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An elderly man with a long white beard cradles an infant in his arms, both dressed in flowing red robes. The scene is set outdoors with a landscape background. This depicts Saint Joseph holding the baby Jesus, a common Catholic theme.

St. Joseph’s Name Added to Eucharistic Prayers

Quiz: when was St. Joseph added to the Roman Canon? (No cheating, no googling) and by which Pope? How long did it take the USCCB to act on the addition? Read this for the answers.

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A yellow diamond-shaped sign with black text reading "INDOCTRINATION CENTER AHEAD." It features two silhouettes of people walking. The sign has a cautionary tone, suggesting a critical or satirical context about indoctrination."

Explaining Common Core: And why you don’t want this in your schools

Since 1965, states have been given over 118 BILLION dollars (in addition to those supplied at the state/county level) through ESEA [the Elementary and Secondary Education Act] has supported a system in which 1 in 7 adults are functionally illiterate. Are the Marxists pushing new stuff into education (again)? Catholics wouldn’t go along with that, would they? Read Stephanie Block’s exposition.

There is a rather extensive list of “dangers” she sees in Common Core, including the denial of “absolute truth in God,” “making all truth relative and determined by group consensus,AND MORE!

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China and Forced Abortion Forced Chen From NYU

Steve Mosher, president of the Population Research Institute, recounts how he was fired from Stanford some thirty years ago for revealing the atrocious forced-abortion policy of the Communist Chinese government. Now Chen Guansheng, who was welcomed to New York University with considerable fanfare just months ago, has been quietly shown the door because of the…

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Bellarmine Forum Podcasts titled "Footnote" by Dr. Christopher Manion. Features a stylized illustration of St. Peter's Basilica with red lightning bolts above it, on a beige background."

Footnote 35: Benedict’s Motu Proprio (Round Two)

Benedict’s Motu Proprio, Round Two: With Pope Benedict’s new addition to Canon Law, will the Catholic Church in the U.S. have to stop taking billions a year from the federal government?

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A stone statue of a robed figure seated against a textured wall, likely depicting a classical or religious theme. The statue is light-colored and appears weathered.

A Conversation with Pasquino

Reproduced here, dear reader, is a conversation I had the other day with a longtime resident of Rome, Pasquino. While I conversed with him for awhile, I did not tape-record our conversation nor did I take copious notes–as that would have been rude. Since I did speak candidly and at length with him, however, on a great…

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A small white stone shrine with a statue of the Virgin Mary, set into an ancient brick wall. Surrounded by greenery and grass, with a paved path in front.

Roma Obscura: Bees, Brigands, and the Head of an Apostle

In the small amounts of free time that I’ve had in Rome, I must admit that I have tried to stay away from the big places. Of course, I made a visit to the major basilicas–one feels the need to visit these chief shrines of the Church of Rome–but I must be getting old because I…

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Text "From Under the Rubble" over a background of rough, gray and brown stones with some green moss."

Doublethink, Dictators, and Data Dumps

Treason doth never prosper: what’s the reason? Why, if it prosper, none dare call it treason.   Sir John Harrington: When this weekly column began to run in a Catholic newspaper several years ago, it was called Room 101, invoking the name of the torture chamber in George Orwell’s Ministry of Love. That lasted about…

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A gold-framed glass coffin with a red and white cloth inside, likely part of a Catholic saint's relic display. The setting appears to be an ornate religious shrine or altar, with intricate decorations and lighting highlighting the coffin.

Roman Journal: (A bit more than a) Mid-Point Report

Greetings all, from Borgo Santo Spirito 4:  The Curia of the Society of Jesus (see below right). Already I am following in the footsteps of the great Hilaire Belloc who broke every vow he made on day 2 of his Roman pilgrimage. Instead of giving you a daily update, I am giving you an update a…

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Text "From Under the Rubble" over a background of rough, gray and brown stones with some green moss."

Is There Hope For The GOP?

In case Republicans haven’t noticed, Obama has declared war on them. Perhaps he recognizes that the party of Reagan is defenseless these days, having abdicated the principles which built the modern GOP – principles that have long enjoyed the high regard of a majority of Americans, millions of them nominal Democrats. All of this is…

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Text reads: "The Two Feet of Love in Action" with colorful footprints and the word "what!" in large, bold letters. Footprints are green, orange, and yellow."

Standing on Two Feet? Does the USCCB get Social Justice?

For years, Catholic educators have used the visual of two footprints to explain the difference between two kinds of charitable works, that is, the traditional “works of mercy” and what is, in some places, called “social justice.” This latter work is explained in different ways, depending on the degree of fidelity given material has to…

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