When asked recently at what point human beings should be given human rights, U.S. Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama said that to answer that question with any specificity was “beyond his pay grade”. What those who did not watch the debate perhaps don’t know is that he followed with an almost 5-minute explanation – quite ...read more

I took a brief respite in Ottawa two weeks ago after what’s been a very busy summer here at S+L. Though I only had enough time to visit a few friends, I did manage one road trip. No other form of travel matches the road trip’s mystique. The allure largely lies in the opportunity to ...read more

The Holy Father’s general prayer intention for September is: “That those who, because of wars or oppressive regimes, are forced to leave their homes and country may be supported by Christians in the defence and protection of their rights.” His mission intention is: “That, faithful to the sacrament of matrimony, every Christian family may cultivate ...read more

At his Wednesday General Audience Pope Benedict provided a brief, but excellent, biographical sketch of St. Paul. I found particularly interesting the details on his travels. You can read the translation from Zenit HERE. The Holy Father asked for prayers for the current situation in India: I have learned with deep sadness the news about ...read more

It’s been a couple weeks since Pope Benedict has returned from his vacation, but Zenit recently published a question and answer session between the Holy Father and the Clergy of Bressanone. One exchange that caught my eye was a question by a priest who was suffering from multiple sclerosis. Impressed by the struggle that Pope ...read more

Have you seen the beautifully produced Catholics Come Home ads on Salt + Light? They’re quite impressive and apparently quite effective. In an interview last month with Zenit news service the founder of Catholics Come Home, Tom Peterson, said more than six thousand people have inquired and come back to the Church via the web ...read more

To mark the 50th anniversary of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s book “Life of Christ,” Doubleday is releasing a new paperback edition. The nearly 700 page book explores the life, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. The popular Archbishop’s autobiography, “Treasure in Clay,” will also be republished. It details his life as the bishop of Rochester, New ...read more

Congratulations to the Nashville Dominicans! Besides the final profession of 11 sisters, the first profession of 12 sisters, and five women entering the novitiate, the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation will start a mission in Sydney, Australia. Three Dominican sisters spent the last year in Sydney helping with World Youth Day, and two will ...read more

Pope Benedict XVI’s vacation has come to a conclusion and he’s back at Castel Gandolfo, 30 kilometers south of Rome. The Pontiff resumed the Wednesday General Audience and spoke about St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, St. Maximilian Kolbe and the feast of the Assumption. Before he spoke about that he made some comments that ...read more

[The following is a reflection for the feast of St. Maximilian Kolbe, August 14th, from Michael Knox, a Jesuit scholastic who has appeared in the past on Salt + Light] As we look back on the events surrounding the Second World War, a time in our history filled with courage, unprecedented human devastation, noble action, ...read more