I’ve begun teaching a course this term entitled the Christian Understanding of God (THEO 331). I’ve created a course web page for it, and those interested can find the course outline and related downloads on that site. I’ve also uploaded the first audio lectures from the course: Presentation of the course Course lecture, part 1 [...]

Just what does the Catholic Church think of the theory of evolution? To be honest, it depends on which theory of evolution we mean. More than that, it depends on what we believe about the explanatory power of the theory. There are some who seem to treat the “theory of evolution” more like an ideology [...]

Recently, in the academic sphere of things theological, certain books or articles have created some controversy over orthodox teaching of the faith. One such book, according to Corrado Marucci S.J. in his review from La Civilta Cattolica, was Vito Mancuso’s, “L’anima e il suo destino [The soul and its destiny]. Apparently it has sold quite [...]

I have received the text of the conference given by Msgr. Mariano Fazio, rector of the Pontifcal University of the Holy Cross in Rome, at the seminar organised by the Cercle Sacerdotale de Montreal, November 6th 2007.  Here is my own unofficial translation of his opening paragraph to give you a taste of what his conference was all about: [...]

Welcome to all those attending the Faith Enrichment evenings being held at St. Mary parish in Greenfield Park, as well as all those who can’t make it but want to follow the evenings “at a distance” over the Internet. You can find copies of the Powerpoint slides, as well as audio files for the main [...]

I’ve heard it said that theological orthodoxy is fundamentally creative, while heterodoxy (i.e. heresy) simply says the same old things over and over. The difference is in their appreciation of mystery. Heresy gets tired quickly of the great Truth, and seeks to replace it with something else. Orthodoxy, on the other hand, tends to stay [...]

Would human-animal crossbreeds have souls?

God may be able to know the future, but does he choose to?

The experience of insight has a certain ecstasy associated with it, which many people confuse with religious experience.

Many people of good will worry about the fate of the unbaptized child. If we withhold baptism, isn’t that child’s salvation in jeopardy? The Catholic Church has, in fact, a pretty broad policy on baptism already. Assuming the formal requirements are met, I only know of two final circumstances where we will refuse a baptism: [...]