What St. Paul Really Said About “Works”

Introduction One of the claims heard most often among anti-Catholic Christians is that Catholicism is “legalistic” or promotes “works-based salvation.” St. Paul, they say, clearly taught that salvation is not by works, so adding anything to the finished work of Christ is tantamount to its denial. But what does St. Paul really say about works?…

Gluten Free Eucharist for Celiac Sufferers?

Introduction In 2018, the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments reiterated the Church’s teachings regarding the matter of the Eucharist – notably that Communion hosts must be wheat bread, which by definition contains some amount of gluten. This has led some people to think that celiacs (those allergic to wheat /…

Why Shouldn’t We Call Abortion “Murder”?

Introduction On April 12, 2018, FemCatholic posted an article titled “Why We Shouldn’t Call Women Who’ve Had Abortions ‘Murderers’.” It has numerous good points regarding rhetoric and strategy, and includes several key distinctions that need to be well thought out before use of the term “murder” is employed in the abortion debate. However, it also…

Catechetical Leadership: Catechetical Resource List

Here is a list I am putting together of the most helpful resources for Catechetical Leadership. General Catechetical Information USCCB Approved list of curricula USCCB National Directory for Catechesis General Directory for Catechesis (online Vatican world wide version of USA book above) List of Church Documents on Catechesis FORMED (inc. Symbolon, Augustine Inst., small group resources, movies,…

Catechetical Leadership: On Family Faith Formation in the Parish

The Crisis in Parish Catechesis The numbers are in, and they are not good. According to numerous studies, Christianity is losing a large number of members annually – a phenomena known as disaffiliation.[1] One report stated that 3,500 people disaffiliate every day.[2] Another concluded that “nearly one-in-five adults under age 30 say they were raised…

Soon We Celebrate X Mass!

Keeping the Christ in Xmas Have you ever wondered where the idea of the “Xmas” abbreviation comes from? Is it just the secular world trying to rid the culture of Christ? Maybe sometimes – but it might not be as nefarious as all that. As most Catholics are aware, “Christmas” itself is an abbreviation for…