July 1, 2021
(originally posted Oct 13, 2015)—Well, as my T-shirt proclaims, “Pope Francis in America…. I WAS THERE.” I was specifically there for the canonization of Fr. Serra, an old family friend so to speak. Serra and I go way back–I knew him even before he was venerable. One of the happy sources of this connection was…
There’s a lot of laughter around the conception of Isaac…some of it is subtle, and some of it is falling-on-the-floor-laughter laughing. In yesterday’s reading, Abraham falls down laughing when God yet again promises him a son through Sarah. And if you think about it, you could see why that would be very funny. For years…
In this breaking news story—revealing what took place in February of this year—we anticipate gleaning new facts about COVID-19, the Wuhan lab and China’s bioweapons programs, not from just anybody, but from a Chinese Insider — a Top communist Chinese intel officer—who defected to the U.S. The truth ultimately wins out … every time. Even…
Everything about Nick Thomm exudes the principle: Do what you love, anchored in Christ! In the case of this unique Catholic Business Profile, the much-loved, devout Catholic, understated and ever positive Nicholas Alexander Thomm, former executive producer at Ave Maria Radio in Ann Arbor, Michigan, died November 24, 2020, after a 14-year battle with brain…
The new Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Patrick Kelly, emphasized reverence for the Eucharist at his installation on Friday at St. Mary’s parish in New Haven, Connecticut. In consecrating his administration of the Knights of Columbus to St. Joseph, Kelly pointed to the saint as the protector of Jesus – and called on…
Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore, Supreme Chaplain of the Knights of Columbus, called on the Knights not only to “support” but also to “be in the forefront” of a national Eucharistic Revival project to be presented to the U.S. bishops next week. At his address during the Knights of Columbus state deputies meeting in New…
CNA—Catholics may know St. Anthony of Padua as a Franciscan friar, a Doctor of the Church, and the patron saint of lost items – but only one person has ever seen St. Anthony in an approved apparition. In 1664, Szymon the weaver – hailing from the little Polish village Radecznica – encountered St. Anthony in…
According to reports in mainstream media, Lifesite News and elsewhere, G7 leaders—including ‘Catholic’ president Biden—adopted an agreement promoting the ongoing relentless killing of unborn babies through choosing to support and foster abortion worldwide. These G7 leaders—including ‘Catholic’ President Biden—agreed to support abortion as part of “sexual and reproductive health and rights,” and to advance “gender…
The North Star Catholic—On May 17, Archbishop Bellisario presented the Benemerenti Medal to Ed and Cathy Rasmuson during vespers at Holy Family Old Cathedral in Anchorage. It was a special recognition bestowed by the Holy Father, Pope Francis, to the Rasmusons for their lasting and exceptional service to the Catholic Church and the people of…
WSJ—I’m not inclined to hire a graduate from one of America’s elite universities. That marks a change. A decade ago I relished the opportunity to employ talented graduates of Princeton, Yale, Harvard and the rest. Today? Not so much. As a graduate of Haverford College, a fancy school outside Philadelphia, I took interest in the…
WSJ—Baltimore’s Bishop John Carroll had a decision to make. It was 1805, and the diocese then encompassed the entire U.S. Years before, Pope Pius VI had urged Carroll to build a cathedral church. But what kind of building would it be? And what would it say about American Catholics? His choice would set American Catholicism’s…
WSJ—The San Gabriel, Calif., Fire Department and Archdiocese of Los Angeles recently confirmed what many had long suspected: The fire that almost destroyed Mission San Gabriel Arcángel last year was arson. John David Corey Jr., 57, was charged with the crime last week and faces up to 14 years in prison if convicted. Founded in…
Lifesite News—A New York District Attorney (D.A.) has thrown out allegations of assault against well-known priest Fr. George Rutler. LifeSiteNews learned this morning [May 28, 2021] that the D.A. had found the accusations of a female security guard against Rutler to be “baseless.” This news has been confirmed by New York parishioner Jonah Bergman, who…
BBC—A court has fined 12 Australian media groups a total of A$1.1m (£600,000; $840,000) for their coverage of Cardinal George Pell’s now-overturned conviction in a sexual abuse case. The outlets admitted to breaching a legal order in 2018, which banned them from reporting the verdict at the time. A judge rejected arguments that their news…
Looks like “essential healthcare workers,” many of whom endured to help patients in need in spite of uncertain disease risk and varying spikes in severe cases of Covid, now may face layoffs and reduced hours. It turns out that hospitals and healthcare services racked up millions of dollars of debt during the past year, due…
Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor famously stated in 1983 that Roe v. Wade is “on a collision course with itself” considering ongoing advances in medical science. Roe contains the seeds of its own destruction since the Court’s basic premise, that abortions should be allowed before the baby is “viable” outside the womb, disintegrates over…
Vermont maintains a Town Tuition Program, which provides educational vouchers for students who live in the towns that lack public schools. Students at public and secular private schools are eligible, and so are home-schooled students, but students at religious private high schools are excluded. In a ruling Wednesday (June 2, 2021), the U.S. Court of…
Attorneys with the Thomas More Society recently secured settlements in two major religious liberty cases: South Bay United Pentecostal Church, et al. v. Newsom, et al. and Father Trevor Burfitt v. Newsom, et al. The State of California agreed to pay $2,150,000 in “prevailing party” attorneys’ fees to settle both cases ($1,600,000 in South Bay…
I am like so many lay Catholics, regular parishioners in pews and parishes throughout the United States, who respectfully yearn to hear the voice of our bishops amid today’s various shades of increasing social upheaval and confusion—a voice anchored profoundly in the truths of Christ, His Teachings, and His Church that has safeguarded those teachings…
Matthew Pinto, Founder and President of Ascension, announced today the sale of the company to Chief Operating Officer, Jonathan Strate, who has become the company’s new owner, president, and CEO. “It has been an extraordinary gift to be able to do the work of evangelization and catechesis as a layman for these 22 years, alongside…
