Catholicism Archives - Universal Life Church Monastery Blog

Pope Francis Visits Japan, Decries Nuclear Weapons

November 26th, 2019

Pope Francis recently visited Japan and met with survivors of U.S.-launched nuclear attacks in 1945. He then declared nuclear weapons immoral, igniting a debate about the role of nuclear weapons in the modern world. Continue Reading »

Posted in: Life and Death | 1 Comment »

Filipino Atheists Pulling from the Christian Missionary Playbook

March 27th, 2017

Atheist groups in the Philippines are stealing tactics used by Christian missionaries in the hopes of boosting an atheist movement that has struggled to gain a foothold in the majority-Catholic country. Will it work to fight fire with fire? Continue Reading »

Posted in: Political & Religious Controversy, Progressive Spirituality, Christian | 2 Comments »

Religions Split on Transgender Issue

September 5th, 2016

Lately, the lives of transgender people seem to be all over the news. For example, after a much-publicized transition from male to female, the press continues to document all the minor details in Caitlyn Jenner’s life. Policymakers have crafted transgender b Continue Reading »

Posted in: LGBTQ & Human Rights | 163 Comments »

Pope OKs Condoms to Combat Zika Virus

February 29th, 2016

Microcephaly isn’t a terribly common birth defect. The condition, which causes babies to be born with abnormally small heads and underdeveloped brains, has been making headlines with a spike of occurrences in Brazil. Doctors noticed a correlation between the Continue Reading »

Posted in: Progressive Spirituality | 25 Comments »

Do Animals Go to Heaven?

December 17th, 2014

All dogs do indeed go to heaven, as do cats, horses, and sugar gliders the pope declared in a recent weekly address at the Vatican. Animal rights advocates have praised the announcement, while theological conservatives have remained skeptical. The pope’s pow Continue Reading »

Posted in: Christian | 89 Comments »

Would You Baptize an Alien?

December 10th, 2014

Discovering extraterrestrial life would certainly be a game-changer for humanity, but some people are refusing to let such a prospect shake their religious faith. On the contrary, they see it as an opportunity to share the “good news” of their own belief s Continue Reading »

Posted in: Political & Religious Controversy | 8 Comments »

Tradition vs Inspiration: On God, Gays, and Divorce

October 20th, 2014

For progressive Catholics, it was yet another resounding victory—or so it seemed. The pope had issued a statement seeking even greater acceptance of gay people and remarried Catholics. Before the media fanfare had died down, though, conservative Catholics re Continue Reading »

Posted in: Progressive Spirituality | 5 Comments »

Resurgence of Exorcism Raises Moral Questions

January 29th, 2014

Ministers ordained online have long performed weddings, baptisms, and funerals, but what about exorcisms? Does battling “demonic possession” have a legitimate place in church operations, or is it a dangerous throwback to medieval superstition? Writer and c Continue Reading »

Posted in: ULC Minister Training & Education | 3 Comments »

Pope Makes Bold Statement about Atheism and Redemption

May 24th, 2013

“If you do not believe Jesus Christ died for your sins, you will go to hell.” Christians and non-Christians alike are familiar with these unwavering words, which form the cornerstone of most Christian theology. The belief has not gone unchallenged, though, Continue Reading »

Posted in: Progressive Spirituality | Leave a Comment »

Mother Teresa’s Doctrine of Masochism

April 30th, 2013

If we are to believe the words of her critics, the late Agnes Gonxha—better known as Mother Teresa—celebrated the pain and suffering of the sick and poor. In a recent Alternet article, Valerie Tarico explores the nun’s attitude toward suffering and how r Continue Reading »

Posted in: Political & Religious Controversy | 2 Comments »