Phyllis Wilson ponders what she will give up this Lent. Could she actually give up Facebook?
Lent: An Old Idea for Creating New Habits
Kevin Aschenbrenner discovers the Catholic tradition of observing Lent contains wisdom that is key to breaking bad habits and creating new, positive ones.
The Bible Tells Me So. Oh Really? Part 2
Last week we featured “The Bible Tells Me So. Oh Really? Part 1 This week, Ross Lonergan looks future at how the Church’s treatment of gay people can contribute to depression, family break-ups and even suicide.
Open the Doors and See All the People: Part Two
Criticism of the Catholic Church following recent scandals and controversies, while justified, has generally been directed at the whole Church. Ross Lonergan argues that the real Church is much more than — and surprisingly different from — the robes and Roman collars that have been attracting media attention.
Open the Doors and See All the People: Part I
Criticism of the Catholic Church following recent scandals and controversies, while justified, has generally been directed at the whole Church. Ross Lonergan argues that the real Church is much more than — and surprisingly different from — the robes and Roman collars that have been attracting media attention.
The Common Sense of Mercy
The recent case of a nun being excommunicated for approving an abortion that saved the life of a mother of four only serves to (sadly) underscore the distance from the common-sense virtues of mercy and charity the hierarchy of the Catholic Church has traveled.
Ritual as Myth Enacted: “You Have to Hear its Song”
With the unwitting help of a friend and of Joseph Campbell, Ross Lonergan hasgained insight into why he is attracted to and moved by Catholic ritual, especially the ritual of the Mass, despite his recent decision to terminate his active involvement in the Roman Catholic Church.
Banning Reiki: The Catholic Church Takes One More Step into Oblivion
The Catholic Church has now banned the healing practice of Reiki in what Nathan Thompson calls “a witch hunt” to undermine its members ability to make health decisions in their own best interests…and to disempower the nuns who have been providing Reiki in a Christian atmosphere.
The Jesuit and the Homies: It’s All about Kinship
The ongoing sexual abuse crisis has cast a shadow over the Catholic priesthood and has many wondering what the clerical culture of the Church has to do with the life and mission of Jesus of Nazareth. Father Greg Boyle and his work with gang members in Los Angeles remind us of how the ministry of a priest can mirror that of the carpenter’s son.
Did Epilepsy Lead to the Foundation of Christianity?
Did an epileptic seizure lay the groundwork for Christianity to spread through the Roman Empire two thousand years ago? Writer and doctor George Burden takes readers on a fascinating journey of medical discovery.