On The News

July 26, 2010 11:01 AM back in action By Phil Lawler

After two terrific weeks in Ireland, I'm back in action, rested and ready. This really was my first complete break from news coverage in more than a decade. I'm grateful to the CWN news team for keeping the site running in my absence.

On the Culture

July 23, 2010 2:11 PM The Catholic Publicity Paradise By Dr. Jeff Mirus

The Catholic Church should be a rallying point for all who oppose the culture of death. The press is on our side in this. All it takes to get incredibly widespread publicity is for bishops and priests to speak out forcefully against the

Catholic World News: Today's Top Stories

• UK announces ‘unprecedented focus’ on contraception, ‘safe’ abortion in aid to poor nations
• 2 decades after death, Congo proclaims persecuted cardinal a national hero
• UN: Access to drinking water is a human right
• Key US bishop praises judge's decision on immigration law
• Caritas appeal for flood-ravaged Burkina Faso
• Pittsburgh diocese sued after alleged abuse victim commits suicide
• Arizona bishops welcome judge's decision on immigration law
• Vatican praises Chinese clerics, urges continued work toward unity
• Cardinal Zen: Beijing still in 'tug of war' for control of Catholic hierarchy
• Chinese 'underground' priest released, then re-arrested

In Depth Analysis

July 26, 2010 When bishops denounce bishops: the limits of episcopal courtesy By Phil Lawler

Catholic bishops are extremely reluctant to engage in public criticism of other Catholic bishops. They are many good reasons for their reluctance. But there are times, I suggest, when they must overcome it, for the good of the Church. Bishops may disagree about fine points of doctrine and discipline. That is understandable; there is plenty of room of differences of opinion among loyal Catholics. But is there a point at which a bishop’s public statements are so

In Depth Analysis

July 22, 2010 When Bishops Look Too Often to the State By Dr. Jeff Mirus

I was somewhat surprised by the bitterness of most of the Sound Off! comments on the U.S. bishops’ recent request to extend unemployment benefits. It’s clear that many Catholics are out of patience with the continuous lobbying of the American bishops for their preferred socio-economic objectives. This lobbying is particularly annoying to conservatives, because the American bishops tend to be politically liberal. Still, before we look carefully at the principles which ought

On Business

July 26, 2010 9:12 PM The Business of Happiness By Peter Mirus

I just finished reading The Business of Happiness: 6 Secrets to Extraordinary Success in Work and Life by Ted Leonsis (with John Buckley). Leonsis is a former America Online (AOL) owner/executive and current owner of both the Washington

Off the Record

• 07/28/10 full disclosure
• 07/28/10 two scandals, one theme
• 07/28/10 ah, dialogue
• 07/21/10 packing in the pews
• 07/15/10 the least common denomination
• 07/14/10 the solipsist's catechism