In Memory of Monsignor Michael Doyle

By Norbert McDermott His reputation went before him. I heard and/or read a lot about him and his accomplishments before I met him. Then it all made sense. Right away one felt a steely calmness, gentleness, with an underlying determination.… Continue Reading

A Fascinating Trip into the Occult with Thom Nickels

By Sabina Clarke Despite being raised in a strict Irish-German Roman Catholic household and schooled in the Baltimore catechism when Mass was said in Latin and nuns wore traditional habits, Thom Nickels looked beyond searching for adventure, curious about the… Continue Reading

Pubs and Churches: The Way Forward

By Thom Nickels “Up in the air” is an apt description of the situation when it comes to the opening of Philadelphia’s restaurants and bars after the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic. For Fergie Carey, the owner of four restaurant/bars… Continue Reading

The Power of Flowers

By Thom Nickels When you meet Christine Flowers the first thing you notice about her is her hair. She has a lot of hair. Her hair sometimes covers her eyes; it cascades across her shoulders. When she walks across a… Continue Reading

GREAT EXPECTATIONS: The Pope’s Visit To Philadelphia

We asked local residents what they thought  about Pope Francis, his visit and the future of the Catholic Church in our area. 1. What is different to you about Pope Francis compared to previous popes? 2. What impact do you… Continue Reading

Catching Up with James Carroll…Seventeen Years Later

By Sabina Clarke CHRIST ACTUALLY The Son of God for the Secular Age By James Carroll Viking 352 pp. $30 I first met James Carroll author, ex-priest and anti-war activist in 1997 when he was invited to the Free Library… Continue Reading

Open Letter to Cardinal Rigali

By Charles McMahon You have clearly been following instructions that have come from the Vatican in the past three decades regarding the divulging of priestly crimes to civil authorities. The letter from the Sacred Congregation for Clergy, dated January 31,… Continue Reading

Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, SNAP, Protests In Front of Cathedral

Chicago resident Barbara Blaine, President of SNAP and herself a victim of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest in Toledo, Ohio was present at the February 13th demonstration outside the Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul in downtown Philadelphia. About… Continue Reading