Catholic Fire

The new biopic “A Theory of Everything” does indeed engage in a fair amount of Hawking-hagiography, but it is also, curiously, a God-haunted movie.

This is a wonderful interview with Fr. Robert Barron, containing some little-known facts about him! Fr. Robert Barron is the Francis George Cardinal chair at St. Mary of the Lake/Mundelein Seminary in Illinois and director of Word on Fire ministries. He talks with Fr. Rosica about spreading the Gospel message using new media and evangelizing the culture.

November 30, 2013. (Romereports.com) To become a saint a person doesn't need to be a theologian, although saints are the ones that know God best. Expanding on this topic, the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross organized a gathering to look into how saints have influenced theology. Specifically, it addressed the contributions of St. Josemaría Escrivá into this field.   MSGR. FERNANDO OCÁRIZ Vicar General of Opus Dei “Joseph Ratzinger had said it, and he repeated it as Benedict XVI. Even John Paul II had talked about it: the witness of saints is necessary in theology, because the saints are the ones who have known God best. And they shed new, original light into the field of theology.” Swiss Cardinal Kurt Koch recalled that for Joseph Ratzinger, saints were the most credible witnesses of the Christian faith, the authentic reformers of the Church, and the first interpreters of the Holy Scripture. But he added that all baptized people are called to holiness. CARD. KURT ...

September 24, 2013. (Romereports.com) Once again, Pope emeritus Benedict XVI has picked up a pen and paper.  In an eleven-page letter addressed to atheist Piergiorgio Odifreddi, Ratzinger defends Jesus as a historic figure, explaining that the Jesus of the Gospel existed in real life. In his letter, Benedict XVI addresses a reference Odifreddi made about Ratzinger's book 'Introduction to Christianity.' In fact, the atheist describes Theology as science fiction. Ratzinger objects to Odifreddi's statements, arguing that when he speaks about Jesus, he does so with low accuracy. He then advises the Italian atheist to read Martin Hengel's four-volume writings about Jesus. In his response letter, Benedict XVI says that just like mathematics, Theology has its own method, which includes both reason and religion.  He adds that if separated, each one of these can be dangerous. Odifreddi also criticizes cases of sexual abuse in the Church. Benedict XVI acknowledges ...