Guest Voices: catholic


Posted at 06:05 PM ET, 12/05/2012

Michelangelo, religious tolerance and the 500th anniversary of the Sistine Chapel ceiling
By Benjamin Blech
Rabbi says frescoes offer a barely concealed message of respect for the righteous of all faiths.

By Benjamin Blech  |  06:05 PM ET, 12/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Michelangelo, religious tolerance and the 500th anniversary of the Sistine Chapel ceiling; Rabbi Benjamin Blech; Benjamin Blech; frescoes; Sistine Chapel; Vatican Museums; Rome; most-visited museum complex on earth; museum complex; Michelangelo; Second Vatican Council; religious intolerance; Pope John Paul II; Jews; Christianity; Christianity’s older brothers and sisters; prayer; Western Wall; Jerusalem; God; Catholic Church; mistreatment of the Jews; Sistine; Christians; Jewish roots of Jesus and Christianity; art; museums; Jews of Venice; Venice; ghetto; Pope Julius II; virgin Mary; Genesis; Adam and Eve; Noah; Aminadab; anti-Semitism on Aminadab; Hebrew; pope; Vicar of Christ; Vicar of God; Successor of the Prince of the Apostles; Bishop of Rome; successor to St. Peter; Roman Catholic Church; Bible; Church of Santa Croce; Nicolò Matas; Star of David; Mogen David; Rabbi Benjamin Blech; Yeshiva University; The Sistine Secrets: Michelangelo’s Forbidden Messages In The Heart Of The Vatican

Posted at 02:23 PM ET, 12/05/2012

Former minister: ‘We atheists love this time of year like everyone else’
By Dan Barker
In the American public square, there is room at the inn for all of us, says an atheist activist.

By Dan Barker  |  02:23 PM ET, 12/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Charles C. Haynes; Christmas wars; atheists; religious symbols; public property; December dilemma; all Americans; nonbelievers; stay home for the holidays; Christian groups; Nativity scenes; public spaces; Christians; Damon Vix; holiday displays; nonreligious displays; Santa Monica; Winter Solstice; Freedom From Religion Foundation; Christian; Christian Church; Jesus; Jesus Christ; pagan sun gods; Savior; saviors; messianic Jews; Romans; Saturnalia; New Year; Dies Natalis of Sol Invictus; Birthday of the Unconquerable Sun; new year; reason for the season; shortest day of the year; lights; food; gifts; fun; music; family gatherings; return of the sun; evergreen; supernatural; birth of a god; beliefs; freedom of speech; freedom of religion; Protestantism; Puritans; Christmas; Roman Catholic; faith; Catholics;

Posted at 11:55 AM ET, 11/21/2012

Novelist Anne Lamott: What I’m really thankful for this Thanksgiving
By Anne Lamott
There will be a lot of thanks and grace to go around the author’s small and motley gathering.

By Anne Lamott  |  11:55 AM ET, 11/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Thankful; Thanksgiving; holiday; holidays; Anne Lamott; novelist Anne Lamott; author Anne Lamott; Lamott; Help Thanks Wow; Catholics; Mary; Jesus; family; love; meal; claddagh rings; Claddagh; Irish; Irish Catholic; Star Trek; host; German; Hesse; family traditions; traditions; happy holidays; guests; friends; ecumenical; Higher Power; God; spirituality; spirit; children; kids; cooking; miracle; grateful; Mother-Father; God; Creator; Source; food; joy; loss; Amen; grace; thanks

Posted at 02:01 PM ET, 11/20/2012

Marriage equality campaigns: The difference faith makes
By Sharon Groves
Religious engagement was a key to victories in Maine, Md., Minn., and Wash., says a Human Rights Campaign leader.

By Sharon Groves  |  02:01 PM ET, 11/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  You will know them by their fruits; Matthew 7:16; gay marriage; same-sex marriage; marriage equality; Maryland; Maine; Minnesota; Washington state; African American; Latino; Protestants; Catholics; gays; lesbians; LGBT community; LGBT; Sharon Groves; Human Rights Campaign; HRC; religion; faith; communities of faith; churches; congregations; LGBT community; LGBT activists; Rev. Rebecca Voelkel; conservative religious leaders; religious leaders; communities of faith; Rev. Dr. Marvin Ellison; Religious Coalition Against Discrimination; RCAD; people of faith; campaigns; boots on the ground; faith communities; President Obama; President Barack Obama; Obama; Rev. MacArthur Flournoy; Rev. Delman Coates; Delman Coates; straight and LGBT clergy; African American community; pro-equality; Roman Catholic; Catholics for Marriage Equality; Auburn Theological Seminary; HRC Religion and Faith Program

Posted at 05:56 PM ET, 11/13/2012

Should President Obama reach out to the Catholic bishops?
By Thomas J. Reese
It would be a mistake to count out an institution that has been around for 2,000 years, says a Georgetown scholar.

By Thomas J. Reese  |  05:56 PM ET, 11/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  USCCB; Catholic bishops; statement on economy; financial crisis; United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; President Obama

Posted at 07:13 PM ET, 11/01/2012

After Vatican screening of ‘Muslim Scare’ video, a call for dialogue
By Jordan Denari
Student thanks Islam for helping her to re-embrace the Gospel—the values of faith, hope, and love.

By Jordan Denari  |  07:13 PM ET, 11/01/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Islam; Muslims; Ctaholics; Vatican; Muslim-Catholic relations; New Evangelization

Posted at 03:33 PM ET, 10/26/2012

A new phase of child protection
By Stephen J. Rossetti
In our “throw away” society, we cannot throw people away; we have to face our problems, says a Catholic priest and licensed psychologist.

By Stephen J. Rossetti  |  03:33 PM ET, 10/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  clergy sexual abuse; child abuse; Roman Catholic Church; offenders; child molesters; Catholic Church; child protection; child advocates; Stephen J. Rossetti

Posted at 01:44 PM ET, 10/26/2012

‘These aren’t my grandfather’s Knights of Columbus. And that’s a shame!’
By Marianne T. Duddy-Burke
Author is troubled by Catholic group’s politicized activities such as financing gay marriage bans.

By Marianne T. Duddy-Burke  |  01:44 PM ET, 10/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  anti-gay arriage; same-sex marriage; Knights of Columbs; Catholic fraternal group; Marianne T. Duddy-Burke

Posted at 09:37 PM ET, 10/22/2012

Catholic writer: October has been a major month for Catholic women
By Ashley E. McGuire
Our sex has taken its rightful place within the ranks of theologians, doctors, and saints of the church.

By Ashley E. McGuire  |  09:37 PM ET, 10/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Roman Catholic Church; new saints; Holy Rosary; Catholics; Mulerius Dignitatem; On the Dignity of Women; female ordination; women’s rights; lay Catholic women; spiritual leaders; man; deacons; priests; Ashley E. McGuire; Altcatholciah.com

Posted at 07:23 PM ET, 10/12/2012

Why a former nun will be ordained a priest
By Diane Dougherty
Georgia woman says she found her true calling with a group focused renewing the priesthood.

By Diane Dougherty  |  07:23 PM ET, 10/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  priests; Catholic; women priests; Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests; Diane Dougherty; Catholics

Posted at 07:01 PM ET, 10/12/2012

Roman Catholic women priests?
By Phyllis Zagano
Author/researcher looks at the ministry of women in the church.

By Phyllis Zagano  |  07:01 PM ET, 10/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  nuns; women priests; Roman Catholic Church; Phyllis Zagano

Posted at 02:21 PM ET, 10/12/2012

Catholicism, American style
By Mathew N. Schmalz
Professor reflects on witnessing two deeply Catholic politicians who are basically very much alike.

By Mathew N. Schmalz  |  02:21 PM ET, 10/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  vice-presidential debate; Catholic candidates; Biden; Ryan; abortion; faith and politics; politics; campaign 2012; election 2012

Posted at 03:53 PM ET, 10/11/2012

The priest I never was
By Ned Martel
How coming out can be its own blessed event.

By Ned Martel  |  03:53 PM ET, 10/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  National Coming Out Day; gay; Catholic; Roman Catholic; priest; Ned Martel

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 10/11/2012

Vatican II at 50
By Kenneth J. Wolfe
The greatest accomplishment that can be said for Vatican II is Pope John XXIII’s stated goal to “throw open the windows of the Church.

By Kenneth J. Wolfe  |  07:00 AM ET, 10/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Second Vatican Council; Vatican II; Roman Catholic Church; Catholics; 50 years after Vatican II; Ken Wolfe; Latin Mass; new Mass

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 10/11/2012

Saints are back in style
By Colleen Carroll Campbell
Fifty years after Vatican II, Catholic saints are enjoying a revival.

By Colleen Carroll Campbell  |  07:00 AM ET, 10/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Second Vatican Council; Vatican II; saints; Catholics; Roman Catholic Church; Colleen Carroll Campbell; saints; feast days

Posted at 01:31 PM ET, 09/12/2012

Author: ‘Problem of sexual abuse crosses all social groups, all religions’
By Gayle Trotter
Dawn Eden discusses how Catholic saints were pivotal in her road to recovery from sexual abuse.

By Gayle Trotter  |  01:31 PM ET, 09/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Catholic Church; Catholic; Jewish; sexual abuse; Dawn Eden; Gayle Trotter; My Peace I Give You

Posted at 06:58 PM ET, 08/09/2012

HHS mandate: An attack on all people of faith
By Matthew C. Harrison and Samuel Rodriguez
We need to stand up and tell the federal government that religious people determine what violates their consciences, not bureaucrats.

By Matthew C. Harrison and Samuel Rodriguez  |  06:58 PM ET, 08/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  HHS mandate, Conscience Cause, the Rev. Matthew C. Harrison, the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, Catholic Church, Affordable Care Act

Posted at 07:00 PM ET, 08/02/2012

HHS mandate shouldn’t require leaving faith, values at home
By William E. Lori
At a time when the government is rightly trying to move toward universal health coverage, does it serve the public interest to tell some nonprofit and for-profit organizations that they must violate their deepest beliefs or drop their health coverage?

By William E. Lori  |  07:00 PM ET, 08/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Obamacare, HHS mandate, contraception mandate, Roman Catholic Church, the Most Rev. William E. Lori, Archbishop Lori

Posted at 06:24 PM ET, 08/02/2012

HHS mandate: President Obama’s broken promise
By Ashley E. McGuire
The moment it went into effect, the nature of religious freedom in this country dramatically changed.

By Ashley E. McGuire  |  06:24 PM ET, 08/02/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  HHS mandate, contraception mandate, President Obama, Obamacare, Catholic Church, health-care law, Affordable Care Act

Posted at 12:06 PM ET, 07/11/2012

Can the ‘God Particle’ lead us to God?
By Guy Consolmagno
The Vatican’s astronomer says that scientific discoveries point to the creator.

By Guy Consolmagno  |  12:06 PM ET, 07/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  god particle, astronomy, religion science, catholic church

Posted at 03:01 PM ET, 07/09/2012

Catholic sex abuse crisis, 10 years later
By Thomas G. Plante
Are kids safer in the church today than they were in 2002?

By Thomas G. Plante  |  03:01 PM ET, 07/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church, sex abuse

Posted at 11:10 AM ET, 06/28/2012

Health care’s messy morality: What’s next for Christians as the Affordable Care Act survives?
By Matthew J. Franck
It’s time to think without illusions regarding the state’s capacities about how we can be Good Samaritans.

By Matthew J. Franck  |  11:10 AM ET, 06/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church, health care, supreme court

Posted at 03:58 PM ET, 06/21/2012

Religious liberty is not optional
By William E. Lori
The Constitution protects us from being punished by the government for living in accord with our beliefs. That’s all that Catholics seek to defend.

By William E. Lori  |  03:58 PM ET, 06/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church

Posted at 03:46 PM ET, 06/14/2012

Why we (still) need the Catholic Church
By Michael Bayer
Is it possible, as some say, to follow Jesus without a religious community?

By Michael Bayer  |  03:46 PM ET, 06/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church, spirituality

Posted at 02:00 PM ET, 06/06/2012

Is this what a Catholic feminist looks like?
By Mathew N. Schmalz
American Catholicism’s gender wars would sound foreign to Catholic women on the other side of the world.

By Mathew N. Schmalz  |  02:00 PM ET, 06/06/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church, feminism, nuns, gender

Posted at 04:27 PM ET, 06/05/2012

Why the Catholic Church needs Margaret Farley
By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite
If ever there were a method of moral reasoning on sexual ethics that is desperately needed in the Catholic Church today, it is the one proposed by Margaret Farley.

By Susan Brooks Thistlethwaite  |  04:27 PM ET, 06/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church, sexuality, nuns, vatican

Posted at 12:26 PM ET, 05/04/2012

With allegations of a ‘nun crackdown,’ the Vatican goes spring cleaning
By Ashley McGuire
The nuns at LCWR are simply the latest Catholic institution to be checked for orthodoxy. Big whoop.

By Ashley McGuire  |  12:26 PM ET, 05/04/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church, catholic nuns

Posted at 08:22 PM ET, 04/24/2012

The Supreme Court’s immigration hearing: Human dignity not up for debate
By Jose H. Gomez
The federal government is in the best position to balance competing goals of enforcing of immigration laws while respecting human dignity.

By Jose H. Gomez  |  08:22 PM ET, 04/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church, immigration, supreme court, public policy

Posted at 11:31 AM ET, 04/20/2012

What makes a Catholic patriot?
By Mathew N. Schmalz
Catholics are patriotic Americans precisely in their catholicity.

By Mathew N. Schmalz  |  11:31 AM ET, 04/20/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church, religious freedom, catholicism

Posted at 12:41 PM ET, 04/11/2012

A new Catholic conversation on sex?
By Mathew N. Schmalz
Does the Catholic Church have trouble convincing its own congregants about its teachings on sexuality? “Do we ever!” says America’s top bishop.

By Mathew N. Schmalz  |  12:41 PM ET, 04/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church

Posted at 05:35 PM ET, 04/10/2012

Why Santorum didn’t sell
By Jacques Berlinerblau
Does a socially conservative candidate have a prayer for president?

By Jacques Berlinerblau  |  05:35 PM ET, 04/10/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  rick santorum, catholic, religion politics

Posted at 02:29 PM ET, 04/03/2012

Baylor and Notre Dame: Baptist-Catholic competition, cooperation
By Mathew N. Schmalz
Despite a deep theological divide, in recent years shared political objectives have brought Catholics and Baptists much closer together.

By Mathew N. Schmalz  |  02:29 PM ET, 04/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  basketball, catholic, baptist

Posted at 01:22 PM ET, 03/26/2012

How Pope Benedict could shape religious freedom in Cuba
By Teo A. Babun
The challenge the pontiff faces is how to turn a springtime of faith into a springtime of freedom.

By Teo A. Babun  |  01:22 PM ET, 03/26/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  pope benedict xvi, catholic church, cuba, castros, freedom, religious freedom

Posted at 10:58 AM ET, 03/23/2012

Why we’re standing up for religious freedom
By Mary Rose Somarriba
The federal government is still telling religious institutions to provide products and services they find objectionable.

By Mary Rose Somarriba  |  10:58 AM ET, 03/23/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  religious freedom, contraception, catholic church

Posted at 04:09 PM ET, 03/16/2012

St. Patrick’s Catholic circle of faith
By Timothy Shriver
What St. Patrick’s simple genius can teach the church today.

By Timothy Shriver  |  04:09 PM ET, 03/16/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholicism, catholic church

Posted at 04:37 PM ET, 02/29/2012

Blessed are they who mourn?
By Marianne Duddy Burke
Most of us hold several views that contradict official Roman Catholic teaching. Could any of us be the next Barbara Johnson?

By Marianne Duddy Burke  |  04:37 PM ET, 02/29/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  catholic church, gay rights

Posted at 12:28 PM ET, 02/22/2012

In defense of the Catholic Church
By Sara Perla
I am one of many Catholics who proudly supports the church’s teachings on sexuality and contraception.

By Sara Perla  |  12:28 PM ET, 02/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  conctraception, sexuality, catholic church

Posted at 09:14 AM ET, 02/22/2012

Why Baptists stand with Catholics on birth control mandate
By Bryant Wright, Richard Land and O. S. Hawkins
Despite our theological differences, we cannot remain silent while others find their First Amendment freedom of religion rights trampled.

By Bryant Wright, Richard Land and O. S. Hawkins  |  09:14 AM ET, 02/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  religious freedom, baptist, catholic, birth control

Posted at 08:32 AM ET, 02/22/2012

Lent in a time of a Catholic culture war
By Kevin Clarke
It seems Ash Wednesday came early this year. See these Christians: how they love to fight each other.

By Kevin Clarke  |  08:32 AM ET, 02/22/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  ash wednesday, lent, catholic church

Posted at 10:55 PM ET, 02/19/2012

Why we are all Catholics now
By Glenn Beck
This battle over birth control coverage harkens back to America’s founding: If you can’t serve God as you choose, you are not free.

By Glenn Beck  |  10:55 PM ET, 02/19/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  birth control, religious freedom, catholic church, mormonism

Posted at 01:38 PM ET, 02/13/2012

Guilty Catholic pleasure? ‘Downton Abbey’
By James Martin
I feel the tiniest bit guilty liking “Downton” because it celebrates income inequalities, noblesse oblige and snottiness. But how!

By James Martin  |  01:38 PM ET, 02/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  poverty, guilty, catholic guilt, downton abbey