Some people seem to be Christians not because they want to know and follow Jesus, but because they’ve bought into a “deal” whereby they get something they want out of religion, and so they put in what they think they…
Beware of the Deal
You Do Not Know Who Is Watching
Many decades ago there was a man who had trouble walking. He used braces on his arms to help him get from place to place. This man was a devout Catholic who would walk to mass every morning despite the…
From Transformers to Transubstantiation: The Conversion of Shia LeBeouf
By the grace of God, many people come to miraculous conversion to the Gospel. One such person is actor Shia LaBeouf. As a child actor, LaBeouf grew up in film and television and is best known for his roles in…
The Dormition of the Virgin Mary
Did Mary die? As Catholics, we believe as a matter of dogma that the Virgin Mary was conceived without Original Sin and that she was taken to heaven body and soul. We celebrate the former on the Feast of the…
Loving Difficult People
As Christians, we’re often reminded of Jesus’ love for us, his willingness to forgive us, his desire to save us. But in thinking about this, there can be a tendency, at least for me, to think about “Jesus and me”…
Sheep’s Clothing: Hiding Content in Children’s Programing
“It is better for him if a millstone is hung around his neck and he is thrown into the sea, than that he may cause one of these little ones to sin.” (Luke 17:2) One of the most insidious things…
Truth and Community
To be human means to recognize the truth, but also to want things that are at least not yet true. When we have a need, or a desire, it means that the truth is different from what we want it…
Persistence, Progress, and Hope: Lessons from Overturning Roe v. Wade
It is difficult to describe the seismic shift that has occurred with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Because of this Supreme Court decision, each state will be able to vote on its own abortion laws. Now, millions of unborn…
Abortion and Excommunication
We now live in a post Roe v. Wade America. Praise God! In this current legal situation, abortion is not automatically illegal across the country. Instead, each state now gets to determine its own abortion laws. Some states like Ohio…
Kindness and Social Media
All too often, social media lacks kindness. The electronic medium of text on a computer or smartphone lacks the body language feedback that people use to moderate their expressions to avoid offending others. Many forms of social media optimize for…