Q. Would you please answer some Christmas questions? First, how do we know that Christ was born on the 25th of December? Where is the Biblical text designating the date?

A. The traditional date for Christmas, 25 December, is described as the liturgical date; the historical date is unknown. (It could have been 25 December.) The Church chose 25 December as early as the fourth century (c. 330 A.D.). The fourth century marked the end of the Great Persecutions. (In the East, however, adoption of 25 December was somewhat delayed, as Christ’s Birth was celebrated within the context of Epiphany, recognized from the start as a very sacred Solemnity.)

Two weeks into the NFL season, ESPN ran a Sunday morning special exploring why the third-string quarterback of the Denver Broncos, Tim Tebow, had become the most polarizing figure in American sports – more polarizing than trash-talking NBA behemoths; more polarizing than foul-mouthed Serena Williams; more polarizing than NFL all-stars who father numerous children by numerous women, all out of wedlock. Why does Tebow, and Tebow alone, arouse such passions? Why is Tebow the one whom "comedians" say they would like to shoot?

I was hopping mad as I left Mass at my friend’s parish. It was two months ago on the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, and the Mass readings were all about forgiveness. In fact, Jesus made it plain that God will forgive us only if we forgive others. That’s scary stuff.

The homilist mentioned the events of 9/11, then preached about the importance of forgiving family and friends who have hurt us.

There was no mention of forgiving the terrorists.

When I count my flaws, right there at the top of the list is my all-time favorite: I’m always eager to judge other people from appearances. I’ve been this way at least since the ’60s when I used the word "hypocrite" an estimated 739 times a day, always agonizing over the speck in my neighbor’s eye while ignoring the 2-by-4 in my own. Some things never change.

Father Wilson D. Miscamble’s newly published The Most Controversial Decision (Cambridge University Press: New York, 2011) wrestles with questions about President Harry Truman’s election to use the Atomic Bomb in order to defeat the Japanese Empire in World War II. A gifted and highly accoladed historian, Father Miscamble (whose occasional visits and pastoral ministry here in the Archdiocese have enriched so many in the faith) teaches history at Notre Dame University. But his solid theological background is also reflected in the ethical aspects of his most recent book.

For John Thomas

The little stick turned pink. She was pregnant.

The news was met with joyful fear, or perhaps fearful joy. After all, they were barely scraping by as a family of three; how would they manage another baby? Still, Oliver and Johanna wanted this new child. They were just frightened. Johanna worked full-time. Oliver worked part-time and was also a full-time graduate student. Together they cared for their young toddler with help from grandparents. The couple had very little money but they shared a deep faith in God’s saving love.

Dr. Haas responds:

Dr. Paul Byrne, a valiant pro-life physician, opposes current Catholic teaching on the moral legitimacy of determining death using cardiopulmonary or neurological criteria. He objects specifically to the use of neurological criteria for determining death prior to the extraction of vital organs for transplantation. Dr. Byrne insists that a body with a brain that is dead but with a heart which is kept beating artificially is a live person. However, this is the very question being debated. Are we dealing with a corpse or a living person?

The following is a response to a story in the May issue about a talk Dr. John Haas gave on April 3 at Holy Apostles College and Seminary:

John Haas, in his Connecticut presentation, quoted the Aug. 29, 2000, Address of Blessed John Paul II but ignored subsequent statements by Pope John Paul II in defense of life and a more recent statement by Pope Benedict XVI.

The office building suddenly started to sway in midtown Manhattan, and everyone on the 26th floor feared something terrible was about to happen so they rushed out and ran down the corridor toward the elevator – until a man yelled, "Don’t get on the elevator! We have to take the stairs." Then, like a choreographed ensemble, they all changed direction simultaneously and headed back toward the stairwell.

The youngest member of the group pushed open the door and held it for the others to file through, but the last person, a man in his late 70s, was having trouble keeping up with the others.