Pagan Convert: Christie Martin - Why I’m Catholic

Israeli Jew Turned Catholic Priest Named Head of Papal Court - Tomer Zarchin, Haaretz

If You Do Not Like the New I.C.E.L. Translation. . . - Father Tim Finigan, The Hermeneutic of Continuity

Scripture Breathes the Holy Spirit - Father Kenneth Baker S.J., Homiletic & Pastoral Review

Lutheran Minister is Sacramento’s First Married Catholic Priest - California Catholic Daily

The Theology of Waiting Around - Mark P. Shea, Crisis Magazine

Time For a Papal Motu Proprio on Sacred Music? - Shawn Tribe, New Liturgical Movement

Go (Matthew 28:11-20) - Father John Bartunek, Catholic Spiritual Direction

Please Use the Altars Provided - Father...READ MORE

WASHINGTON (CNA/EWTN News) — “Are you coming down to the altar?” the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s executive director Gary Marx asked after one especially evangelical speech at its annual conference June 4.

But despite the more than occasional revival-like feel, Catholic social teaching was on display at this important stop for potential Republican presidential nominees.

A Coalition-commissioned poll last November found that conservative Christians were a key constituency in the midterm elections that changed the majority in the House of Representatives from Democrat to Republican — creating what pro-life stalwart Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., has called “the most pro-life House of...READ MORE

JOLIET, Ill. (CNA/EWTN News) — As civil unions begin in Illinois, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet has announced that it has stopped processing applications for new foster or adoptive parents.

The diocese cited its “religious practice” of not placing children with unmarried, cohabiting couples of the same sex or opposite sex, a practice under increasing pressure from state law.

The June 1 letter from Glenn Van Cura, executive director of Catholic Charities in Joliet, notified the state government that the agency is “temporarily suspending the processing of new foster care and adoption applications.”

It did not say how or when the application process could resume, the...READ MORE

LOS ANGELES (CNA/EWTN News) — Archbishop Jose Gomez of Los Angeles told a diverse group of new priests during their ordination Mass that they have a responsibility to make God known in a culture that has forgotten him.

“We have a special responsibility for the New Evangelization — not only for the New Evangelization of Los Angeles and California,” he said, “but also for the New Evangelization of our country, our continent and our world.”

Of the six new priests that Archbishop Gomez ordained at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels on June 4, one was born in Mexico, three in Korea and two in the U.S. to immigrant families.

“We are celebrating this morning a special moment of grace and...READ MORE

CODY, Wyoming — When the monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel wanted to design a new church for their Wyoming home, they turned to a building style just as ancient as the 800-year-old Carmelite order itself — Gothic architecture. Designed by Jim McCrery of McCrery Architects in Washington, D.C., its plans call for towering spires, flying buttresses, twin bell towers, wooden trusses, rose windows and more of what typically might be found in Europe’s greatest spaces of worship.

The monks are not alone. Parishes and religious orders across the United States also are turning to traditional design for new churches and renovations.

“That is an enormous change from 10 years...READ MORE

Music-Minded Catholics Hope to Sing a New (Old) Song - Jason T. Adams, Catholic Exchange

Natural Law Ethics: What it Means to be a Political Animal - Matthew O’Brien & Robert C. Koons, Public Discourse

Degrees of Prayer & Intimacy with God - Thomas Colyandro M.A. M.Div., Catholic Lane

New Translation: The Penitential Act, Form C - Jake Tawney, Roma locuta est

. . .Fr. Simon Henry: new translation, same old problems!. . .

. . .Fr. John Zuhlsdorf: new, corrected translation won’t be enough. . .

. . .Fr. John Zuhlsdorf: quaeritur: can we say “and with your Spirit” now?. . .

Preparing Ourselves as Tabernacles for the Lord - Joe Heschmeyer, Shameless Popery

Physical Science Not Enough,...READ MORE

VATICAN CITY (EWTN NEWS) —The first phase of the apostolic visitation investigating clergy abuse in Ireland has concluded with the announcement that an overall synthesis of its results and recommendations will be published by early 2012.

The report will focus on the nationwide mission of renewal announced by Pope Benedict XVI in his March 2010 pastoral letter to the Catholics of Ireland, the Vatican said June 6.

The investigators, known as “visitators,” had set out to examine the effectiveness of the present response to cases of abuse and the current forms of assistance provided to abuse victims.

They also considered the prospects of the “profound spiritual renewal” presently being...READ MORE

ROME (CNA) — The Bishops’ Conference of Spain has warned of the dangers of sexually charged ads and the promotion of the sex industry.

The Internet, they said in a May 25 message, cannot be a place devoid of any ethical or moral considerations with regards to human communication, nor can it throw aside “the most basic norms of decency in personal and social relationships, based on the dignity of the person and the common good.”

The same could be said of certain sections of newspapers, such as the classified ads, the bishops continued. 

They support efforts to rid the press of advertising for the sex industry, “which not only constitutes an attack on the dignity of the person, especially...READ MORE