Today's Fresh Blogs...

• Jim Wallis: Benedict on War

  Published: July 25, 2007, 10:45 am

  Tags: Catholics, Iraq, War

  While Pope Benedict XVI has been criticized for some of his recent statements, here's a short speech he delivered on Sunday before the midday Angelus that is well worth reading. Noting that he is on vacation, he said, "I feel all the more intensely the impact of the sorrow of the news that comes to me about bloody altercations and episodes of

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• Jim Wallis: The Catholic Bishops Respond on Iraq

  Published: July 24, 2007, 10:49 am

  Tags: Catholics, Iraq, War

  A few weeks ago, I wrote that a group of Catholic members of Congress sent a letter to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, asking to meet with the bishops to discuss mobilizing the church to end the war in Iraq. The bishops have responded. Thomas G. Wenski, the bishop of Orlando and chairman of the USCCB's Committee on International Policy,

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• Catholic groups lobby for expanded children's health insurance

  Published: July 26, 2007, 12:48 pm

  Tags: Catholics

  There may be a showdown between Congress and President Bush over funding for a program which provides health care to children from families that are poor but not poor enough to be on Medicaid. Catholic News Service has a story about how Catholic groups are joining the fight.

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• Pope on retreat likes Mozart and a walk

  Published: July 27, 2007, 1:38 pm

  Tags: Catholics

  Catholic News Service some details about the Pope's summer schedule. Click here. http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/0704293.htm

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• Saint Louis University reels in Dallas-area Catholic students

  Published: July 29, 2007, 2:13 pm

  Tags: Catholics

  The Texas Catholic did the story below about local students heading off to Saint Louis University: St. Louis University draws more students from Texas, local area ST. LOUIS. Saint Louis University awarded 26 scholarships this year to Dallas-area Catholic school students as compared to 2006 when it gave out only 16. Chris

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• A tale of a priest and his young victims

  Published: July 30, 2007, 9:36 am

  Tags: Catholics, Clergy Scandals

  The Associated Press has this sad report of three young friends, all of them abused by the same priest from the Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The three each received $1.5 million in the huge settlement that the archdiocese just agreed to. "Yet that money will never undo the guilt that comes with silence," the AP story says. "It will never

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• Catholic campuses (still) going green

  Published: July 30, 2007, 3:54 pm

  Tags: Catholics

  Boston College saved $1 million last year through an energy conservation campaign. That's just one example of pro-environment policies at Catholic colleges. Here's the story from Catholic News Service: Catholic campuses embrace 'green' initiatives By Kaitlynn Riely Catholic News Service WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Amid fears about global

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• Pro family message in "The Simpsons Movie"

  Published: July 31, 2007, 10:43 am

  Tags: Arts And Media, Catholics

  So says the Catholic News Service review: The Simpsons Movie By Harry Forbes Catholic News Service NEW YORK (CNS) -- If there aren't many out-and-out surprises for fans of the durable TV series (18 seasons and counting) on which it is based, there are chuckles to be had in abundance. For "The Simpsons Movie" (Fox) is a glossier version

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• Roman Catholic Womanpriests movement grows

  Published: August 1, 2007, 9:17 am

  Tags: Catholics

  The Vatican is aloof, but these women are calling themselves priests and going about their business. Here's a story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

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• Arab Catholic breaks ground by competing on Israeli version of "American Idol"

  Published: August 1, 2007, 1:59 pm

  Tags: Catholics, Middle East

  She made it to the top 10, singing for tolerance all the way. Here's the story from Catholic News Service: ISRAEL-SINGER Jul-31-2007 (660 words) xxxi Arab Catholic attributes participation on Israeli show to her faith By Judith Sudilovsky Catholic News Service JERUSALEM (CNS) -- The first Arab Catholic contestant on the Israeli

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• A black priest takes his message of healing to the nation's capital

  Published: August 1, 2007, 3:47 pm

  Tags: Around America, Catholics, Ethics

  David Crumm of the Detroit Free Press has a feature about the Rev. Clarence Williams, a Catholic priest in Detroit who for years has run training programs designed to promote racial awareness and understanding. He's moving to Washington, where he will run a national version of the program for Catholic Charities USA. "To this day," the priest

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• Pope "rejoiced" with Iraqi soccer team

  Published: August 1, 2007, 4:31 pm

  Tags: Catholics, Politics

  Catholic News Service has the story below about how Pope Benedict XVI has followed - happily - the upward fortunes of the Iraqi soccer team. Pope says he rejoiced with Iraqis when they won Asian soccer tourney By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- Pope Benedict XVI said he rejoiced with the people of Iraq when Iraq

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• Nutty, 'radical traditionalist Catholics' -- but are they?

  Published: August 1, 2007, 5:39 pm

  Tags: Around America, Arts Media, Catholics

  of "radical traditionalist Catholics" from "a little-known order called the Slaves of the Immaculate Heart of Mary." The order is anti-Semitic and anti-gay, which is how it wound up in the sights of the Southern Poverty Law Center. There's one problem with the story, however: The group ain't Catholic. Early on, there is a hint of

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• I don't always agree with the pope, but in this case, God bless him

  Published: August 2, 2007, 9:33 am

  Tags: Catholics, News From Afar, Science Faith

  Pope Benedict XVI said "there is much scientific proof in favor of evolution, which appears as a reality." Wrapping up his summer vacation in northern Italy, the pope said the debate between creationism and evolution was an absurdity, and that evolution could coexist with faith. He added, however, that theory of evolution could not exclude

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• 'Well, spit,' she says

  Published: August 2, 2007, 12:14 pm

  Tags: Catholics

  or who no longer are, Roman Catholics, quite simply are not good enough. Thank God, that's not what the Gospel says. And I could argue that viewpoint until the cows come home, go out and come home again. Trust me on this. So, if you are one of those people who is offended by what the pope has said, take my advice: Say a prayer

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