Ross Douthat an intelligent and literate Catholic observer nbsp and a columnist nbsp in the New York Times writes perceptively nbsp on the surprising turnout for Pope Benedict in light of the protests by atheists like Richard Dawkins and predictions of embarrassing crowds nbsp The same phenome

To compliment Austen Ivereigh s superb reporting over the last few days on the beatification of Cardinal John Henry Newman this video of the beatification ceremony which includes some of the pope s remarks on the newest Blessed nbsp

Highly nbsp nbsp unusual to say the least nbsp John Henry Newman s Feast will not be the day of his death as is traditional but his reception into the Roman church nbsp Is his entrance into the Roman Catholic Church more significant than his entrance into Heaven nbsp The story from CNS in

Here is Scott Appleby and John McGreevy two nbsp nationally known nbsp Catholic historians on the parallels between the controversy over the Islamic center near Ground Zero and anti-Catholicism in the 19th century nbsp It s a great short piece in this week s New York Review of Books nbsp As hi

In preparation for John Henry Newman s beatification this reflection on his complicated life and legacy from The Boston Globe Born in 1801 Newman would make both a fascinating and controversial saint An eminent clergyman Newman spent much of his life in the orbit of Oxford University where

For the anniversary of Sept 11 2001 some memories of the time Two days after the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center I made my way to one of the emergency trauma centers in Manhattan It had been hastily set up in a cavernous sports facility called Chelsea Piers on the Hudson River I h

Last week Archbishop Timothy Dolan the archbishop of New York invited me to join him on his weekly Sirius XM radio show on the Catholic Channel nbsp A radio show is a natural venue for the archbishop who as most American Catholics know by now is a friendly warm and genuinely happy priest

One of our newest associate editors Raymond Schroth S J a name most likely familiar to many of our readers he has a long history with America Commonweal and NCR and is the author of many well-respected books--including what looks like a fascinating new book soon to be published on Robert Dri

Stephen Hawking s recent comment that the universe does not need a creator God--because it can spontaneously create itself--has prompted lively debate on the web and also this intelligent response from nbsp Robert Spitzer S J nbsp nbsp Fr Spitzer a Jesuit priest and the former president of Go

Here s the trailer for the new movie There Be Dragons about the life of St Josemaria Escriva founder of Opus Dei It s directed by Roland Joffe who also directed The Mission Looks pretty good--though were there really so many drums in Josemaria s life The website for the film is here