What Does it Mean to be Catholic?

What does it mean to be Catholic? A simple question, but not all that easy to answer. Yet, in the context of a pastoral letter to Rep. Patrick Kennedy regarding his public support for abortion in opposition to Catholic teaching, Bishop Tobin answered the question with clarity and brevity.
Bishop Tobin tells us:
“Well, in simple terms – and [...]

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Anglicans and the Catholic Church

Most Americans learned in high school that England’s King Henry VIII started his own church – when the one he was in (the Catholic Church) – refused to annul his marriage to Catherine.  Not one for humility, the King made himself head of the new “English Church” which is now known as the Anglican Communion or [...]

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Catholics, Gay Marriage & Washington D.C.

Pay careful attention to what’s happening in Washington D.C. with the Catholic Church and the D.C. City Council right now. This is a case where a perfect storm of liberal political fundamentalism and anti-Catholic sentiment have coalesced over the issue of recognizing gay marriage in the District.
Also, follow how the anti-Catholic media are consistently telling [...]

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A Catholic Thought

While reading “Friends of God” by St. Jose Maria Escriva – the founder of Opus Dei – I was struck by a passage he relates regarding Christians and their daily work before God.
St. Escriva liked to take young people to an old Cathedral (presumably somewhere in Spain), and in doing so, he’d take them up   [...]

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Japanese Catholic Novelist Endo

I have finally gotten down to business and started reading a novel by the late-Japanese Catholic author Shusaku Endo. I’m reading “Silence,” which tells the story of a 17th century Portuguese priest during the persecution of Christians (which is to say Catholics) in feudal Japan.
A fine novel, although a bit heavy. I have read [...]

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Another Catholic Dissent Group

Catholics should be ready to call out yet another ‘Catholic’ group, which seeks to foment dissent and heresy. The group is called the American Catholic Council and it may be a new coalition of heretical groups or perhaps a rebranding of Voice of the Faithful. We’ll soon know more.
It’s worth noting that links on [...]

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Catechism on Call on ‘Spring Break’

I just wanted to let folks know that Catechism on Call will be dormant until the first week of April, as this humble blogger will be traveling overseas. Thank you for reading my blog now and again, and God Bless.
I also want to wish you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day…We pray that St. Patrick will [...]

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The Catholic Priest and Church Teaching

A sure sign of one’s love for the Church, is an ardent love for the Catholic Priesthood. For without a Catholic priest, there is no Mass, and therefore no Eucharist. Right now in America, Catholic priests are mocked and viewed with suspicion because of the clergy abuse scandal. This is unfortunate, but predictable.
The vast majority [...]

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Catholic Children and Sex Education

When it comes to Catholic children, or children of any faith for that matter, it is the parents who decide what children will and won’t learn – not the government. Catholic and Christian parents must ensure that their children opt out of sex education classes, which teach values and practices that are opposed to Christian [...]

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Catholic Prayer and the Catechism

Any discussion of the Christian life is impossible without talking about Christian prayer. When you love someone – as Catholics should love God – you naturally want to spend much time with that person, and prayer is how we honor that relationship. The Catechism of the Catholic Church has an extended section on Christian prayer.
The [...]

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