Fascinating Catholics

Lisa Hendley wrote a a piece on the Top Ten most fascinating Catholics in 2008 and Jean of Catholic Fire decided to make it into a meme and tagged me.

1. Pope Benedict XVI. Yes at the top of everybody’s list, but for good
   reason. Oh B16 how do I love thee, let me count the ways. Or maybe too many
   to count. If John Paul II becomes generally known as Pope John Paul the
   Great, I think Benedict will be known as Pope Benedict the Pretty Awesome
   Also.
2. Rosalyn Moss. Jewish convert first as an Evangelical and then later Catholic and unto recently
   on the staff of Catholic Answers. This year she became Sister Rosalyn Moss
   with a new order she received permission to start called "Daughters of Mary,
   Mother of Israel’s Hope." I have loved her wisdom on Catholic Answers as
   she mainly answered spiritual questions with great wisdom.
3. Fr. Frank Pavone. The tireless pro-life advocate who is a modern St. Paul for
   the pro-life movement. He speaks everywhere and is willing to use whatever
   medium to advance the culture of life. His YouTube videos on abortion are
   excellent.
4. John C. Wright. Mr. Wright came into the Church this year at Easter. He had been
   an atheist until his conversion to Christ and then later to Christ’s Church.
   I do so enjoy all of his books which are in the Science Fiction/Fantasy
   genre. His blog is also one of the most interesting. Whether he is advancing
   the cause for the Space Princess movement, the cogent responses he has made
   to atheists, or the multitude of other topics on his blog I always delight
   when there is a new post.
5. Fr. Roderick Vonhögen. When I first heard of the Catholic Insider podcast and that it is was created
   from a priest in the Netherlands I was rather skeptical of the orthodoxy
   of the contents. The first episode I heard was when he was at Rome on the
   Day Pope Benedict XVI was elected. His joy and excitement at Josef Ratzinger
   being elected convinced put my hesitations aside. Over the years as he went
   on to start the Star Quest Production Network and his daily show during the
   week called the Daily Breakfast he has continued to entertain and delight
   me as he talks about everything from culture, gaming, entertainment, to theology
   to advance the truth of the Catholic faith.
6. Doug Kmiec. Yeah right.
7. Archbishop Charles Chaput, OFM. The bishop is a favorite of mine for years and
   this year was no exception. He spoke out multiple times this year and not
   just about the election. Whether he is speaking out to defend life, sex abuse,
   immigration, etc – he has been willing to engage the media instead of complaining
   about how unfair it is. This year he wrote the book "Render onto Caesar."
8. Bishop Martino. There were many bishops who spoke out this year and who responded to the silly
   comments from Nancy Pelosi and Joe Biden. But I especially give the tip of
   the Jester’s hat to Bishop Morlino for saying "The USCCB doesn’t speak for me." It is certainly the bishop who is the primary
   teacher in his diocese and his excellency takes this seriously. Too many
   bishops allow the USCCB provide cover so they don’t have to be as strong
   as they could be, not so in this bishops case.
9. Jimmy Akin I am a great fan of Catholic Answers and all the people on their staff.
   Tim Staples was a great addition to them. I started listening to Catholic
   Answer on my way into the Church and it was Jimmy Akin who had the most influence
   on me. I love his ability to explain the faith and the multiple examples
   he uses to do so. Especially enjoy when he brings science fiction into it
   as a way to explain something. I am also amazed at the amount of his knowledge
   in multiple areas, but really love that he never tries to go farther than
   what he knows. He tries to explain what the Church actually teaches and not
   to go beyond with his own opinion on a subject. This year though he had many
   memorable responses. My favorite was when the show was almost over he asked
   his opinion on Galileo and he responded "he was a big jerk." Now that was
   funny and and accurate diagnosis on the brilliant but egotistical man who
   clashed not only with theologians but with other scientists around him.
10. Laura Ingraham My favorite talk show host and a convert to the Catholic faith
    in recent years. I do so enjoy her show which addresses more than just political
    matters and talks about the toxic culture. She invites on and engages those
    who support abortion and are part of pro-abortion organizations. These conversations
    are usually quite good and really expose the logic used to defend the indefensible.
    She also often has on her friend from EWTN News Raymond Arroyo and this usually
    makes a great segment on they talk on politics and culture. My one caveat
    is that she really needs to learn what the Church’s teaching is on torture.
    Ironically she interviewed a former head interrogator in Iraq and it was he
    that talked about torture and how it would damage any person using it.
11. Greg and Jennifer Willits. They started the Rosary Army as an organization to
    make and then give away Rosaries "Make them, Pray them, Give Them Away."
    This lead to them later starting the Rosary Army podcast which was one of
    my favorite shows. This year they got a job as hosts on The Catholic Channel
    part of Sirius satellite radio with their show "The Catholics Next Door."
    They can also be heard on XM radio now also. Recently they announced that
    they
    were quitting the podcast, but while I was sad to hear this I understood
    their reasons. Over the years they have seemed more like family members than
    a couple with a podcast as I followed the ups and downs of their family life.
    So while I miss them on the podcast, satellite radio listeners have gained
    a funny, orthodox, and entertaining Catholic couple.

Now such a list can go on and on and I could name so many of my fellow bloggers
whose blogs have entertained and taught me along with Catholic Podcasters.
I would also give a shout out to my Twitter/Facebook/Plurk friends

Plus here is an honorable mention for a future facinating Catholic who I met
via Twitter/Plurk. He got dragged into an Easter Mass this year by a friend
and at the Mass was converted to Christ from atheism. Since then he has been
reading everything he can on the Catholic faith and is discerning a call to
the priesthood. I do love his zeal and it reminds me of my own awakening into
the Catholic faith and the joy of discovering the truth.

I tag the following for this meme.

A Catholic View

Conversion Diary

Creative Minority Report

June Cleaver After a Six Pack

Oblique House