Cleansed and Conformed To God’s Will

“Father, We Thank Thee, Who Hast Planted” has long been one of my favorite hymns. Its tune, taken from the 16th century Genevan Psalter, is eminently singable. The hymn text – when not corrupted by that politically correct scoundrel, “alt.,” – is even better. For Francis Bland Tucker’s lyrics put 21st-century congregations in touch with the second generation of Christians, and perhaps even the first, by combining various phrases from an ancient Christian prayer book and catechism, the Didache.

McClancy Grad Named Cubs Hitting Coach

Msgr. McClancy H.S. graduate Anthony Iapoce was recently named the hitting coach of the Chicago Cubs. The 45-year-old spent the past three seasons as the hitting coach for the Texas Rangers.

A Public Church, Not a Partisan Church

The temptation to ally the Church with a particular political party and its program is a perennial one, it seems. When that temptation is not resisted, it invariably leads to trouble – politically, and more importantly, evangelically.

Death Penalty

With the doctrinal reformulation concerning the death penalty to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis has clarified the Catholic Church’s teaching on the death penalty. Acting in continuity with and developing from the teaching already in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, this clarification should come as no surprise to anyone.