God does not send plagues to teach us things, though we can learn from them

By Richard Leonard S. J. in THE TABLET, 22 April 2020 Some Christians seem to have a very limited image of the Holy Trinity: nasty God the Father in heaven; sweet, lovely Jesus … and the bird! While the creeds teach that there is one God in three persons, they act as one in creating,…

The familiar voters’ refrain that ‘they are all the same’ will not resonate this time

by Peter Hennessy in THE TABLET, 4 December 2019 Are we living through the most heavily freighted general election of modern times? Brexit alone would make it so. But merely to list some of the other questions in play tells a significant story. In the United Kingdom we are deeply familiar with Left/Right politics. It…

Christmas Cookie Recipe

Christmas Cookies Recipe (According to the Revised Translation of the Roman Missal) Serves:  you and many. Cream these ingredients, that by their comingling you may begin to make the dough:  1 chalice butter, 2/3 chalice sugar. In a similar way, when the butter is consubstantial with the sugar, beat in:  1 egg. Gather these dry ingredients to…

Review: Why did so many Catholics leave after Vatican II?

By Timothy P. O'Malley in 'America: the Jesuit Review', 14 November 2019 Speculation on why Catholics leave the church runs rampant in the news media. Some commentators blame impoverished catechesis and liturgy, or ecclesial reforms run amok after the Second Vatican Council. Others focus on the abuse of power among clerics, the exclusion of women…