Friday Free-for-All — and a word of thanks

Before we get to this week’s links, I just wanted to thank everyone who donated during this week’s fund drive. Asking for money is not my favorite thing ever — none of us here particularly enjoys it — but we do it because we believe that strongly in what InsideCatholic is about. We have big plans for the future of IC, but we can’t get there alone, which is why we depend on your support — and why we are truly humbled and grateful to have readers like you on our side.

For those who haven’t given yet — what are you waiting for? Please help us continue to provide you with the same great coverage of Catholic news and ideas, and to spread the Good News of our Faith to the next generation of readers. A small investment from you now will pay big dividends in excellent Catholic commentary for a long time to come.

Thank you for all your generous support!

Alright, time for the good stuff:

• In a big development for the prosecution of clergy sex-abuse cases, a priest in Philadelphia (who served as the head of that diocese’s office for clergy) is being charged with two felony counts of “endangering the welfare of children” for allegedly knowing about instances of abuse but doing nothing to stop the priests responsible. Somewhat ominously, the DA’s report says only that, “for the moment,” no charges will be brought against the former archbishop, Cardinal Bevilacqua himself.
• Is Lila Rose’s LiveAction group lying for a good cause? If the ends never justify the means, what should we make of their undercover videos? Pia de Solenni breaks down the sticky questions.
• A photo tour of Hosni Mubarak’s two opulent palaces, “complete with countless chandeliers, solid gold clocks, a collection of weapons, and a bedroom with silk-lined walls.” No wonder he doesn’t want to leave.
• Donald Trump a pro-life presidential candidate? I believe it about as much as I believe that hair.
• Johnny McEntee, trick-shot UCONN quarterback. And yet this kid has only played two games in the last two seasons… “Maybe if there is a Harlem Globetrotters NFL, I could do that,” he says.