Humans are made in the image and likeness of God, according to the Hebrew Scriptures (Genesis 1:27). The Hebrew words selem (image) and demut (likeness) basically mean representation. Some scholars state that the words suggest counterpart as well.

The Trinity – the doctrine or teaching that God is Father/Creator, Son/Redeemer, and Holy Spirit/Sanctifier – is central to Catholicism. But no one fully understands the Trinity. That is why so few people ever talk about the Trinity; the focus is usually on one or another Person of the Trinity (the Father, or Jesus, or the Holy Spirit), rather than God as Triune (three in one).

Can one be Catholic and kinky? Ok, maybe a Catholic is necessarily kinky given the priestly garments, perfumes and oils, church kneelers – not to mention the hierarchy of power. Or, perhaps being kinky necessarily excludes one from Catholicism. The teachings on sexuality may merely be too rigid.

The United States of America just celebrated its 235th Independence Day. All superficial sentiments aside, the holiday reminds us of the great value of freedom: freedom from anything that strips humans of dignity and freedom for the pursuit of happiness.

Judgment’s been in the news lately, mostly due to another of Harold Camping’s incorrect predictions of the end times. (He was first wrong on 9/6/94, and then 5/21/11; and he’ll be incorrect again on 10/21/11.)

“Father what a waste” was a phrase used to describe a graduate school friend. Celibacy makes little sense to most people, but this description of my friend came from numerous budding theologians at a Catholic University!

In last month’s column I began an exploration of Matthew 6:24: “No one can serve two masters. A person will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” My focus was two-fold…

“No one can serve two masters. A person will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon” (Matthew 6:24). Is it true? (Part 1) How can a kinky person interested in power exchange be Catholic as well? (Part 2)

The life and dignity of the human person is the foundational belief of Catholic Social Thought. Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Scriptures (Old Testament), highlights the Judeo-Christian belief in the inherent goodness of creation. God calls creation good six times and adds the superlative “very good” on the seventh time

What gets you out of bed in the morning? (Or, what/who keeps you in bed in the morning?) What do you view as your purpose in life? What’s your mission? Some answers may spring to mind immediately: my alarm clock, the bright sun, or more significantly, my kids, my job (or, passionate love-making with my partner!)