Catholic Commentary: Reviews
Joseph Susanka: Two Different Good Friday Films Apr 22
A pair of films likely to be overlooked during Holy Week.
John Zmirak: How to Train Your Gargoyle Apr 6
In the spirit and much the same voice as The Screwtape Letters.
Martin Morse Wooster: The Home Lives of the Founding Fathers Mar 11
An enjoyable book that deepens our understanding of the their lives and character.
Monica Migliorino Miller: Inside the Abortion Machine Feb 18
Conversion from abortion facilitator to abortion protester is a compelling narrative.
Joseph Susanka: The Life You Live May Be Your Own Jan 21
Two films with eerily similar questions and drastically different conclusions.
Joseph Susanka: The Specter of Broken Fatherhood Dec 3
An intriguing message amid a sea of problematic mannerisms.
Deal Hudson: The Worst Book I Ever Read Oct 21
Annoyed and exhausted from the effort of reading so much nonsense.
Ralph McInerny: Mountain Man Oct 14
It is good to settle down again with this marvelous and saintly author.
Joseph Susanka: The Brutality of Grace Oct 8
Moments of grace and the violence that surrounds them.
H. Crocker III: What Might Have Been Aug 10
A future wherein the world has come to be really and intelligently Christian.
Deal Hudson: The Pro-Life Leader Who Is Also an Exorcist Jul 18
The occult is not innocent entertainment.
F. H. Buckley: An American Tragedy Jul 15
More levels of meaning than one finds in an entire contemporary blockbuster.
Sandra Miesel: The Myth of Pope Joan Jun 26
Readers with a taste for sophisticated history will find a fine diversion.
Benjamin Wiker: Delusional Atheism May 1
So many bad arguments on behalf of a most serious subject.
Benjamin Wiker: The Case Against Christianity Feb 2
Only as strong as his case for atheism, and that is not very strong at all.
Benjamin Wiker: The Atheists' Benchwarmer Feb 13
Stenger's arguments read like a collage of standard atheists' quips.
Joseph Susanka: The Western Is Dead; Long Live the Western Jun 11
Styles and themes from both the new and old eras that has been evolving.
Deal Hudson: Glee and the Search for Postmodern Innocence May 31
The ability to keep three generations of viewers in front of the TV together.
Russell Shaw: Early Chronicles of a Post-Christian Age Oct 22
Also shed light on the situation of faith today.
Elizabeth Scalia: Stalking the Ten-Pronged Divine Nod Sep 2
A likeable, valuable book, but it may be more useful in portable audio form.
Ronald Rychlak: The Plot to Kidnap Pope Pius XII Oct 17
Should be a significant book in the Pius war.
Monica Migliorino Miller: Why an All-Male Priesthood Remains Oct 4
Some helpful responses to the most common objections to the Church's teaching.
Sandra Miesel: Dismantling The Da Vinci Code Aug 31
Brown's mega-best-seller rips the Grail away to the realm of esoteric history.
Anna Mathie: Love and Trespasses in Kristin Lavransdatter Mar 17
"Ever since I read it, it has never left me for a moment."
Meghan Keane: Lake of Fire Oct 12
Some of the most emotionally fraught sentiments on abortion caught on film.
George Sim Johnston: Benedict's Jesus Sep 10
Readers expecting an easy tour of the New Testament won't find it here.
Patrick Hynes: Faith, Hope, Love, and Welfare Reform Jan 25
Study of charitable giving in America from an entirely pragmatic perspective.
Deal Hudson: M. Night Shyamalan's Unbreakable Success Jan 2
Unbreakable may be too much of a mental stretch for most people.
Thomas Hibbs: Our Contemporary Nihilism Nov 14
The significance of popular cultural artifacts for our self-understanding.
Thomas Hibbs: Ancient Wisdom, Modern Economics Jul 1
We do not have the sort of book about conservatism that we desperately need.
Thomas Hibbs: England at Prayer Sep 2
Enables the reader to participate actively in the piety of the late Middle Ages.
Cynthia Grenier: Philip Pullman's Dark Materials Oct 1
A disturbing — not to say dangerous — vision.
H. Crocker III: How the English-Speaking Peoples Saved Civilization Jan 28
-- and will do it again.
H. Crocker III: Tocqueville's Catholic America Feb 16
A wonderfully consuming portrait of Tocqueville and his ideas.
Kevin Schmiesing: The Long Road to Civil Rights May 7
One of the most sensational crimes and trials in Alabama history.
Jason Boffetti: Politics from Parables Sep 24
Consider whether the Gospels are the source-text for our modern political values.
William Baer: Zodiac Apr 2
The difficulty of making movies about well-known unsolved crimes.
Michael Ard: Kirk among the Ruins Oct 30
A strong exposition on the range of Kirk's thought.
William Doino Jr.: When Love Conquers Politics Apr 16
The kind of book that might actually help heal a broken relationship.
Martin Morse Wooster: The Lessons of Lawrence Mar 5
An effective introduction to the life -- and the ideas -- of T. E. Lawrence.
Eve Tushnet: Tolstoy Dies, Goes to America Feb 26
It shows the shackles of wedlock -- and the love that forges them.
John Zmirak: Everybody Loves a Secret Feb 25
We all crave the mysterious, and hope to have its secrets opened to us.
Fr. James Schall: A Man of Words and Deeds Feb 2
Churchill was a statesman, a man of action with the prudence that goes with it.
Deal Hudson: The Laughter That Binds Us All Nov 30
Feminism of life does everything in support of life from the perspective of love.
Russell Shaw: A Changing Church? Nov 19
A close-up look at ten trends that will largely shape Catholicism.
Arturo Vasquez: The Fall of the Archbishop Oct 8
The official spokesman of the Catholic Left for more than two decades.
Thomas Howard: Augustine's Pears Sep 4
A great antidote for all that is confused and squalid about our own epoch.
Deal Hudson: Bill Donohue Takes Aim at the Secular Left Aug 31
Secular Sabotage could not arrive at a more opportune moment.
Robert Reilly: Shine On, Mendelssohn Aug 28
It is beyond my imagination why anyone would not wish to see this light.
Martin Morse Wooster: Resurrecting Religion Aug 21
Religious news is, more often than not, the most important news of the day.
Thomas Hibbs: 'Where the Truth Lies' Aug 14
Mad Men illustrates some of the concerns central to Caritas in Veritate.
John Chalberg: Rescuing Lincoln Jul 28
His ambitions and mistakes never let him steer away from his great goal.
David Mills: Chesterton and Lewis for Beginners Jul 24
The bookish Christian's rock stars.
Gerald Russello: Mary as Global Icon Jul 10
Mother of God ranges across the centuries, from the Gospels to the Reformation.
Deal Hudson: Catholic Writer Tells a Pro-Life Horror Story Jun 22
Fighting to live in the face of a creator who wants to murder him.
Eve Tushnet: We'll Burn That Bra When We Come to It Jun 5
Florence King's 1982 novel When Sisterhood Was in Flower.
Deal Hudson: Evil, In the Name of God Jun 1
Will leave you changed and forever on guard against the abuse of divine law.
Joan Frawley Desmond: Fathers and Sons May 14
Reveals something more than the author may have intended.
Fr. Roger Landry: The Benefit of Doubt May 11
This movie shows that in many cases it's hard to discover the truth.
Martin Morse Wooster: Evolutionary Art Apr 27
Reasonable conclusions through an unprovable belief.
Brian Saint-Paul: Politics as Applied Theology - A Conversation with Peter and Helen Evans Apr 27
"Whoever said Christianity was nice?"
Deal Hudson: A Catholic Writer Who Does Not Turn Away Apr 20
The Body of This: Stories by Andrew McNabb
Danielle Bean: Soul-Healing Humor Apr 20
An unabashedly honest peek into the life of a homeschooling mother of many.
Christopher Scalia: An Odd Bird Apr 17
O'Connor's life is an inspiration to any writer...and a model for any Catholic.
Anthony Esolen: The Disappearance of Song Apr 13
The work of Ford -- is irrepressibly biblical and epic no matter where it is set.
Cynthia Grenier: The Great and Terrible Year Apr 3
The power and style of the Russian original.
John Zmirak: Brideshead Redecorated Mar 25
Lush and musical prose conveys to us the intensity of perfect, lyrical moments.
Pope Benedict XVI: Guardini on Christ in Our Century Mar 16
"That which is truly real...will lead us to the One who is truly real."
Fr. James Schall: The Lord of the World Mar 10
"Wonderfully conveys the flatness and boredom of a world without God."
Christopher Scalia: Appalachian Gothic Mar 6
A haunting depiction of greed, inhumanity, and single-minded ambition.
David Mills: Reading the Signs Jan 30
"A telling of the good news in symbols that would speak to many people."
Fr. Dwight Longenecker: Heretical Times Jan 16
Good, solid, reliable history written in a no-nonsense style.
Joan Frawley Desmond: The Twilight of Clint Eastwood Jan 9
A radical response to the problem of evil in the world.
Cortes DeRussy: The Difference Between Observing and Exploring Dec 19
The Pulitzer Prize winning play August: Osage County
Joan Frawley Desmond: Of Certainty and Doubt Dec 17
Doubt evokes a haunted time before "the deluge."
Matthew Lickona: I Want to Believe Dec 12
Film Review - X-Files: I Want to Believe
John Zmirak: Our Age's Reigning Sin - Now on DVD Dec 2
This vice is misguided compassion.
Martin Morse Wooster: Gandhi, Churchill, and India's Troubles Dec 2
One cannot fully understand Churchill without studying his views on India.
Matthew Lickona: Vampire Love Dec 1
Love isn't safe, especially when you love someone supernatural.
Joseph Susanka: The People Behind the Politics Nov 24
The Visitor -- a little film about a quiet little man overcome by deep suffering.
Deal Hudson: Why Hitler Stole the Art of Europe Nov 18
He sought total domination of the culture, especially its art and architecture.
Todd Aglialoro: Bourne, James Bourne Nov 18
A conspicuous moral ambiguity infects Quantum of Solace.
Matthew Lickona: Jesus Discovered Nov 14
"Redeemed" talks about conversion, the turn toward Christ, as a lifelong work.
John Zmirak: Kneeling Before the World Nov 11
We have the bishops we deserve.
Fr. Roger Landry: Preaching Christ's Passion Feb 18
Caviezel's portrayal was of a Savior whom today's men would follow.
Jeffrey Tucker: A Novel for All Souls Nov 4
Oscar Wilde's, "The Picture of Dorian Gray"
Mike Shaw: The Da Vinci Code Jan 10
A review of the movie based on Dan Brown's book.
Joan Frawley Desmond: From Darkness Into Light Oct 27
Departs from the set conversion story, with its happily-ever-after denouement.
Eve Tushnet: The Serenity Player Oct 27
Hermann Hesse's 1943 novel, The Glass Bead Game.
Matthew Lickona: Subtletyproof Oct 27
The sweetness was so relentless, so utterly without guile.
Jeffrey Tucker: The Debt We Owe to Trade Oct 11
The book is even more important than the author knows.
Matthew Lickona: Ridiculous Oct 6
Mostly, it's an entertaining run...
Joseph Susanka: Taking Up Arms Oct 4
A film filled with many complex, conflicting messages.
Joan Frawley Desmond: 'Big Tent' Catholicism Oct 2
A conflicted approach to Catholic moral teaching.
Anna Mathie: Outside "Catholic" Oct 2
Ushpizin, or The Holy Guests
John Zmirak: How to 'Render' without Surrender Sep 30
Archbishop Charles Chaput's Render Unto Caesar
Christopher Scalia: Chesterton's Overrated Novella Sep 27
It is not a masterpiece, and Chesterton's reputation should not obscure that fact.
Michael Ard: The House of War Sep 19
Throughout her compact book, Moczar narrates engagingly.
John Zmirak: The Ale-Drinker's Answer to Hegel - Chesterton's The Everlasting Man Sep 16
The convert nabs this narrative from 2,000 years ago and makes it new.
Susie Lloyd: Dostoyevsky on Steroids Sep 11
A conspiracy to destroy Christ's Church from within?
Elizabeth Scalia: 'Greater Than' Is Pretty Great Sep 2
Sound argument against the considerations of four prominent atheists.
Logan Gage: A Good Book About Bad Books Aug 23
A quick course on the Great Books or to inoculate a child going off to college.
Joan Frawley Desmond: Resisting the Temptations of Power Aug 20
Archbishop Charles Chaput's Render Unto Caesar
Jeffrey Tucker: Peace-Loving Conservatives Aug 16
A super-entertaining, very well-researched, and enormously enlightening history.
Christopher Scalia: A Pattern, Somewhere Aug 14
If you can handle Brideshead Revisited, you can handle this novel.
Joseph Susanka: The Little Way of the Samurai Aug 8
A film about the importance and value of one's family.
Michael Baruzzini: Fighting the Wrong War Aug 2
Ignores the far greater danger of evolutionism.
Eve Tushnet: When I Was Cruel Aug 1
A Small Killing: A frightening, lovely, and creepy comic.
Todd Aglialoro: The Government, Divorce, and the War on Fatherhood Jul 31
As unique as it is disturbing...
Marjorie Campbell: Listening to the Children of Gay Parents Jul 25
Her candid account of life growing up "under" an exploitative father.
Joseph Susanka: The Devil Went Down to Gotham Jul 19
Nolan discovered the combination that eluded the franchise for so many years.
the InsideCatholic Staff and Friends: Notes from the Author - Ron Hansen on Exiles Jul 18
What is "Catholic" fiction?
Elizabeth Scalia: Willing America Right Jul 12
His sensibility is both consistent and thoughtfully measured, whatever the stimulus
Martin Morse Wooster: Page-Turning American History Jul 11
"A refreshing change" from "gloomy, depressing, jargon-laden tracts."
Joseph Susanka: A Person Is A Person, No Matter How Broken Jul 5
A perfect example of a director using the documentary form to its full potential.
Mark Stricherz: Grabbing Religious Voters Jul 3
Democrats are making a play for some "values voters."
Joan Frawley Desmond: The Bonds of Friendship Jun 28
The most intimate and profound moments of a great pontiff's life.
Deal Hudson: Ralph Reed Writes a Novel? Jun 23
To recreate an election in the imaginary world of fiction.
Gerald Russello: The All-Powerful Presidency Jun 7
Shatters conventional illusions about what we think the presidency is for.
Joseph Susanka: Of God and Guests Jun 6
The miraculous power of prayer and maintaining a simple, childlike faith.
Russell Shaw: Through a Glass, Darkly - Secrecy and the Catholic Church May 27
Is the problem larger than secrecy?
Meghan Keane: Growing Pains May 16
Lacks some of the intimate detail of the first film.
Genevieve Kineke: The Idol of Age May 11
No regrets, no humility, no real wisdom.
Eve Tushnet: Tainted Love May 10
What is done out of love is beyond good and evil.
Logan Gage: Delusions of Grandeur May 9
I do wish the rest of the scientific community would join us.
Joan Frawley Desmond: The Clash of Civilizations 2.0 May 3
A discussion regarding the civilizational challenge that now confronts the West.
Joseph Susanka: The Skinhead and the Priest May 2
Reminds us, no one is ever beyond hope.
Fr. James Schall: Orthodoxy Apr 28
The single-best book published in the last hundred years.
Jeffrey Tucker: The Real Catholic Songbook Apr 16
It contains the music for every Sunday of the year.
Randy Boyagoda: The Real Scandal in Boston and Beyond Apr 11
The faithful not called to the fullest possible living out of the gospel...
Gerald Russello: Toward a More Just Law Apr 5
Some of the best recent Catholic thinking on the law.
Mark Stricherz: Exposing Culture of Death, Inc. Mar 29
Review: Embryo: A Defense of Human Life
Joseph Susanka: What Price Perfection? Mar 28
A warning for that time when humans will control their own "evolution."
Martin Morse Wooster: The Last Days of Jefferson Mar 15
Will help us understand his greatness as a Founder and as a president.
Eve Tushnet: The Conscience of Manners Mar 14
She's developed manners into something akin to a spiritual discipline.
Elizabeth Scalia: Almost Catholic Is Not Quite Enough Mar 6
A nourishing read...which some Catholics will find entertaining and helpful.
Joseph Susanka: The Boiler House Saint Feb 28
A masterpiece of cinematic restraint and spiritual depth.
Susie Lloyd: Funny and Effective Feb 23
A blend of logic and ridicule, producing orthodoxy.
Eve Tushnet: Theology of the Body in Pain Feb 12
Shows how torture violates every single aspect of the created world.
Gerald Russello: 'The Break' - Dawson and the Modern World Feb 10
Helpfully brings together the disparate strands of Dawson's work.
Meghan Keane: Notes from Sundance Feb 1
Plenty of highlights of the ten-day festival.
David Warren: Against Pluralism Jan 28
Third edition of After Virtue by the great living philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre.
Elise Ehrhard: Movies for the Next Generation Jan 22
2007 saw a flurry of secular films that were unabashedly pro-life in their outlook.
Logan Gage: Shedding the Galileo Complex Jan 12
A fine introduction to design – perhaps the best to date.
Joanna Bogle: Holy Land Dec 29
About the future of Europe and it's a worryingly good read.
Cynthia Grenier: A Handsome Lie Dec 7
The theology in the film is murky to say the least.
Benjamin Wiker: Moses Who? Dec 6
See the Ten Commandments in a new way.
Meghan Keane: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Nov 30
Rather than depression, it invokes awe and appreciation.
Sean Dailey: A Firefly Named 'Serenity' Nov 9
And so it goes. You can't help but fall in love.
Eve Tushnet: Grace Is the Hardest Pillow Nov 7
The best poems in this collection are among the best poems I've read.
Joan Frawley Desmond: Bella Oct 26
Transformative power of relationships anchored in truth rather than sentimentality.
Meghan Keane: Gone Baby Gone Oct 19
An engrossing detective thriller that displays a nuance Affleck lacks as an actor.
Martin Morse Wooster: The Forgotten Failures of FDR Oct 9
An important attempt to re-examine the ideas and the legacy of the New Deal.
Ronald Rychlak: The Priests of Dachau Oct 8
Provides insight into history, human nature, and faith.
Cynthia Grenier: Louis XIV's Saving 'Solidity' Sep 29
"Kings have majesty and popes have sanctity, but you have solidity."
William F. Buckley: God's Irony Sep 22
It is God's irony to find holiness in a sinner, and perhaps to forgive the sin.
Benjamin Wiker: The Best Mind of the 18th Century Sep 20
Little substance beyond what one would hear murmured in Enlightenment salons.
Thomas Howard: 'Brideshead Revisited' Revisited Apr 1
A story about sin and grace.
