On July 25th, the Church celebrated the Feast of St. James the Apostle, whose journey from fisherman to evangelist should inspire and encourage us all. Imagine that you are at work sitting at your desk, giving a presentation, or doing some manual labor and a man that you’ve admired and heard about approaches you and…
The Pontifical John Paul II Institute issued a statement Monday, defending recent changes at the school. But some students and faculty members say that explanations do not address the full picture of issues at the theological institute. “The academic project of the new Institute, approved by the Congregation for Catholic Education, is designed as a…
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI left Vatican City Thursday to make a surprise visit to Castel Gandolfo. The pope emeritus visited the Pontifical Villas July 25 for the first time in four years, and walked the garden paths where he used to pray, according to Italian media. Benedict XVI then went to the 15th century Sanctuary…
Special to the Catholic Business Journal—NAPA, CA, July 25, 2019 – “The Catholic Church is in crisis. Much has been done, but there is still much to do,” said Tim Busch, founder and chairman of the Institute, in his opening remarks at this year’s annual Napa Institute. “This is a time of cleansing. And this…
July 10, 2019
Every cause needs a hero, and when it comes defending religious liberty, it is only fitting that one of the heroes of this cause is named Hercules. Like its namesake muscleman of Greek myths, Hercules Industries of Denver, CO, a Catholic family steel manufacturing company, led by its president Andrew (“Andy”) Newland (pictured left), has triumphed in…
About 13 years ago, I was facing a tough situation. For the previous 20 years, as a single parent raising three children, I had been working full time as a hair-dresser. It was a great career for me. But now it was coming to an end. My health was slowly declining. I could no longer…
International Dateline—Oakcrest School announced its departure from the Potomac Valley Athletic Conference (PVAC) last week, becoming the second school to leave the conference because of the league’s inclusive policy regarding transgender athletes. Mary Ortiz, Oakcrest’s Head of School, wrote a letter to PVAC President Taisto Saloma on June 14 informing him of Oakcrest’s withdrawal from…
We all know the KISS shortcut for “Keep It Simple,” but the next guest mentor Jim Horan to be interviewed on The Mentors Radio Program, which is produced weekly by Catholic Business Journal, takes simplicity to a whole new level and applies it to business! Brilliant! After two decades in senior financial positions with Shaklee…
Speaking at the University of Notre Dame in October 2016, just a few weeks before a national election that seemed sure to put a second Clinton in the White House, I noted that [Q]uite a few of us American Catholics have worked our way into a leadership class that the rest of the country both…
CNA—Human trafficking is “happening closer to us than we think,” and Catholic groups are increasingly committed to fighting it through advocacy, prayer and action, global anti-trafficking leader Sister Gabriella Bottani, S.M.C., has said. “What we should do, more and more, is to be aware and to try to understand what trafficking is in our reality,…
CNA, CBJ—In recent years, some Catholics have been concerned by pushes from governments in locations such as Louisiana and Australia, and now California, who challenge the secrecy of the sacrament of confession, asking that priests betray the solemnity of penitents’ confessions when they hear of serious crimes in the confessional. However, the words of Saint…
The head of the Vatican’s Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Penitentiary released a note Monday reaffirming the inviolability of the seal of confession and the importance of other forms of secrecy in the life of the Church. The text follows action by governments in Australia, California, and other parts of the world, to undermine the…
CNA—The U.S. State Department has removed the term “reproductive rights” from its annual human rights report, drawing praise from pro-life leaders who say that the phrase had become a thinly veiled reference to abortion. “‘Reproductive rights’ has long been a euphemism for destroying human life in the womb,” said Lila Rose, founder and president…
CNA—A rule to protect the conscience rights of medical professionals will be delayed until the end of November, the Department of Health and Human Services announced July 1. The administration said that the new rule, which would cover doctors and other medical practitioners objecting to procedures like abortion, sterilization, or facilitating euthanasia, is being held…
CNA—The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case addressing the question of whether states can deny tax credit programs to parents and children who choose religious private schools. “States cannot base laws on hostility to religion. Likewise, no provision of Montana’s constitution can enshrine hostility to religion into state law. We commend the…
CNA—An IKEA worker in Poland has filed a lawsuit after being fired last week for posting Bible verses opposing homosexual behavior on the company’s intranet. The issue could just as easily have happened in the U.S. or anywhere else, which means that as a Catholic business professional it is important to clearly understand the matter. …
CNA—The Vatican announced Monday that Blessed Cardinal John Henry Newman will be canonized on October 13 in Rome. During a consistory of cardinals July 1, Pope Francis decreed that Newman and four other blesseds will be canonized together in St. Peter’s Square. Indian Sister Marian Thresia, founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the…
Daily Report, Law.com—“This case serves as a stark reminder that our abortion jurisprudence has spiraled out of control,” Justice Clarence Thomas said. “Although this case does not present the opportunity to address our demonstrably erroneous ‘undue burden’ standard, we cannot continue blinking the reality of what this Court has wrought.” On the same day that abortion-rights advocates…
New York Times—June 17, 2019—Church leaders attended another huge Hong Kong protest that called for the withdrawal of a controversial extradition bill and the resignation of the Chinese territory’s leader. Although chief executive Carrie Lam announced on June 15 that she had suspended the bill, Hong Kong people were not satisfied and turned out in even greater…
As Catholic business professionals living our faith and doing business in today’s global culture and workplace environment, it is imperative that we clearly know the difference between socialism, communism and capitalism. It’s also critical that we know why Popes throughout the ages have repeatedly condemned the severely individual-ignoring, freedom-restricting, government-imposing principles of socialism and communism.…