As technology begins to advance more and more rapidly, it brings to light those things that change slowly. Religions, for many important reasons, are less affected by change than other aspects of our lives. As a practicing Catholic, I can appreciate the history and traditions of the church. However, the internet is an important technology, and the church has taken advantage of this new tool to help spread information, faith, and love throughout the world.
The Vatican
While it may come as a surprise to some, the Vatican has its own website. If you want to get your information from the source, this is the place to go. If you want to find the latest news, try the news service. The papal archive has information from Pope Benedict XVI to Pope Leo VIII. You can look at a liturgical calendar, or find photographs of the Holy See. There's much more content than I can list here, so try checking it out to see for yourself. It's even available in multiple languages, including English, Italian and Latin.New Advent
New Advent is an important website, and not just for Catholics, but for any Christian or person researching Christianity. Their most important contribution is the Catholic Encyclopedia. If you've ever wondered what a dalmatic is, who Ven. Hugh Taylor was, or where Taubaté is, the Encyclopedia can help. Any important term or figure is likely to be included, making this an important resource for both scholarly and curious minds.
However, this isn't the only important resource found on the New Advent site. Need a Bible? They have an online Bible. They also have an online version of the Summa Theologica by St. Thomas Aquinas. In case this wasn't enough, they also have a collection of official church documents in their library section, and another selection of important documents by the “fathers of the church”, a collection of important church figures. If you need a Catholic document, this is the first place you should look. Finally, their home page has selected news articles and a list of the top twenty busiest Catholic websites. Not surprisingly, the sites selected for this article fell first, third and fourth on the list when the article was written.Catholic.net
This is a different kind of site than the last two. It features current articles that are generally quick reads and easy to understand. It focuses on practical and modern issues. If you're looking to stay informed about Catholic issues without reading enough to get a doctorate in religious studies, this is a great resource. It also has a forum where you can discuss articles and issues with other readers. This site is likely to grow larger and have more content in the future.
Try visiting one or all of these websites, and remember to add them to your bookmarks if you enjoy them.
