National Catholic Register Bloggers feed from Mark Shea

A Question about Communion in the Hand

2013-06-17

By Mark Shea | A troubled reader writes: I know Facebook theology is always hit and miss, and context can be lost and I probably should have just let it slide, but it struck me: namely, the accusation that only TRUE Catholics receive on the...

A question about homosexual temptation

2013-06-14

By Mark Shea | A reader writes: Thank you for your time. I have been trying to resolve an issue I have with my Church the Catholic Church for some time now unsuccessfully. I have made the observation that the Church has come to accept the...

When a Believer in the Myth of Scientism Tells You…

2013-06-10

By Mark Shea | "Science Destroys Creation Myths" consider the possibility that the reply to this is "Rubbish". But given that “destroying a creation myth” means “showing that the myth is not true”, why does one need a science to do this? We...

A Reader Writes in Frustration

2013-06-7

By Mark Shea | ...to say: Damnit, I had to write to somebody right now... starting to get angry at the characterization of anyone who believes marriage is NOT re-definable as bigoted, insensitive, an "a--hole" (these being just some of what...

Mormonism and Apostolic Succession

2013-06-3

By Mark Shea | My Mormon friend and I have been discussing the issue of apostolic succession for the past week, which is an important bedrock for both his and my faith. He readily acknowledges that there is evidence of apostolic succession in...

A Reader Has a Question about Evangelization

2013-05-27

By Mark Shea | I have a dilemma. Some of the things I read on facebook that are anti religious I feel compelled to comment on. There is a quote I recently that goes along the lines of ' Religion is for the ignorant and comedy for ..something...

From the High Priesthood of the Scientific Caste…

2013-05-24

By Mark Shea | ...comes this latest piece of magical divination: a promise that doing an MRI of an actor and an astronomer reading from Shakespeare and Galileo, respectively, "might yield some clues to Galileo and Shakespeare's drives". Given...

Interesting Discussion with a Reasonable Unbeliever

2013-05-20

By Mark Shea | In the course of a discussion about the existence of God and of the miraculous, an unbelieving reader (who strikes me as open to reasonable discussion) writes: All I’m saying is that people everywhere demonstrate a powerful...

Two Stories That Are Totally Not Related or Anything

2013-05-17

By Mark Shea | Almost 20% of teen births are not a first child Plan B for Everyone of All Ages! We must continue our Civilizational Mission to the rest of the world! They hate us for our freedom! America: The Light and the Glory! Our enemies...

The Resurrections of Matthew 27:52-53

2013-05-13

By Mark Shea | One of the things that periodically comes up in discussions of the Resurrection is summarized by Christopher Hitchens when he notes that Matthew tells us: "the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept...

From the Civilization Where Consent is the Sole Criterion of the Good

2013-05-9

By Mark Shea | Gay "marriage" must inevitably lead to the demand for approval of all other forms of consensual activity and the demand that the state punish those who fail to bow to that demand. When you point this out, you get sneered at and...

A reader wonders about "forfeiting the right to life"

2013-05-6

By Mark Shea | I wanted to get your opinion on something I encountered recently. I teach High School Faith Formation at my parish in NC. Great group of kids & great conversations. All of these kids have received Confirmation, so attendance...

A Question about Catholic Social Teaching

2013-05-3

By Mark Shea | A reader writes: I can personally vouch for your observation that prudential judgment is to right-wing cafeteria Catholicism as primacy of conscience is to left-wing Catholicism. I discovered Church teaching from a...

The Shroud of Turin

2013-04-26

By Mark Shea | Turns out the Shroud of Turin does date from the first century after all. That's because it is, as I have always thought, the burial shroud of Jesus of Nazareth. Unless, of course, you seriously believe that a medieval European...

Intellect Worship vs. Intellect Use

2013-04-22

By Mark Shea | When somebody babbles about the Church's "War on Science and Reason" and prates about the persecution of Galileo, ask, "And what other scientists were persecuted?" It's fun to watch their mouths open and close while nothing...