On Thursday 27 February, Pope Benedict met with priests of the Rome diocese and engaged in a Pope's Question and Answer session in the Vatican’s Hall of Blessings. One of the priests asked about work with young people. (In this quotation from the Holy Father's reply, bear in mind that in Italy, yo...

Human beings are funny. We waltz around, prisoners in our own heads, absolutely certain that everything we think and perceive is “real,” and not just a concoction of chemicals swirling in our skulls. Take the classic “white Toyota” example: You spend your waking hours cruisin...

I did a half-assed Internet search on this and came up dry. By "this" I mean: Do people who have difficulty forming or maintaining relationships with other people develop an unusual fondness for animals? I ask because I'm regularly in contact with people who have frail, frayed, or failed relationshi...

CVSTOS FIDEI SATURDAY EDITION Late Evening Update A Little Blip On The Maciel Scandal Story - Thomas Peters, American Papist The Auxiliary Dust Up In Linz, Austria - Dustier Still - Fr. John Zuhlsdorf, WDTPRS Relearning the Latin Masss - Jeff Ziegler, National Catholic Register Marini On The Liturgy...

In contrast to my last five or ten posts, all of which were desultory criticisms of religious belief and inclinations, this one is really bad. It's all about me, or worse yet, men approaching 40. In an unusually intense conversation earlier tonight with someone more comfortable with Earth than I am,...

Yes, I know — the law firm system is tanking. If you’re still entrenched in it, you don’t need me to tell you this–unless you’re busy clutching to those last non-billable threads of denial. The fall of Legal Babylon is neither surprising nor unexpected, really–for...

I'm glad I supported Governor Palin when she ran for the Presidency with McWhat'shisname. I wish they'd won. When the news came out that Palin's daughter had sinned sexually, I was glad that the Palins were not taking Obama's our-grandchild-is-a-punishment-so-kill-it approach. When Pastor Doug Wilso...

From the big city paper nearby: Mary Schatzman knew right away what she would do last week after learning that a church near her Green Township home was offering “indulgences” to interested Catholics. While some parishioners seemed indifferent or confused by the offer, Schatzman didnR...

Nicole Bengiveno/The New York Times Way back in 1517, Luther attacked the use of indulgences by the Church of Rome.  They were used to provide a false hope, and a steady flow of cash for Papal building projects.  The Reformation was born. Many, Cavman included, think we need a new (or renewed) Ref...

Once upon a time, I very briefly dated a vegetarian. Now if you know anything about me, you'll know that this relationship was not destined to last. In fact, my friends were amazed that I gave it any chance at all. I guess I figured I should try everything at least once. Of course I wasn't f...