Father Robert Barron: To Evangelize the Culture

One of the Church's best messengers, Fr. Robert Barron gave the John M. Kelly Lecture in Theology on September 28, 2011.

Fr. Barron is widely known as an acclaimed author, speaker and theologian. He is currently the Francis Cardinal George Professor of Faith and Culture at Mundelein Seminary, near Chicago, Illinois. As the founder of Word on Fire, he is the creator and host of CATHOLICISM, a ten-part documentary series and study program about the Catholic faith.

He earned a Master's Degree in Philosophy from the Catholic University of America in 1982, before being ordained to the priesthood four years later. In 1992, he received his doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Institut Catholique de Paris. He then went on to teach systematic theology at the University of St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary.

Paul Ryan - At Last a Candidate To Cheer For!

Paul Ryan is bright, articulate, principled and consistently conservative - a perfect balance for the Romney ticket.  

Archbishop Lori: Catholics Should Not Vote for Candidates Who Suport Intrinsic Evils

From Catholic World News

Intrinsic Evil

 Archbishop William Lori of Baltimore has told Kathryn Jean Lopez of National Review Online that Catholics should not vote for candidates who support intrinsic evils. 

“This is a big moment for Catholic voters to step back from their party affiliation,” said Archbishop Lori. “The question to ask is this: Are any of the candidates of either party, or independents, standing for something that is intrinsically evil, evil no matter what the circumstances? If that’s the case, a Catholic, regardless of his party affiliation, shouldn’t be voting for such a person.” 

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• Baltimore Archbishop: Catholic Voters Can’t Vote for a Candidate Who Stands for an Intrinsic Evil (National Review Online)

I Feel a Shiver When I See the Parallels Between Our World and That of St. John Fisher

How long, indeed, before employment in the public sector requires a profession of liberal principles?

St John Fisher as painted by Hans Holbein

From The Catholic Herald (UK)

By Francis Phillips

Following my last blog, which came about after reading a priestly obituary in the Fisher House Newsletter of the Cambridge chaplaincy, I read on and my spirits rose; instead of the dispiriting legacy of 1960s priestly rebellion against the Church’s authority, I read about St John Fisher (who gave his name to the chaplaincy), the magnificent and martyred alumnus of the 16th century. In an article by Dr Richard Rex, I was reminded that Fisher, who refused to renounce the authority of the pope in favour of Henry VIII, accepted execution rather than go against his conscience. “That Fisher would find himself called upon to deny a doctrine that had been taught in England all his life was something he could hardly have imagined in his student days. More surprising still is how few followed him in refusing. The reason was partly fear, but more the spirit of the age…”

Obama: Moochelle Should Be Paid to Take All Those Taxpayer-Paid Vacations

Socialists of the kleptocrat variety:

Obama’s Progress

From The Center for Vision and Values, Grove City College

By Paul G. Kengor

Try to define progressivism. In fact, ask progressives to try to define progressivism. All we really know is that they’re, well, progressing. They and their ideas and their politics are always changing, evolving. This means that what they believe and hold fast and dear today may not be what they believe and hold fast and dear tomorrow, or decades or a century from now.

Dinner with Diocletian

In recent weeks we have read that Catholic Relief Services has given millions to organizations that fund contraception and abortion throughout the world.  Now, after all the defiant talk about religious liberty, Fortnights for Freedom, and voting one's "values," we learn that the American Church's preeminent Cardinal is going to honor our persecutor at American Catholicism's most prestigious event, the Al Smith Dinner. 

Given that a majority of American Catholic bishops covered up criminal activity in a manner that would have sent most laymen  to prison, perhaps their moral vision is impaired.  We doubt very much that the early Christians invited Diocletian to dine with them, much less seated him at the head table.

If the Cardinal Archbishop of New York doesn't have the good sense to withdraw his invitation to Obama or cancel the event, clear thinking Catholics, who traditionally support the Al Smith Dinner, should stay home.

From CatholicCulture.org

By Dr. Jeff Mirus

President Obama’s appearance at the Al Smith Dinner is confirmed. He was invited by Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Archbishop of New York. This annoys (and in many cases alarms) serious Catholics everywhere. What can be said about it?