Archive for January, 2012

Book Author Interview: <em>Motherhood Matters</em>
0

Book Author Interview: Motherhood Matters

by

EWTN TV host and Catholic author, Donna-Marie Cooper O’Boyle recently interviewed Dorothy Pilarski about her new book Motherhood Matters. Donna-Marie: Dorothy, the book you’ve seemed to put your heart into has finally been released. What are your thoughts? Dorothy: There is a part of me that still doesn’t believe it’s true. There are moments where […]

Poem: "The Virgin Mary to Christ on the Cross"
0

Poem: “The Virgin Mary to Christ on the Cross”

by

The Virgin Mary to Christ on the Cross What mist hath dimm’d that glorious face? What seas of grief my sun doth toss? The golden rays of heavenly grace Lies now eclipsèd on the cross. Jesus, my love, my Son, my God, Behold Thy mother wash’d in tears: Thy bloody wounds be made a rod […]

Major Victory for Life in Europe: Council Adopts Resolution Against Euthanasia
1

Major Victory for Life in Europe: Council Adopts Resolution Against Euthanasia

by

On January 25, 2012, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted a resolution setting the following, “Euthanasia, in the sense of the intentional killing by act or omission of a dependent human being for his or her alleged benefit, must always be prohibited.” The purpose of the resolution (n°1859/2012) entitled “Protecting human rights […]

The Crisis in American Marriage -- Catholic Division
2

The Crisis in American Marriage — Catholic Division

by

I was chatting with a priest who is a judge with the marriage tribunal of his large Eastern diocese when he shared an interesting tidbit of information. In his diocese and the other dioceses of his state, the number of requests for marriage annulments has lately fallen by 10%. Good news? Fewer marriages on the […]

Obedience and Ballroom Dancing
3

Obedience and Ballroom Dancing

by

I don’t think anyone would argue with the notion that in order to learn any new skill, you need to have the ability to be obedient. For example, if you want to learn how to do the fox trot, or tango, chances are you would register for classes and obey the instructor. You would do what […]

Shock Over Massachusetts Forced Abortion Order A Positive Sign
6

Shock Over Massachusetts Forced Abortion Order A Positive Sign

by

Earlier this month, a 32-year-old pregnant woman, known only as Mary Moe, narrowly avoided being subjected to a forced abortion and sterilization–at the hands of her own parents. The story has outraged thousands on either side of the political aisle. Moe, who suffers from schizophrenia and bipolar mood disorder, was being treated in a Massachusetts […]

Cheerleader-in-Chief
0

Cheerleader-in-Chief

by

I was asked for my initial reaction to President Obama’s State of the Union speech, and the handsomely redesigned Think Christian posted them last night, “Jobs, Steve Jobs, and the State of the Union.” As I point out, the president’s protectionist posturing is belied by the realities experienced by companies like Apple. The president is essentially telling companies: Ask […]

The Call to be One in Christ
2

The Call to be One in Christ

by

The battle is not yours but God’s. (2 Chronicle 20:15) So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come. And all this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation, namely, God was reconciling […]

How Circumstance Dictates Islamic Behavior
0

How Circumstance Dictates Islamic Behavior

by

Has there ever been a time when one group of people openly exposes its animosity for another group of people—even as this second group not only ignores the animosity, but speaks well of, enables, and legitimizes the first group? Welcome to the 21st century, where Western politicians empower those Muslims who are otherwise constantly and […]

The Annual Media Blackout of the March for Life
1

The Annual Media Blackout of the March for Life

by

What’s more newsworthy: that several hundred thousand people converged on Capitol Hill in the midst of a cold rain in the middle of January in order to protest abortion, or that a tiny handful of pro-abortion counter protesters showed up as well? Here’s another question: are attendees at the March for Life primarily young, vibrant, […]

What the EU's Culture War Against Hungary is Really About
4

What the EU’s Culture War Against Hungary is Really About

by

In recent days there have been a lot of media reports about Hungary. According to those reports, the country not only is in a very bad shape economically, but there is also a risk that the Government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, was trying to overturn democracy and install a right-wing dictatorship that is […]

A Letter to My Daughter
0

A Letter to My Daughter

by

My dear daughter, I know that you feel like no one can possibly understand the way you feel right now.  You think no one has ever felt this way.  You feel alone.  You look around and see couples and feel like the “odd man out.”  What you fail to see are all the other young […]

The Persecuted Church
15

The Persecuted Church

by

On January 21st, I attended a terrific conference in Framingham, MA concerning “The Persecuted Church.” When I say terrific, I mean the full, riveting, appalling sense of the word. Sponsored by CAMERA, the speakers ranged from young participants of the “Arab Spring” protests to sage professors to political operatives. The event culminated in a keynote address […]

American Laws for American Courts
0

American Laws for American Courts

by

Shortly before Newt Gingrich’s decisive victory in South Carolina last week, he was asked a critical question by a Palmetto State voter:  Would he support a Muslim candidate for president?  The former Speaker of the House answered in a way that was both characteristically insightful and profoundly helpful with respect to one of the most […]

Freedom! Finally!
0

Freedom! Finally!

by

Today was the funeral of a dear family friend and my mentor of many years. I couldn’t attend Fr. Jonathan’s funeral, because it was held in Germany where he’s been stationed since 2009. He’s buried there, too, in his community’s cemetery near their Schoenstatt Fathers house and world headquarters. During the hours of the funeral […]

Poem: "In His Place II"
0

Poem: “In His Place II”

by

In His Place II There you stood, stiff and deadly; Long have I awaited this day. O quiet killer and dread of men It’s time to take you away. You splintered beam, So stained with blood Climb up my pierced back. I shall accept your cold embrace And provide the love you lack. O my […]

Backlash Begins Against Obama’s LGBT Agenda
1

Backlash Begins Against Obama’s LGBT Agenda

by

The citizens of several countries are pushing back against President Obama’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender foreign policy imperative. Leaders in El Salvador launched a website on “Obama’s Corrupting Foreign Policy” and are asking the U.S. Senate to reject Obama’s nominee for ambassador to their country. President Obama announced in December that the promotion of […]

Turning Tables on the "Gotcha" Journalists
0

Turning Tables on the “Gotcha” Journalists

by

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”  No doubt this truism was at the top of Newt Gingrich’s mind as he responded to John King’s lead off question in the CNN Republican debate in South Carolina last week.   Marianne Gingrich, the second ex-wife of thrice married Newt, alleged in an interview with ABC News […]

Was John Courtney Murray right? A Postscript
0

Was John Courtney Murray right? A Postscript

by

After initially intending to complete this series in three parts (Part I, Part II, Part III), it appears that it may be useful to tie up any remaining loose ends with an overview of the propositions put forth in the Declaration on Religious Liberty of Vatican II, followed by Fr. Murray’s own reflections dated the […]

Happy and Healthy
1

Happy and Healthy

by

It’s a harmless phrase, really. Many an expectant parent has said it: “We’re happy as long as he’s happy and healthy.” Well intentioned and true, no doubt. Who doesn’t want their child to be happy and healthy? Pregnant women forgo champagne toasts on New Year’s Eve, take prenatal vitamins with DHA and folic acid and […]

"The Middle" - A Shameless Plug
0

“The Middle” – A Shameless Plug

by

We mothers are a “Jane of all trades.” My skills have been evolving for decades now. I didn’t start off knowing how to cut and style hair for instance, but I have become quite good, in my own estimate, and am now allowed the great honor of cutting two of my adult sons hair. This […]

Storming Heaven with Rosaries: Prayer Crusade for the 2012 Presidential Election
0

Storming Heaven with Rosaries: Prayer Crusade for the 2012 Presidential Election

by

“People ask me, ‘What will convert America and save the world?’ My answer is prayer.”–Blessed (Mother) Teresa of Calcutta The battle is on… got your weapon? It’s no secret that our beloved country is entrenched in an intense struggle. It’s a war between the culture of life and the culture of death; between economic stability […]

Our Second Baby Needs a Name
1

Our Second Baby Needs a Name

by

At adoration last week, I prayed a rosary for a dear friend who recently lost a baby eight weeks into her pregnancy. My heart breaks for her. As I prayed in the quiet chapel, my heart became even heavier thinking about the loss of our own pregnancy at 13 weeks, around this time in 2006. […]

Movie Review: <em>The Descendants</em>
0

Movie Review: The Descendants

by

I came to bury Caesar, not to praise him, and wound up praising him. I had my skewers ready and planned to make shish-kabob out of this film. But I cannot. Why was I all set to hate on this film? I thought it was “Just Another Sad Tale of a Dysfunctional Family Where Dad […]