Dr. Jim Asher

  • October 21, 2013

Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, San Diego, and the Channel Islands

There are lots of interesting stories about the early years of discovery in Southern California. Many are not...
  • July 2, 2013

Browning Cursillo with Native Americans

Jesuit Father Jean de Brebeuf, in France for his final vows in 1633, returned to his difficult missionary...
  • May 2, 2013

Remember: It’s murder, inside or outside the womb

Let's say the court finds Kermit Gosnell guilty of killing babies after delivery, instead of before — where...
  • April 25, 2013

Is Dr. Gosnell an aberration?

People look at Dr. Kermit Gosnell and wonder, how could he kill aborted babies born alive? Don’t wonder....
  • April 21, 2013

Catholicism in Japan: Past and present

Fr. Callistus Sweeney, OFM is thin and ascetic looking. His easy laughter is surprising if you didn’t realize...
  • April 20, 2013

The 37,000 that died at Hara Castle, and the few who pay homage

We didn’t go to Hara Castle. I wanted to, just to stand on holy ground – but that’s...
  • April 19, 2013

San Felipe de Jesus: The first Mexican saint and the first Japanese martyr

In the more than 50 years he had been here, had he seen Catholicism grow in Japan? I...
  • April 18, 2013

How the lives of the Japanese martyrs can inspire us today

Martyrdom so steadfastly accepted by such youths is especially awesome. And who would have blamed them for surrendering?...
  • April 12, 2013

Catholicism struggles in Japan: More complex that mere secularism

The reasons for failure of the faith to grow in Japan is actually more complex than mere secularism....
  • April 12, 2013

Enigmatic martyrdom in Japan

The second century Father Tertullian wrote, “The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church.” The rulers...