John Allen’s new column is up: He didn’t go to Bavaria, but offers observations and notes: As we have seen during his other public voyages, this is Benedict the pastor at work. For the most part, he avoids theological speculation or hard-hitting political commentary, striving instead to speak to the immediate spiritual needs of ordinary…

When I first blogged on the French report on Brother Roger, I was careful not to use the word "converted" not only because that’s not the word we use for baptized Christians who joing the  Catholic  Church – "coming into full communion" is the way to speak of it. Non-christians "convert" to Christianity. Also, with…

This is not an effective way to argue against someone who has questioned your religion’s relationship to violence: From a Daily Mail story. These are Muslims in Indian burning an effigy of the Pope. Because, you know, questioned using religion to justify violence. But Britain’s Ramadhan Foundation, a youth organisation based in Rochdale, reacted angrily…

Another irony is that during this week in which Muslim outrage finds a new object, Oriani Fallaci has died, after a long battle with cancer. Michelle Malkins provides a tribute and links The vicar apostolic in Anatolia responds Fr. Lombardi of the Vatican Press Office explains: In a statement signed by the director of the…

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