Dealing with Anti-Catholicism

Dealing with Anti-Catholicism by Bishop Donald Hying at What We Need Now. Since May 2020, nearly 300 incidents of violence against Catholic Churches occurred in 43 states, including cases of arson, beheaded statues, gravestones defaced with swastikas, smashed windows, pro-abortion graffiti, theft and desecration of the Blessed Sacrament. Anti-Catholic hate crimes have risen noticeably in this country in recent years…. There is nothing true, good, or beautiful, which does not find resonance and support in the heart of the Church. How do we convince our fellow Americans of this truth? By becoming saints! The Catholic faith is most attractive when her children are vibrantly alive with holiness, reflecting God’s love to all they encounter. We might think of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini, who dedicated her life to serving and evangelizing children, the poor, the sick, and countless immigrants by creating orphanages, schools, and hospitals. Read

Remembering Jesuit Education, Back When by Lance Morrow at First Things and Ethics and Public Policy Center. The gift that the Jesuits gave me was a strong, stable, coherent intellectual and spiritual context—the disciplines of the Church itself at that time, with Jesuit admixtures: high standards and a ruthless, unfoolable, aggressive objectivity. And religious faith. Objectivity plus faith: a handsome paradox…. I have been appalled and saddened—and incredulous—to hear stories about the Jesuits of more recent years. When I have spoken in a sentimental or nostalgic way about them, remembering Gonzaga in the 1950s, friends with more immediate knowledge have shaken their heads, as if to say, “That was a long time ago.” Read 

C.S. Lewis and the ‘Great War’ Over Imagination by Scott P. Richert at Our Sunday Visitor. Teleology, put simply, posits that created things have an intrinsic purpose that is understood in terms of their end rather than in terms of an endless series of cause and effect. The classic example is the acorn, whose purpose is to grow into an oak. Modern science can explain how an acorn, under the right conditions, may become an oak, but it denies that the acorn can be explained in terms of its final existence as an oak. A boy becomes a man through a series of physiological processes, but from the progression of those processes, we cannot say that the purpose of a boy is to become a man (much less that the purpose of a man is to spend eternity in the presence of his Creator)…. If we desire to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to all, we need a new teleology, a way to see all things once again through their final cause. And for that, we need a revitalized imagination, a new way of looking at the world, that imbues all creation with meaning. One might even call that new vision a Eucharistic worldview. Read

Building a Catholic Library at Home by Stephen M. Henley at Legatus. There are compelling reasons for creating a home library. It can serve as a sanctuary for spiritual growth, with resources like the Bible, the Catechism, and the writings of saints and theologians readily accessible. It facilitates daily scripture reading and meditation, fostering a deeper connection with God. Additionally, Catholic home libraries keep valuable educational materials at hand, supporting religious education, catechesis, and faith formation for individuals of all ages. They equip Catholics with resources for apologetics, enabling them to defend their faith and engage in meaningful dialogues. Catholic literature addresses ethical dilemmas and provides moral guidance in line with Church teachings. Inspirational stories, biographies of saints, and spiritual memoirs encourage individuals to lead virtuous lives and pursue holiness. Read

South Carolina Teachers Union is Out to Deprive Students of Learning Options by Jonathan Butcher at Washington Examiner. The South Carolina Education Association is the latest in a long line of education special-interest groups that oppose parental rights and have sought to limit students’ learning options through litigation. National teachers unions and their state affiliates have filed suits against parental choice in education in Arizona, Florida, New Hampshire, Ohio, Puerto Rico—the list goes on. Fortunately for children, the unions and other lobbying groups have a losing record…. Today, accounts or account-style options are available in more than a dozen states, and in some of those states, every school-age child can apply for an account. Read

Throwback Thursday

The Catholic Church in the United States of America by Fr. Robert J. Fox at Catholic Education Resource Center in 2000. The self-sacrifice of good Catholic parents and religious brothers and sisters who labored for little, under a vow of poverty, made the Catholic school system possible. The early American Catholics desired to provide education for their children, whether from rich or poor families. Laws were passed by American churchmen commanding parents to send their children to Catholic schools whenever possible, and schools were established in all the states. Many in the public school system were affected by the false spirit of the Enlightenment in Europe and they did not want the churches to have any influence in the public school system. Catholics came to the support of their bishops and built schools of their own, building one of the greatest Catholic school systems in the entire world. The sacrifice was great because most Catholic parents were poor and they received no help from the state. Instead, they had to help support, through taxes, the public school system. Read