A forum of Catholic Thought

Meet the new goddess, same as the old goddessBishop Robert Barron

A few weeks ago, I spoke at the annual convention of the G.K. Chesterton Society. The theme of the conference was St. Francis, since this year marks the 100th anniversary of the publication of Chesterton's ...

How to start a Bible studyMichael Pakaluk

But why should you start a Bible study? Because ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ, as St. Jerome said. Because we want to model our lives on the life of Christ. Because we all sense that the ...

When did 'conversion' become a dirty word?Bishop Robert Barron

I have recently returned from World Youth Day in Lisbon, where I gave five presentations, each one of which, as I promised, was evangelical in purpose. I made that promise in response to Cardinal-elect ...

Thoughts on World Youth Day in LisbonBishop Robert Barron

I've just returned from World Youth Day in Lisbon, my fourth experience of this unique gathering. I had attended the celebrations in Madrid (2011), Krakow (2016), and Panama (2019), but in many ways, ...

Tracing things backMichael Pakaluk

What could be more ridiculous, as a Christian, than to celebrate the dedication of a building, and even to place that celebration on the universal calendar of the Church? But that is what Catholics do, ...

'Oppenheimer's' frownBishop Robert Barron

Cillian Murphy, who beautifully evokes the physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan's new film, wears, through about 85 percent of the movie, a worried frown. Nolan does not lionize Oppenheimer ...

Unless the Lord founds the countryMichael Pakaluk

Samuel Johnson once said that any book that we have not read is for us as if it were published yesterday -- The Odyssey, Plato's "Phaedo," More's "Utopia" -- they are all, for a novice, equally ...

World Youth Day and converting everyone to ChristBishop Robert Barron

You have probably heard by now that a statement made by Bishop Américo Aguiar has caused quite a stir. Aguiar is the auxiliary bishop of Lisbon, Portugal, and he is the chief coordinator of the upcoming ...

The noble posture of a ProtestantMichael Pakaluk

I have known true Protestants. I will tell you my image of one. In the evenings, he sat in his chair in the living room with a book, usually the Bible, but sometimes a work in speculative theology. Sometimes ...

The mental health crisis crosses all boundaries and agesEffie Caldarola

It was hard to find joy in the day. Rain pelted the morning windows incessantly. I burrowed under the covers and, grasping for gratitude, told myself it was good we were getting needed moisture. After ...