Matthew Schmitz

The National Council of Churches is moving from its offices in New York’s “God Box” to a Capitol Hill office : The National Council of Churches  confirmed today  that the ecumenical council will shut down its historic office on New York’s Riverside Drive, . . . . Continue Reading »

Catholic News Service reports : The Jesuit-run Woodstock Theological Center, on the campus of Georgetown University in Washington — another Jesuit-run institution — will close at the end of June, a victim of the shrinking number of Jesuits available to staff it. Yes, Fr. Reese was . . . . Continue Reading »

From an interview with Bishop Charles Scicluna of Malta, the Vatican’s highly respected former prosecutor of child sex abuse cases: In 2004, Maciel celebrated his 60th anniversary of priestly ordination at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls. All the Roman Curia went, bishops and . . . . Continue Reading »

Today, February 18, some Christian communities celebrate the feast of the great reformer Martin Luther. If we are to take Pope Benedict as our guide (Luther might warn us against this) even we Catholic Christians can consider it a day worth celebrating. In a 2011 address to Lutheran leaders in . . . . Continue Reading »

1. Muskrat Catholics living south of Detroit enjoy a longstanding informal dispensation to eat muskrat (the local pronunciation is MUSH-rat) on Fridays of Lent. A 2002 document from the Archdiocese of Detroit confirmed that “there is a long-standing permission—-dating back to our missionary . . . . Continue Reading »

Rod Dreher points to the latest blog post by Los Angeles cardinal emeritus, Roger Mahony: Given all of the storms that have surrounded me and the Archdiocese of Los Angeles recently, God’s grace finally helped me to understand:  I am not being called to serve Jesus in humility.  . . . . Continue Reading »

In 2002, the internet was set abuzz by news that the Beatles had approached J.R.R. Tolkien about doing a film version of Lord of the Rings starring the Fab Four: Once upon a time, the Fab Four—having slain the pop charts—decided to set their sights on the Dark Lord Sauron by making a Lord . . . . Continue Reading »

From  Light of the World , Benedict XVI’s 2010 interview with Peter Seewald: Q:   Have you thought of resigning? A: When the danger is great one must not run away. For that reason, now [2010] is certainly not the time to resign. Precisely at a time like this one must stand fast and . . . . Continue Reading »

Statement from Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops: The Holy Father brought the tender heart of a pastor, the incisive mind of a scholar and the confidence of a soul united with His God in all he did. His resignation is but another sign . . . . Continue Reading »

Vatican spokesman Federico Lombardi offers a sketch of Benedict’s next steps : Pope Benedict XVI has given his resignation freely, in accordance with Canon 332 §2 of the Code of Canon Law. Pope Benedict XVI will not take part in the Conclave for the election of his successor. Pope . . . . Continue Reading »