There’s a homily I don’t want to hear this Sunday.

It will be the Solemnity of Christ the King, and while I mean no offense to the many faithful, generous men who serve me and my family as pastors (some of whom are marvelous preachers), I don’t think I can bear another sermon on the close of the liturgical year and the coming of Christ both at Christmas and again in glory at the end of days. (Read more)

Recently, when the Vatican announced a means by which members of the worldwide Anglican communion could be received into communion once again with the Catholic church and still retain some of their traditional prayers and practices, a surprising number of Christians, including Catholics, met this hopeful news with skepticism or even bitterness.

“Rome goes fishing in Anglican pond” read one secular headline, implying there was something untoward about extending a hand of friendship to fellow Christians separated centuries ago when Henry VIII declared himself head of the Church in England.   (Read more)

While she lived, I never liked Mother Teresa.

Twice I had opportunity to meet her and passed it by.  (Read more)

Sex is everywhere, but fewer people than ever are having any –including married people. The false old trope is that “celibate men” aren’t supposed to be much help in matters of sexuality, but for this problem, as for so many other things, people would do well to talk to a priest.

When I interviewed an experienced marriage counselor last year about his work, it came up in passing the rising number of couples he sees in which the woman is literally beautiful and still the husband doesn’t touch her.  Know what’s usually the reason?  (Read more)

Have you met the Pope? I’ve had only the jumbotron introduction, having attended the Mass he celebrated at Nationals Stadium in April, 2008.  Apart from that, the closest I’ve come is two degrees of separation. The friend of a friend once had the experience of recognizing then-Cardinal Ratzinger in St. Peter’s Square. Approached to ask for a picture, the future Pope did not understand that he was a celebrity being asked to pose, and instead tried to take my friend’s picture as any tourist might have asked of any passer-by!

Limited brushes with greatness can’t paint a full portrait. Still, I feel I know the man through his writing and preaching. He is, in spite of his reputed introversion, remarkably candid and personal –much more so than his predecessor, I think. (I say this by way of comparison, not as criticism.) (Read more)

02:36 pm | Expert explains upcoming battle over pro-abortion Senate health care bill

01:22 pm | Fourteenth Fort Hood victim forgotten

12:06 pm | Obama EEOC nominee calls support for radical marriage manifesto a ‘mistake’

11:45 am | Bosnian Cardinal denies claims of Vatican commission for Medjugorje

10:33 am | Benedict XVI meets with president of Suriname