Marriage on the Fringes Are we headed toward a society that no longer looks askance at a woman who decides to marry herself, her mother, or the Statue of Liberty?
	The Failure of Liberty Christopher Ferrara contends, "Liberty has not made men free, but rather it has relentlessly opposed and driven from the life of the State the very Truth that makes men free."
	Pope Francis & Conscience The most egregious remark in the Pope's interview with Scalfari concerned a subjective definition of conscience, one the self-described atheist "perfectly shares."
	Those Hurtful Ads! Those NOR ads are presumably supposed to be satirical, but they're actually insensitive, judgmental, mean-spirited and hurtful....
	Literature Matters Through the ages, great ideas have frequently found their expression in great works of literature, both fiction and nonfiction.
	News You May Have Missed A Vatican condom factory... Homosexual weapons research... Drive-through brothels... Voluntary human extinction... Are you serious?
	Biotechnology & Posthumanism Technology may finally make us so unhappy we will begin to effectively criticize its consequences with the whole human good in mind.
	The Trendy Atheists Richard Dawkins and his ilk view Catholics as deluded faith-heads whose minds have been taken over by irrational superstitions.
	Pope Francis Despite any attempts at reading the tea leaves of Jorge Mario Bergoglio’s past life, it's far from clear how he is going to handle becoming Pope Francis.
	Same-Sex Marriage Same-sex marriage was the invention of the Emperor Nero, who had at least three such nuptials, one in which he played the bride.
	The Problem of Evil The Church is clear-eyed about the devil's existence and demands that we neither minimize nor exaggerate the danger he presents to our salvation.
	New Age & Gnosticism There's far more to this movement than the self-indulgent silliness of astrology, crystals, weird workshops, and the accompanying psychobabble.
	Catholic Social Teaching The same papal statements that criticize socialism also criticize capitalism, and for the same basic reason.
more dossiers...

Cdl. Müller tells ordinariates: ‘All eyes are on you’
Speaks of task to preserve distinctiveness while integrating

Pope prepares to leave Rome for Lenten retreat
He and his senior aides go to retreat center March 9-14

U.S. poll: Mass attendance unchanged over past year
40% of Catholics told Pew that they attend Mass weekly

Report documents persecution of Christians in India
Extreme Hindu nationalist ideology has gained ground

Legislation to help ex-inmates draws Catholic praise
Second Chance Act addresses re-integration, recidivism

Gay activists, PP issue joint statement on HHS suits
Conscience laws on mandate, marriage 'roll back clock'

Obama budget eliminates abstinence education
Most parents, Dem. or Rep., favor 'risk avoidance' approach


Pope defends Church record on tackling child abuse
'No one else has done more. Yet only the Church is attacked'

German bishop pushes for change in sexual morality
Ackermann: Church teaching is 'repressive, remote from life'

Pope: No need to change teaching on contraception
Pastoral efforts must 'take into account people’s situations'

CDF head: No doctrine change on divorce/remarriage
Raps idea of doctrine 'separated from pastoral practice'

Cardinal Turkson criticizes Uganda’s anti-gay law
'Homosexuals are not criminals' to be put in jail for life

Missionary priest labors alone in eastern Ethiopia
Is 700 miles from nearest priest in 'very dangerous place'

German homeschoolers won't be deported from U.S
Homeland Security gives 'indefinite deferred action status'

Pope Francis' Message for Lent 2014, full text
Only one real kind of poverty: not living as child of God

European publisher launches Pope Francis magazine
Il Mio Papa to have initial print run of 3 million copies

Kasper: Women should have greater role in Curia
Non-ordained can serve congregations, pontifical councils

Ugandan Anglicans threaten schism over gay issues
If C of E is 'not willing to listen' we may be 'on our own'

Gay advocates meet with Boston parade organizers
Catholic school pulls out: Have already conceded too much

N.J. archbishop’s mansion renovation spurs backlash
Newark archdiocesan appeal threatened by perceived 'bling'

Oklahoma State U. settles with pro-life students
Public school denied students their First Amendment rights

Pope urges sympathy for those in failed marriages
Homily: 'We must not condemn them! Walk alongside them'

Spanish bishops to be in ‘permanent mission’ state
Pope stresses importance of priests’ closeness to flocks

Rome's fiscal crisis complicates JPII canonization
Halt in bus service, essential services could result in chaos

St. Peter's Square restorations to be done by Easter
14 million Euro project included 284 columns and 140 statues

New study links the Pill with multiple sclerosis risk
Researchers dismiss implications, see no change in pill use

Calif. abortion facility is fifth to close in 2014
Operation Rescue: 87 surgical clinics closed in 2013

Kasper: 'Canonical penitential practice' for divorced
Perhaps Church could tolerate, but not accept, 2nd unions

Pope: Bishop not to be 'manager, CEO of a business'
Need men who 'rise to the height from which God sees us'

news link archive...