CRISIS – Catholic Higher Education & the Next Generation: Presidents Conference

Society is at a crossroads in the educational formation of the next generation, and the Church offers the only true way forward. Under attack from the secularist agenda set forth fifty years ago by the Land O' Lakes statement, a new generation of Catholic intellectuals have reacted by working to reestablish centers of opportunity in which our youth can engage in a genuine Catholic education. 

Join the institute of Catholic Culture and The Cardinal Newman Society in welcoming the presidents of faithful Catholic colleges to discuss and debate the crisis and find a solution to the education of the next generation. 

Speakers: Patrick Reilly, President, The Cardinal Newman Society; John Garvey, President, Catholic University of America; Father Sean Sheridan, President, Franciscan University of Steubenville; William Thierfelder, President, Belmont Abbey College; George Harne, President, Northeast Catholic College. 

This event will take place Saturday, January 28 @ 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. RSVP Required. Free Admission. (This event will not be live broadcast.) at Cathedral of Saint Thomas More, 3901 North Cathedral Lane, Arlington, VA 22203. 

For more information: https://instituteofcatholicculture.org/talk/presidentsconference/?inf_contact_key=965279eb25246d20786dc4537223c114b156cc1a7384e6eadade157438b1a7f4

Are we seeing the start of a Schism?

Over the last six to eight months, I have become more and more concerned with the path Pope Francis is taking.  Although every once in a while, he surprises me on how he takes a very conservative stand on a particular issue, most of the time the surprise is to simply leave me shaking my head in disbelief.

Recently, I have started to see a series of articles which show that Pope Francis does not want to set clear the record on amoris laetitia, and is lashing out at his critics.  In addition, I am seeing more and more articles, quoting his supporters, trashing those who may ask for clarification or simply stating that we are changing long held beliefs and practices and the Pontiff approves of them.

Is it me, or am I starting to see the start of a schism? 

50th Anniversary of Cardinal Wuerl and the Catholic Standard

The Catholic Standard, the paper of the Archdiocese of Washington, ran a special on the 50th anniversary of Cardinal Wuerl's ordination to the priesthood.  It was a very glossy production, with lots of advertisements, congratulating the Cardinal and articles on him and about him.  

However, there seems to have been an omission from all of the articles about the successes.  And that is, the closing/merging of a number of Catholic elementary schools, including one just last June. 

How do others know us? An Observation from a Mormon.

First, I have been remiss in posting on a regular basis, but as with everything, our lives do change.  So, let me wish you a belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

So, on to the posting...

Not to long ago, I invited my next door neighbor out to dinner, as I had no dinner plans and he was alone.  His wife and children were visiting her parents, and he was running out of the meals she had prepared for him.  So, my offer came at an opportune time for him.  And, he is a Mormon, which is the central point of this story. 

So, as we sat down for dinner, the conversation turned to our different faiths, as it usually does.  There is no "you are wrong about this" as my fundamentalist Christian neighbor down the block tells me about Catholic baptism, the Pope, etc. 


It is just a time to ask some questions, such as "How does one become a Mormon Bishop?" or "What is the difference between a Cardinal and Bishop in the Catholic Church?"  

During this dinner, over pizza, he made a comment that it seems the Catholic Church in the Washington DC area does a lot of advertising about Catholic Cemeteries. 

Is this what we are to be known for in the Archdiocese of Washington?

A point that I made on this blog a long time ago! 

The Catholic Surprise

Catholics, on the other hand, were plus-2 for Obama in 2012 and plus-7 for Trump this year. Evangelicals helped Trump in states he was mostly going to win anyway. Catholics? Now we’re talking about Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. And that was the election. It nearly didn’t happen. 

Trump’s outreach people were tone-deaf about Catholic voters. They were putting their eggs in baskets marked Evangelicals, African-Americans and Hispanics. Catholics were of secondary importance.

 But one Catholic leader, Deal Hudson, didn’t believe this, and he single-handedly organized a big-name Catholic Advisory Committee, a conference call with state campaign directors, a conference call between Trump and Catholic leaders, a tweet and video from Trump when Mother Teresa was canonized and an interview with Trump on the Catholic EWTN television network.

For more, go to: http://nypost.com/2016/12/19/catholic-surprise-another-way-trump-is-remaking-the-gop/

He Came Down.

H/T to The Deacon's Bench.