FAITH HOPE & HISTORY with FR. BILL

The life and martyrdom of St. Thomas Becket shows that Religion has a clear place in politics, whether we want it to or not. Fr. Bill discusses the life of Becket and how he defied the conventional separation of Religion and Politics, and even became the victim of a "Cancel Culture."

The Feast of the Holy Innocents follows the Celebration of Christmas and remembers the death of the infants slaughtered by King Herod following the Birth of Jesus. Fr. Bill talks about how the Slaughter of the Innocents parallels another Biblical slaughter, and how it is repeated today in the drive for a more secular progressive post-Christian society.

Christmas celebrates the Birth of Christ, but it also celebrates that "The Lord has come this people and set them free!"  It is a great celebration of Freedom that is perfectly combatable with our culture and founding as Free Americans of the United States. Fr. Bill talks about how this is so and wishes everyone the best of the season.

Many people see the Supreme Court of the United States as the Supreme Authority of the Country. Fr. Bill discusses the role and authority of the Supreme Court in relation to the other two Branches of the Federal Government, as well as in relation to the Governments of the individual States, particularly in light of the recent arguments before it over the Mississippi Abortion Law.  He talks ab...

Americans love to talk about their "rights".   Fr. Bill talks about the nature of "Rights" as expressed in the Declaration of Independence of the United States and how the assertion of "rights" that people make today fits, or does not fit, into that dynamic that is at the center of America's founding and continued prosperity.

November 19, 2021 is the 158th Anniversary of the Gettysburg Address Fr. Bill talks about the Legacy of Lincoln's Speech and how it continues to speak to our Nation, and give us hope in the present crisis.

The Trial of Kyle Rittenhouse has captured the attention of America. Fr. Bill discusses the trial, not in terms of innocence or guilt, but in terms of what everything about the trial - what led up to it, what it is about, how it has been conducted by the participants, what the media and politicians have sad about it - ultimately says about the state of America and the attitudes that have become pr...

Many Catholics are critical of Pope Francis and other Bishops for not calling out Catholic politicians who are in favor of abortion.  Some have called Pope Francis a "false Pope", an "anti-Pope" and even "Satan's Pope".  Some say that the Church is in a crisis from which it may never recover. Fr. Bill talks about another crisis from Church history and puts the current issues into the pro...

Is Halloween a celebration of Death and Evil, or a manifestation of Christian confidence against evil?  Fr. Bill talks about Halloween and the subsequent Feast Days of All Saints and All Souls.

Fr. Bill addresses the controversy over Covid Vaccinations.  He talks about the issue of "Forced" Vaccinations, and addresses the ethical questions people raise with regard to taking the Vaccine. (note - Fr. Bill is NOT speaking as an official spokesperson of the Catholic Church.  Rather, he speaks as a pastoral minister who has had to address this in discussions with those who have appr...

The Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7) commemorates the victory of the Catholic League over the Ottoman Empire in the Naval Battle of Lepanto. Fr. Bill discusses the history of the Battle and why it's lessons are still important for the Church today as it continues to pray the Rosary as an important and popular devotion.

Three days after the attacks on 9/11, President George W. Bush called on the nation to observe a National Day of Prayer.  In addition to that day (9/14) being the Catholic Feast of the Triumph of the Cross of Christ, it is also the anniversary of the triumph after the Siege of Fort McHenry, outside Baltimore, Maryland. Join Fr. Bill as he discusses and relates the events of 9/11 with that imp...

Fr. Bill offers thoughts and reflections on the 20th Anniversary of the 9/11 Terrorist Attack on the United States.

Fr. Bill gives a few comments on the places he visited during his annual road trip through the United States

Many people, Catholic and Non-Catholic, object to certain teachings of the Catholic Church.  This is nothing new.  Fr. Bill talks about the up and coming readings of the Sunday Mass, what Jesus taught and how His audience responded.  Fr. Bill then compares it to the objections to current teachings of the Church, the demand of some people that the Church change its teachings, and the...

Pope Francis has rolled back Pope Benedict XVI's allowance for greater access to the Traditional Latin Mass.  Some are saddened, some confused, some indifferent.   Fr. Bill discusses the issue, and how the Traditional Latin and Novus Ordo Masses relate to the other Rites of the Catholics Church.

Fr. Bill addresses the habit of many public officials and media figures to compare current issues to Historical Events, Figures and Institutions, encouraging his listeners to respond, not to the extreme Rhetoric and inappropriate Hyperbole, but as a call to actually learn the history that is being invoked in the comparison.

Without Independence Day there would be no Juneteenth to celebrate. Fr. Bill discusses the history of Independence Day and the Founding of our Nation in light of the new National Holiday of Juneteenth.  He also discusses the fallacies of current accusations of our Nation's Founding, how that Founding ensured the Abolition of Slavery, how Juneteenth at long last acknowledges that this is a Nat...

Catholic Democrat members of Congress wrote a letter to the United States Catholic Bishops urging the bishops to refrain from asserting Catholic teaching regarding the Sanctity of Human Life, the Absolute Evil of Abortion, the Advocacy of Abortion by Catholics in Public Life and their Worthiness to Receive in Communion the Holy Body and Blood of Christ. Fr. Bill talks about the various issues surr...

Holy Years of the past declared and dedicated by the Holy Fathers, from John Paul II to Francis, have in many ways been lost, in some cases wasted opportunities for the Church.  The Year of St. Joseph is another opportunity for the Church to preach and promote values associated with the earthly Father of Jesus in ways that can truly uplift and intently challenge our world today. Fr. Bill talk...

The Catholic Church is still reeling and recovering from a series of scandals involving some of its priests and bishops.  The Church has also done a great deal to address them within its own ranks. There are, however, those who would do nothing but remind the Church of its checkered past, ignoring the rapid and revolutionary strides it has taken to ensure avoidance of scandal in the future, a...

Fr. Bill talks about St. Boniface, the Apostle to Germany, and how he confronted the paganism of the people of that region, and how his example of zeal and audacity can serve to confront the modern paganisms of today.

On the Feast of St. William of Gellone, the Duke of Aquitaine, Fr. Bill discusses him, and two important English Saints, Augustine of Canterbury and Bede the Venerable, and how they were, and continue to be, important figures not only in the Church, but in the History of England and Christianity.

The Third Person of the Holy Trinity is the Holy Spirit which is celebrated every year on Pentecost Sunday - the last day of the 50-day celebration of Easter. However, it is still subject to the same whimsical interpretation as the Father and Son when it comes to how believers (and non-believers) invoke its action. Fr. Bill describes the Biblical symbols of the Holy Spirit and how they represent w...

The Feast of the Ascension of Jesus (as well as the Epiphany) are now celebrated on Sundays rather than the original 40days after Easter and 12 Days after Christmas, respectively. Fr. Bill talks about the purpose of Holy Days of Obligation, and why some of these days, more recently the Ascension, have been moved.  He also talks about what Holy Days should be kept, moved or suppressed as days...