Are We Doomed?
Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’ is like a whisper against thunder. All around us, his call to respect the biodiversity of planet Earth is ignored. Has the pope’s lone voice any serious listeners outside...
Category: Shackleton
Why Do We Pray to the Saints?
A friend quotes 1 Timothy 2:5: “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.” Her church honours the saints only as exemplars of the Christian life...
Must We Give Beggars Money?
At almost every traffic light, as soon as I stop the car, there is someone at my window wanting money. I give a little cash now and then, depending on how safe I feel,...
Celebrating Our Lady’s Birthday
The celebration of the feast of the Nativity of Our Blessed Lady occurs every year on September 8. Oddly, despite the Church’s huge respect and veneration of Mary and her indispensable role in Christian...
Must We Still Fast Before the Eucharist?
Some Catholics do not know that there is such a thing as a Eucharistic fast, or know but ignore it. Is the fast still required? If not, why have we not been informed officially? Joe...
How Does the Devil Work?
When we renewed our baptismal promises at Easter, we together renounced Satan and all his works and all his empty promises. How am I to understand this? How does Satan perform his works and...
Does God Select Only a Few?
According to Romans 8:28-30 God knew beforehand who would be his chosen ones predestined for salvation. He chose them and he justified and glorified them. For me, this means that our free will is...
Church, State and Moral Values
Church and State in a democratic society share the same members but each has its own independent agenda and purpose. The State has a role to play on the natural level to pursue the temporal common good of its citizens and to defend their well-being. The Church’s mission, as a self-governing body, is the pursuit of the supernatural well-being of its members and ultimately life everlasting in Christ.
Youth and Truth: A Faith-Filled Identity
By Michael Shackleton – Senior readers will remember the opening words of the old Latin Mass: “Introibo ad altare Dei, ad Deum qui laetificat iuventutem meam”, meaning “I shall go to the altar of...
How Understandings of the Sacraments Differ
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the sacraments are perceptible signs (words and actions) accessible to our human nature. By the action of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit, they make present efficaciously the grace that they signify (1084).
Celibacy for Priests: Let’s Go Back to Year 1074
Pope Gregory decreed Catholic priests and nuns should be celibate because he wanted to reduce the temptation of bending the law to favour blood relatives. Is this an accurate statement?
Why Did the Fallen Angels Rebel?
We are taught that heaven is a place where worthy souls remain in eternity in indescribable contentment in the presence of Almighty God, where no evil exists. If so, why was there a group of angels, led by the devil, who chose to rebel against God?
