Leon Podles, “Sacrilege”

Matt Abbott posts (with permission) a large chunk of the introduction to Leon Podles’ new book, Sacrilege: Sexual Abuse in the Catholic Church. It’s a powerful statement of Podles’ journalistic journey, starting with his own physical abuse at the hands of a Christian Brother (he was punched in the face, and when he complained to…

Catholic Bishops to Meet in Baltimore

The Catholic Bishops begin their annual meeting today in Baltimore. John Allen gives a preview. Most of the agenda will deal with internal matters. A much anticipated report on the “causes and context” of the sexual abuse crisis will attract the most attention, I suspect: Researchers from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Fordham…

China and the Bible

Regarding the controversy over whether or not athletes will be able to take the Bible to the Olympic Village, Get Religion asks us not to miss an important point. China is saying athletes will be able to bring “a” Bible for “personal use.” No giving of a Bible–or any other literature that could be construed…

Evangelicals and Mary

G. Edward Reid has a review (in the Adventist Review) of Tim Perry, Toward an Understanding of the Mother of Our Lord. In language sure to chill many Protestant hearts, Perry concludes: “As a result of this history, talking about Mary’s intercession, mediation, and coredemption is fraught with difficulty. But it is not impossible [emphasis…