Catholic Perspective

Opportune Clarifications on Islam

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“To tell the truth, Jesus is not an object of veneration in the Muslim tradition[…] in the Koran, Jesus is a great prophet, famous for his miracles on behalf of a poor and sick humanity, but he is not the equal of Muhammad.” So says one of the most outstanding Catholic scholars … Read more

Christmas Outside the Box

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As I was reading an article on an online news site, I chanced upon an advertisement for a beautiful Christmas tree. Indeed, it was an actual Christmas tree, not a holiday, winter or sparkle tree that celebrates some unknown winter solstice festivity. This letter unapologetically used the word Christmas and the tree … Read more

Yes, Virginia, There Is a God

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It is has become a custom for practically every newspaper in America to reprint, during the Christmas season, the marvelous editorial, “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus.” Since it first appeared in 1897, it has become an indelible part of Christmas tradition in our country. It is no secret why. Virginia’s … Read more

Trappist Monks Make the World’s Best Beer

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Trappist Monks Make the World’s Best Beer

For many years, Westvleteren XII beer, produced at the Abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren (Belgium) has been chosen as the world’s best by thousands of experts. This year it was voted the “Best Beer in the World.” As a result of the beer’s popularity, demand for this beer has skyrocketed while supply has … Read more

The Approval of Same-sex “Marriage” in Illinois and Pope Francis’s Statements

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“After months of false starts, the Illinois House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to legalize same-sex marriage, and reports suggest that Pope Francis’s recent comments about homosexuality may have played a small but significant role.” This is how Fabien Tepper begins her report in The Christian Science Monitor of November 6, 2013 … Read more

In Times of Extreme Confusion “Stand Fast; and Hold the Traditions Which You Have Learned.”

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In Times of Extreme Confusion “Stand Fast; and Hold the Traditions Which You Have Learned.” 1

On September 19, the Jesuits’ America Magazine published the interview that Pope Francis granted Civiltà Cattolica, an Italian publication controlled by the same religious order. The interview was published simultaneously in other magazines of the Society of Jesus and widely disseminated and commented on by the international media. The interview’s impact on … Read more

Priestly Celibacy, a Tradition of Apostolic Origin

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Priestly Celibacy a Tradition of Apostolic Origins

Not infrequently some ecclesiastic raises the question of priestly celibacy implying that it can be discussed because it is not a dogma of the faith. The secular media immediately take such statements and scatter them to the four winds, implying that the Church is about to abandon the discipline of celibacy. The … Read more

“Rehabilitation” of Liberation Theology?

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“Rehabilitation” of Liberation Theology? 6

“Not only is participating in class struggle not opposed to universal love, but today, this commitment is the necessary and inescapable means of making this love concrete, as this participation is what leads to a classless society, a society without owners and dispossessed, without oppressors and oppressed.”This statement is not found in … Read more

Loving Hand of Divine Providence

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Loving Hand of Divine Providence 4

It is not uncommon for people, beset by problems that appear to have no human solution, to beseech God for help. Those who do so often perceive His loving hand providing for their needs. This is where the concept of Divine Providence comes from. This is but one example of the contrast … Read more