What follows below is a narrative by Kishore Jayabalan, director of the Acton Institute’s Rome office (Istituto Acton): “My journey to the Catholic Church began in a very simple way, tried and tested over the centuries in just about every country of the world: Catholic schools. Like my non-Catholic parents in India, I was educated by priests, nuns and laypeople, first at St. Mary’s Queen of Angels in Swartz Creek, Michigan, then on to Luke M. Powers Catholic High School...

Rev. Robert Sirico, president of the Acton Institute, will join The Laura Ingraham Show tomorrow beginning at 9:30 am EDT to discuss events from the Vatican. Tune infor a live broadcast of Laura’s show via Cleveland’s 1420 WHK Radio. Check local listings in your area for other broadcasts of the show. You can also keep up with media appearances by Acton staff by checking the John Paul II press archives. Recent appearances include Kishore Jayabalan, director of the insitute’s Rome...

What one book would you send to the next pope to read? William Rees-Mogg has decided what his “inaugural present” would be: The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith. ...

There is one week to go to enter the 2005 Homiletics Award. Seminarians and graduate students in degree programs preparing them for preaching and teaching ministries are eligible. All entries must be postmarked by April 18. This year’s topic is “The Warning to Rich Oppressors” from James 5:1-6. More details here. ...

Saul Bellow died last week at the age of 89. He wrote the novel that was most influential and deeply important in my life, Henderson the Rain King. In this book, Bellow engages the hollow atheism at the heart of the modern secular world. Beginning as a larger-than-life American millionaire in a society bereft of meaning, Eugene Henderson embarks on a spiritual journey to find purpose in his life. After many misadventures, Henderson finally arrives at a point where he...

This exchange came yesterday via NPR’s Morning Edition, as Renພ Montagne interviewed Cardinal Roger Mahony, the archbishop of Los Angeles… RENಞ MONTAGNE: Interesting, because of course, the notion of the vibrancy of the Church in the Southern Hemisphere. Just as an example, you were in Africa, what did you hear that mattered to them that might even surprise Americans? CARDINAL MAHONY: Well, that their concerns are the impact of globalization, for example. International corporations headquartered in the United States purchase...

German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is moved to the Flossenbürg concentration camp. During the night there is a summary court-martial, and on April 9, 1945, Bonhoeffer is executed. Here is a Christianity Today bio on Dietrich Bonhoeffer. ...

When asked about the legacy of Pope John Paul II, Prof. Gregory R. Beabout responds “that the life and legacy of John Paul II is best understood in light of the history and culture of Poland.” The important distinctions between nation and state, culture and government, were operative both in Polish history as well as in the life of Karol Wojtyla. Read the full text here. ...

There are some problems in parts of the charity sector. The problems are with charities that HAVE enough money to scam somebody or shift an inappropriate perk to a board member. There’s not much talk about the charities that never saw that kind of resource and never will. Government officials always think that more regulation is the answer, but it’s scary when the private sector supports that link. Six of America’s major foundations have financed Electronic Data for Nonprofits (EDIN)...

Matthew 19:23-26 (New International Version) Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said,...