FILMS AND BOOKS

Many years ago, in Quezon City, the governing General Chapter of the Order of Preachers, the Dominicans, established four priorities with which the order would pursue preaching in the postmodern world.

If we haven’t heard by now, we should take the time to learn: all things are connected. For example, in the American Church, studies from Catholic University paint a dismal picture — approximately 35 percent of professed Catholics surveyed don’t believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist.

NEW YORK (CNS) -- In the end, Roger Ebert's doubts about his Catholic faith may not have been what really mattered. Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral was, after all, the chosen venue for his April 8 funeral Mass, and it was packed to the rafters.

Literary critics, the world over, write critiques and reviews of novels every day. Catholic novels are something different or we wouldn’t label them “Catholic.” We can suppose that such novels contain our particular set of beliefs and practices and we know that all Catholic novels teach some kind of lesson.

In hindsight, it’s easy to see why “Les Misérables” didn’t win best picture at the Academy Awards this year. Jean Valjean, played by Hugh Jackman, is essentially a pacifist. “The man of mercy,” as his foe eventually calls him, forgives 70 times 7.

A book by Sr. Caroline Hemesath, SSF, “From Slave to Priest,” tells the true story of a man born in bondage who escaped the South as a child, gained freedom under the Emancipation Proclamation, battled prejudice, and whose irrepressible faith led him to an unspeakable triumph — the priesthood.

Roma Downey and Mark Burnett have pulled off the making of a 10-hour miniseries, "The Bible," that gets its premiere Sunday, March 3, on the History cable channel.

The honor recognizes one Latino author and one Latino illustrator for work that "best portrays, affirms and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in children's books." David Diaz is responsible for artwork in the June 2012 release of "Martin de Porres: The Rose in the Desert." It's written by Gary D. Schmidt.

Persecution of those who follow Christ is older than the Roman Catholic Church itself. History is replete with the great trials and tribulations of...

In "Will Many Be Saved," Ralph Martin is more specific, particularly when it comes to those engaged in the new evangelization. His focus is on the 16th section of "Lumen Gentium" (Dogmatic Constitution on the Church), the section that deals with who will be saved and missionary activity in the church.