The Voice IT: Sister Cristina Scuccia

Sr. Cristina Scuccia is a 25 year old member of the Ursuline Sisters of the Holy Family who has appeared on "The Voice of Italy," a reality show akin to "American Idol" or "Britain’s Got Talent." Sr. Cristina surprised the four judges on The Voice of Italy March 19 with both her talent and her habit. The judges on the show begin with their backs turned to the performer, and turn around only if they like what they hear. As the judges turned to face Sr. Cristina, their astonishment was visible at seeing a young nun singing Alicia Keys’ “No One.” For more information click here...

Bill Gates' family goes to Catholic Church

Bill Gates said during an interview:

"The moral systems of religion, I think, are super-important. We’ve raised our kids in a religious way; they’ve gone to the Catholic church that Melinda goes to and I participate in. I’ve been very lucky, and therefore I owe it to try and reduce the inequity in the world. And that’s kind of a religious belief. I mean, it’s at least a moral belief." Read full article here...

Met an Atheist Today

Bernie. His name was Bernie. He looked like he is in his late sixties. I sat down in front of him in the library while he was reading the newspaper. He politely greeted me "howdy" and I smiled back. I jokingly asked him if there was any good news today on the paper. He grinned and said it was all the same old stuff. I asked him to watch my laptop as I used the washroom for a couple of minutes. When I came back he asked me if I was a student. I said yes. I told him that I went to the Seminary school. He immediately jumped in and said "Divinity School" with a bit of a surprised look in his face. I said yes, I am studying to become a Catholic Priest. "Crazy" was the next word out of his mouth. I smiled back at him and said yes it is "crazy" out of this world. He went on and said, "very well we are going to have a great conversation, I am an atheist." "Good, let's talk and see maybe I am wrong," was what I said with a bigger smile on my face. We both laughed.

For the next five minutes of so, I sat patiently and listened to his lament. It turned out that he read some philosophy books that confused him. He now professed a belief in the scientific evidence to prove anything. I continued to listen even though I wanted to interject.

At the end, it was more of a confusion on his part than anything else. I challenged him to read St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica. I encouraged him that yes, God is for real. I gave him the basic reasons that the universe is governed by natural law which should point to the One (God) who designed it to be so. A great design must call out to a great designer. A beautiful painting must direct us to the one who painted it. All created nature therefore must lead us to contemplate the Creator of all.

We parted as friends.