Overview of religious freedom debate is easy to read

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The author of this readable and informative volume -- Kevin Seamus Hasson -- studied law and theology at the University of Notre Dame and is the founder of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, so is well qualified to take on what was a central set of questions for the founders of the American republic, questions still being debated today.
He begins with legal cases challenging the "under God" phrase in the Pledge of Allegiance recited in public schools and other events. Does this amount to the establishment of a religion or of religion itself?

Book reveals pope's secret spy network during World War II

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Who really was Pope Pius XII during World War II? Was he a weak pope, too afraid to speak out publicly against Hitler? Or was he an expert diplomat, calculatingly using his position to help posture assassination attempts of the horrific German leader?
Author Mark Riebling's book, "Church of Spies: The Pope's Secret War against Hitler," contends that the pontiff was indeed a skilled man who used his role to help German plotters attempt to kill Hitler. The book even suggests that his initiatives came at the cost of his legacy and reputation, a point of wide controversy for historians.
"Church of Spies" reads like a spy thriller that is exhaustingly researched, as shown by its more than 100 pages of notes and sources. Riebling, a former editor at Random House and author of "Wedge: The Secret War Between the FBI and CIA," has researched and written about intelligence for various publications. He shares with readers many vivid details about the underground communication, secret meetings and failed attempts to take Hitler's life; the book truly is a treasure trove of surprising information.

Author finds controversy in life of great-grandfather most saw as heroic

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As a retired research analyst for the CIA, James Carson knows how to dig up secrets. But even Carson was surprised by some of the facts that turned up when he decided to research and write a book about the life of his great-grandfather, U.S. Army Col. Henry Lazelle.
Carson grew up hearing stories about Lazelle from his mother, who was only 10 years old when the colonel died. In her eyes, Lazelle was a heroic figure who scouted across the Wild West with Kit Carson, fought for the Union during the Civil War and retired after nearly four decades in the military.
It turned out that the story wasn't quite that clear-cut. While Lazelle had a formidable intellect, wrote articles on military strategy and served as commandant of cadets at West Point, he was known for overstepping boundaries and had a hand in several notorious incidents in Army history.

Book advocates using science to deepen faith, relationship to God

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Walking hand in hand through history has not been easy for science and faith. People on both sides too often and easily toss invectives at the other, such as "superstition" and "heresy." At the same time, ambitious historical efforts have been made, going back at least to the fourth-century St. Augustine of Hippo, to reconcile or bridge some of the gaps between the two.
True, faith and science abide comfortably in many people; but so far no one has succeeded in convincing all of the diverse mentalities in either camp to accept a basic compatibility.
Adding his voice to the reconciliation effort is Michael Dennin. A cradle Catholic who continues to attend Mass regularly and is active in parish life, Dennin also is a professor of physics and astronomy at the University of California, Irvine. Dennin's book, "Divine Science," uses his faith and scientific knowledge to make a case that believers should embrace science as a tool for deepening their belief.

New book offers an open window into Cardinal Wuerl's life, U.S. church

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Washington's Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl exemplifies an unusual aspect of the Catholic Church's governance: when most other men and women are retiring and winding down, senior prelates are reaching the zenith of their authority and influence. Although bishops are required by canon law to submit their resignation to the pope at age 75, many work well beyond those years, often wielding clout well into their 80s.
That is a primary reason the authors of this new biography -- they actually eschew the label of "biography" in the introduction -- caution us that this book is hardly the definitive story of Cardinal Wuerl, who only recently turned 75.
He arguably is America's most important and influential prelate in the midst of the pontificate of Pope Francis. Indeed, Basilian Father Thomas Rosica, CEO of Salt and Light Television Network in Canada and an English-language assistant to the Holy See Press Office, says: "He (Cardinal Wuerl) is one of the most articulate interpreters of who Francis is and what Francis is doing."

Priest's mission starts with getting people to the dinner table

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By Carol Zimmermann | Catholic News Service
BALTIMORE (CNS) -- For Father Leo Patalinghug, faith and food go hand in hand, or in cooking terms, they blend; there is no trick to folding one into the other.
"The idea of food in faith is implicit in our Scriptures.It's implicit in our liturgical calendar," he said, also adding that without question it's a key component of the Mass.
The 45-year-old Filipino-American, known as the cooking priest, has made the blending of those two worlds his life's work with his apostolate, "Grace Before Meals," which aims, as he puts it: "to bring families to the dinner table and bring God to the table."
He not only does a cooking show on the Eternal Word Television Network called "Savoring our Faith," but he also travels across the country giving parish workshops and speaks at conferences, on radio programs and via social media about the need for families to celebrate not just Catholic feast days but everyday meals together. He also has written three books (including "Epic Food Fight: A Bite-Sized History of Salvation") and is currently working on two more.

Thought-provoking books on an everyday topic

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These two slim books serve up substantial food for thought about the sacred at the family dinner table.

First, Susan Muto's "Table of Plenty: Good Food for Body and Spirit" offers inspiring stories, reflections and recipes garnered from her Italian-American childhood. Her mother Helen, a full-time homemaker, adhered to "slow food movement" principles long before their modern "discovery." She approached cooking as an activity to be shared and savored itself, as much as the meal it produced.
The book's pages are redolent with Helen's spicy chicken cacciatore, eggplant bruschetta, simple rustic bread and lemon meringue pie for dessert. Recipes for these and many other dishes are included, but Muto's real focus is how mealtimes can be rich spiritual experiences. This is something she learned from both her mother and her maternal grandmother, whom she describes as "two vivacious women who reverenced good food for God's sake."