On October 28, in Rome’s St. Peter’s Square, 498 martyrs of the religious persecution in Spain (1936-1939) were beatified. It was the largest group ever to be beatified at the same time. As … more

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It’s a safe bet that most people reading this Quiet Corner article are not axe murderers, terrorists or guilty of laying violent hands on the Holy Father. Few readers will have sins as colorful … more

A recent headline in a Catholic website caught my attention: “Trust evaporating – Poll finds clergy trustworthiness slips precipitously.” The poll surveyed attitudes about the clergy in Canada. According to the survey, 61 percent of Canadians trust church representatives, far below the 97 percent who trust firefighters and the 94 percent who trust nurses. The good news in this poll, if there is any, is that clergy still rank above the pollsters themselves (59 percent), journalists (48 percent) and politicians (just 15 percent). Small comfort it seems. more

Two Blackstone Valley men were recently featured on the front page of the local press celebrating their same-sex nuptials formalized in nearby Massachusetts. Some of their justification for entering into the legal novelty of a same-sex union focused on the little harm that their lifestyle imposed on their neighbors and their community. They go off to work and eat at nearby restaurants and conduct much of their lives as any other couple might. “What fault is there in that?” they might suggest. And, of course, on an individual basis, there probably is very little mischief that can be laid at their doorstep. more

Front page coverage was recently accorded by the Providence Journal to the plight of a contemporary atheist who felt intimidated by vocal believers from both Christian and Moslem backgrounds. This high-school teacher From England, who admits to being a fallen away Anglican, claims to have put aside any semblance of his former faith and thinks now merely of the day ahead. The number of atheists, still very small but sadly increasing, is seen by some as a reaction to the militancy of conservative Christians and belligerent Moslems. The self avowed English atheist, speaking for like-minded unbelievers, observed that “there is a feeling that religion is being forced on an unwilling public....” more

Consider these words of a well-known woman religious: “It is not without reason that I have dwelt upon this period of my life at such length. I know well that nobody will derive any pleasure from … more

Catholics have long been taught that sin falls into various categories. There is the original sin of our first parents and the actual sins committed everyday. There are mortal sins with grave … more

The insightful description of sports inscribed above is attributed to the late, great American sports journalist Howard Cosell. It also serves as a perfect introduction to this column about the virtues and vices of the world of sports. more

Remember when green was just a color, like red and blue, or black and white? It’s so much more than that now. Green has become a political party, a sociological movement, and even amoral commitment. It’s all about the environment, of course; and the issue is way up there at the top of hot button list, along with the war in Iraq, gay marriage and illegal immigration. more

It was probably about 25 years ago that Values Clarification techniques first appeared on the educational scene – including public schools, parish schools and religious education programs. more

The new Wal-Mart on Silver Spring Street in Providence is very handy for anyone, like me, who is heading toward Woonsocket. Route 146 is a minute from the superstore’s parking lot. The other … more

The word limbo usually brings to mind the situation conjured up by medieval theologians to explain the eternal status of unbaptized infants. more

Bishop Donald W. Trautman of Erie, PA, has taken great exception to the proposed new translation of the Mass into English. In a recent article in America magazine, his Excellency quoted the … more

Every Roman Catholic might not observe all the traditional, religious practices associated with the death of a loved one. And, chances are, every Jewish believer does not carry out each prescription … more

Precious Blood Sister Joyce Ann Zimmerman, in her succinct publication “The Ministry of Liturgical Environment” rightly notes that the contrast of the church building as the Domus Dei (House of … more

I probably would have written this article anyhow, so distressed was I. But then I received an invitation to attend a fundraising luncheon for presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani, and that absolutely confirmed my decision. The fundraiser is scheduled for Providence next week. For $500 I could attend a reception with the former New York City Mayor. For $1,500 I could attend a reception with a photo op. The first thought that came to my mind is that I’m not charging enough for my Confirmation photos! more

Answer: God made the world. Question: Why did God make you? Answer: God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world and to be happy with Him forever in heaven. Question: What is a Sacrament? Answer: A Sacrament is an outward sign, instituted by Christ to give grace. more

Sometime in the 1960s, a news item appeared indicating that in the event of nuclear war in Europe, Pope Paul VI would take refuge in Quebec City, Canada, assured of a welcome and warm reception in … more

Any curious person picking up the Christian Scriptures and reading them with an open mind must be struck by the prominent role that St. Peter holds throughout the Gospels, Acts and various letters … more