Meowzltov said:

What authors like this just don't get is that intolerance and narrow-mindedness are not features of political parties, but personality traits in individuals that you can find in all parties. (And religions. And any other sort of ideology). There are just some people who think there is only one right way to fold a towel and they are completely at peace with forcing it on you if they can.

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I get your point and agree, but perhaps the author does gets that, too. I mean, higher education, pre-graduate school at least, has traditionally been aimed at widening one's horizon, especially as regards the general course work, which is meant to give a liberal arts foundation ("liberal art" in the sense of a general understanding of science, math, literature, music, etc.). And I think part of the author's critique is that ideological biases hamper that goal of widening the student's horizon, whether they are liberal biases or conservative biases.

As a Gen Z Catholic woman, I find it funny when beliefs that secularists labeled “outdated” become increasingly popular in my generation today. One of these beliefs relates to birth control and natural family planning.

Following the release of Humanae Vitae, secularists panned the Church’s view against artificial contraception as “outdated and incomplete.” With the development of the birth control pill, women were able to more effectively space out the number of children they had or even avoid having children altogether. This newfound agency over their reproductive systems gave women a sense of empowerment: women could go to work full-time or pursue whatever opportunity they wanted without having to leave due to pregnancy or children.

One of the first advertisements for the Pilltapped into this exact sensation: “From the beginning woman has been a vassal to the temporal demands . . . of the cyclic mechanism of her reproductive system. Now to a degree heretofore unknown, she is permitted normalization . . . of cyclic function” (132). Women are depicted as slaves to their reproductive systems, so the promise of regulating reproduction gave women hope that they could be more detached from it and, frankly, more like men.

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2025 is a Jubilee year in the Church's calendar, there are many things to pray and do and graces to apply. I wonder if any non-Catholics have taken tis Jubilee year to heart?

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Catholics see the Jubilee Year of 2025—declared by Pope Francis under the theme Pilgrims of Hope—as a sacred invitation to renewal, reconciliation, and grace. It began on Christmas Eve 2024 and will conclude on the Epiphany, 6 January 2026. This isn’t just a liturgical event; it’s a profound spiritual journey. We're called to reflect more deeply on our relationship with God, to seek forgiveness, and to participate in pilgrimages and sacraments that offer plenary indulgences—spiritual benefits that signify complete remission of temporal punishment due to sin.

The Jubilee tradition itself reaches back to Leviticus 25, where every 50th year was marked by rest for the land, freedom for slaves, and restoration of property. Jesus echoed this in Luke 4:18–19, proclaiming “a year acceptable to the Lord,” which Catholics interpret as a spiritual Jubilee fulfilled in Christ.

But this year isn’t just for Catholics. If you’re not Catholic, you’re still invited to engage with its message. Pope Francis has framed Jubilee 2025 as a time to “fan the flame of hope” and restore trust in a fractured world. The Church opens its doors—literally and figuratively—through the ritual of the Holy Door, symbolising Christ as the gateway to mercy and renewal. You don’t need to share every theological conviction to walk through that door. You only need a desire for peace, healing, and hope.

Whether you’re drawn by curiosity, cultural interest, or spiritual longing, Jubilee 2025 offers a moment to pause, reflect, and reconnect—with yourself, with others, and perhaps with the divine. It’s a year that transcends boundaries, inviting all of us to become pilgrims of hope.

I’ve seen this happen with my dad, and it’s really hard when someone you love falls back into old habits after doing better. Even if things look good on the outside, problems like anger or sadness can still be there. That stuff doesn’t just go away if it’s not dealt with. I used to blame myself and wonder why prayers didn’t help, but I learned addiction is complicated and relapses happen.

It helped me a bit to look into places that specialize in long-term recovery, especially when regular willpower or support from family alone wasn't enough. He's presently in Abbeycare, and the support programs there seem to get that real healing is deeper than just stopping drinking.

The terrorist organization Hamas cut off communications with the mediators this week, stating that negotiations would resume only after the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is resolved

In a statement, Hamas affirmed its “willingness to resume negotiations immediately once aid reaches those who deserve it, and the humanitarian crisis and hunger in Gaza come to an end.”

Meanwhile, U.S. President Trump Donald Trump again sharpened his tone toward the terror group, writing on X: “The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!!”

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For years I've kept a little "prayer list" close by me — sometimes it's just a slip of scrap paper with names jotted down haphazardly as the needs became known.

There is also a little book I keep, prayers for "long term" issues that I know will require ongoing intercession — a friend whose wife has been struggling with cancer and chemo for nearly eight years can be found there, along with a neurodivergent young man who has defied every dire and hopeless early pronouncement the doctors and experts pealed over him 20 years ago. I'm positive his terrific family and therapies have had much to do with that, but I believe the faithful prayers of their many friends has also contributed to his astonishing successes.

Often I will add a word beside a name, to recall the need. Lately "cancer" is showing up a lot as so many friends share news of their diagnoses or face arduous treatment.

"Job search" too, is appearing more and more. As a writer and editor my internal rolodex is populated with so many friends in media and it seems too many of them are becoming displaced or laid off thanks to the unsurprising discovery that Artificial Intelligence is fairly trustworthy at delivering basic information.

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Larniavc said:

The camera records the sun’s light reflected off the surface of the moon. I can’t believe I need to explain this to you. Do you think the moon going dark when there is an eclipse is a coincidence? Or that Luna procession is the lights turning on and off in sequence?

This is the dumbest conversation I have ever had.

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Well do not worry you will never have another one with me.

St. Augustine teaches, “If you believe what you like in the gospel and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” The problem he describes is, of course, the false prophecy opposed to the Christian era, one that’s particularly acute in modernity. Because of our ego and radical individualism, we’ve been conditioned to believe that we get to be arbiters of the truth and whatever current feelings the in-crowd is signaling have priority over the plain teaching of the Church.

False prophecy, Our Lord warns, arrives in sheep’s clothing. In other words, it’s seductive. It seems right. It seems honorable. I cannot help but notice that false prophecy is most effective when it disguises itself and weaponizes virtue. It takes our instincts, such as they are, to be kind and agreeable and turns them against. us. False prophecy does this again and again: It isn’t nice to be so prudish about the covenant of marriage and who can or cannot be married. It isn’t nice to offer Holy Communion only to Catholics. It isn’t nice to exclude women from the priesthood. And so on.

A few weeks ago in my homily, I insisted that talking about and maintaining a strong belief in the existence of hell is actually the nice thing to do. Deacon Pieper and I were talking after and he mentioned that the background to the word, “nice” is quite interesting. I did some research because I was curious (“curious” is another word that has a conflicted background), and it turns out the word “nice” comes from the Latin nescius, a compound word meaning “no knowledge.” A nice person was thought to be foolish and ignorant. It was only in the 18th century it shifted to meaning a person who is agreeable. Notice, even with this shift, that to be always agreeable isn’t necessarily a compliment, because it indicates a person who lacks knowledge, has no firm morals, and so goes along with others. It was only in the modern era that this sort of lack of opinion came to be considered commendable.

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Federal judge Indria Talwani on Monday handed down her final preliminary injunction, forcing the Trump administration to continue sending Medicaid dollars to Planned Parenthood.

With breathtaking brashness, Talwani boldly asserted Planned Parenthood is “likely to succeed in showing that Section 71113 constitutes a Bill of Attainder and denies Planned Parenthood Federation and its Members equal protection of the law.”

To put it simply, Talwani’s legal reasoning is a mess.

Talwani accepted Planned Parenthood’s argument in the case that Section 71113 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, violates the abortion giant’s First Amendment right of association and is likely an unconstitutional “bill of attainder,” a legislative provision criminalizing a person or group without due process.

Section 71113 prohibits Medicaid dollars from going to any “prohibited entity” that “is primarily engaged in family planning services, reproductive health, and related medical care,” “provides for abortions” and exceeded $800,000 in Medicaid dollars in 2023. The provision applies for a period of one year.

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Lady Bug said:

Hi, this morning I was rattled by a big noise in the basement. It was a bit cold this morning and as a result I put the heater on for a few minutes. While the heat was running for a little while, I heard a big noise in the basement as if something fell. I was terrified, thinking what happened? It sounded like it was right below me. I went into the basement (I don't know how I was brave enough to do this) and looked around and there was absolutely nothing at all indicating anything out of place. While I was relieved that there was no intruder, I remain mystified and kind of terrified that I'll hear a similar noise again. I do wonder if it had something to do with the heat not being on for a long time (weeks or months). I don't want to hear that again.

ps I wish I posted more Catholic things, and I'm sorry. It's not that I don't, but oh well, I don't do it every single time.

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It’s perfectly ok to post things from your everyday life LB. No worries.

Pope Leo XIV on Thursday appointed astronomer Father Richard Anthony D’Souza, SJ, as the new director of the Vatican Observatory.

D’Souza, who has worked at the Vatican’s astronomical research and educational institution since 2016, will start his new position on Sept. 19, according to the Holy See Press Office statement.

The Indian priest succeeds Brother Guy J. Consolmagno, SJ, whose 10-year mandate ends next month, as head of the observatory. Consolmagno will remain at the scientific institution as a staff astronomer.

Born in Goa in 1978, D’Souza joined the Society of Jesus in 1996 and was ordained a priest in 2011 after completing studies at the Jnana Deepa Institute of Philosophy and Theology in India.

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A lawsuit filed in Massachusetts alleges that a Catholic student in a medical education program was dismissed from the school after she objected to having been forced to witness an abortion as part of her clinical studies.

The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in state court, alleges that Alina Thopurathu was taking part in Springfield College’s physician assistant program when, during clinical rotations, she was scheduled to see a dilation and evacuation, or D&E, a procedure commonly used for later-term abortions.

Thopurathu, identified in the filing as a practicing Catholic, wrote in evaluations that she had assumed the procedure was intended for a miscarriage and that she was “overwhelmed” at witnessing an actual abortion.

“In the future, I believe students should be asked if they are comfortable with seeing a D&E rather than being assigned the procedure without patient information,” she wrote in the evaluation.

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At the same time, many german jews are seeking to leave for Israel because they don't feel safe here, either.

I have started to read the actual Catechism

Its very easy to understand

Its beautifully laid out

Most Parishes have an extra copy laying around somewhere like a donation library of Catholic books one can use

I very highly recommend this incredible work!

“Congratulations to Brown University on the settlement made with the United States Government. There will be no more Anti-Semitism, or Anti-Christian, or Anti-Anything Else!” Trump posted on Truth Social. “Woke is officially DEAD at Brown. Thank you for your attention to this matter!” he added.

Hopefully others will be rethinking DEI and CRT and antisemitism.

Well, we should not hate anyone, but we can hate the evil they do. For we are to love even our enemies who do evil against us and who “despitefully use” us (Matthew 5:44 KJV). And we are to pray for them, and do good to them, and speak truth to them which will be beneficial to them, because we love them, and because we want to see them set free from the power of sin and of Satan over their lives, so that they will now serve the Lord Jesus with their lives in surrender to his will and to his purpose for all our lives.

And who are the double-minded? James talked about them in James 1:5-8. They are like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. They are those who are unstable in all their ways, always going back and forth with regard to what they believe and what they put into practice, like someone riding on both ends of a see-saw, a teeter-totter, going up, then down, continually shifting positions on beliefs and on practices. And to teeter is to stagger, to waver, to sway. And to totter is to flounder, to stumble.

So, one minute they could be lifting up the biblical gospel of our salvation taught by Jesus and by his New Testament apostles, while deriding the false gospel of the flesh which requires no repentance, no death to sin, and no walks of obedience to his commands. But then the next minute they could be supporting the false gospel by applying its teachings to their own lives in order to give them an excuse or an “out” for their refusal to bow to Jesus as Lord, to put sin to death in their lives, and to obey the Lord, in practice.

Now some of these who are teeter-tottering, who are the double-minded, who will often profess one thing while they live the opposite, who are the evildoers being spoken of here, will be those who are coming against the righteous, to persecute and to falsely accuse them in hopes to discredit and to silence them. And the righteous are those who have died with Christ to sin and who are walking in obedience to the Lord’s commands, by the grace of God, in the power of God, although perhaps not with absolute perfection.

But the encouragement here for those who are following Jesus with our lives, who are being persecuted and mistreated by the double-minded evildoers, is that Jesus is our hiding place and our shield, and he will sustain us according to his word if we will continue to put our trust in him, and to walk in his ways, despite what evil people say against us or do against us. We must not lose hope or be afraid just because the enemy of our souls is on the attack. We must rest in the Lord and trust him with our lives.

But for those who live on this “teeter-totter,” whose lives are driven and tossed by the wind, whose practice it is to sin against God, and against other humans, and to stagger, to waver, to sway, to stumble, and to flounder; who have rejected the commandments of God in favor of deliberate and habitual sin; who cover up their sins with deceitfulness, with their lies – they are rejected by God. And no matter what they profess with their lips, they will not have salvation from sin nor eternal life with God, if they continue.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:5-10; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Revelation 2:1-29; Revelation 3:1-22]

I Take Refuge

Based off Psalm 71
An Original Work / September 1, 2018
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

O, Lord, I take refuge in You,
For You are my God.
Turn Your ear now to me.

Be my Rock and Fortress
To which I do go.
Deliver me, God. You’re my hope.

My lips now give praise to You, God.
I always have hope,
Since You saved me from sin.

My enemies speak evil
‘gainst me, O God.
Oh, help me, O Lord, rescue me.

The path of my life has been hard.
For, I have had troubles
Too many to bear.

But You will increase honor,
Restore again.
Your faithfulness, Lord, comforts me.

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My Hiding Place
An Original Work / August 1, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

I didn't realize your father passed on. So sorry to hear that and my condolences to you.

ThatRobGuy said:

For a non-paywalled version

MSN

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Thanks....I guess the WaPo "gift article link" didn't work.

Uruguay’s Chamber of Deputies (lower house) is scheduled to vote on a euthanasia bill, titled as “death with dignity,” on Aug. 5. Just days before legislators cast their votes, Catholic Church leaders and professionals from various fields are weighing in against the measure.

An article published by the Archdiocese of Montevideo titled “Euthanasia: A ‘Right’ That Violates Other Rights” compiles testimonies, beginning with Dutch bioethics expert and professor Theo Boer, who was one of the advocates and activists for the legalization of euthanasia two decades ago. After reviewing thousands of cases, he warned of the sustained growth in requests and, fundamentally, the reasons for each case.

Recognizing his mistake, Boer has traveled the world — and visited Uruguay — to warn about the risks of enabling “assisted suicide,” pointing out that “what began as an exception has become a common practice,” violating the rights of the most disadvantaged.

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Prayers for your intentions. Spiritually, physically, and mentally. May the Lord bless you with the peace that passes all understanding.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission is investigating potential “unfair or deceptive trade practices” regarding transgender surgeries and drugs.

The launch of the federal inquiry is designed to “gauge the harms consumers may be experiencing” from “false or unsupported claims” about transgender treatment, according to a press release. The inquiry focuses on affected minors but is also open to adults who have been affected.

The agency’s investigation comes after President Donald Trump pledged to end federal support for transition drugs and surgeries in an executive order he issued at the outset of his administration this year.

The Federal Trade Commission, a federal agency that promotes marketplace competition and consumer education, will investigate whether practitioners have violated a long-standing law against deception in the marketplace.

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Danielle Brooks has played many roles throughout her celebrated career, from Sofia in "The Color Purple" on Broadway to gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in a stirring biopic.

But the 35-year-old actress’ guiding force, both personally and professionally, is her Christian faith, and she’s not afraid to say so.

“I think it all has to start from there,” Brooks told The Christian Post. “You have to trust that God is bringing you to a project for a reason. Or sometimes, He’s saying no.”

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Grooming gang survivor Jade (L) appears alongside former detective-turned-whistleblower Maggie Oliver (R) on the "Triggernometry" podcast on July 27, 2025. | Screengrab/YouTube/Triggernometry

Editor's note: This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse that some readers might find disturbing.


An abuse survivor who was sexually assaulted by hundreds of Pakistani men from the age of 14 onwards recounted how British authorities blamed her for her own exploitation instead of arresting and prosecuting those who raped her.

The grooming gang survivor identified as "Jade" detailed her experiences alongside former detective constable-turned-whistleblower and advocate, Maggie Oliver, during a Sunday episode of the "Triggernometry" podcast hosted by Konstantin Kisin and Francis Foster.

Oliver had resigned from the Greater Manchester Police in late 2012, citing the department’s mishandling of the Rochdale child sex abuse ring and prejudice toward victims like Jade.

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David Lamb said:

But isn't a Christophany pre-incarnate appearance of Christ? So where is the need for four Persons in the Trinity (I don't think anybody was suggesting multiple Gods)?

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And I believe that it. is Christ and will be High priest of MELCHIZEDEK. in. the Millennial Kingdom !!

dan p