Free Republic

Msgr. Louis F. Meyer, whose name is synonymous with the archdiocesan Catholic Youth Council, died May 14 after an illness. He was 92. The man affectionately known as the "Soccer Priest" was much more than that. He was an athlete himself, declining an invitation to the New York Giants rookie camp in 1938 because he wanted to pursue the priesthood. He went on to help build the CYC, but he also helped make Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center a premiere facility, was the pastor of two parishes, led the archdiocese in its mission to support family life, became involved in...

CREVE COEUR • Rachel Lozano didn't die of cancer as the doctors predicted, and she says it's a miracle. Not a miracle like a last-minute goal or winning the lottery. The real deal: the work of God through the intercession of a saint. Other Roman Catholics in St. Louis believe, too, and on Friday, the St. Louis Archdiocese officially wrapped up its investigation into the claimed miracle with a prayer service to mark the occasion.

In many ways, the American experience is all about forgetting. Since this is a nation where almost everyone descends from immigrants, homogenization of cultural differences is necessary for creating a harmonious social order. It is only a matter of time before this affects the religious sphere of any given group. It is at least arguable that religion in the United States must inevitably become individualistic, consumerist, and fascinated with innovation. What came from the past, from ancestors in another time and society, must be forgotten since it is irrelevant; or at the very least, it must be subjugated to the...

Today’s New York Times, with another front-page attack on Pope Benedict XVI, erases any possible doubt that America’s most influential newspaper has declared an editorial jihad against this pontificate. Abandoning any sense of editorial balance, journalistic integrity, or even elementary logic, the Times looses a 4,000-word barrage against the Pope: an indictment that is not supported even by the content of this appalling story. Apparently the editors are relying on sheer volume of words, and repetition of ugly details, to substitute for logical argumentation. The thrust of the argument presented by the Times is that prior to his election as...

We’ve been here before. American’s For Tax Reform culled a few things from the List of Expiring Federal Tax Provisions 2009-2020 off the government’s website: In just six months, the largest tax hikes in the history of America will take effect. They will hit families and small businesses in three great waves on January 1, 2011:

Newman calls us to leave behind stale arguments It’s time to move on from the debate about ritualism versus activism, says Dominic Scarborough 25 June 2010 On Wednesday, June 9, the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joachim Meisner, addressed 4,000 priests from around the world. They were gathered at the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls in Rome for the conclusion of The Year for Priests. He told them that nothing is more important for a priest than conversion of heart because only this will enable them to fulfil their mission to bring Christ to others. He went on to...

Readings: • 2 Sam. 12:7-10, 13 • Psa. 32:1-2, 5, 7, 11 • Gal. 2:16, 19-21 • Lk 7:36—8:3 or 7:36-50 “A Catholic may sin and sin as badly as anyone else,” wrote Archbishop Fulton Sheen, “but no genuine Catholic ever denies he is a sinner. A Catholic wants his sins forgiven—not excused or sublimated.” One of Sheen’s heroes, G. K. Chesterton, put it very directly when asked why he became Catholic: “To get my sins forgiven.” Man’s need for forgiveness of sins is an essential tenet of Christianity that is sometimes pushed to the side, as though it might...

I have recently struck up a very enjoyable correspondence with Prof. Peter Kwasniewski, of the excellent Wyoming Catholic College, and read with great interest an article he recently wrote for the next edition of Latin Mass Magazine on the philosophy and theology of church architecture. (More information can be found at the magazine's website here.) Particularly interesting for me is his innovative but sound idea of linking the built structure of the church to the four marks of the institutional Church--One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic. This is the first time I have seen such an idea advanced and I find...

Postmodern man -- and postmodern woman -- don't know how to give a good party. It's up to Catholics to reclaim this lost art and share it with the world. Why? Because good parties are intrinsic to our Catholic faith. SNIP Of course, as the Church wisely realizes, feasts are more fun if preceded by fasts. The stricter the fast, the merrier the feast. Truly the Catholic tradition has mastered the art of well-timed, heavily scheduled, carefully orchestrated good times. The occasion of a sacrament -- baptism, confirmation, or matrimony -- is the best possible opportunity for a good party....

Monica Applewhite is one of the foremost experts on screening, monitoring and policy development for the prevention of sexual abuse and risk management for those with histories of sexual offending. Applewhite has spent the past 16 years conducting research and root-cause analysis in the area of sexual abuse in organizations in order to assist organizations in developing best practice standards. Formerly with Praesidium Inc., she helped create an accreditation system for the Conference of Major Superiors of Men to hold them accountable to the highest standards of child protection. She has worked with more than 300 organizations that serve children...

Politics is opportunistic; in the wake of the last three weeks unending coverage of the decades-old scandals in the Catholic church, Lisa Miller of Newsweek has decided that this is the time to push for the feminist interests.

APPEL À LA VÉRITÉ The cases of pedophilia in the Church are, for all Catholics, a source of profound grief and great sorrow. From members of the Church hierarchy were, in some cases, serious deficiencies and failures, and we welcome the Pope’s wish to shed light on these cases. With the bishops, and as members of the Church, lay Catholics bear the brunt of the crimes of certain priests and failures of their superiors; they fall firmly, as Christ taught, on the side of those who suffer most from these crimes, the victims, while praying for the culprits. As for...

After years of observing the Catholic music scene, particular as it affects the liturgical life of the Church, I think I can narrow down the most pressing problems of our time. The good news is that all five problem have answers that are readily at hand. For this reason, we all have cause for being extremely hopeful. 1. Musicians do not have a model, much less ideals, in mind. Catholic musicians are very sincere people who aspire to do research so that they can do their jobs well. They order book after book and read many official documents. And yet...

I thought with the installation of Archbishop Carlson being on international television and all, I’d post a live thread with some details, tidbits, etc., that you might not hear on EWTN. I asked Nyer if she would be so kind as to bump the thread around 3pm eastern (2ish here in the central daylight TZ). The prelude and most of the procession won’t be televised, I understand. Sorry. (No, really, there’s some really beautiful music in the prelude) Live video streaming is also available on the websites for the St. Louis Review and at least one local tv station (KMOV)....

I am the product of a “dumbed down" generation. During my “Catholic” instruction in the late 1960s, I can’t recall having ever seen a monstrance, prayed a novena, heard Gregorian chant, taken part in a May crowning or prayed a benediction prayer. In This Article... The Affective Shift The Pertinent Questions Up, Up and Away The Affective Shift When Rome recently asked for churches to again start the “Forty Hours” devotion, I found myself asking people exactly what that entailed. So I struggle even in adulthood, reaching back like an orphaned child searching for her parental roots. At one time...

The basic requirement for a good confession is to have the intention of returning to God like the "prodigal son" and to acknowledge our sins with true sorrow before the priest. Sin in my Life Modern society has lost a sense of sin. As a Catholic follower of Christ, I must make an effort to recognize sin in my daily actions, words and omissions. The Gospels show how important is the forgiveness of our sins. Lives of saints prove that the person who grows in holiness has a stronger sense of sin, sorrow for sins, and a need for the...

Suffering is not an absolute evil. In this Sunday’s Gospel, St. Peter provides Jesus with the opportunity to teach that suffering can in fact be a good thing. It can be used by God to bring about a greater good. Therefore it should not be avoided at all costs. This passage follows Peter’s proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of the living God. Jesus praised Peter, gave him a new name, affirmed that his statement of faith had come from the Father, and gave him supreme authority over His new Church. Now, we see Jesus rebuking him, "Away...

If you’ve spent time in an RCIA group, walked through your parish community center, or requested an explanation of some Church teaching, chances are you’ve come across a “Catholic Update.” Produced by Cincinnati’s St. Anthony Messenger Press with the imprimatur of the archdiocese, these short tracts have spread like kudzu in parishes throughout the US. They cover a wide range of topics and are written at an accessible, Reader’s Digest level of sophistication. A quick survey of Catholic Update titles suggest they provide Catholic answers to the faithful’s questions: “We Believe in the Resurrection,” “Eucharist: Food for Mission,” and the...

Kimberly exuded gentle feminine grace even in her most rambunctious moments. Raised in a quiet Mennonite community, she was one of only two women on campus who wore a “prayer covering” over her chestnut mane. And yet she was not the least bit self-conscious about it, even while performing on the student worship team. Covered Grace I admired Kimberly’s innate ability to draw people to her, make people love her. Shortly after graduation, she married a classmate and they prepared for their first term of mission service in China. She had utter confidence in her God and her young husband....

October 24, 2004 Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Psalm: Sunday 46 Reading I Responsorial Psalm Reading II Gospel Reading I Sir 35:12-14, 16-18 The LORD is a God of justice, who knows no favorites. Though not unduly partial toward the weak, yet he hears the cry of the oppressed. The Lord is not deaf to the wail of the orphan, nor to the widow when she pours out her complaint. The one who serves God willingly is heard; his petition reaches the heavens. The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal,...