What the Church Has Given the World - Father Andrew Pinsent, Catholic Herald

How Saint Helena Found the True Cross in Jerusalem - Taylor Marshall, Canterbury Tales

From Radical Atheist to Catholic Philosopher - Carl Olson, Ignatius Insight Scoop

Guidelines for the Protection of Priests - Father Michael P. Orsi, InsideCatholic

Abortion Survivor: Unwanted Babies ‘Need to Live’ - Patricia Coll Freeman, Catholic Anchor

Veils and Burses - Father John Zuhlsdorf, WDTPRS?

Gather Us In, A Bad Song Is Playing - Paul Zummo, The American Catholic

Pope Benedict XVI: In No One’s Shadow - Samuel Gregg, The American Spectator

More Than 20% of Atheist Scientists are Deeply Confused - Mark P. Shea,...READ MORE

What could be more timely than another strong reminder about our Blessed Mother’s direction on how to save our souls?

After all, our times seem to be marked by more wars, uprisings, natural disasters and relentless attacks on morality, the family and life itself.

Fatima for Today: The Urgent Marian Message of Hope provides that reminder, The author, Father Andrew Apostoli, is a foremost authority on the Fatima apparitions and message.

“No doubt Our Lady is protecting us from many spiritual assaults that are not as obvious as the atomic bomb, but nevertheless real,” writes Father Apostoli. “She is likewise preparing her spiritual sons and daughters for the struggles that will ultimately lead to...READ MORE

There’s a new Hollywood arrival whose goal is far different than seeking fame and fortune.

Holy Wood Acting Studio’s aim is to form top-notch actors who will become a moral center in the movie industry.

“Acting is more than just a career — it’s a calling,” says Max Espinosa, Holy Wood Acting Studio’s co-founder and director of operations. “Why? Because it affects people. Art has the power to change people’s lives. Hollywood goes around the world and reaches the masses. It all starts with the actors. So we want to create actors to influence Hollywood in a positive way.”

The name choice of Holy Wood Acting Studio is more than a play on words.

“We strongly believe we came here for a...READ MORE

New Alaska Catholics Tackle Obstacles on Journey Into the Church - Rashae Ophus Johnson, Catholic Anchor

Saint Matthew’s Gospel: Conflict in Galilee - Doctor Edward Sri, The Integrated Catholic Life™

UK: Guild of Catholic Bloggers’ Planning Meeting Tomorrow - Dylan Parry, A Reluctant Sinner

How Did Jesus Vanish from the Sight of His Disciples? - Reginaldus, New Theological Movement

Saint Augustine Church, Bronx, New York, 1878 A.D. - Pat McNamara, McNamara’s Blog

How Much Power Does a Bishop Have Over the Liturgy in the Diocese? - Father John Zuhlsdorf, What Does The Prayer Really Say?

The Myth of the Andalusian Paradise - Darío Fernández-Morera, First Principles

UN Could Move to...READ MORE

WASHINGTON — The country was still reacting to the killing of Osama bin Laden when public attention was refocused on a long-simmering partisan debate with renewed intensity: Is the morality of torture ever justified, even if it helped to nail a terrorist mastermind?

We can surely express relief that bin Laden is no longer able to lead and inspire his global terror network without condoning the use of waterboarding — defined by some legal and military experts as “torture.” Pope Benedict XVI has stated that the prohibition against torture “cannot be contravened under any circumstances.”

But on Capitol Hill, the dueling camps that either endorse or repudiate the use of torture serve as a...READ MORE

Catholic Revert: Richard Evans - Why I’m Catholic

Apologetics Toolbox: Apostolic Succession - Anthony S. Layne, Outside the Asylum

Three Reasons for Mary - Sister Lisa Marie Doty F.D.C.C., Nunspeak

Cardinal Mindszenty, Martyr of Our Time - Richard Collins, Linen on the Hedgerow

Divine Missions and Indwelling of the Holy Trinity - Stacy Transancos, Accepting Abundance

The Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn, 1884 A.D. - Pat McNamara, McNamara’s Blog

Distributism and the Modern Economy Part II - Donald P. Goldman III, The Distributist Review

What Price Baby Bliss? - Damian Adams, MercatorNet

Rocker Steven Tyler of Aerosmith Haunted by Girlfriend’s Abortion - Kevin Burke, LifeNews.com

...READ MORE

Early in Roland Joffé’s There Be Dragons is an episode in which two young boys named Josemaría Escrivá and Manolo Torres sample cacao beans at a chocolate factory owned by Josemaría’s father, while the kindly Jewish manager Honorio (Derek Jacobi) waits eagerly for their impressions. Frowning in disappointment at Manolo’s hapless guess (almond?) and smiling approvingly at Josemaría’s assessment (cinnamon!), Honorio upbraids Manolo, not for guessing wrong, but for “scoffing at what he can’t experience.”

“Love can unleash the divine flavors hidden within,” Honorio explains, adding thoughtfully, “Not everyone has a taste for the divine. … I wonder why that is.”

In that vignette is There Be...READ MORE

OTTAWA — A recent shift among Catholic voters has helped realign the Canadian political scene and bring the Conservative party its first majority in the House of Commons in nearly 20 years.

A trend that began only five years ago, when weekly Mass-attending Catholics switched from supporting the center-left Liberals to the moderately rightist Conservatives, has grown in strength. Even non-Mass-attending Catholics have now joined it for the first time, with 50% of them supporting the Conservatives, along with 59% of weekly Massgoers.

Catholics make up half the Canadian population.

“I think Catholics have just given up on the Liberals,” commented Tom Hamel, president of Redeemer Pacific...READ MORE