Matt C. Abbott column
Matt C. Abbott is a Catholic columnist with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication, Media and Theatre from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago, and an Associate in Applied Science degree in Business Management from Triton College in River Grove, Ill. He has worked in the right-to-life movement and is a published writer focused on Catholic and social issues. He can be reached at mattcabbott@gmail.com
Subscribe to Matt's columnMatt C. Abbott
September 8, 2010
For those not already familiar with RealCatholicTV.com, Catholic journalist Michael Voris regularly delivers insightful commentaries on matters pertaining to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 6, 2010
Thomas R. Hampson, an Illinois licensed private investigator and founder of the newly-formed Truth Alliance Foundation, is determined to expose corruption, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 5, 2010
The following is a guest commentary written by David Clohessy, executive director of the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests (SNAP).
Several weeks . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 3, 2010
The evening of September 2, I was walking in downtown Chicago on my way to an ICE-PAC event crossing one of the bridges over the Chicago River, when I . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 1, 2010
The following is an excerpt from chapter 12 of black commentator and author Ron Miller's new book SELLOUT: Musings from Uncle Tom's Porch. You can read about Mr . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 30, 2010
Today (Aug. 29) I had the opportunity to see the recently-released gripping and informative documentary "BloodMoney," featuring several pro-life leaders: Dr. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 26, 2010
The Christian Broadcasting Network, commonly known as CBN, recently had a segment featuring Chicagoan Andrew Marin's outreach to homosexuals. To watch and/or . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 22, 2010
In my August 12 column, I printed an e-mail by homosexual activist David Thorstad, a founding member of the North American Man-Boy Love Association (NAMBLA). . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 20, 2010
With regard to capital punishment, does an executioner sin when he or she "flips the switch," so to speak?
That's the question I posed to Father John . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 18, 2010
Disgraced former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich has been convicted on one of 24 counts levied against him by the feds. Not great, but at least they got the foul . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 14, 2010
Although I'm a staunch, orthodox Catholic, I still consider myself an advocate for clergy/religious abuse survivors, for which I make no apologies. I was able . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 12, 2010
I've received some rather bizarre e-mails over the years, but the one that takes the cake was recently sent to me by David Thorstad, a founding member of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 10, 2010
While attending the recent Americans for Truth conference an informative conference, I should add I had the pleasure of meeting Arthur Goldberg, co-director . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 9, 2010
The following is a selection of (edited) e-mails I've received in recent days. Please note that I do not necessarily agree with every single point of every . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 4, 2010
The (im)morality of contraception is something the majority of Christians are either uncomfortable discussing or, in some cases, simply not interested in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 2, 2010
Author Anne Rice e-mailed me in response to my July 30 column. She wrote: "Forgive me but Michael Rowe says it all better than I can. Thank you for addressing . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 30, 2010
Although I haven't seen it and I really have no desire to see it I think it's safe to say that the play Late Nite Catechism has been at least somewhat . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 23, 2010
Regarding Father Tom Euteneuer's recently-released book Exorcism and the Church Militant, a reader inquired (edited):
"I get a little confused when I hear . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 22, 2010
The following are e-mails I've received in response to recent columns of mine (certain e-mails are edited and do not necessarily reflect my opinions . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 20, 2010
Veteran pro-life activist Jim Finnegan, president of Illinois Choose Life, would never think of waving the white flag when it comes to fighting the pervasive . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 18, 2010
Mel Gibson's demons are my demons and my demons are Mel's demons. Well, sort of. Allow me to explain.
I don't wish to per se defend Mel's behavior in recent . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 7, 2010
One need only "look around" to see the disastrous effects of the so-called sexual revolution: pornography at every turn, rampant promiscuity and venereal . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 5, 2010
A reader recently wrote (edited):
"In my personal humble opinion, there are bigger fish to fry than to pay attention to what is going on at the Rockford . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 29, 2010
Here's the latest from Ann Scheidler and the Thomas More Society:
On May 29, 2010, the abortionists stooped to a new low, even for them. Here's what happened . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 27, 2010
The following is a selection of (slightly edited) e-mails I've received in response to recent . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 25, 2010
The stench of the late Father Marcial Maciel's rotting corpse still permeates the air and continues to make headlines, so to speak.
What struck (and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 23, 2010
The following article, written by Catholic attorney John M. DeJak, is reprinted (with permission) from the June 24, 2010 issue of The . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 22, 2010
Responding to the upcoming HBO pro-abortion documentary 12th and Delaware due for release August 3 and the immoral tactics used by filmmakers Heidi Ewing . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 17, 2010
Veteran Catholic journalist Phil Lawler of CatholicCulture.org recently posted a commentary about Stephen Baskerville's book Taken Into . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 14, 2010
I recently had the pleasure of having a lengthy telephone conversation with Dawn Stefanowicz, author of the book Out from Under: The Impact of Homosexual . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 11, 2010
Below is the Introduction (not currently available on any other website) to Exorcism and the Church Militant, a new book authored by Father Tom Euteneuer, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 9, 2010
I'd like to thank those who have responded to my June 7 column "Why I'm disappointed in Rush Limbaugh" particularly my regular readers who often e-mail me to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 7, 2010
This column may open up a can of worms, but here it goes...
I guess we conservatives (and, for the record, I don't consider "socially moderate" Republicans . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 5, 2010
Former priest Eugene Cullen Kennedy, the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin's close friend and biographer, likes to mock anyone and anything orthodox. Even yours . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 29, 2010
The following is the text of a speech to be delivered by Clark Sowers of Belle Fourche, S. D., during a Memorial Day service at Pineslope Cemetery in Belle . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 28, 2010
Attorney Jeff Anderson is no friend of the Catholic Church, for sure (although if there hadn't been so many morally corrupt and grossly negligent clergy, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 27, 2010
(First, I'd like to ask my readers to pray for U.S. seminarian Philip Gerard Johnson, who's battling brain cancer; and for pro-life activist Randall Terry's . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 25, 2010
From a Rainbow Sash Movement news release:
"The Rainbow Sash Movement gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender Catholics and supporters entered Catholic cathedrals . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 23, 2010
The following is a significant portion of the Introduction to four-time Pulitzer Prize nominee George Archibald's book Journalism Is War. Thanks to Anomalos . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 22, 2010
Father James Martin, S.J., sent me an e-mail in response to my May 20 column.
"I read your comments ... and thought I'd send along my response, particularly . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 20, 2010
In a recent blog post on the website of the Jesuit magazine America, Father James Martin, S.J., writes:
"Pope Benedict XVI's comments last week in Fatima, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 19, 2010
I'm genuinely torn on the issue of illegal immigration in general and Arizona's new law in particular. Perhaps I shouldn't be, but I am.
In 2004 I wrote a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 18, 2010
The other day I received a brief e-mail from Laurel, who was responding to a past column of mine regarding PETA and so-called animal rights.
"You're pretty . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 13, 2010
The debate over Obamacare continues at least among some Catholics.
To wit: Michael Sean Winters has posted on America magazine's website a commentary in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 11, 2010
The following (edited) reflection was provided to me by Jim Boushay.
Nuns and knuckles
By Jim Boushay
Sister Joseph Marita who now goes by the name . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 9, 2010
Judging by the laudatory articles on the birth control pill popping up all over the Web in recent days, one might conclude that the pill was in fact the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 6, 2010
The following is a selection of (edited) readers' responses to recent columns of mine.
Philip C. Onochiι:
"I have been following the illegal immigration . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 5, 2010
Father James Farfaglia, a priest of the Diocese of Corpus Christi for nine years, was formerly with the Legion of Christ for 21 years.
His response to the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 3, 2010
The immigration law recently enacted in Arizona has, not surprisingly, caused quite a firestorm of controversy. Also not surprising: The United States . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 29, 2010
"Hundreds of thousands of patients are killed in the world each year in this manner, and no police or district attorney will act to investigate or prosecute."
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 27, 2010
Perhaps the term "bigot" is overused these days, particularly by the libertine left when referring to those of us who oppose the homosexual lobby, which in turn . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 25, 2010
The following is the text of Tulsa Bishop Edward James Slattery's homily delivered on April 24 during the Traditional Latin Solemn High Pontifical Mass at the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 24, 2010
The following is a lengthy research paper written by Brian W. Clowes, Ph.D., director of research for Human Life International . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 23, 2010
With current news stories involving priests and the seal of confession (see here and here), I'm reprinting the following excerpts from the book Go in Peace: . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 22, 2010
The following is a selection of (slightly edited) e-mails recently received by yours truly.
Nancy Donaldson of Kansas:
"'Matt, speaking personally, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 21, 2010
Leave it to most in the leftist secular media to make themselves the Catholic Church's public enemy number one. Not the enemy of all Catholics, mind you . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 20, 2010
Author Thomas M. Santa, C.Ss.R., writes good material for spiritual reading. While you won't find him publicly commenting on the issues of the day, his . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 18, 2010
Well, the notorious "America-bashing, Vanilla Ice-prancing, Jeremiah Wright-impersonating, Louis Farrakhan-embracing cult leader" Father Michael Pfleger who . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 16, 2010
The following is an impressive letter recently sent to Abbot John Klassen of St. John's Abbey in Collegeville, Minn. do you realize that if I were to be the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 14, 2010
A rather fatuous commentary titled "Take a pass on the Latin Mass" on the Web site of the leftist U.S. Catholic magazine led me to ask Father John Trigilio Jr., . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 10, 2010
With all the bad clergy-related news as of late, the following reflection, recently provided to me by Clark Sowers of Belle Fourche, S.D., is a dose of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 8, 2010
The following is the text of the homily given on Easter Sunday 2010 by Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Joseph N. Perry at St. John Cantius Parish. Many thanks to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 7, 2010
As a practicing Catholic, it's getting very, very difficult not to be cynical about what's going on in the Church today. And I'm not just talking about the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 3, 2010
Father James Farfaglia, a priest of the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas and author of Man to Man: A Real Priest Speaks to Real Men about Marriage, Sexuality . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 31, 2010
The following is a reprint of an essay titled "Is Usury Still a Sin?" by Thomas Storck. The essay originally appeared in the fall 2009 issue of Communio: . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 30, 2010
The following are excerpts from the book The Fourth Secret of Fatima, authored by Italian journalist Antonio Socci. Many thanks to RCS Libri (publisher of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 28, 2010
In response to my March 18 column featuring Opus Bono Sacerdotii, a Detroit-based organization founded to assist Catholic priests in difficult situations, a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 26, 2010
As some in the secular media continue their attempt to take down Pope Benedict (Phil Lawler has a good commentary on these developments here, by the way), I'd . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 25, 2010
The following is the Introduction to the book Spiritual Dangers of the 21st Century, authored by Father Joseph Esper, a priest of the Archdiocese of Detroit. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 23, 2010
The following are several (slightly edited) e-mails I received in response to my March 18 column "Was priest falsely accused?" Many thanks to those who provided . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 20, 2010
Well, ladies and gentlemen, we'll soon know if we'll have publicly-funded abortions here in the U.S.
I wish I was an optimist, but, alas, I'm not.
If . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 18, 2010
When it comes to the issue of sexual abuse, I consider myself a survivor's advocate; but I do realize that false accusations occur, and such accusations are . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 17, 2010
On Aug. 29, 2006 well before the Tiger Woods sex scandals came to light, of course the Chicago Tribune printed the following letter to the editor by Yours . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 16, 2010
The following is a significant portion of the Introduction to the recently-published book Consoling the Heart of Jesus: A Do-It-Yourself Retreat, authored by . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 15, 2010
Once again, bravo to Father Tom Euteneuer!
The president of Human Life International recently wrote:
"'It was three years ago ... that I sat before the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 12, 2010
Lamenting the news early this year that "the number of abortions performed in Illinois reached a 10-year high in 2008," Chicago Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Perry . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 10, 2010
The following is the text of a talk unedited and without commentary given on March 8, 2010 by Father Emery de Gaαl, Ph.D., chairman and associate professor . . .
Pro-abortion terrorism (outside the womb); Notre Dame saga continues; Toyota and the Catholic Church
Matt C. Abbott
March 7, 2010
From the Thomas More Society:
"'Let me tell you about another shocking development in Aurora. On December 16, 2009, one of our sidewalk counselors a young . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 5, 2010
Controversy is nothing new for Ave Maria University otherwise known as the Tom Monaghan Empire.
Recently, Deal Hudson of InsideCatholic.com wrote (the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 4, 2010
The following is a reprint of an article from The Latin Mass journal. The article, "The Price of Economic Injustice: Rediscovering Catholic Just Price Doctrine, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 3, 2010
Father Alfred Kunz's life came to a tragic end either late March 3 or very early March 4, 1998. His body was discovered the morning of March 4, the victim of a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 1, 2010
I doubt Father Kevin McGrade of the Archdiocese of Boston will be singing the "Oh what a feeling Toyota!" jingle any time soon.
A few weeks ago, the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 27, 2010
John F. Kippley, Catholic author and co-founder of Natural Family Planning International, Inc., offered the following commentary on the current health care . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 26, 2010
Julia Duin, assistant national editor and religion writer for the Washington Times, is one of the few secular journalists who had the guts to write about the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 25, 2010
I asked noted Catholic priest-author-theologian Father John Trigilio to weigh in on the morality of "undercover"/investigative journalism, a topic featured in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 23, 2010
Below is the Introduction to Father Donald Calloway's 2010 book No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy a book Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., calls "an amazing, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 21, 2010
I know Sarah Palin is popular among many conservatives, and, all things considered, I can understand why. She's attractive, smart (despite how the liberals and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 17, 2010
In light of recent headlines involving the Catholic Church in Ireland, I'm reprinting the Introduction to Joe Rigert's 2008 book An Irish Tragedy. Many thanks . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 16, 2010
Catholic authors Thomas Woods and Christopher Ferrara used to be of like mind. They even co-authored a book several years ago.
But they have since parted . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 15, 2010
Nora Doherty isn't afraid of much, if anything. She has more guts than I do, that's for sure. The young Catholic attorney and mother of two has been very . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 14, 2010
Dawn Eden, author of The Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your Clothes On, was featured and quoted in my Feb. 10 column.
She wanted to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 12, 2010
From Joe Scheidler, national director of the Pro-Life Action League:
"'It's been three months since the City of Chicago began enforcing the hideous new . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 11, 2010
Catholic writers Dawn Eden and William Doino Jr. have penned an interesting commentary that appears on BustedHalo.com (excerpted below; click here for the full . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 10, 2010
The following statement, provided to me by Stephen Phelan, communications director of Human Life International and spokesman for the Reform CCHD Now coalition, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 9, 2010
Would it be best for the Catholic Church in the U.S. (and Rome, for that matter) if the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops were to be dismantled? I . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 6, 2010
He's baaaaack. Actually, he's been back for a while now. Randall Terry, I mean.
Two things are certain regarding Terry: 1) He makes the news and 2) he doesn . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 4, 2010
Sometimes the pro-life candidate does win, even in the blue State of Illinois.
On Feb. 2, in the Chicago suburb of Palatine, staunch pro-lifer Tom Morrison . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 2, 2010
Food for thought for pro-lifers...
In the January-February 2010 issue of the New Oxford Review, in an article titled "Is It Time to Dump the Term 'Pro-life'? . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 1, 2010
The following is the Preface and an additional excerpt (minus footnotes) from the book Ignatius of Antioch & Polycarp of Smyrna, authored by Kenneth J. Howell. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 30, 2010
A potpourri of pro-life items today...
Feminist attorney Gloria Allred is crying foul over the much-hyped upcoming Tim Tebow Super Bowl commercial. Writes . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 28, 2010
The following is a true and quite moving story (minus footnotes) from the book Amazing Grace for Those Who Suffer, authored by Jeff Cavins and Matthew Pinto . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 24, 2010
The following is a lengthy excerpt from the book Sacrilege: Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church, authored by Leon J. Podles, Ph.D. Many thanks to Mr. Podles and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 19, 2010
The following is a reprint of a chapter (minus endnotes) from Catholic attorney/scholar Peter B. Kelly's book Cleansing Fire (which I've featured in previous . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 16, 2010
The following is a lengthy excerpt (minus footnotes) from the In Conversation with God book series, authored by Father Francis Fernandez-Carvajal. Thanks to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 15, 2010
The following is the Introduction (minus endnotes) to the book Hungry Souls: Supernatural Visits, Messages, and Warnings from Purgatory, by Gerard J.M. van den . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 12, 2010
Stephen Brady, president of the now-almost-defunct Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc., along with Catholic attorney and RCF board member Jim Bendell, have been asked . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 11, 2010
The other day while looking through some Facebook posts, I came across what I think is a very thoughtful and inspiring reflection by Mary Cate Bratcher of South . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 4, 2010
The following are the Preface and the Introduction (minus the endnotes) to Catholic journalist Teresa Tomeo's book Noise, published in 2007. Thanks to Matthew . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 31, 2009
The Thomas More Society had quite a productive decade. Founded in 1997, the Chicago-based pro-life law firm has been working quietly but diligently to defend . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 28, 2009
The following are substantial excerpts from the 2009 book The Bible Compass, authored by Dr. Edward Sri. Thanks to Matthew Pinto and Mike Flickinger of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 24, 2009
This column is a "sequel" to my Dec. 10 column "Seven priest share Christmas memories." Thanks again to those priests who contributed their reflections. I also . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 23, 2009
In response to "Pro-life (dis)unity," Terry Carroll wrote:
"'I'm with you (I think) on pro-life purity. On principle, I reject 'no abortions except in cases . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 18, 2009
The following is a reprint of an article from the December 2009 issue of Homiletic & Pastoral Review titled "The effects of divorce on children," by Barbara . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 16, 2009
Miracles do happen.
I suppose in this case it would be two "minor miracles," but, hey, what the heck? It's a positive.
To wit: an Oct. 9 story in The New . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 15, 2009
Newsflash! Hold on to your seats, folks...ready? (Breathe easy, now.)
There's division in the right-to-life movement.
There. I said it.
Actually, there . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 10, 2009
I wanted to do a column perhaps more than one featuring favorite Christmas memories of Catholic priests. I invited a number of priests to participate, and, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 4, 2009
The following are substantial excerpts from the book Homosexuality and the Catholic Church, authored by Father John Harvey. The book's Foreword, written by . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 2, 2009
Here's a little potpourri of icky religion news stories to cleanse your palate...
From a Nov. 26 story in The Jerusalem Post (excerpted; click here for the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 30, 2009
The following are substantial excerpts from the book Interview with an Exorcist: An Insider's Look at the Devil, Demonic Possession, and the Path to Deliverance . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 25, 2009
First, a background of the story, courtesy of LifeSiteNews.com (excerpt; click here for the full article):
"'U.S. Representative Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) said . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 22, 2009
Readers may recall some of my previous columns that featured quotes from, and writings of, Father James Farfaglia formerly with the Legionaries of Christ and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 20, 2009
The following are excerpts from the book Annulments and the Catholic Church: Straight Answers to Tough Questions, authored by canon and civil lawyer Edward . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 19, 2009
From a Nov. 2 story on nwi.com (excerpted; for the full article, click here):
"'Some cancer patients, heart attack sufferers and burn victims would be . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 18, 2009
Who would think that merely reprinting the bishop's decree regarding an alleged apparition site in Ohio could make one the target of hate mail or, more . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 17, 2009
This past weekend, I attended a short seminar on the ministry of sidewalk counseling. The seminar was organized by the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League (a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 13, 2009
The latest in the Catholic Campaign for Human Development controversy...
"'Letter from the Archdiocese of Chicago's Office of Peace and Justice and the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 12, 2009
The following are excerpts from Inside Islam: A Guide for Catholics, authored by Daniel Ali and Robert Spencer. The first excerpt is the book's foreword, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 10, 2009
The simplistic answer to the above question: The pro-aborts are more violent by far. See this Web site.
(Of course, it must be said that many gay activists . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 5, 2009
In response to my Oct. 22 column about the suspicious suicide of Father Waclaw Jamroz, whose body was found bearing more than 20 stab wounds, two readers . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 4, 2009
I received the following e-mail in response to my Nov. 1 column:
"'Not to worry. Some priests have no difficulty in charging what they think the sacrament is . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 1, 2009
I got some good laughs from the following column (slightly edited) that appeared in the Oct. 4 bulletin of St. Lambert Parish in Skokie, Ill., whose pastor is . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 30, 2009
Here we go again...
The Lakeview Action Coalition, reportedly a grant recipient of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, on Oct. 22 gave an award to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 29, 2009
Fellow RenewAmerica.com columnist Matt Barber has a new book out The Right Hook: From the Ring to the Culture War.
Matt made headlines a few years ago when . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 28, 2009
In light of the recent story about notorious pro-abortion nun Donna Quinn's "moonlighting" as an abortion mill escort deathscort would be a more appropriate . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 23, 2009
If you're in the mood for edifying and enlightening reading, check out Go to Joseph, a newly-published little book (literally: 4 1/8" x 6 1/4" paperback, 160 . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 22, 2009
Yet another bizarre case in the Windy City.
From an Oct. 21 I-Team report by ABC7 investigative reporter Chuck Goudie:
"'A Chicago pastor was found in his . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 13, 2009
Gosh darn it.
Just when I thought (not really) I would be commending Catholic Mayor Richard M. Daley for defending the free speech rights of peaceful pro . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 8, 2009
The following is a reprint of an article titled "The Privilege of Being a Man," written by Catholic author and professor Mitchell Kalpakgian, that appears in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 5, 2009
Over the last few decades, the New Age Movement has ensnared a number of nominal and lapsed Catholics. Part of the blame for this falls on those clergy and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 3, 2009
So much for the usual suspects in Chicago my "windy" place of residence bragging about hosting the 2016 Olympics.
Not happenin.'
Now our illustrious . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 28, 2009
From the Sept. 27 bulletin of St. John Cantius Parish:
"'On October 7, 1571, a great victory over the mighty Turkish fleet was won by Catholic naval forces . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 22, 2009
From a Sept. 21 story on ABCNews.com:
"'Irene Vilar worries that her self-described 'abortion addiction' will be misunderstood, twisted by the pro-life . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 18, 2009
Noted Catholic scholar/writer Charles E. Rice, professor emeritus of law at the University of Notre Dame Law School, has authored a new book titled What . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 15, 2009
Gutsy.
That's how I describe George Archibald, four-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, former investigative reporter for The Washington Times (during four . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 12, 2009
Some sad news to report: Michigan pro-life activist Jim Pouillon was shot to death on the morning of Sept. 11.
The perpetrator of the murder, Harlan Drake, 3 . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 9, 2009
This is my third, and most lengthy, installment of Peter B. Kelly's "factional" novel Cleansing Fire and this time the featured chapters are about one of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 8, 2009
Father J. Patrick Serna, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Tex., is furious that St. Patrick School, also located in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 3, 2009
In a surprising occurrence, Bishop Joseph Martino of Scranton, Pa., announced his resignation on Aug. 31. The "talk" of the bishop's imminent resignation began . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 2, 2009
In my Aug. 7 column, I reprinted a chapter from Catholic scholar/attorney Peter B. Kelly's "factional" novel Cleansing Fire. The following is another chapter . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 1, 2009
Just when I thought the Ted Kennedy story was falling off the radar and it is, but too slowly I received the following notice from a source (edited):
" . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 30, 2009
Certain e-mails I receive are simply mind-boggling. Consider the following unedited e-mail from Amy, a seemingly sincere yet terribly misguided mother of three, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 29, 2009
I'd like to respond to an e-mail I received regarding my Aug. 27 column not to dwell on Ted Kennedy's life per se, but to show the cultural and spiritual . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 27, 2009
It's quite sad to think that the late Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Catholic, was once pro-life but became an ardent supporter of abortion "rights" and the death . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 26, 2009
The following is an excerpt from The Virtuous One, a self-published "factional" Catholic novelette that makes for a good, albeit fast, read. An interesting and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 21, 2009
Does Pope Benedict view the alleged Marian apparitions of Medjugorje differently than Pope John Paul II did?
Yes, according to a recent interview featuring E . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 18, 2009
The first "Catholics in the military" item is courtesy of CatholicMil.org:
"'Spiritual armor is as mission essential as body armor. Combat readiness demands . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 16, 2009
In case you haven't heard about it already, University of Louisville basketball coach Rick Pitino has found himself in the midst of a, how shall we say, messy . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 13, 2009
Several years ago, at a benefit dinner for a school affiliated with the Legionaries of Christ, I had the pleasure of sitting next to Patrick Madrid, one of my . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 9, 2009
The Thomas More Society, whose president and chief counsel is Thomas Brejcha, is one of my favorite pro-life organizations. (Incidentally, Peter Breen, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 7, 2009
Catholic scholar and attorney Peter B. Kelly, JD, MTS, MS(nrp), MS(ce), is passionate about the Catholic Faith. A former radio personality, Mr. Kelly resides in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 6, 2009
The first article below, written by imprisoned priest Gordon MacRae, was originally published by the Catholic League and is reproduced in its entirety. The . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 31, 2009
I asked Judie Brown, president of American Life League, to comment on the latest media release from the Obama-loving, vomit-inducing Catholics United calling on . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 29, 2009
For the past several weeks, I've been deluged with e-mails most from the same person about the Obama "birthgate" controversy. To be honest, I've paid very . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 21, 2009
Interestingly, Detective Kevin Hughes of the Dane County Sheriff's Office the chief investigator of the unsolved 1998 murder of Father Alfred Kunz is a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 12, 2009
From the Catholic League:
"'Catholic League president Bill Donohue says U.S. Supreme Court Judge Ruth Bader Ginsburg needs to explain her recent comment on . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 5, 2009
A reader wrote (edited):
"'I read this article [by Catholic commentator and political analyst Tom Roeser] and became curious about some details not so much . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 3, 2009
Thanks to Father J. Patrick Serna and John Moorehouse, editor of Catholic Men's Quarterly, for allowing me to reprint the following article from the spring 2009 . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 27, 2009
A reader from Concord, Calif., sent me the following e-mail:
"'You may wish to discuss in your column this story featured on KPIX-TV, San Francisco, last . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 25, 2009
Interesting that the Nixon Presidential Library has just released recordings showing that the former U.S. president "believed legal abortion was 'necessary' in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 24, 2009
I received the following e-mail from the Elliot Institute in response to my June 16 column:
"'Maybe clergy and others who are reluctant to speak about . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 19, 2009
As you may have heard by now, Catholic Answers, the California-based apologetics organization headed by Karl Keating and featuring notable apologists Jimmy Akin . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 18, 2009
"'They were stolen from their homes, locked in chains and taken across an ocean. And for more than 200 years, their blood and sweat would help to build the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 16, 2009
I received the following (edited) e-mail from a priest who wishes to remain anonymous:
"'A week after President Obama spoke at Notre Dame, I preached about . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 13, 2009
A reader alerted me to a June 7 post on the blog of Bishop Robert Lynch of the Diocese of St. Petersburg. Here's the portion of the bishop's post that raised my . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 10, 2009
Brian Kindzia reports (edited):
"'I was among those arrested at Notre Dame a few weeks ago when the university decided to honor President Obama with a law . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 6, 2009
MSNBC personality Keith Olbermann has named pro-life nurse/activist/commentator Jill Stanek as his "Worst Person in the World."
Huh . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 4, 2009
I first want to highlight two e-mails I've received in the last 24 hours.
From Steven Conroy, media relations manager for Southern California . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 3, 2009
I love it when a reader decides to send a nasty e-mail from his company e-mail address in response to one of my columns.
In this case, the e-mail came from . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 2, 2009
Most pro-life leaders have rightly condemned the murder of Kansas abortionist George Tiller. I'd like to highlight the (slightly edited) reactions of two of my . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 31, 2009
The debate over Christopher West's analysis and teaching of John Paul II's Theology of the Body continues, and it's gotten somewhat heated. I've compiled quotes . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 27, 2009
Pro-life attorney Tom Brejcha, president and chief counsel of the Thomas More Society, a national public interest law firm based in Chicago, offered the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 20, 2009
Disgraced Archbishop Rembert Weakland is in the news again. Actually, his autobiography is what's making headlines.
In A Pilgrim in a Pilgrim Church: Memoirs . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 19, 2009
A while back, an acquaintance of mine repeated something she had heard: There is the "Good Vatican" and the "Bad Vatican." I must admit, at the time, I was a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 18, 2009
In his speech at the University of Notre Dame, President Obama praised the late Cardinal Joseph Bernardin, the patron saint (ahem) of Catholic dissenters and, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 16, 2009
On May 17, pro-abortion President Barack Obama will deliver the commencement address and will receive an honorary law degree at the University of Notre Dame . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 9, 2009
(Just a heads-up to readers: Some of the information pertaining to this topic is of a frank nature and is not suitable for children. Then again, most of my . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 7, 2009
Many thanks to Patrick Madrid for granting me permission to reprint in my column the section of his book Pope Fiction titled "Pope Pius XII and the Jews" (pp. 2 . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 5, 2009
I very recently received the following (slightly edited) e-mail, from Ryan Anthony MacDonald, in response to a 2007 column of mine:
"'Dear Mr. Abbott:
"'A . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 3, 2009
I'd first like to ask for prayers for John and Gay Caswell, who reside in Northern Canada and have two sons in the Chicago-based Canons Regular of St. John . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 29, 2009
Is the swine flu "at" the University of Notre Dame? Apparently so.
There is also a spiritual sickness among many (though not all, of course) at the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 25, 2009
I received the following e-mail from "Jane," a student at William Mitchell College of Law in Saint Paul, Minn. (I should note that she is not speaking on behalf . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 23, 2009
With the news that the FDA will now allow the "morning-after" pill, known as Plan B, to be sold over-the-counter to 17-year-old girls, I'm sure the abortion . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 18, 2009
I very much appreciate Catholic-friendly Protestants who are active in the pro-life, pro-family movement. That said, Catholic author Michael Brown makes some . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 15, 2009
I received the following (edited) e-mail from John C. Hathaway:
"'Thank you for taking up the cause of Robert Kumpel as you've previously taken up the cause . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 14, 2009
First, I'd like to wish all my readers a very blessed Easter season, and I ask for your prayers for my family members and me.
A reader in San Diego sent me . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 11, 2009
The following notice (e-mailed to me) is from the April 2009 Joliet Official Bulletin a directive from Joliet Bishop Peter . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 10, 2009
I'd like to start off this column by asking for prayers for the repose of the souls of Los Angeles Angels pitcher Nick Adenhart, 22, and two of his friends . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 8, 2009
It seems the crux of the controversy involving the University of Notre Dame's decision to invite President Obama to be its commencement speaker and to bestow . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 7, 2009
"A Daley lecturing us about ethics is like Jeffrey Dahmer giving a cooking class."
I had to chuckle at that admittedly crude reader-comment on the blog of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 2, 2009
Syndicated columnist Bonnie Erbe believes that "in a recession, abortions are not a bad choice," and that "the Obama-Notre Dame controversy is just hysteria of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 29, 2009
At least some of my readers might recall the relatively recent controversy of a parish in the Archdiocese of Miami, St. Patrick Miami Beach, that hosted a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 28, 2009
In addition to Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, bishops Thomas J. Olmsted and John D'Arcy, and the priests featured in my March 25 column, the following clergy are also . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 25, 2009
The following is a letter from University of Notre Dame alumnus Father John J. Raphael, S.S.J., addressed to ND president Father John . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 23, 2009
From an (edited) HLI news release:
Yaoundι, Cameroon Pope Benedict XVI's plane had not yet touched down in Africa before his trip was defined by the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 22, 2009
I'm covering two controversies in today's column.
I'll begin with the major controversy scandal is probably a better term involving the University of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 18, 2009
I've asked selected priests those loyal to the Magisterium about their thoughts regarding the morality of gun ownership and use. Here are the responses I've . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 12, 2009
The following essay, written by Catholic author Eamonn Keane, is set to be published soon in LifeLines, a publication of Family Life International . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 10, 2009
I received the following (slightly edited) e-mail from Jennifer Giroux, executive director of Women Influencing the Nation, in response to my March 7 column on . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 7, 2009
U.S. Senator Sam Brownback has angered many in the right-to-life movement by supporting the nomination of pro-abortion Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius to be the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 3, 2009
One controversy that has yet to subside is how Canon 915 of the Code of Canon Law applies to pro-abortion Catholic politicians and how the bishops should . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 2, 2009
Little by little, in an insidious fashion, the pro-abortion agenda is being put into play.
The following has to do specifically with Illinois, but I think it . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 27, 2009
From a Feb. 27 (my birthday!) HLI news release:
"'Father Thomas J. Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, today lambasted President Barack Obama . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 25, 2009
According to a Feb. 24 story by Boston Globe religion writer Michael Paulson:
"'Cardinal Sean P. O'Malley, facing a group of local Jewish leaders upset by . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 24, 2009
Father Richard Perozich, of the Diocese of San Diego, had the following response when I asked about his reaction to the Oscars and, specifically, to the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 21, 2009
Some good news out of the University of Notre Dame...
From a news release:
"'A new fund has been established at Notre Dame, under the auspices of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 20, 2009
According to a Feb. 17 AP story:
"'A jury determined Tuesday that four San Diego firefighters were sexually harassed for being ordered to participate in a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 18, 2009
''The Vatican, in essence, is saying, 'Don't believe Jesus or Genesis. Believe Darwin instead,'' [Ray] Comfort said. 'God made man in his own image, and God is . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 16, 2009
"Like being coercively in the military, it was a million dollar experience you wouldn't give a nickel for."
That's how William P. Grossklas describes the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 14, 2009
Long-time pornography foe Dr. Judith A. Reisman sounds the alarm regarding David W. Ogden, President Obama's nominee for Deputy Attorney General, in the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 12, 2009
I sought comments from several reputable and orthodox Catholic priests on the controversy surrounding the woman who recently gave birth to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 11, 2009
The following is an excerpt from Philip F. Lawler's book The Faithful Departed: The Collapse of Boston's Catholic Culture. It is reprinted from the Winter 2009 . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 10, 2009
I asked Father John Trigilio, president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, for his take on the recent developments involving Legionaries of Christ founder . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 7, 2009
According to a story in the Feb. 6 Chicago Sun-Times:
"'A former Catholic priest who molested at least three children worked at a Bridgeport church where a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 4, 2009
From a Feb. 2 Catholic League news release:
"'On January 29, nearly 50 Catholic Democratic congressmen sent a letter to Pope Benedict XVI stating their . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 2, 2009
Some "WomenPriests" aren't too happy that Pope Benedict XVI hasn't lifted their excommunications like he has for the four bishops of the Society of St. Pius X.
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 1, 2009
Below are images of three pages of Human Life International's "Exposing Church Dissenters!" report, one of four reports in HLI's Pro-Life Research Series. To . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 27, 2009
Leave it to "Catholic" House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to rationalize the government spending hundreds of millions of dollars on so-called family planning services . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 21, 2009
My Sept. 23, 2006 column featured a chapter of Lime 5: Exploited by Choice, authored by Mark Crutcher, founder and president of Life Dynamics, which provided me . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 17, 2009
A reader sent me an e-mail regarding Catholic legislators who are, or were, Freemasons.
One example:
"Nevada state assembly member Jerry D. Claborn is . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 14, 2009
At least two individuals didn't particularly care for my Jan. 12 column regarding Al Franken.
Matthew Huber wrote (in addition to including "Matt Abbott is a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 12, 2009
Sad to say, but it appears Al Franken will be the next U.S. Senator from Minnesota. A little background on Mr. Franken, courtesy of the Catholic League:
"'He . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 5, 2009
I was intrigued to find this Jan. 4 column by one Laura Harrison McBride, "DC Ethical Issues Examiner," who takes issue (ahem) with my April 13, 2008 column, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 1, 2009
One interesting aspect of the recently-published Vatican document Dignitas Personae deals with the situation of tragedy is a more appropriate term, actually . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 22, 2008
From the bulletin of St. John Cantius Parish in Chicago:
"Father Francis Weiser, S.J., in The Christmas Book, tells the story of the Christmas . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 10, 2008
Thanks to Dr. Robert Moynihan, editor of Inside the Vatican, for providing me with, and granting me permission to reprint, an article (written by Cathy Pearson) . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 8, 2008
Catholic author and blogger Dawn Eden graciously provided me with an excerpt from her 2006 book The Thrill of the Chaste: Finding Fulfillment While Keeping Your . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 7, 2008
Eamonn Keane wrote:
"'I have noticed for some time your uncompromising defense of the Catholic Faith and pray that God will strengthen you in your resolve to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 4, 2008
How's this for the weekly "Say what?!"
The criticism of the first-ever Nativity Scene display in the Illinois state capitol building comes not from the ACLU, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 2, 2008
Tom Hoopes, executive editor of the National Catholic Register, sent me the following e-mail in response to my Dec. 1 and Nov. 30 columns.
"'I've been . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 1, 2008
In addition to Father James Farfaglia, Father Tom Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, has weighed in on National Catholic Register executive . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 30, 2008
Father James Farfaglia, a priest of the Corpus Christi, Tex., Catholic diocese, was appalled by a Nov. 5 editorial in the National Catholic Register, a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 29, 2008
As Father Andrew Greeley continues to recover from a serious head injury suffered earlier this month, I thought I'd feature images from two of his (out-of-print . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 27, 2008
In my Oct. 29 column, I featured a Southern California Catholic priest, Father Art Holquin, who had donated to the Obama campaign. (Keep in mind that if Father . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 22, 2008
USA Today has published an online editorial their view praising "longtime abortion foes" (ahem) Douglas Kmiec and Joel Hunter, and other (unnamed) sell-outs . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 20, 2008
The following essay, written by Dr. Peter Kwasniewski, is reprinted (with permission) from the summer 2008 issue of Catholic Men's . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 19, 2008
And now for a brief break from the not-so-nice news of the day....
I always appreciate receiving complimentary e-mails from readers, so I was quite pleased . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 18, 2008
By now, many Catholics (and non-Catholics) are familiar with the recent controversy surrounding South Carolina priest Father Jay Scott Newman.
The following . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 17, 2008
The following is the text of a complaint recently filed against Bishop Matthew Clark and the Rochester Catholic diocese. (Warning: contains graphic descriptions . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 16, 2008
It sure seems that way.
Like a bad sexually-transmitted disease, protests against California Proposition 8 are spreading rapidly to other states, including . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 14, 2008
Jill Stanek and Judie Brown are two passionately pro-life women I admire. Both fight for the unborn. Both embrace the sanctity of human life.
But they do . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 9, 2008
In recent years, I've been a vocal critic perhaps the most vocal critic of Father Andrew Greeley.
Despite that, I was saddened to learn of his serious . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 7, 2008
A reader sent me some recent correspondence between herself and Los Angeles Auxiliary Bishop Edward Clark.
A very brief background of the matter: The reader, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 6, 2008
The following is a sampling of what some relatively prominent, non-liberal Catholics had to say about the Nov. 4 election results.
Father Frank Pavone:
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 30, 2008
Many thanks to Elizabeth Mitchell, Ph.D., director of development at Trinity Academy in Pewaukee, Wis., and ENDOW, "a Catholic educational program that brings . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 29, 2008
Sadly, it seems there's at least one priest in California who supports Barack Obama. (Gosh, for a while there, I thought it was just Fathers Michael Pfleger and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 20, 2008
"I am a survivor of clergy sexual abuse," writes Richard C. Gee.
In July of this year, Mr. Gee gave a statement to the review board of the Newark, N.J., . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 17, 2008
The following essay was provided to me, upon my request, by Father Robert Markovitch, M.D., a Catholic priest of the Eastern rite. (For those who would like to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 12, 2008
A reader, "James," recently sent me the following e-mail (unedited, save for his real name, as are his subsequent e-mails printed below . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 17, 2008
Two Catholic men were recently arrested for passing out pro-life, anti-Obama literature at the basilica in Baltimore, according to a Sept. 15 news release on . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 11, 2008
Peter B. Kelly is a practicing attorney and traditional Catholic who works in Monroe, Wis.
He has quite an impressive educational background: Bachelor of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 30, 2008
Regular readers of this column know I don't write extensively on secular politics. That said, I must say this: I'm pleased with John McCain's choice for running . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 26, 2008
From an Aug. 21, 2008 SNAP news release:
"'A California appeals court has upheld a lower court's finding that a Catholic priest molested a boy and his church . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 19, 2008
From Eric Scheidler, communications director for the Pro-Life Action League:
"'I really need your prayers and support this week.
'This Friday, August 22, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 30, 2008
Every so often, I'll feature a small compilation of current Catholic controversies. The following are the first few I've selected.
Conservative commentator . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 19, 2008
One movie I'm very much looking forward to seeing is The Dark Knight, the just-released sequel to Batman Begins. The reviews have been mostly positive, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 17, 2008
The Pro-Life Action League's summer 2008 Face the Truth tour is well underway in the greater Chicagoland area. Eric Scheidler, son of veteran pro-life activist . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 26, 2008
The following article, written by Kevin Clark, is reprinted (with permission) from the Spring 2008 issue of Catholic Men's Quarterly.
The Evolution of a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 19, 2008
The following is an unedited, heartfelt account of a past abortion experience and subsequent pro-life conversion of young father Timashion Jones. It comes from . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 6, 2008
A reader asked:
"Is the Catholic Church not able to discipline [Father Michael Pfleger]? I am not Catholic but my son converted to Catholicism in 2006. While . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 3, 2008
I think it's accurate to say there are at least two "churches" with the name Catholic. The true Catholic Church the bride of Christ is comprised of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 30, 2008
The following lawsuit was filed May 23, 2008 against Father Gary Mercure, Bishop Howard Hubbard and the Albany Catholic diocese.
Several years ago, Father . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 20, 2008
Earlier this month, the Catholic League issued a news release in response to an April 29, 2008 media advisory titled "Pope Gets Pass on Church Abuse History" . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 16, 2008
Father Angel Sotelo, of the Fresno, Calif., Catholic diocese, on the May 15 California Supreme Court ruling striking down the state's ban on homosexual . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 14, 2008
I received a rather eyebrow-raising e-mail today (edited):
"'Hello Matt: My name is Cynthia and I am the associate casting producer for the Reality TV show . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 4, 2008
I recently received the following e-mail:
"'I am the clinical administrator of a hospice company in [city deleted]. We have extremely rigid federal . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 3, 2008
From Sue Lopez, of the Helpers of God's Precious Infants in the San Diego Catholic diocese:
"'Thank you to all who attended Mass at Good Shepherd on Saturday . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 2, 2008
In one of the most fatuous op-ed pieces in recent memory so fatuous that it almost makes one yearn for the writings of Father Andrew Greeley Katha Pollitt, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 28, 2008
Hooray for Arlene Sawicki!
Mrs. Sawicki, whom I've known for several years, is quite the Catholic and pro-life activist. She co-founded Vote Life America and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 25, 2008
In response to Father Andrew Greeley's recent dig at the Cardinal Newman Society, the organization's president, Patrick J. Reilly, provided me with the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 20, 2008
In recent days, articles have been written about a rather disgusting situation at Yale University.
According to an April 18, 2008 story on FOXNews.com:
" . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 18, 2008
I can't imagine anyone accusing Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, of not speaking his mind.
Case in point: In a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 15, 2008
Perhaps Pope Benedict's visit to the U.S. will be a sign of hope to certain priests who are suffering greatly.
Readers might recall my coverage of Father Joe . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 13, 2008
Father Andrew Greeley is at it again.
Defending Sen. Barack Obama, Father Greeley wrote on April 2:
"'...My favorite recent outbursts of hate come from . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 9, 2008
I'm fairly confident I know who the suspect is in the 1998 unsolved murder of Father Alfred Kunz. I could be wrong, but, judging from this March 5, 2008 article . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 1, 2008
There is an interesting controversy brewing in the state of Georgia.
A recent e-mail circulated by Daniel Becker, president of Georgia Right to Life, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 21, 2008
The following essay, written by Monsignor R. Michael Schmitz, vicar general and U.S. provincial superior of the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 18, 2008
Father Phillip W. De Vous pastor of Divine Mercy Parish in Bellevue, Ky., and St. Bernard Parish in Dayton, Ky. and Father Gregory E. Osburg pastor of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 24, 2008
Over the last couple of years, I've received e-mails asking about the status of Father James Haley, the priest whose story is detailed in this 2004 Washington . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 20, 2008
PLAINTIFF, Rev. Thomas Coover, of Dover, New Hampshire, brings this action against DEFENDANT, Roman Catholic Bishop of Manchester a/k/a Diocese of Manchester, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 17, 2008
On March 4, it will be ten years since the murder of Father Alfred Kunz. The case remains unsolved.
Jacek Cianciara remembers Father Kunz fondly.
"It is . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 5, 2008
I received the following e-mail from Father Paul Ward, associate pastor of Assumption Grotto Catholic Church in Detroit.
"'I don't know who you are, but I . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 1, 2008
I asked Father James Farfaglia, a priest of the Corpus Christi, Tex., Catholic diocese and a former member of the Legionaries of Christ, to comment on the death . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 30, 2008
My Aug. 27, 2007 column "The abortion-seeking woman: perpetrator or victim?" brought forth a few interesting responses, including this one from an abortion . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 28, 2008
In addition to Father Tom Euteneuer, two other priests of note were gracious enough to provide me with statements on the Archbishop Raymond Burke, pro-abortion . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 25, 2008
I like Father Tom Euteneuer, president of Human Life International.
He's not afraid to speak out forcefully on key moral issues, unlike many of the clergy . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 16, 2008
The following is an excerpt from Joanne Connors-Wade's book No Tomorrows:
"In 1972 Danny Croteau was found floating in the Chicopee River. At the time, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 4, 2008
The following is the text of a brief (which, as you can see, isn't exactly brief) filed by prosecutors last month in the case of Father Gerald Robinson, who . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 31, 2007
I doubt this will come as a shock to my readers, but, aside from John Allen's column and the occasional article, I don't much care for the National Catholic . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 12, 2007
The following is an interview of Dr. Paul A. Byrne, a neonatalogist and clinical professor of pediatrics. The interview, conducted by Randy Engel, author and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 3, 2007
The following is Chapter 25 of David Yonke's book Sin, Shame, and Secrets: The Murder of a Nun, the Conviction of a Priest, and Cover-Up in the Catholic Church . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 1, 2007
Many Catholics are familiar with, and have visited (including yours truly, in 1995), Medjugorje, a village in Bosnia-Herzegovina where the Blessed Virgin Mary . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 23, 2007
I received the following (edited) e-mail from Father Jack Nordick, of the New Ulm, Minn., Catholic diocese:
"What we need to consider is that priests are as . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 19, 2007
In addition to Father J. Patrick Serna, I asked Father John Trigilio, author, EWTN personality, and president of the Confraternity of Catholic Clergy, to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 18, 2007
Recent news that Father Francis Mary Stone has stepped down as host of EWTN's Life on the Rock youth program after admitting to an inappropriate relationship . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 9, 2007
Leon J. Podles, Ph.D., author and a senior editor of Touchstone: A Journal of Mere Christianity, has granted me permission to print a significant portion of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 31, 2007
An appeals court has reinstated a civil suit against Father Gerald Robinson, the Toledo priest convicted in 2006 of the 1980 murder of Sister Margaret Ann Pahl. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 30, 2007
I must say that I was very disappointed to see the following blog post from the highly-respected LewRockwell.com site.
"Alan Keyes: The Deadbeat Candidate
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 27, 2007
I recently attended the 10th year anniversary benefit dinner for the Chicago-based Thomas More Society, Pro-Life Law Center, a "not-for-profit, public interest . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 26, 2007
Religion journalist Gerald Renner has died of cancer. I quoted Mr. Renner in this 2006 column.
Stephen Brady, president of Roman Catholic Faithful, is . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 23, 2007
The organization Cures Without Cloning has filed a lawsuit against Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan.
Writes pro-life nurse-activist Jill Stanek:
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 20, 2007
The following (unedited) essay was provided exclusively to yours truly by Father James Farfaglia, pastor of St. Helena of the True Cross Parish in Corpus . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 18, 2007
It's amazing to me that some people still believe Planned Parenthood's laughable propaganda particularly the notion that Planned Parenthood wants to reduce . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 17, 2007
In recent parish bulletins, Father J. Patrick Wissman, pastor of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Bolivar, Mo., lashed out at Pope Benedict's motu proprio . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 13, 2007
I'd like to put in a good word about Courage, "a spiritual support system which would assist men and women with same-sex attractions in living chaste lives in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 9, 2007
Colleen Perfect, president of Catholic Parents Online, writes:
"We recently discovered that the English Department of the University of St. Thomas, in St. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 3, 2007
Planned Parenthood being sued, for any reason, is music to my ears!
The following is the text of a libel lawsuit filed Oct. 1, 2007 on behalf of pro-lifers . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 2, 2007
Readers may recall my coverage of various goings-on in the Miami archdiocese over the past couple of years.
Lo and behold, there is something new to report.. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 26, 2007
From Judy McCloskey:
"'Perhaps you would be interested in covering the work of CatholicMil.org. Please visit the Web sites www.catholicmil.org and www . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 25, 2007
The following is an essay written by Father Richard Perozich, pastor of St. Mary Catholic Church in Escondido, Calif.
THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH
By Father . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 22, 2007
New Hampshire Catholic priest Gordon MacRae was convicted in 1994 of sexual assault. He is serving a 33-and-a-half to 67-year prison sentence.
In 2005, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 21, 2007
In an update of sorts to my coverage of the relatively recent controversy involving the University of Detroit Mercy which had advertised job opportunities at . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 19, 2007
The following essay was written by Adolfo J. Castaρeda, director of educational programs for Vida Humana Internacional, the Hispanic division of Human Life . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 18, 2007
The following is a slightly edited e-letter from Ron Panzer, founder and executive director of Hospice Patients Alliance.
"'With all the talk by the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 6, 2007
A New York-based production company has asked me to participate as a commentator in a forthcoming documentary titled Forsaken.
The still-in-progress . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 29, 2007
In the last few weeks, I have received inquiries regarding the status of ProLifeSearch.com, which was featured in a previous column of mine but has since . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 28, 2007
The following article, written by Diane Moczar, Ph.D., is reprinted (with permission) from the summer 2007 issue of The Latin Mass magazine. It is not . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 27, 2007
In an Aug. 6, 2007 column in Newsweek, on the subject of abortion, Anna Quindlen wrote:
"'Lawmakers in a number of states have already passed or are . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 22, 2007
The controversial Catholic order known as the Legion(aries) of Christ is suing ReGAIN, an organization comprised of former members of the Legion and its Regnum . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 18, 2007
According to an Aug. 14, 2007 story in The Tribune-Democrat, by reporter Sandra K. Reabuck:
"'A priest allegedly had sexual relations with an inmate in a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 10, 2007
Once again, a problem has arisen with regard to Wikipedia.
On the page devoted to Miami Archbishop John Favalora, one of the site's "editors" had cited some . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 5, 2007
From Catholic mother Dorothy Amorella:
''Parents must form the consciences of their children or someone else will.' So taught the late theologian Father . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 2, 2007
The following is an edited version of a paper reportedly sent to certain priests in the Altoona-Johnstown, Pa., Catholic diocese regarding Father William . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 29, 2007
I must say, I got a bit of a kick out of a recent post on the blog of Commonweal:
"'The Los Angeles abuse settlement continues to reverberate to a degree . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 21, 2007
Informed Catholics know about Church-approved Marian apparitions such as Fatima, Lourdes and Guadalupe, but why were there so many reports of alleged . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 19, 2007
It can be difficult nowadays to ascertain whether certain individuals are joking or serious about certain matters.
Seriously.
Father Reginald Foster is . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 15, 2007
In case you haven't heard, the Los Angeles archdiocese has finally settled its numerous clergy abuse cases to the tune of 666, er, $660 million.
Oh, and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 7, 2007
The much-anticipated (in certain Catholic circles, at least) motu proprio on the Traditional Latin Mass has finally been released by the Vatican.
According . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 5, 2007
The "Catholic" dissident group Call to Action will be holding a conference on Aug. 22, 2007, at SS. Simon and Jude Parish in Westland, Mich.
One of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 2, 2007
The following "weekly note" a good one! comes from the July 1, 2007 bulletin of St. Mary of the Angels Parish in Chicago. It was written by associate . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 27, 2007
Meghan Frato sent me the following e-mail in response to my June 19, 2007 column on liturgical "go-go" dancers:
"I read your article about the liturgical . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 19, 2007
A reader sent me the following photos of three girls (I've omitted their faces) dressed rather provocatively who, er, danced at a recent Franciscan Jubilee . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 17, 2007
In response to a reader's inquiry regarding Catholic schools, Mary Ann Kreitzer, president of Les Femmes and the Catholic Media Coalition, wrote the following:
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 9, 2007
President Bush's nominee for surgeon general, Dr. James Holsinger, M.D., has come under fire recently from the homosexual lobby for his views and writings on . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 5, 2007
In 2003, Father Joe Baca, of the Fresno, Calif., diocese and who, for a time, was permitted to celebrate the Tridentine Mass at St. Agnes Mission Church in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 31, 2007
Believe it or not, there is VATICAN: The Board Game, "designed for 26 players, ages 15 and up," created by Stephen Haliczer, Ph.D., a research professor at . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 30, 2007
The following article, written by Tom Roeser, is reprinted (with permission) from the May 24, 2007 issue of The Wanderer. For subscriptions, call 651-224-573 . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 28, 2007
Jeanine Notter is a practicing Catholic, mother of six, and host of her own television talk show, "Chattin' with Jeanine," which airs on Merrimack Community . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 18, 2007
When I began my activities in the right-to-life ministry in the late 1990s, I did some volunteer work for, and was subsequently employed part-time by, a crisis . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 17, 2007
I received the following e-mail from Bishop Robert F. Vasa, of the Baker, Ore., Catholic diocese. (Bishop Vasa is one of the few bishops who would deny Holy . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 7, 2007
According to a May 5, 2007 story on wbbm780.com:
"'The Chicago City Council's Health Committee this week held a hearing on racial and economic disparities in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 3, 2007
Pro-abortion senator and presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton reportedly will be the featured guest at a lunch benefit for the Mercy Home for Boys and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 26, 2007
I recently attended a funeral Mass at a parish in the Madison, Wis., diocese (the same diocese, incidentally, in which the murdered Father Alfred Kunz had . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 25, 2007
I once had "apparition fever." I remember it well.
In the 1990s, during and after high school (1990-1994), I became very interested in Marian apparitions, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 24, 2007
I received the following (edited) e-mail from Brother Andre Marie, M.I.C.M., of the Saint Benedict Center:
"'There is now afoot a very nasty concerted effort . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 21, 2007
Commonweal Magazine has a featured article titled "Vengeance Time: When Abuse Victims Squander Their Moral Authority," by Mark A. Sargent.
Barbara Blaine, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 18, 2007
In perhaps one of the most pro-abortion commentaries in recent years, Caitlin Moran, columnist for The Times, wrote:
"...In short, while I am now packing . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 16, 2007
From fellow Catholic writer Dr. Brian Kopp, moderator of the Universal Indult forum (edited):
"On Saturday, April 14, 2007, St. Clare of Assisi Church in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 15, 2007
On April 5, 2007, Robert Sungenis, founder and president of Catholic Apologetics International, sent the following (slightly edited) e-mail to a number of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 12, 2007
In a Dec. 2006 column, I printed an excerpt from Toledo Blade religion editor David Yonke's book Sin, Shame and Secrets which stated that "privileged" diocesan . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 11, 2007
Most orthodox Catholics know all too well the current state of Catholic higher education.
It ain't pretty.
Over the last few decades, many Catholic . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 7, 2007
The following article, by J.M. McCarthy, is reprinted (with permission) from the Winter/Spring 2007 issue of Catholic Men's Quarterly. I wish all my readers a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 4, 2007
I have much respect for Judie Brown, the blunt and articulate president of the American Life League.
We are very much of like mind, although Judie is a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 2, 2007
The following is the eulogy given by SNAP board member Peter Isely at the funeral of his mother, Magdalene, who recently passed away.
"The Our Father, the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 1, 2007
"A March of Dimes Primer The A-Z of Eugenic Killing" by Randy Engel, national director of the U.S. Coalition for Life and the executive director of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 31, 2007
The following clarification appears in the April 1-14, 2007 edition of the Catholic New World the official newspaper of the Chicago archdiocese seemingly in . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 30, 2007
Bishop Robert Lynch is in the news again.
The brother of the late Terri Schiavo, Bobby Schindler, recently wrote a letter to Lynch taking him to task "for . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 29, 2007
Real Abortion Stories: The Hurting and The Healing is a new book edited by Barbara Horak.
According to one account:
"Abortion has impacted millions of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 27, 2007
Very recently, on a Catholic e-mail list to which I belong, a discussion began regarding modesty in dress.
I thought it would make for an interesting column, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 24, 2007
The University of Detroit Mercy, a Catholic institution that was the subject of a previous column, has cried uncle.
Specifically, UDM's administration has . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 22, 2007
Recently, the radically left-wing, pro-abortion Southern Poverty Law Center issued a report on anti-Semitism among "radical traditionalist Catholics."
John . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 21, 2007
Father J. Patrick Serna, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Parish in the Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas, provided me with the following observations . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 20, 2007
The following article, provided to me by Paul Likoudis, appears in the current issue (print edition) of The Wanderer, "America's oldest Catholic weekly . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 19, 2007
The following is an excerpt from a news story in the March 18-31, 2007 Catholic New World (not yet available online). It's likely to cause a bit of a stir, I . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 18, 2007
Paul Likoudis, news editor for the The Wanderer, is, in my opinion, one of the best Catholic journalists around.
In 2002, Likoudis published a book titled . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 16, 2007
Post-abortion e-cards are in the news.
Thanks to Exhale which "believes abortion can be a normal part of the reproductive lives of women and girls" you . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 15, 2007
A clarification from Bishop Rene H. Gracida in response to my previous column on Gen. Peter Pace:
"Far from being critical of Gen. Pace, I was supporting him . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 14, 2007
In response to the story regarding Marine Gen. Peter Pace and his remarks about homosexual behavior, the Most Rev. Rene Henry Gracida, D.D., Bishop Emeritus of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 12, 2007
The saga continues.
In the latest development, Fox News analyst Father Jonathan Morris, a priest with the Legionaries of Christ whose founder, Father . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 10, 2007
Father Andrew Greeley has another book out.
It's titled I Knew a Murdered Professor.
Oh, wait. I got that wrong. Sorry.
It's actually titled Jesus: A . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 9, 2007
Father Tom Euteneuer, president of one of my favorite pro-life organizations, Human Life International, isn't too happy with conservative commentator Sean . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 8, 2007
Harvard. Yale. Vassar. Boston University.
What do they have in common?
Yes, they are indeed known for being prestigious institutions of higher learning. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 7, 2007
The following is the text of a complaint filed March 7, 2007 on behalf of a girl who alleges sexual abuse by a Miami archdiocese youth . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 5, 2007
The following article, by Randy Engel, is reprinted (with permission) from the Feb. 2007 issue of Catholic Family News.
Sister Jeannine Gramick
and the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 4, 2007
On March 3, I saw Breach, the feature film based on the true story of former FBI agent Robert Hanssen, who was sentenced to life in prison for spying for the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 22, 2007
Well, it's official.
Ave Maria School of Law is moving to Florida.
According to a Feb. 21, 2007 story in the Detroit Free Press:
"Ave Maria School of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 21, 2007
By now, many Internet readers are likely aware of the controversy surrounding two female bloggers Amanda Marcotte and Melissa McEwan who recently resigned . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 20, 2007
The following is the text of a motion recently filed in a pending case in Cleveland.
IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF OHIO . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 17, 2007
The following essay was written by Father James Farfaglia, of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Corpus Christi, Texas. (It is exclusive to this column.)
STATE . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 15, 2007
Former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline has e-mailed the following message to his supporters. It is an explanation of recent developments in the case . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 12, 2007
A reader sent me the following photos of the office doors of two professors at University of Detroit Mercy, "a Catholic university in the Jesuit and Mercy . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 9, 2007
Michael T. Ross, MD, president of the Family Rights Coalition of Michigan, sent the following (slightly edited) e-mail to Carolyn Witte, the principal of Mercy . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 8, 2007
Not surprisingly, I've received a few e-mails taking me to task for my previous column regarding Bishop Thomas Gumbleton. In that column, I quoted Catholic . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 7, 2007
This caught my eye.
From a news release (edited):
"Administrators at Mercy High School, a Catholic school located in Farmington Hills, Mich., abruptly . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 5, 2007
Retired Detroit Auxiliary Bishop Thomas Gumbleton, who for some time has been a favorite among dissenting Catholics, was recently shunned by Bishop Gerald . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 24, 2007
The following essay, by Father J. Patrick Serna, is reprinted (with permission) from the Fall/Winter 2006 issue of Catholic Men's Quarterly.
Faith, Reason, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 23, 2007
A reader has alerted me to an online photo showing Chicago priest-activist Father Michael Pfleger, who has publicly fawned over pro-abortion U.S. Sen. Barack . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 21, 2007
Well, I rarely write about sports in this column (which is obvious to my regular readers), but I do want to give a big kudos to Chicago Bears majority owner . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 17, 2007
My focus usually isn't on the secular political scene, but this item begs for a bit of commentary.
Chicago's liberal activist priest, Father Michael Pfleger, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 13, 2007
The following commentary, by Mark Crutcher, president of Life Dynamics Incorporated, is reprinted from the Dec. 2006 issue of Pro-Life News, the (pro-life) . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 29, 2006
The NFL football season is coming to a close, and the playoffs will soon be upon us. Which makes this item newsworthy, I think.
The Dallas Cowboys Football . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 27, 2006
The following is the text of a countersuit recently filed against the Chicago archdiocese in response to Father Robert Stepek's defamation lawsuit against his . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 23, 2006
On Dec. 23, 2006, a group of pro-life activists held its fourth annual "Empty Manger" Christmas Caroling Day. The event, sponsored by the Pro-Life Action . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 22, 2006
I thought it would be fitting to print the following Christmas poem, composed by Susan Gorski, a friend of mine.
The hour approaches
The time is so near
He . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 18, 2006
By now, many people are at least marginally familiar with the Father Gerald Robinson case in Toledo, Ohio. Robinson was convicted on May 11, 2006 of murdering . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 15, 2006
From a Dec. 14, 2006 story in the Chicago Sun-Times:
"Two brothers who were sued for defamation last month by a Roman Catholic priest who they say sexually . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 14, 2006
Former Dominican Father John O'Connor died on Dec. 7, 2006 of complications from a cardiac arrest.
I thought it would be fitting to print the following . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 6, 2006
I received the following e-mail, dated Dec. 6, 2006, from Maurice Healy, a spokesman for the San Francisco archdiocese whom I quoted in a previous column:
"I . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 5, 2006
Gotta love spokespersons for a diocese. They have to make their bosses look good, no matter the situation or scandal. Good public relations, you see.
So it . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 3, 2006
Author and researcher Dr. Judith A. Reisman takes issue with large portions of the Wikipedia entry about her. She says that her fully cited corrections made to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 1, 2006
In July 2006, a jury "found in favor of Joey Piscitelli, a former altar boy who was abused by the Rev. Stephen Whelan, a vice principal, when he was a freshman . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 23, 2006
A Nov. 13, 2006 AP story reported that "[t]wo women were arrested after they chained themselves to the front doors of a [New York] Catholic diocese building to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 18, 2006
The following is a lengthy essay by Father Donald J. Keefe, S.J., who worked for Cardinal (then Archbishop) James Stafford in the early 1990s.
THE . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 17, 2006
Father John Trigilio has issued the following (unedited) response to a recent editorial in Commonweal magazine:
"As President of the Confraternity of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 12, 2006
When Jane McCaffrey was 19, she had an experience that changed her life.
"I was working for a Catholic OB/GYN, and my job was to assist in the front office . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 11, 2006
The following pro-lifers were gracious enough to offer their comments on the election results.
Father James Farfaglia, pastor of St. Helena of the True Cross . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 10, 2006
The following is an edited news release from Randy Engel, author of The Rite of Sodomy Homosexuality and the Roman Catholic Church:
The Proposed Guidelines . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 27, 2006
Some pro-life women are gearing up to answer Ms. magazine's recent pro-abortion advertisement with an advertisement of their own.
Georgette Forney, president . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 26, 2006
STOPP International, a division of the American Life League, has the following item in its online newsletter (excerpted):
"In an outrageous decision, the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 23, 2006
Cathy Brueggemann Beil is the author of The Samurai and the Tea: A Legacy of Japan's Early Christians, an historical novel "of a Japanese-American Catholic boy . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 20, 2006
In a past column, I wrote about author Zelie Redmond, who hopes her children's books will inspire vocations to the religious life at an early age.
Redmond . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 19, 2006
As reported by the Catholic News Agency, the Catholic bishops of California have publicly criticized America magazine and attorney/law professor Marci Hamilton . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 18, 2006
In the Oct. 3, 2006 edition of the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, there was a letter to the editor from Monsignor Michael A. Becker of St. Benedict Roman Catholic . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 14, 2006
The following article, written by Mark Crutcher, is reprinted from the Sept. 2006 newsletter of Life Dynamics, Inc.
This is truly the golden age for men who . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 11, 2006
In recent weeks, the "Does contraception reduce the number of abortions?" debate has popped back up, thanks to two bills introduced in the House of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 6, 2006
From the Web site of the Catholic Pastoral Committee on Sexual Minorities:
"Dignity Twin Cities invites you to join us as we celebrate Solidarity Sunday on . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 3, 2006
Timothy Parsons-Heather, author and president of The Morning Star of Our Lord, Inc. and who was the subject of a recent column sent me the following . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 2, 2006
Two former Catholic priests, Cliff Garner and Jon O'Guinn, "married" each other in 2004, as one can see from their Web site (which includes a wedding album).
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 1, 2006
Stephen Brady, founder and president of Roman Catholic Faithful, has been criticized in a Sept. 30, 2006 commentary published in The State Journal-Register.
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 30, 2006
This is a departure from what I normally write about, but I just felt a need to "respond" to a Sept. 22, 2006 AP story regarding actor Rupert Everett's new . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 25, 2006
From a recent (edited) news release:
Former priest and Loyola Professor Emeritus Eugene C. Kennedy broke the silence surrounding Randy Engel's controversial . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 23, 2006
The following is the text of the eighth chapter of Lime 5, a book written by pro-life activist Mark Crutcher. Crutcher is the founder and president of Life . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 19, 2006
Barbara Samide was the principal at a Catholic school in Queens, N.Y.
In a lawsuit filed in 2002 against the Brooklyn diocese which is presently in the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 17, 2006
From a source in Iraq:
A third priest may now have become a victim of the violence and lawlessness in Baghdad. Father Basil Salem Yaldo was last seen leaving . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 14, 2006
In the ongoing saga in the Diocese of Orange, Calif., Bishop Tod Brown has formally responded to the Catholic lay group Restore the Sacred. The text of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 4, 2006
I received the following e-mails in response to a previous column that featured a letter from a Freemason.
From Robert Goldsborough:
I can tell you that . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 2, 2006
The following essay was written by Father Robert Hoatson.
At the July 21-23 SNAP (Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests) Conference at a Jersey City, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 1, 2006
The following (unedited) essay was provided to me by Father James Farfaglia, pastor of St. Helena of the True Cross of Jesus Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 31, 2006
The following is the text of a "friend of the court" brief (courtesy of the Thomas More Society) filed in support of the partial-birth abortion ban. (Click . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 30, 2006
I received the following (unedited) e-mail from Christopher Hodapp, author of Freemasons For Dummies, in response to my recent column on the late Cardinal . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 27, 2006
The following slightly edited essay was provided to me by Lee Podles, author of a forthcoming book on the clergy sex abuse scandal. (Note: Contains graphic . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 23, 2006
The following (slightly edited) essay, provided to me by Mary Ann Kreitzer of Les Femmes and the Catholic Media Coalition, is an update of sorts on Father James . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 22, 2006
The following essay was provided to me by Mary Ann Kreitzer, president of Les Femmes and president of the Catholic Media Coalition.
The Role of a Bishop: . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 18, 2006
Few would dispute that the late Joseph Cardinal Bernardin exercised great influence in the Catholic Church in the U.S. Sadly, however, that influence was not . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 14, 2006
Susan Gorski, a traditional Catholic and friend of mine, often has some very insightful observations and reflections on matters Catholic and life in general. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 12, 2006
The following is a slightly edited reprint from the summer 2006 newsletter of Catholic Citizens of Illinois.
Recognizing Sexual Predators or Disinformation?
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 11, 2006
Patricia Gradwell of ProLifeSearch.com writes (edited):
"Defenders of life who utilize the Internet should know about ProLifeSearch.com, the first and only . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 10, 2006
Stephen Brady, founder and president of Roman Catholic Faithful, has issued the following (slightly edited) press release, dated Aug. 9, 2006.
On August 2, 2 . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 9, 2006
The following is a slightly edited version of recent correspondence between Luana Stoltenberg, Iowa state leader of Operation Outcry, and the editor(s) of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 8, 2006
I received the following (edited) e-mail from pro-life and Catholic activist Paula Emmerth:
"I don't know if you remember me, but I spoke to you a few weeks . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 6, 2006
The Pew Research Center has released the results of a survey they conducted last month. According to the summary of findings:
Americans cannot be easily . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 3, 2006
From Missionaries of the Eucharist:
Mission accomplished for the
Missionaries of the Eucharist!
Washington, DC Inspired by the hope found in the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 1, 2006
Hollywood producer, writer and director Jonathan Flora has spoken out in defense of Mel Gibson. Flora provided me with the following (edited) statement:
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 31, 2006
Not surprisingly, the Anti-Defamation League has responded to Mel Gibson's recent DUI arrest.
Readers might remember that the ADL was quite vocal in its . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 27, 2006
The following is a slightly edited version of a talk given by Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell, director of development for Trinity Academy in Pewaukee, WI. Many thanks . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 26, 2006
Silenced priest Father Robert Altier has responded to a recent letter by Dennis McGrath, communications director for the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 23, 2006
Occasionally I receive e-mails from readers whose worldview, is, well, far different from mine. If I respond, it is usually brief, for rarely do I have the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 21, 2006
The following are additional excerpts (note: contains graphic language) from Randy Engel's The Rite of Sodomy Homosexuality and the Roman Catholic Church:
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 20, 2006
Dennis McGrath, communications director for the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese, recently sent the following (slightly edited) e-mail to Kenneth M. Fisher, a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 19, 2006
I commend President Bush for vetoing the bill that would have increased federal funding for embryonic stem cell research.
Bottom line: One cannot commit an . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 18, 2006
Randy Engel's The Rite of Sodomy tackles the subject of homosexuality from a non-fiction perspective; Bill Kassel's This Side of Jordan tackles the same subject . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 16, 2006
Gloria Waldron Hukle, author of the historical novel Manhattan: Seeds of the Big Apple, has some fond memories of her nun-teachers.
"When I read of abuse by . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 13, 2006
There are few organizations as diabolical and nonsensical as Planned Parenthood.
Case in point: A June 2006 letter from Wendy Grassi, director of public . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 8, 2006
As the summer 2006 Face the Truth Tour, organized by the Pro-Life Action League (in the interest of full disclosure, the League is a former employer of mine), . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 7, 2006
The following is an exclusive excerpt from Sex, Priests, and Secret Codes: The Catholic Church's 2,000-Year Paper Trail of Sexual Abuse (Volt Press, $29.95), a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 6, 2006
From Stephen Brady, founder and president of the Petersburg, Ill.-based Roman Catholic Faithful, regarding the Springfield, Ill. diocese:
"Yet another . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 4, 2006
A reader alerted me to the Web site of St. Joan of Arc Church in the St. Paul-Minneapolis archdiocese.
The site is loaded with left-wing material, but this . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 3, 2006
Father Marshall Roberts, a founder of the suppressed and scandal-ridden Society of St. John (formerly under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Scranton, Pa.) is . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 2, 2006
From Father J. Patrick Serna:
"I just wanted to say 'thank you' for passing on this last message from God through Father Todd. I'm glad you came across it.
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 30, 2006
The following article was written by Father J. Patrick Serna for Catholic Men's Quarterly. It is reprinted with permission from Father Serna and the editor and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 29, 2006
The controversial Catholic lay organization known as Voice of the Faithful might soon be officially calling for women's ordination.
I received the following . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 27, 2006
Randy Engel's soon-to-be released, 1318-page book The Rite of Sodomy Homosexuality and the Roman Catholic Church promises to be one of the most controversial . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 26, 2006
Pat Byrnes, husband of strongly pro-abortion Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, will be speaking at four Catholic parishes in the Chicago archdiocese. His . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 25, 2006
Writer, Catholic and pro-family activist Allyson Smith of San Diego, Calif., recently composed the following letter to Sonoma County District Attorney Stephan . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 17, 2006
According to at least one Catholic priest, Sacred Scripture and Catholic Tradition are "rooted in shamanism."
Father Michael Wanda, associate pastor of Mary . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 9, 2006
The Principal's Office
Sister Rosemary was around 35 years old. She paid much attention to her appearance, wearing her hair up, a touch of lipstick and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 8, 2006
I thought I'd ask some solidly orthodox Catholics to comment on Army Lieutenant Ehren Watada's refusal to be deployed to Iraq because of his objection to the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 5, 2006
Walt and Wendy Cukierski are the proud parents of eleven "blessings" Walter Jr., Weston, William, Wellsley, Wyatt, Wade, Waylan, Woodman, Walker, Wiley and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 31, 2006
The following are slightly edited excerpts from Roman Catholic Faithful's Spring/Summer 2006 newsletter (not yet available on RCF's Web site):
Bishop George . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 19, 2006
The Vatican issued the following statement on May 19, 2006:
Beginning in 1998, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith received accusations, already . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 18, 2006
Bishop Donald Wuerl of Pittsburgh has been appointed the new archbishop of Washington, succeeding Cardinal Theodore McCarrick.
The following article was . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 16, 2006
Catholic Men's Quarterly is a relatively new "one-of-a-kind general interest men's magazine written by Catholic men for Catholic men." (And, no, it isn't anti . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 15, 2006
(The following is a slightly revised version of an article that recently appeared in The Wanderer Catholic newspaper.)
Father John Hardon, S.J., is fondly . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 13, 2006
The following is most of the text of two motions filed May 11, 2006 in Illinois. They involve lawsuits against the Rev. Daniel McCormack, a priest of the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 12, 2006
The following is a reprint of the May 5, 2006 Population Research Institute Weekly Briefing. "The pro-life Population Research Institute is dedicated to ending . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 10, 2006
Dan Brown isn't the only person to espouse a conspiracy theory involving the Vatican.
Atila Sinke Guimarγes and Marian T. Horvat of Tradition in Action believe . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 8, 2006
Mike Tripoli, who provided me with the open letter to Bishop Tod Brown of Orange, Calif., has provided me with some additional information on the diocese.
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 6, 2006
In the ongoing Miami archdiocese saga, Nancy Heise, whom I have quoted in previous columns, has filed a "formal grievance" with the Vatican against Catholic . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 4, 2006
For those who are interested in debating the various, er, aspects of Dan Brown's obscure little novel known as The Da Vinci Code and whose feature film . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 29, 2006
Susan Stafford had a turbulent childhood. And the transition to adulthood wasn't any bed of roses, either. Far from it.
The product of a broken home, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 28, 2006
The following letter comes from Catholic Citizens of Illinois.
April 21, 2006
Rev. Dennis Holtschneider, C.M., President
DePaul University
55 E. Jackson Blvd. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 27, 2006
I recently found out that David DeMato, who graduated from my high school alma mater one year after I graduated (1994), is currently in Iraq helping to train . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 21, 2006
Mary C. Dunford, an alleged victim of sexual abuse by a nun, would like more attention to be paid to the victim-survivors of abuse by women religious.
States . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 20, 2006
The following was provided to me by Mike Tripoli. It is an open letter addressed to Bishop Tod Brown of the Orange, Calif., diocese. (Note: Some links . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 18, 2006
The family of actress Katie Holmes might not be so thrilled with her apparent conversion to Scientology contrary to a recent report.
The Holmes family is . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 15, 2006
Mary Ann Kreitzer of Les Femmes and the Catholic Media Coalition sent out the following (slightly edited) e-letter regarding the resignation from the priesthood . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 12, 2006
The following is an (edited) update from Catholic attorney Sharon Bourassa regarding the situation in the Miami archdiocese. (Note: This statement contains a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 11, 2006
Father Jeffrey Robideau of the Lansing, Mich., diocese, whom I've quoted in previous columns, has provided me with the following statement regarding University . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 10, 2006
I was given an opportunity to preview four out of five episodes of God or the Girl, a reality TV series that will air April 16, 17, 21, 22 and 23 on the A&E . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 8, 2006
The following is most of the text of a complaint filed April 6, 2006 in Chicago. Defendants in the lawsuit are the Chicago archdiocese and former priest Robert . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 5, 2006
Christian groups in the U.S. aren't the only ones mobilized to "battle" the upcoming 'Da Vinci Code' film.
The Philippine Crusade for the Defense of Christian . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 4, 2006
Former seminarian and alleged abuse victim-survivor Philip Hower of Tucson, Ariz., whose 2004 RICO suit against the Church was settled in 2005, remembers some . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 3, 2006
The following are the biblical explanations/meditations for each aspect of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass (from the April 2, 2006 bulletin of St. John Cantius . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 2, 2006
Vincent J. Nauheimer, whose son was molested by a priest of the New York archdiocese, has published a book titled Epistles on Clergy Abuse, which can be . . .
Theresa Kocan is no Dan Brown - - thankfully!; Monaghan's paradise lost?; A debate over contraception
Matt C. Abbott
March 31, 2006
Theresa Kocan is a devout Catholic, known for her fearless and compassionate pro-life activism. She is also the author of You Are Beautiful, My Beloved, "a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 25, 2006
A forthcoming book by investigative journalist Randy Engel is likely to be one of the most controversial books of its kind in quite some time.
The Rite of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 20, 2006
Thanks to Paul Likoudis, news editor for The Wanderer Catholic newspaper, for allowing me to reprint one of his articles from the March 9, 2006 edition. For . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 18, 2006
Rick Ryan was once the drummer for a "glam" metal band called Hatrik. Now, many years later, he is a devout Catholic, aspiring priest and an effective sidewalk . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 15, 2006
Zelie Redmond, a mother of three children, ages 10, 8 and 6, hopes the Catholic children's book series she's authoring will plant a seed in the children reading . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 13, 2006
I have great respect and admiration for Mother Angelica, the founder of EWTN. In fact, call me a fan. She's been faithful, smart, blunt, inspirational, and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 3, 2006
The Book of Revelation is perhaps the most mysterious book in Sacred Scripture. And there has been much speculation about it some of it bordering on off-the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 28, 2006
Yours truly is delighted by the news that the U.S. Supreme Court has (once again) ruled in favor of Joe Scheidler and the Pro-Life Action League my former . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 24, 2006
Catholic attorney Sheila Parkhill, who for the past few years has been gathering information and evidence to eventually expose a clergy pedophile ring in the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 28, 2006
Some readers know I've been following and have written about the unsolved 1998 murder of Father Alfred Kunz, a canon lawyer and priest of the Diocese of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 27, 2006
The following is the text of a complaint filed Jan. 27, 2006 in Miami. The Defendants are Father Bernard Kirlin, Deacon Victor Pimentel and the Archdiocese of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 24, 2006
There's a little trouble down in Texas, y'all.
In my previous column, I printed a letter from Catholic columnist Barbara Kralis regarding Father Richard "The . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 23, 2006
The following is the (slightly edited) text of a letter sent by Catholic columnist Barbara Kralis to Bishop Charles Grahmann of Dallas.
January 22, 2006
The . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 22, 2006
The following is the (slightly edited) text of a talk given by Dr. Elizabeth Mitchell, dean of students and development director for Trinity Academy in Pewaukee . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 20, 2006
Stephen Marino is moderator of the Communitas Dei Patris (Families of God the Father) community based in Kettle River, Minn., which is co-sponsoring the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 16, 2006
Whistleblower priest Father Andrew Dowgiert, who sued the Archdiocese of Miami alleging wrongful termination and slander, has decided to drop his lawsuit.
The . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 12, 2006
The Shrine of Our Lady of the Prairies in Powers Lake, North Dakota, has had its share of problems in the last several years. (It should be noted that the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 24, 2005
Quite an evening, I must say. Men in tuxedos. Women in fancy ball gowns. Drinks. Well-presented food. And music. Lots of music. I can still hear the band . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 21, 2005
The Archdiocese of Cincinnati has a "gay" youth ministry, called Catholics Respecting Youth in Sexual Minorities (CRYSM), whose meetings are held at St. Xavier . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 20, 2005
The Rev. Thomas J. Euteneuer, president of Human Life International, is concerned over reports that the new archbishop of San Francisco, George Niederauer, is . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 7, 2005
The following article, written by veteran Catholic journalist Jay McNally, is reprinted (with permission) from the Dec. 8, 2005 issue of The Wanderer. For . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 3, 2005
Who says Catholic priests can't "marry"?
Father Vijaya Kumar Nalla did to Judith Ann Ellis, in Las Vegas, on July 20, 2005. Marriage performed by the Rev. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 27, 2005
A reader has compiled a list of online articles pertaining to the issue of homosexuals in the priesthood. He writes the following:
"Many news stories are . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 18, 2005
The following is a lengthy but eye-opening article from the Nov. 17, 2005 issue of The Wanderer (not available on the publication's website), which I am . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 11, 2005
John Grasmeier is a 42-year-old Army veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm.
"I was in two different Army units, but the unit I served with in Iraq was . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 10, 2005
A Nov. 10, 2005 story in the Washington Post, by Rob Stein, reports that "A first-trimester screening test can reliably identify fetuses likely to be born with . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 6, 2005
Pamela Yates has been through quite a lot in the last 12 years. The New York native, raised by a Roman Catholic father and a Jewish mother, lost her 27-year . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 4, 2005
Great news out of Milwaukee: On Saturday, Oct. 29, 2005, the Summit Women's Health Organization, an abortion facility located at 530 N. Water St. in Milwaukee, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 2, 2005
How's this for an outrage?
In Sacramento, Calif., a pro-life high school student, Katelyn Sills, has been expelled from an allegedly Catholic high school. The . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 1, 2005
Father Jeffrey T. Robideau of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing, Mich., is speaking out in defense of Duquesne University student Ryan Miner, who, according . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 31, 2005
This item courtesy of fellow Catholic journalist and commentator Barbara Kralis:
The Rev. Michael Monti Parise, pastor of St. Andrew Parish in Billerica, Mass. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 30, 2005
There is a new book on the market one that many pro-lifers would likely be interested in reading: The Physicians' Crusade Against Abortion, authored by . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 27, 2005
Joan Solms is a parishioner of Holy Angels Catholic Church in Aurora, Ill. The following is an edited letter she sent me regarding the parish and its pastor, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 26, 2005
Father John Hardon, S.J., died of natural causes in 2000. He was, by all accounts, a saintly priest and eminent theologian, authoring over 200 books pertaining . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 25, 2005
Stephen Brady, founder and president of the Petersburg, Ill.-based Roman Catholic Faithful, a lay watchdog group, says that Father James Aquino, pastor of Our . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 20, 2005
Move over, Ward Churchill there is a professor who might be even more, er, controversial than you.
His name is Harry White, an English professor at . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 18, 2005
The following is an edited statement issued by the family of the late Father Ryan Erickson, who recently was found by a judge to have likely been responsible . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 17, 2005
WomanCare Services is a two-year-old pro-life crisis pregnancy center located in Berwyn, Ill.
Ember Normand, a young woman associated with the center, is . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 13, 2005
Dawn Jackson had an abortion when she was a teenager.
The San Antonio, Texas resident still has painful memories of that time in her life.
"Back then [in 1974 . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 12, 2005
Not surprisingly, there have been several news reports in recent days regarding various aspects of the now-closed murder case of Dan O'Connell and James Ellison . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 10, 2005
Father Jeffrey T. Robideau, a priest of the Diocese of Lansing, Mich., has written a short 45-page book titled Homosexuality: A Look at Catholic Teaching. He . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 9, 2005
In a September 9, 2005 column in The Tidings, the newspaper of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, renegade priest-professor Richard McBrien took a cheap shot at . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 8, 2005
Jonathan Flora, a producer for the Walt Disney Company, has written and directed a 35-minute film on the subject of "partial-birth" abortion and the buzz . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 7, 2005
In response to my column on Father James Haley, I received the following (edited) e-mail from William R. Mann, a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel who . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 6, 2005
Was the Roman Catholic Diocese of Superior, Wis., always forthright about the late Father Ryan Erickson?
Consider the following items:
In an Oct. 4 story that . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 4, 2005
Father James Haley of the Diocese of Arlington, Va., the whistle-blower priest whose story has been featured in the Washington Times, is once again speaking out . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 1, 2005
The following is a short critique of a controversial "safe environment" program, courtesy of Catholic attorney Sheila Parkhill. (Note: The critique is unedited . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 29, 2005
Not surprisingly, there are still some priests and laypersons who assert that homosexuality was and is not a factor in the clergy sex abuse scandal.
I don't . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 28, 2005
Responding to my previous column, "A Catholic shrine in dispute," Noreen Von Zwehl, president and founder of the M.A.N. Foundation, issued the following . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 26, 2005
Arline Saiki of Edmeston, New York, gives the following (edited) account of her dealings with a Catholic organization known as the Man Foundation:
"In 1999, my . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 22, 2005
Three Roman Catholic priests have been gracious enough to provide me with their observations (edited) on the recent report that Pope Benedict XVI "has given his . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 16, 2005
From Michael S. Rose, the Catholic author who brought us The Renovation Manipulation, Ugly As Sin, Priest, In Tiers of Glory and Goodbye, Good Men, comes a new . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 15, 2005
First there was the report that Teresa Kettlecamp, who works for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops' Office of Child and Youth Protection, "serves . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 13, 2005
Cheng Tan of Jersey City, NJ, recently wrote the following letter to Archbishop John J. Myers of Newark (edited):
"Dear Archbishop Myers,
"It is with great . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 12, 2005
Jason Berry, author of the books Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II and Lead Us Not into Temptation: Catholic Priests and the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 4, 2005
Autumn Sabol is a young woman who loves to write mystery fiction from an authentically Christian perspective. The 20-year-old college student has already . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 1, 2005
In July 2004, former seminarian Philip Hower filed a RICO suit against several Catholic bishops and dioceses, alleging that his ordination was blocked because . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 25, 2005
In 2004, there was the scandal of Loyola University Chicago School of Law, a Catholic institution, giving an award to strongly pro-abortion Illinois Attorney . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 21, 2005
Since the onset of the clergy sex abuse scandal, there has been much debate in certain circles over "safe environment" programs for children something critics . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 18, 2005
As many will recall, during the 2004 presidential election, there was a lot of debate, particularly in Catholic circles, over the morality of the war in Iraq; . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 17, 2005
Jim Finnegan is a faithful Catholic and veteran pro-life activist, courageous and compassionate. I've had the pleasure of knowing him for the last several . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 16, 2005
The following are reprints of two recent articles from a publication titled Concerned Catholics Courier. They were written by Diane Levero, who can be reached . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 13, 2005
In the summer 2005 newsletter (not yet available online) of the Petersburg, Ill.-based Roman Catholic Faithful, Inc. (www.rcf.org), RCF founder and president . . .
Matt C. Abbott
August 9, 2005
I'm a bit perplexed and disappointed that WorldNetDaily, which has been a very good conservative news site overall, would run a column that is so blatantly . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 27, 2005
Responding to my "Catholic psychiatrist 'answers' Tom Cruise" column (see http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/050720), Doyle Mills of Clearwater, Fla., a . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 25, 2005
An update (slightly edited) from Dr. Jeffrey M. Bond of the College of St. Justin Martyr (http://www.saintjustinmartyr.org/news/notices.html) regarding the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 23, 2005
From Emily Bissonnette, American Life League's Crusade for Life media director:
"I thought you might be interested in an update on the 2005 Crusade for Life . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 20, 2005
I asked Catholic psychiatrist William F. Woods, M.D., of Chesapeake, Va., about the recent controversy surrounding actor (and Church of Scientology member) Tom . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 18, 2005
It's clear that Christians are divided over the Harry Potter books, and in particular, whether children reading them will be attracted to the occult.
But the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 17, 2005
From the July 17, 2005 bulletin of Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral:
"More than one person reported to me [Father Dan Mayall, pastor] the lady who roller skated . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 14, 2005
The Rev. Richard Perozich of the San Diego diocese, currently ministering in Honduras as a Maryknoll priest associate, has helped those Catholics who suffer . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 11, 2005
Phillip J. Kronzer is the controversial founder of the Phillip J. Kronzer Foundation for Religious Research (www.kronzer.org). For a background of Kronzer and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 7, 2005
I recently received an e-mail from reader Jacob Clark, who was responding to my "Africa, AIDS, homosexuality, pedophilia" column. As I often like to do, I . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 6, 2005
I always have to shake my head when the pro-abortion mentality rears its ugly head. And it does so many times. Far too many times.
Readers might recall my . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 4, 2005
Susan Gorski of Naperville, Ill., has fond memories of her father, Andrew J. Gorski. She tells the following story:
"I hope this doesn't sound too silly, but . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 2, 2005
Human Life International is, in my opinion, the premier global pro-life organization. In a June 2005 newsletter (not yet available online), HLI president . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 1, 2005
In 2004, there was an outcry among orthodox Catholics over the fact that Loyola University Chicago School of Law had given an award to pro-abortion Illinois . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 28, 2005
A boyhood friend of the late Father Ryan Erickson, who hanged himself in Dec. 2004 after being questioned about a 2002 double homicide, can't believe the priest . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 24, 2005
In response to a previous column of mine on the Jesuit-run Santa Clara University (see http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/abbott/050620), I received the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 23, 2005
I received the following e-mail, dated June 22, 2005, from the Rev. Robert M. Hoatson of the Archdiocese of Newark (slightly edited):
For the past year, I have . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 22, 2005
I received the following e-mail, dated June 21, 2005, from James Goodness, director of communications for the Archdiocese of Newark:
Mr. Abbott:
I am . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 20, 2005
There is so much of this type of thing that it's becoming a non-story. Still, it doesn't hurt to shed a little light on the darkness, particularly when it . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 19, 2005
In response to a previous column of mine on hospice care, I received the following (edited) e-mail from hospice nurse Laurie Walton of Davie, Florida:
"I am . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 16, 2005
There's a new book out on the Terri Schiavo tragedy. It's titled Remembering Terri Schiavo: Reflections of a Health Care Warrior, authored by Audrey Ignatoff, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 15, 2005
Canada is fast becoming a dangerous place to live if you're a Christian.
Case in point: Bill Whatcott, a Canadian pro-life activist who heads a group called . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 10, 2005
Father Pat Brennan, pastor of Holy Family Parish in Inverness, Ill., one of the largest parishes in the Archdiocese of Chicago, is well known in both liberal . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 9, 2005
The following is the story of Michael Iatesta, a survivor of clergy abuse. It is a slightly edited version of a statement he gave at an April 17 press . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 7, 2005
Here's an intriguing little item.
In 1981, W. Mark Felt, the former FBI official who last week was revealed to be the famous (or infamous, as some might say) . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 5, 2005
Caron Strong is a former actress who has appeared on TV and in film. She's the mother of a young daughter, Cayla, her pride and joy.
Caron recently became the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 3, 2005
Some nice news for a change.
The Chicago-based Illinois Club for Catholic Women has given $100,000 to Catholic Charities of Chicago to assist in the building . . .
Matt C. Abbott
June 2, 2005
During the last three decades, the issue of overpopulation or perceived overpopulation has been discussed in various capacities. The primary instigators of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 31, 2005
From Emily Bissonnette, media director for the "Crusade for Life":
"Last year, I was very blessed to take part in the 'Crusade for Life' 1,300 mile walk to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 24, 2005
A Catholic college in Vermont is getting an openly-homosexual dean, according to a story in Out in the Mountains, Vermont's "voice for lesbians, gay men, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
May 12, 2005
All is not well in the Archdiocese of Miami. Attorney Sharon Bourassa of Sunrise, Fla. sent the following (edited) e-mail to a number of individuals, including . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 24, 2005
Not surprisingly, Catholic and secular liberals have been expressing their disappointment or downright dismay at the election of Joseph Ratzinger as Pope . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 23, 2005
A while back, I wrote a commentary titled "The Morality of Prenatal Diagnosis." The following is a significant portion of a testimony recently sent to me by . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 21, 2005
Some good news for a change. At least for faithful Catholics.
On April 20, a sizable number of young Catholics rallied in support of the new pope, Benedict . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 20, 2005
I received the following e-mail from Joe Stong, a former seminarian with the Legionaries of Christ and current member of Regnum Christi, regarding the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 16, 2005
Conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt made a good observation in recent days. He said that "most of the American media is simply ignorant of the pope's critics . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 14, 2005
Recent press reports indicating the late Father Ryan Erickson, 31, was likely involved in a double homicide have not been confirmed or denied by the Hudson, Wis . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 6, 2005
Renegade priest-author and Chicago Sun-Times columnist Andrew Greeley asserted the following in an April 6, 2005 column titled, "Perhaps church will someday . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 30, 2005
I received the following e-mail from Ron Panzer, president of Hospice Patients Alliance (www.hospicepatients.org/euth-center.html):
Right to life organizations . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 29, 2005
How's this for a lil' pro-life miracle?
Marge, a friend and dedicated pro-lifer, was recently at a prayer group with Rick Ryan, another dedicated pro-lifer and . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 26, 2005
The unfolding Terri Schiavo tragedy has brought the living will legal document into the forefront of the news. The consensus of these reports: have the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 24, 2005
(The following is an open letter signed by several Catholic commentators. It was composed by Pete Vere.)
As we commit this reflection to writing, Terri . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 22, 2005
I have mixed feelings about the U.S. Catholic bishops' new campaign to work for the abolition of the death penalty. I do agree with Pope John Paul's call to . . .
Matt C. Abbott
March 3, 2005
I always appreciate solid information provided to me by concerned readers who are "in the know." The following is a lengthy excerpt from an even lengthier e . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 13, 2005
Hearing the sad news of the death of Sister Lucia of Fatima, I wonder: What was the significance of the Blessed Virgin Mary (who presented herself as the Lady . . .
Matt C. Abbott
February 3, 2005
I recently received the following e-mail from Father Richard Perozich:
Dear Mr. Abbott,
I worked with Courage in San Diego, California for 7 years before . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 31, 2005
In a recent e-mail exchange with pro-life/pro-family activist Arlene Sawicki, Chicago's very own Catholic homosexual activist, Rick Garcia, political director . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 24, 2005
In Dec. 2003, a group of 23 Chicago priests sent a letter to Francis Cardinal George lamenting the Vatican's alleged mistreatment of homosexuals. Six months . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 22, 2005
I received the following e-mail from Susan Gorski of Naperville, Ill.
In my time working with the missions and missionary groups, my greatest joy was to become . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 9, 2005
E-mails from the Rev. Ryan Erickson, the Hurley, Wis. Catholic priest who committed suicide last month after being questioned in the investigation of a still . . .
Matt C. Abbott
January 7, 2005
A January 4 story in the Washington Post said that more adult women are choosing not to use contraception. Interestingly, this story comes almost at the heels . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 20, 2004
In response to my previous column on the Legionaries of Christ controversy, I received the following e-mail from journalist Jason Berry, co-author of the book . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 17, 2004
Ever wonder about the origin of, and symbolism behind, the candy cane? I hadn't until the other day.
(I know this isn't exactly a pressing matter, but, hey, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 11, 2004
I received the following e-mail from Gabrielle Azzaro of Cardiff, Calif.
"I am one of the survivors/victims who met recently with the Leadership Conference of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 10, 2004
The following information comes from journalist Lee Podles, whose book, 'A Harsh Light: Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church,' is due out relatively soon.
. . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 9, 2004
I received the following e-mail letter from Mary Dunford of Eagan, Minn.
"Dear Mr. Abbott,
"You published one of my letters June 14, 2004. In it I explained . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 8, 2004
For those who might be interested in learning more about canon law the "internal legal system" of the Catholic Church there is a dandy new book on the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 7, 2004
As many who have been following the clergy sex abuse scandal should know by now, there has been a debate of sorts over the issue of homosexuals in the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 6, 2004
The Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, held from 1962 to 1965 at St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, had as its objectives to seek the renewal of the Catholic Church . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 5, 2004
With all the attention on the clergy sex abuse scandal in the Catholic Church, problems of abuse in other religions seemingly get overlooked to some degree.
I . . .
Matt C. Abbott
December 2, 2004
Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) is an advocate of Planned Parenthood-style "comprehensive" sex education.
According to a story in the Dec. 2, 2004 edition of . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 26, 2004
The clergy sex abuse scandal that has shaken the Catholic Church in the last few years continues to make news.
Sheila Parkhill, a noted Catholic attorney who . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 20, 2004
Father James Haley is angry. A case of righteous anger, it seems.
The whistleblower priest of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, featured in a Nov. 15 story . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 10, 2004
Speaking about how nations can put "forgiveness and reconciliation" of the Jubilee Year of 2000 into practice, Pope John Paul II said that a "significant . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 7, 2004
There is no doubt that January 22, 1973 was one of the darkest days in our nation's history. On that day, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that unborn children . . .
Matt C. Abbott
November 5, 2004
The radical animal rights organization known as PETA which stands for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is no stranger to controversy. Indeed, for . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 20, 2004
At a time when political propaganda fills the airwaves and dominates the mass media here in the U.S., the "walk-the-walk" pro-lifers are still in the trenches, . . .
Matt C. Abbott
October 17, 2004
Newsweek magazine reports that Mel Gibson's hugely successful film, 'The Passion of the Christ,' is unlikely to get an Oscar nomination for best picture.
(See . . .
Matt C. Abbott
September 23, 2004
It's always nice to hear about the fruits of the efforts of pro-lifers who are on the "front-lines," so to speak. Not that working "behind-the-scenes" in the . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 30, 2004
I'm going to tell you about a woman who practices and preaches good healthcare. And no, I'm not talking about Teresa Heinz Kerry or Hillary Clinton. Please. . . .
Matt C. Abbott
July 11, 2004
Every Saturday, dedicated pro-lifers women and men pray and sidewalk counsel at Chicago area abortion clinics, hoping to persuade the abortion-bound women . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 21, 2004
Prenatal diagnosis (also known as prenatal genetic testing) procedures such as amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), maternal serum alpha . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 16, 2004
I remember reading an article about why MTV's music videos are so raunchy. An official of the contemporary music television station was quoted as saying that . . .
Matt C. Abbott
April 4, 2004
The Rev. Alfred J. Kunz was a priest known and consulted by many in the Catholic Church. He was a canon lawyer, meaning he had thorough expertise in the laws . . .
