Teresita,” reported ReligionenLibertad.com. “She climbed into the back of Father Angel Moreno’s car — he serves as the chaplain for her religious community — together with her superior, Sister Maria, and they headed to Madrid for the most...READ MORE

The Church’s African, Middle Eastern and Asian Roots - John Couretas, Acton Institute

Did Jesus Really Call Peter “Satan”? - Fr. Ryan Erlenbush, New Theological Movement

Apple is Catholic and PC Protestant? - William Oddie, Catholic Herald

Archbishop Chaput and the Media - Donald R. McClarey, The American Catholic

Professor Ratzinger? Too Easy - Sandro Magister, Chiesa

Manliness and Catholicism - Andrew Votipka, VirtuousPla.net

Astonishing Story of Family with 11 Children Under Age 12 - Jeremy Kryn, LifeSiteNews

Catholic Gender Moralism & Cultural Chauvinism - Dr. Jeff Mirus, CatholicCulture.org

Even After Priest Is Exonerated, SNAP Attacks Falsely Accused Cleric - Dave Pierre,...READ MORE

When Texas Gov. Rick Perry, a GOP presidential hopeful, said in July that, if Roe v. Wade were ever overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court, the issue of abortion would then bounce back to be decided by the individual states, he evoked challenges from many in the pro-life movement.

Perry based this stance on his interpretation of the 10th Amendment, which states that all powers not specifically named as belonging to the federal government are granted to the states.

“You either have to believe in the 10th Amendment or you don’t,” Perry said at the time. “You can’t believe in the 10th Amendment for a few issues and then [for] something that doesn’t suit you say, ‘We’d rather not have states...READ MORE

WASHINGTON (EWTN News) — A new study shows that infant baptisms in the Catholic Church have been declining year by year along with the birth rate in the U.S.

The numbers “are generally moving in step with the overall fertility rate, which has also been falling, more so since the recession in 2008,” said researchers from Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate on Aug. 24.

Results show that although the numbers of those entering the Catholic Church are almost high enough to keep up with the number of Catholics who pass away each year, this may not always be the case if current trends continue.

The survey noted that in each of the past three years, the...READ MORE

ROME (CNA) — The president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, Archbishop Ignacio Carrasco de Paula, recently told CNA that the original definition of motherhood as a gift from God must be rediscovered.

Archbishop Carrasco said, “The reaction to the news of becoming a mother should return to being what it has always been, a reaction of joy” that leads us to say “Congratulations.” He added that the response to a mother should not be “‘I’m so sorry’ like we say to people who get sick.”

He recalled that it was Blessed John Paul II who was inspired 25 years ago to create the pontifical academy which is dedicated to the defense of human life. “He was the first to realize that the Church needed...READ MORE

WASHINGTON (EWTN News) — The White House’s clarification that Vice President Joseph Biden opposes China’s “repugnant” one-child policy is welcome but will “ring hollow” unless the vice president or president publicly condemns the policy, House Speaker John Boehner’s office said Aug. 24.

“If the Obama administration truly opposes the one-child policy and truly cares about undoing the damage the vice president’s comments have caused, the vice president himself — or his boss, the president of the United States — should personally go on record immediately and unequivocally right the wrong,” Boehner’s press office said.

The U.S. should also stop its contributions to the United Nations...READ MORE

A ‘True’ Jesuit Passes Away - Therese Rita, Zeal

Full Fathom Five - Calah Alexander, VirtuousPla.net

Catholic Church Seeks To Ban Women . . . Forever!!! - LarryD, Acts of the Apostasy

Diocese of Phoenix Statement: No More Altar Girls at Phoenix’s Cathedral - California Catholic Daily

Converts to Catholicism Continuing to Decline; What to Do - Msgr. Charles Pope, Archdiocese of Washington

Clergy Banned from 9/11 New York City Ceremony - Bill Donohue, Catholic League

Bishop Jenky: State of Illinois At War with Catholic Church - Thomas Peters, Catholic Vote/American Papist

Uphold Conscience Protection: Religious Freedom’s Contribution to the American Experience and Threats to its...READ MORE