When an aggressive Evangelical challenges me for having a crucifix in church, one of my favorite apologetic one liners is to say, "We believe the Bible. Don't you know 1 Corinthians 1:23 where Paul says, 'We preach Christ and him crucified?'" As a convert one of the stunning eye openers was when I stopped to realize that [...]
Protesters outside Greenville's Abortion Mill Here in upstate South Carolina our pro life prayer warriors launched a campaign called "Close the Mill" During the summer they began a special, focussed prayer crusade that the local abortion clinic, and the others in South Carolina would be closed. After the horrific Planned Parenthood videos this summer [...]
He's Got the Whole World in His Hands The other day a parishioner was stressed out because of all the bad news in the world. Muslim immigration-invasion of Europe Demographic Winter Abortion World Poverty Pollution Government Corruption Disintegration of Marriage and Family Gross Immorality Increasing Godlessness Violence and Murder I know how it feels. [...]
My essay for Imaginative Conservative this week is a study of an American success story: Waffle House Often on my day off, before a morning motorcycle ride in the mountains, I treat myself to breakfast at a Southern American institution: Waffle House. Waffle Houses are not luxurious. The box-like buildings are designed for cheerful efficiency, and [...]
Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson with a good friend CRUX carries an AP story reporting that President Obama has invited a whole range of religious leaders to the White House to meet Pope Francis. Among those who confirmed their attendance at the White House reception are the Rev. Joel Hunter, an evangelical megachurch pastor from [...]
Faced with disastrous poll results and falling support Queen Hillary has decided to become more warm and cuddly Out with Nurse Ratched and Lady MacBeth. Up with Mrs Doubtfire and the Grandma Next Door. Is such a transformation possible this late in the game? Does it really matter? If Hillary's campaign crashes and burns--which seems very [...]
One of the most troubling things I encounter as a pastor is people's lack of understanding about sin. On the one hand there are folks who don't seem to have much of an idea at all. They come to confession and don't have an idea how to examine their conscience and make a good confession. When they [...]
My article for Aleteia this week examines Pope Francis' pleas for mercy and how they are best balanced by the other need for justice. In the realm of religion there seems to be two categories of people according to two personality types. The first you might call the merciful. They say with Jesus, “Neither do I [...]
What are the factors that attract people to follow Jesus Christ in his church and what puts people off? Here are ten ideas of things you find in a typical Catholic Church or in Catholic culture which are repellent. 1. Self Righteousness - There are few things more off putting than a self righteous know it all. [...]
My latest article for CRUX outlines how the new procedures for annulments will help my as a parish priest. One of the biggest challenges I have found as a relatively new Catholic priest is what I call the marriage mess. On the one hand, I have to support the full, sacramental understanding of Catholic marriage. On [...]