News

By Dr. Jeff Mirus, Catholic Culture - Unfortunately, with rare exceptions, it has been a consistent pattern in the current pontificate to emphasize the good things which our dominant culture already recognizes as good (concern for the environment, fraternity among peoples, affirmation of the other, etc.), while downplaying the goods which the dominant culture abhors (such as privileging the truth, rejecting cultural falsehoods, and understanding the common good in terms of the natural law). This requires neither faith nor repentance but merely self-interest, and so it is self-defeating. ...

By Michael Hichborn, Lepanto Institute - Since 2016, the Lepanto Institute has written about the Quid Pro Quo lobbying efforts of both the USCCB and CRS on behalf of federal aid and development agencies... In May of 2016, we provided details regarding a joint-letter the USCCB and CRS sent to Congress requesting nearly $6 billion to be allocated for the USAID and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). At the heart of our concern was the fact that USAID and PEPFAR together consist of the world’s largest suppliers of contraception and condoms. ....

By Fr. Bryce Lungren, Crisis Magazine - Even when trying to fall asleep, I’d simply repeat, Thank you, Jesus. The success I’ve found with this has been profound. I have no doubt that thanking Jesus is powerful in and of itself. But is there more going on here? I think so... This whole phenomenon has caused me to think deeper on the nature of gratitude. Most of us already know the power of intentional thanksgiving, both in the spiritual life and in our outlook on life. But this nighttime novelty made me wonder where the faculty of gratitude resides. ...