Culture

New book on Venice could say more on religion’s role in the ‘impossible’ city

venice: the remarkable history of the lagoon city denis romano  oxford university press, £31.99, 904 pages the renaissance scholar fran...
Alexander Faludy

'I'm a cultural Christian', declares Richard Dawkins, the world's most famous atheist

richard dawkins – one of the world’s most famous atheists – has declared himself to be a “cultural christian”. the author of the god delusio...
Simon Caldwell

Children at Mass: Why are some people so intolerant?

i have just stomped in from an otherwise lovely day celebrating our eldest child reaching double figures. children being rather more sophist...
Flora Watkins

‘The Silencing of Democracy in Nicaragua’: UK Parliament releases findings on scale of oppression by Ortega regime

the uk parliament has released the findings of a report into the oppression of religious leaders, media and political opposition in nicaragu...
The Catholic Herald

Where is the outcry from British Churches on 'nightmarish' nature of Scotland’s new ‘thought crime’ law?

not so very long ago, there was a simpler time when discussion about jk rowling in catholic circles was generally limited to a discussion be...
Gavin Ashenden

Did we just see the budding shoots of a Christian revival this Easter?

the easter edition of the spectator took a refreshingly upbeat stance on the state of christendom, with justin brierley setting out his argu...
Philip Campbell

The spiritual makings of a leader: 'masterful' new Ronald Reagan biography

the peacemaker: ronald reagan, the cold war, and the world on the brink william inboden dutton, £31.99, 622 pages on a visit years back to t...
Cardinal Timothy Dolan

How prayer helps us ‘gain a new horizon’ and better understanding of Easter mystery

as we see the lord jesus in prayer, there are certain practical pointers we can learn from him, even while there is a mystery at play. in hi...
Fr Jeffrey Kirby C

One fallen king, one risen king: Braving the weather to find Arthur and early Christianity along Hadrian’s Wall

it was january, and i needed to get out of the house; away from emails and the effects of a seemingly never-ending christmastide. the puniti...
William Cash

‘Come and have breakfast’: Unravelling the mystery of food in Jesus' life

i wrote in this column a couple of years ago that “there is something odd about christ’s risen body”, which i suppose is fairly obvious. but...
Fr Richard Ounsworth OP