The City and the City

The Army of Santa
One of the What’s Wrong with the World Bloggers speaks out against teaching children that Santa Claus is actually giving them gifts and the comments thread explodes. (0)

Axios
Bp. Hilarion of Vienna is now an archbishop. (0)

It does.
Clearly, Sullivan has the word “Fundamentalism” confused with religious obsession, which is more of a personality disorder than a branch of Christianity. This revelation helps explain a lot. (0)

True facts.
“Missiologists are like church growth experts, the less you have around, the better off you are.” (0)

My Book of the Church's Year
A delightful children’s book on the liturgical year, by the Anglo-Catholic artist Enid Chadwick. (0)

More on Usury & the Financial Crisis
What’s Wrong With the World offers up two excellent posts on usury, the financial crisis and more. (0)

On Speculation
A valuable post at Reading Notes, that starts with Strauss and ends with Schmemann, Hart & Bradshaw. (0)

"More than the work of reformers, the Reformation was a work of the State."
Fr. Stephen offers up another excellent post on Scripture & the Church. (2)

"In Defense of Anne Rice"
First Things’s On the Square has an excellent review and apology for Anne Rice’s two Christ the Lord books and her recent memoir. (0)

Mr. Robinson Doesn't Get It.
“Now in general, the negative reply just floors me. How can a reasonably well educated person simply ignore or dismiss so easily the second largest Christian tradition on the planet, which has an unquestionable antiquity and preserved apostolic orders and a sacramental life? How does that count as an informed decision? Because that is what many of the people I have met project when they speak of their conversion to Catholicism.“ (0)

A Not-So-Simple Life: In a cramped Washington rowhouse, six women share one shower and a quest to serve God - washingtonpost.com
“A Not-So-Simple Life: In a cramped Washington rowhouse, six women share one shower and a quest to serve God” (0)

Radical Love: The Sisters of Summit, NJ
A very nice slide show in Time. (1)

Culture? What Culture?
First Principles - Culture? What Culture? “Shall we have a culture again? Go home, marry, love your children, feast your neighbors, work and play and worship, and remember.” (0)

New World Byzantine - The Work of Andrew Gould
Some beautiful church architecture. (0)

The Pseudo-Saint in the Mexican Aisle
“Oh! Powerful St. Simon, I humbly come to you. Let your spirit help me in all actions and in any dangerous circumstance. If it is love, you will hold the person I like. If it is a business, you will not allow it to fail because evil cannot have more power than your spirit. If it is an enemy you will defeat him. Oh power St. Simon, I offer you your cigar, your tortilla, your drink and your candles if you help me with any dangerous circumstance I may encounter. For any debts I cannot currently pay, let the judge be defeated and on my side in invoking your name. I ask of you, in the name of the One you sold for thirty coins that were given to the needy, to let everything be forgotten; and in this manner, I want you to perform the miracles I request.” Bizarre. (0)