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Excellent, multi-faceted article by Russell Shorto in yesterday’s New York Times Magazine about Pope Benedict’s efforts to get contemporary Europe to acknowledge its Christian roots in the face of secularism and a growing and fervent Muslim population. The heart of Benedict’s thinking, according to Shorto: Secularism may be one of the great developments in history, [...]

Today’s New York Times carries the story that the Episcopal Church and it’s presiding Bishop, Katherine Jefferts Schori, received a strong rebuke from the Anglican Communion for its stance on appointing openly-gay bishops and blessing gay unions. According to the report, Episcopals have just eight months to change their stance or face a reduced role [...]

At this writing, SWAT teams of American bishops and their quislings are descending on U.S. seminaries in an effort to purge them of “particular friendships” and “gay subculture” subversives. I was a Jesuit seminiarian for more than nine years. Most or all of my classmates were gay men. Like me, they struggled with a life [...]

Newsweek reported this week that some conservative Christian groups have privately signaled the White House that their support for the war might evaporate if Islam is enshrined in the Iraqi constitution. This from the people who want to enshrine the Ten Commandments as the law of the land.

gathers today in Indianapolis for its first national conference in two years. I wish them all the best. I regret I cannot be there since I’m out of work I really have to watch my pennies.

Cardinal Cristoph Shonborn of Vienna mounted a very strong defense of “intelligent design” in yesterday’s New York Times. Who are these Neo-Darwinists he keeps mentioning? Is he conflating the theory of evolution with chaos and string theory? Are the Neo-Darwinists any less dangerous than creationists who would stop dead at mysteries as yet unexplained only [...]

Over the weekend, my wife and I visited our friend Dirk in Kansas City. Later this week, Dirk will be heading to Portland, Oregon, to begin nursing studies. We miss him already. Dirk is a religious priest who’s been silenced by the local bishop and his religious superiors because of his continued preaching on the [...]