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[Catholic Caucus] Catholic doctors, ethicists criticize Pontifical Academy for LifeRepresentatives of the Australian Catholic Medical Association, with the support of several Catholic moral theologians and bioethicists, have criticized a book published by the Pontifical Academy for Life for its lack of understanding of “current science” and specific areas of medicine. The experts argue that the book spreads “misleading and confusing” theological and medical information that contradicts established Church teachings on contraception and assisted reproductive technologies.The book in question, “Etica Teologica Della Vita” (ETV), covers “Theological Ethics of Life: Scripture, Tradition, and Practical Challenges.” The 528-page Italian publication is a synthesis...

“And while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23). Jesus Christ, as the sinless sufferer, is the only model we need as we endure life’s trials. Prior to his death in 1555, the English Reformer and martyr Hugh Latimer expressed his convictions this way: “Die once we must; how and where, we know not. . . . Here is not our home; let us therefore accordingly consider things, having always before our eyes that heavenly Jerusalem, and the way thereto in...

Why Harrison Butker Attends the Latin Mass and You Should TooOf all the Catholic truth bombs Harrison Butker dropped on the graduating class of Benedictine College in a commencement address that has generated almost two weeks of vilification and vitriol, one of the most powerful was his endorsement of the Traditional Latin Mass. As Butker explained, “I do not attend the TLM because I think I’m better than others, or for the smells and bells, or even for the love of Latin. I attend the TLM because I believe just as the God of the Old Testament was pretty particular...

[Catholic Caucus] Four Heroes of Hypocrisy: How the President of the German Bishops Will Present HimselfThe Diocese of Limburg, Germany, headed by Georg Bätzing, the President of the German Bishops, has invented four figures for its presence at the 'Katholikentag' in Erfurt from 29 May to 2 June.The 'Katholikentag' is a festival-like national gathering of 'Catholics' in Germany that takes place about every 2-4 years.Bätzing's four heroes are: Fantastic Rainbow, Dr Future, Captain Liberty and PaxMan (all names originally in English). Participants in the Katholikentag can have their picture taken with them.The characters are drawn by an illustrator who trained...

Sensing a market with Christian evangelicals, Jordan Peterson is leaning into the Bible. The problem is, Peterson is not a Christian.I don’t, as a rule, listen to podcasts. Not because I am uninterested or have nothing to learn from others, it’s just that in a crowded marketplace where originality is so rare and the theft of intellectual property is, even unwittingly, so common, I find the easiest way to avoid echoing others is to avoid the echo-chamber. As such, academic psychologist-turned-social commentator Jordan Peterson was late to appear on my radar. I had, of course, heard of the Canadian, and...

[Catholic Caucus] "Everyone Is Welcome" Is Only True in Hell - Mgr. Mutsaerts"Fiducia supplicans" offers the possibility of pseudo-blessing homosexual concubines, even though the Vatican had clearly spoken out against this possibility two years earlier, notes Auxiliary Bishop Rob Mutsaerts of 's-Hertogenbosch in a foreword to the book "The Breached Dam", which deals with the infiltration of homosexual sin into the Francis' Church.Mutsaerts makes it clear that the text of 'Fiducia supplicans' breaks with the Bible, Catholic traditions [and common sense]: "One is asking for God's blessing to heal the brokenness in ones life, not to perpetuate ones disordered situation.""One...

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17). It is far easier to endure trials when we value the future over the present. A few years ago the popular Back to the Future movies dealt rather whimsically with the possibility of time travel, which always involved entering the future. The recurring theme was that with all the complications of tampering with the future, it was better to live in the present. Viewers could infer that, ultimately, it is not worth it to dwell a lot on the future....

Pope: Do not condemn unbelievers and listen to young peopleFrancis underlined his vision of a Church that is open to all and excludes no onePope Francis wants an opening of the Church even to people who do not believe. In two speeches on Friday night and Saturday morning, he underlined his vision of a church that is open to everyone and doomed no one.On Friday evening, during a visit to a Roman parish, the Pope had a long dialogue with about 80 children and young people. He asked, "Is there anyone among you who does not believe?" The Pope said...

[Catholic Caucus] Francis, “Deaconettes,” and the St. Gallen Mafia“No,” Pope Francis said.He was answering Norah O’Donnell’s question about whether “a little girl growing up Catholic today” could “ever have the opportunity to be a deacon and participate as a clergy member in the Church.” Directly and tersely, the pope said, “No.”It was a seemingly definitive response—and across the social media site X, a myriad of Catholics celebrated it as such.And yet Francis—to borrow a term from vaticanista Sandro Magister—has a history of pulling “u-turns.” That is, the pope has a habit of contradicting himself, especially by reversing a verbal “no”...

“For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17). Believers are far more blessed when they concentrate on the spiritual rather than physical aspects of life. Concerning endurance, Paul is again our role model. One reason he was able to endure pain and trials was that he knew the physical was far less important and lasting than the spiritual. He realized that our physical bodies are naturally aging and therefore not permanent. He was probably aware of this more than most people because his rigorous ministry with its travel...

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). In addition to Scripture, God has given us more than adequate spiritual resources to meet suffering and death. Wall Street, the name synonymous with the American stock market and financial investing, is a place where confidence can rise and fall with great force and unpredictability, right along with the rising or sinking level of stock prices. Prices always seem to even out, but who can be certain about how they will behave in the future? The apostle Paul’s spiritual confidence was not based on the changeableness...

For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). We can count on Scripture to give us confidence in the face of death. A few years ago my radio ministry heard from a listener who was exhibiting exactly the right attitude in the face of a terminal illness. A teenager from the Midwest sent a prayer request concerning her recently diagnosed Lou Gehrig’s disease. That Christian young woman, who by now is probably with the Lord, accepted her condition with grace and optimism. Here is part of what she wrote to us: “I love the...

“Whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice” (Philippians 1:18). It is possible to maintain your joy even while dealing with criticisms and irritating distractions. The dictionary definition of detraction is “the uttering of material (as false or slanderous charges) that is likely to damage the reputation of another.” A detractor wants to undermine and destroy the good name and credibility of another. Great statesmen, such as President Abraham Lincoln during the American Civil War, often have been the targets of contentious political opponents and stinging detractions by the...

This coming Sunday is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. While the Trinity might evoke a “Ho-hum, don’t we know that already …” response from many Catholics, the doctrine of the Trinity is essential to—and distinctive of—the Christian faith and is vital to our daily prayer and walk with God. The doctrine of the Trinity touches on who God is; if one has this doctrine wrong, one has the wrong idea of God and may in fact be worshiping a god who does not exist. The Trinity is by no means a dead theological issue, either. Most obviously, Jews...

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). The apostle Paul was a model believer who did not let his troubles steal His joy in the Lord. According to today’s verse, believers should never let a negative outlook replace our joy, no matter how bad life seems to be. The apostle Paul set an example that was far different. He wrote to the Philippians that in spite of being imprisoned in Rome, he was still rejoicing. Even though Paul was restricted under trying and harsh conditions, he was glad because the gospel message was being declared,...

“But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God” (Acts 7:55). Because Stephen was so consistently Spirit-filled, it was natural for him to react in a godly way to persecution and death. The cliché “Garbage in, garbage out” provides a good clue to the essence of the Spirit-filled Christian life. Just as computers respond according to their programming, we respond to what fills our minds. If we allow the Holy Spirit to program our thought patterns, we’ll be controlled and renewed by...

Short video - just under 10 minutes Mostly pretty good - a few images from Israel in the video Not for everyone of couse, so YMMV

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Burke warns Synod threatens to spread ‘devastation’ of German Church to ‘universal Church’ Speaking at the Thomas Aquinas College commencement, His Eminence told the graduates that the world is facing troubled times and 'What is more, the rebellion and revolution is sustained by some from within the Church, even by some who are called and ordained to shepherd the flock.' On Sunday, the Feast of Pentecost, U.S. Cardinal Raymond Burke warned graduates of Thomas Aquinas College about the potential “devastating” impact the upcoming October meeting of the Synod of Bishops may have on “the universal Church.” “We...

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“And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5). Stephen’s excellent character teaches us much about responding to suffering and death. Stephen, the first Christian martyr, is one of the most inspiring biblical examples of faithfulness in life and ministry. But his personal excellence shines forth most through the familiar account of his death by stoning. As one of the first deacons in the church, Stephen was recognized early on as a man of great faith and spirituality (Acts 6:5). And a few verses later Luke describes him as “full of grace and...