It sets me on edge to hear people refer to themselves as "devout" Catholics. Adjectives modify nouns, and some nouns are sturdy enough to stand on their own.
I understand the idea, of course, of identifying oneself as firmly believing and taking the Faith seriously. But it seems to me that devout injects a note of pious self-puffery. (And don't get me started about the term "staunch Catholic." Does one's reputation as a Catholic really benefit from the added connotation of...
Lent is just around the corner. In fact, Ash Wednesday is one week from today. Lent is chosen by many parishes as the ideal time to offer retreats, parish missions, and workshops. If you are planning such an event, I have a suggestion: Invite a Catholic Answers speaker to give talks on Vatican II and the Catechism. Doing so could have the added bonus of a plenary indulgence for attendees.
The Apostolic Penitentiary, which issues indulgences...
As many of you are aware, I recently joined the staff of Catholic Answers and its team of gifted apologists. In the process of sharing the news with relatives and friends, I have noticed a common pattern in their reaction. “So, you’re a Catholic Apologist?” “What exactly is that?” “Does that mean you go around apologizing to others for being Catholic?”
It is clear to me that this is somewhat of a downside to being a professional apologist. Sadly, most people just aren’t familiar with...
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