Tom O'Toole column

Thomas Augustine O'Toole was born in Chicago and grew up in a devout Catholic family with five brothers and two sisters. He was the sports editor of Notre Dame's Scholastic magazine, where his story "Reflections on the Game" won the award for Best Sports Feature for the Indiana Collegiate Press Association.

Besides his work as a columnist for several suburban newspapers, Tom O'Toole is also a popular freelance writer for many Catholic magazines, including Columbia, The Catholic Faith, Queen of All Hearts, and Culture Wars.

His innovative writings on the connection between faith and sports ("Cathletics") has been praised by the Papal Nuncio, and his groundbreaking book Champions of Faith: Catholic Sports Heroes Tell Their Stories is one of the original volumes to be placed on the Vatican shelves where the Pontifical Council of Church and Sport meet. In 2006, Tom published a number of articles on the prestigious Catholic Exchange website, and started his blog Fighting Irish Thomas, which has been praised for its Catholic candor and humor.

Tom O'Toole lives in the Chicago area with his wife Jeanette. They have four children. He can be reached at tacotoole@gmail.com

Tom O'Toole

October 14, 2016

First, to my regular readers, I apologize for my inability to bring my writing to you lately, but the combination of working two jobs and the physical ailments . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 20, 2015

Our mission is to serve the Lady that our university is named after, and to manifest the Faith She represents. -University of Notre Dame Athletic Director Jack . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 18, 2015

[From the archives, pro-life Renew readers should find this "basketball post," written in February, timely as ever.] As the cold Indiana calendar turns from . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 4, 2015

"Dear Thomas: I really enjoyed reading your Scholastic article on the Michigan State game...so well written it could have made the New Yorker, which isn't easy. . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 28, 2015

With a bit of heavenly irony no Hollywood screenwriter would dare to write, longtime Notre Dame president, Reverend Theodore M. Hesburgh, died yesterday, . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 27, 2015

Notre Dame Professor Emeritus Charles E. Rice died Wednesday night at the age of 83. Besides being a brilliant law professor and a devoted husband and father of . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 22, 2015

When Michael Voris speaks, orthodox Catholics usually listen, and as one of the "Voris chorus," I know that when two of his talks appear on the same topic in . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 17, 2014

"At a time when some are questioning the future of the residential college campus, we believe the investment in these new facilities, which will house new . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 24, 2014

"No sin in the world grips the soul as the accursed sodomy; this sin has always been detested by all those who live according to God...Deviant passion is close . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 22, 2014

"Notre Dame's character as a Catholic academic community presupposes that no genuine search for the truth...is alien to the life of faith...There is, however, a . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 9, 2014

Basing itself on Sacred Scripture, which presents homosexual acts as acts of grave depravity, tradition has always declared that "homosexual acts are . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 6, 2014

I think that our university has been thorough on what they were charged to do. I think that in all of these situations you are always looking for improvements . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 5, 2014

He said in reply, "Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator 'made them male and female' and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 25, 2014

I didn't do anything. I'm pretty much, I'm the one who ended it and pretty much told the girl that we should stop, that we shouldn't be doing this and that's . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 16, 2014

America does not sustain and create faith. Faith created and sustains America. -Gov. Bobby Jindal, "The Silent War on Religious Liberty" The President is . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 30, 2014

"You come against me with sword and spear and scimitar, but I come against you in the name of the Lord of Hosts." -1 Sm 17:45 After watching – yet . . .

Tom O'Toole

November 1, 2013

It was Sunday morning, and while I was worshiping the Lord at the Latin Mass (one of the more inspiring moments of the week for the committed Catholic), my . . .

Tom O'Toole

June 5, 2013

After Lebron James returned to MVP form and his World Champion Miami Heat finally sent the pesky Indiana Pacers packing Monday to return the Heat to the NBA . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 7, 2013

"Homosexuality refers to relations between men or between women who experience an exclusive or predominant sexual attraction toward persons of the same sex. It . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 6, 2013

In her article, "How to Speak About Homosexuality," (and subsequent follow-up, "What I Mean By Acceptance"), former gay-turned-committed-Catholic author Melinda . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 15, 2013

Let's not be naive, we're not talking about a simple political battle; it is a destructive pretension against the plan of God. We are not talking about a mere . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 3, 2013

"In order for such evil to be concealed and tolerated, it is necessary that the right people hold key positions, and that not only a homolobby, but a homoclique . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 26, 2013

When Bobby Jindal, Louisiana governor and recently elected leader of the Republican Governor's Association, recently reiterated that, "We must stop being the . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 28, 2013

A day before the much ballyhooed Katie Couric-Manti Te'o "tell all" interview, I was flipping through the channels and caught a couple of foolhardy "Extra" . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 23, 2013

Noting the unusual amount of online chatter linking Manti Te'o, his hoax of a (dead) girlfriend, Lennay Kekua, and Lizzy Seeberg (and perhaps connecting . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 10, 2013

First off, I'd like to congratulate all the fine Irish players and pray-ers (especially the "Suffering Irish") for a memorable 12-1, 2012 Notre Dame . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 1, 2013

After watching The Hobbit (Pt. I!) over the weekend, and concluding from the 119 previews (only a slight exaggeration) that preceded it, that Peter Jackson's . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 29, 2012

Senator Richard Durbin 309 Hart Senate Building Washington, DC 20510 Phone: (202) 224-2152 Fax: (202) 228-0400 Dear Senator Durbin, Today Catholics  . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 16, 2012

It was an unseasonably warm and sunny day, and I was off to supplement (or supplant) my meagre Catholic writer's earnings for the month by working as a . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 14, 2012

I might steal your diamonds, but I'll bring you back some gold. — Greg Allman, from his hit "I'm no Angel" The joy that's always felt on Notre Dame's . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 13, 2012

It's Christmastime on Our Lady's campus, and as darkness descends on the Notre Dame students preparing for finals and winter break, they are once again . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 12, 2012

I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle wrapped in mystery inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. — Winston Churchill, in . . .

Tom O'Toole

August 5, 2012

"They exhibited a striking lack of empathy for Sandusky's victims. — from the investigation by former FBI director, Louis Freeh, involving the cover-up of . . .

Tom O'Toole

August 3, 2012

"Chick-fil-A's values are not Chicago values. They disrespect our fellow neighbors and residents. This would be a bad investment. — Chicago mayor, Rahm . . .

Tom O'Toole

July 19, 2012

"In my view there is an easy, universal barometer we can use to evaluate all cultures: how do they treat their most vulnerable members...those whom Jesus so . . .

Tom O'Toole

July 8, 2012

"[We will] vigorously defend [ourselves] against...the false accusations [of complicity with Euteneuer]...To the extent Father Euteneuer has already admitted to . . .

Tom O'Toole

June 13, 2012

"We do not seek to impose our religious views on others; we simply ask that Government not impose its values on the University when these values conflict with . . .

Tom O'Toole

May 7, 2012

Reprinted on Spero News. "Hitler and Stalin, at their better moments, would just barely tolerate some churches remaining open, but would not tolerate any . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 12, 2012

Thank you for your support, for your encouragement, and for your prayers for our family, especially Bella...Suspending my campaign for President of the United . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 31, 2012

"We should hire three or four colored ministers, preferably with social service backgrounds and with engaging personalities. The most successful approach to the . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 27, 2012

A liberal, a moderate and a conservative walk into a bar, and the bartender says, "Hello, Mitt!" — a joke from a Santorum campaign ad Romney is running . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 6, 2012

However great the horror of death, it can be overcome by the power of love in imitation of that love by which he, who is our life, willed to suffer death for . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 26, 2012

Reprinted on Spero News. "Satan is attacking the great institutions of America, using the great vices of pride, vanity, and sensuality... -Rick Santorum, . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 23, 2012

"John Lanning was a bishop in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, [and] the director of public relations for LDS...Lanning's job was simple: foster . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 18, 2012

"To enter into the domain into which this book takes its readers is to find oneself in the precincts of Holiness...The scrim that lies between ordinariness and . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 2, 2012

[H]usband and wife become in a way one heart and one soul...marriage is a love that is total...[M]arriage must of necessity retain its intrinsic relationship to . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 25, 2012

(Article by Jeanette O'Toole, Tom's wife) "Let me repeat in the clearest words in my disposal. There is no stopping abortion without an ocean of grace from . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 24, 2012

"I said many, many times that one of the reasons Joe was hanging on to that position is because if he left, he'd die...I knew Joe very well, and it was a very . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 19, 2012

Reprinted on Spero News. "I beat Governor Romney very clearly [in polls] head to head. It's not just about coalescing around a conservative, but coalescing . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 8, 2012

"In the days of doubts, in the days of oppressive reflections concerning the destiny of my native land, you alone are my strength and staff, O great, mighty, . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 3, 2012

For Zion's sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem's sake I will not be quiet, Until her vindication shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 31, 2011

Father, the Holy Innocents offered you praise by the death they suffered for Christ. May our lives bear witness to the faith we profess with our lips. We . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 28, 2011

"How sweet can a person be? She had a little body, but the heart of a lion." -Rick Santorum, on the death of Wendy Jensen, his most dedicated volunteer  . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 24, 2011

"Family is the bedrock of society. Unless we protect it with the institution of marriage, our country will fall." -Senator Rick Santorum "Many voters like . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 19, 2011

Dear Tom, Thank you very much for your letter. I really appreciated the article you sent. It is easy to see why you are successful, because you pay great . . .

Tom O'Toole

September 6, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. "Cheer, Cheer for old Notre Dame Wake up the echoes cheering her name, Send the volley cheer on high, Shake down the thunder from . . .

Tom O'Toole

August 17, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. "I guarantee you that once you take up this book you will not put it down until the end of the world. Here is a meaty page-turner . . .

Tom O'Toole

August 12, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. With greater privilege comes a greater duty to serve. — Lizzy Seeberg On the statue [of Lizzy at ND] idea — powerful, . . .

Tom O'Toole

August 2, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. I am "anonymous" from 7-10-11. Your response was well written but singularly focused. As with attacking Father Corapi, you spent . . .

Tom O'Toole

July 24, 2011

"It's sad to see the Roman Catholics feed on each other like this. How unsavory! As a Lutheran, I find it more important to look for the positive Christian . . .

Tom O'Toole

July 20, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. "We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. In fact, though by this time you ought to . . .

Tom O'Toole

July 10, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. "I have never had promiscuous or even inappropriate relations with her...I never paid anyone off to remain silent...I resigned . . .

Tom O'Toole

July 8, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. "Fighting Irish Thomas seems to be the only one covering this story. The Register in this week's issue covers it and they are about  . . .

Tom O'Toole

July 5, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. "He took my cell phone...grabbed my face and started kissing me...he pulled down my tank top and touched my breasts...tears ran down . . .

Tom O'Toole

July 2, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. "It's almost always wrong for a cleric to sue a congregant. It's especially wrong when a priest sues someone who is making sexual . . .

Tom O'Toole

June 23, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. For twenty years I was called "father"...now [I'm] "The Black Sheep Dog." — John Corapi, from his June 17th "Black Sheep Dog" . . .

Tom O'Toole

June 20, 2011

The Catholic college...should be a community of students and teachers centered on Christ...The marrow of a Catholic college is not a system of thought, but a . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 5, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. "Statement of Santa Cruz Media, Inc. Relative to Fr. Corapi's Suspension [email newsletter, 3-25-11 (and currently posted on . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 4, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. "A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. So many gathered that there was no . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 2, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. "Can he [the patriot] hate it enough to change it, and yet love it enough to think it worth changing? Can he look up at its colossal . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 31, 2011

Reprinted from Fighting Irish Thomas, 3-31-07. Reprinted on Spero News. The date was 3-31-31. While there was, on that same date, an earthquake in . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 27, 2011

On Ash Wednesday I learned that a former employee sent a three-page letter to several bishops accusing me of everything from drug addiction to multiple sexual . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 18, 2011

The following poem is a work of fiction. Any resemblance of its characters to actual persons is entirely coincidental. "When an evil spirit comes out of a . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 21, 2011

Reprinted on Spero News. You duped me, O LORD, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed. All the day I am an object of . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 3, 2011

I take full responsibility for my own poor judgment, my weakness and my sinful conduct that resulted...[in] one particularly complex situation...[that] led me . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 29, 2011

Please also see ... Euteneuer update. Please also see ... Demonic Abortion review. Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 18, 2011

Almighty and eternal God, behold, I approach the Sacrament of Thine only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ...as one who is sick to the physician of life.. . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 14, 2011

"It is proper for the noblest hearts to discover the most urgent need of their epoch and to consecrate themselves to it." — Father Lacordaire, a famous . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 6, 2011

"Clearly we are gaining confidence...we've beaten some good football teams late in the year." — Notre Dame Head Coach Brian Kelly, after the Irish's Sun . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 30, 2010

"That encounter with President Obama served as a reminder to me of why Americans are so frustrated with Washington: the feds focus on the wrong things. . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 24, 2010

"I've got to go, Rock. It's all right, I'm not afraid. But sometime when the team is up against it...and the breaks are beating the boys...tell them to win just . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 1, 2010

One month ago, when Notre Dame undergrad Declan Sullivan fell to his death filming a football practice when a fierce wind flung his youthful frame from the far . . .

Tom O'Toole

September 5, 2010

Originally published in Culture Wars, May 2010, Vol. 29, No. 6 "...All readers will be moved by this honest, riveting, and exceedingly well-written story of . . .

Tom O'Toole

August 31, 2010

"There is, however, another angle. For many people, Notre Dame symbolized more than just 'the Catholic thing.' It symbolized the need — in a culture of . . .

Tom O'Toole

August 18, 2010

"If gay marriage becomes law, it is the end...of Christian civilization" — future pro-life saint, Father Paul Marx, founder of Human Life International.  . . .

Tom O'Toole

August 11, 2010

"The University is where the Church does its thinking" — former president of Notre Dame, Fr. Theodore M. Hesburgh. "The Catholic university today must be a . . .

Tom O'Toole

July 18, 2010

"The abandonment of truth by universities of whatever type affects the culture. As relativism and agnosticism filter into that culture from the universities, . . .

Tom O'Toole

July 2, 2010

"Many well-grounded complaints have been made about religious literature on the score that it tends to minimize the importance and dignity of life here and now . . .

Tom O'Toole

June 24, 2010

"The priority for our players is to recognize they are at the University of Notre Dame to play for Our Lady" — new head football coach of Notre Dame, Brian . . .

Tom O'Toole

June 19, 2010

"I live in Louisiana and Gov. Jindal is WONDERFUL...during Ike and Katrina, the poor man did not sleep for days...we have seen pictures of him leaving mass with . . .

Tom O'Toole

June 17, 2010

"Joy is the net by which you capture souls." "If you judge people, you have no time to love them." — Mother Teresa "I used to censor myself...now I wake . . .

Tom O'Toole

June 2, 2010

As President Obama finally arrived and conquered the shores of Louisiana Friday, trying to sound regal while stealing some of the better oil spill ideas of Gov. . . .

Tom O'Toole

May 28, 2010

Switching back and forth between CNN and Fox News last night, I found that when it came to the Gulf Oil Spill, the two usually contrary channels agreed on two . . .

Tom O'Toole

May 20, 2010

"I think Jesus was a compassionate, super intelligent gay man who understood human problems" — Elton John. "Have you not read that from the beginning the . . .

Tom O'Toole

May 8, 2010

"Your Days are Numbered" — The threatening words left on an anonymous note to Professor Roger Knight and several of his colleagues. Sham Rock, Ralph . . .

Tom O'Toole

May 1, 2010

First, it was Father Jenkins openly defying the United States Council of Catholic Bishops (of which Chicago's Cardinal Francis George is president) by letting . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 28, 2010

"It's been a while since I saw a priest here in a Roman Collar. Except Fr. Hesburgh, but he's not on campus much since his retirement." "So you're at Notre . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 7, 2010

Pro-life leader, Randall Terry, in conjunction with the group Vanguard of St. Catherine of Sienna, is heading to Rome, March 10, for a week of meetings with a . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 1, 2010

Although I suppose I've come to expect a certain backlash whenever I write about the very visible (as opposed to "virtual") prolific antics of pro-life . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 18, 2010

"I don't love her, I don't hate her — for her, I don't feel very much at all But blood that we both shared and spilled Keeps turning up like writing on the . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 2, 2010

Joseph: [desperately] Look at all those woman entering the abortion clinic! Mary: [pleadingly, as she fingers her rosary] Oh Joseph! Who will save them?  . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 22, 2009

"I feel cheated!" my wife Jeanette lamented (no pun intended) as the Tiger Woods saga snowballed from a minor traffic accident into a major infidelity scandal. . . .

Tom O'Toole

June 1, 2009

It was wrong — ironic and wrong on so many levels. Dr. George Tiller, the hardcore abortion doctor who killed so many babies (and a few women) worshiping in a . . .

Tom O'Toole

May 25, 2009

In my last of a series of reflections on Barack Obama's Notre Dame appearance, I will focus on the speech itself and Fr. Jenkins' words (and lies) leading up to . . .

Tom O'Toole

May 23, 2009

Having had time now to look back at the events leading up to, as well as President Barack Obama's actual appearance (or shall we say "performance") at the . . .

Tom O'Toole

May 13, 2009

Do you want to offer yourselves to God, to endure all the sufferings He may allow, as an act of reparation for the sins by which He is offended and as a . . .

Tom O'Toole

May 12, 2009

Bishop D'Arcy Fort Wayne Chancery 1103 S. Calhoun Street Fort Wayne, IN 46801 Dear Bishop D'Arcy, First, I'd like to congratulate you for speaking . . .

Tom O'Toole

May 2, 2009

Dear Mr. President, Congratulations on your first 100 days. While we don't always see eye-to-eye on the issues (for example, I believe pro-choice people . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 15, 2009

Recently on FOX News I saw Kathleen Donahue, Notre Dame student and head of Notre Dame Right to Life, fend off questions about Obama's upcoming visit. And, . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 12, 2009

In remembrance of abortion's helpless victims, I am sharing my poem "The Blood of the Young Patriots," written shortly after 9-11, for your Easter consideration . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 9, 2009

"What's the matter with you guys? You're all Irish and you're not fighting!" — Notre Dame halfback Pete Vaughan's 1909 halftime speech vs. Michigan; also . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 6, 2009

"Magna est veritas et prevalebit." (Truth is great and it will prevail.) — The motto on Notre Dame's Laetare . . .

Tom O'Toole

April 2, 2009

"But don't you think people who hate Notre Dame can't accept this notion that so many Notre Dame players and fans say that praying to God helps the team to play . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 31, 2009

"In the past generation, it was Buffalo Bill. For this generation, it was Knute Rockne. The boy had a great respect for Rockne, and Rockne for the boy. Each . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 30, 2009

While taking an English course to attain my teaching certification at Elmhurst College (a local liberal arts school), I got into a debate with my professor. It . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 27, 2009

"Presidents from both parties have come to [give the commencement address] at Notre Dame ... we're delighted that President Obama is continuing that tradition." . . .

Tom O'Toole

March 20, 2009

When it comes to evil prophecies (i.e. Obama elected president, AND today's news that the spineless president of my Christian alma mater has indeed secured . . .

Tom O'Toole

February 1, 2009

With strong believers on both sides of the ball in today's big football game (although I'm personally pullin' for that back-from-the-dead former Arena Leaguer . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 16, 2009

About a week ago when I was surfing the Net about the upcoming "Big Event" (the Inauguration of the Obama-nation), I stumbled across the news that President . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 8, 2009

Largely due to a technicality, the United States Senate on Tuesday refused to admit Roland Burris, former Illinois State Comptroller and the ridiculous pick of . . .

Tom O'Toole

January 3, 2009

When she died last summer at the age of 87, it's doubtful my mother-in-law, Genevieve Ohlin, had even heard of her holy namesake, St. Genevieve of Paris. First . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 31, 2008

Reading the announcement yesterday of the Dec. 27th birth of Sarah Palin's 18-year-old unwed daughter Bristol's baby, it dredged up memories of the many . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 29, 2008

In the Catholic Church, each day's liturgy brings a different celebration or commemoration, either from the life of Christ or that of a saint or martyr who . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 27, 2008

Certainly, Notre Dame's decisive 49-21 Hawaiian Bowl victory over the host Hawaii Warriors accomplished volumes just on the Fightin' Irish football surface. . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 23, 2008

While it's fair to say I'm not the most qualified to judge President-elect Obama's choices for the Interior (I was never much for decorating) or the Treasury  . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 21, 2008

Having just turned five years old, I was a little young (at least back then) to question the "holiday" law-of-the-land. Of course five-year-olds believed in . . .

Tom O'Toole

December 20, 2008

On the surface, something about Barack Obama picking Rick Warren to give his inauguration invocation seemed fishy. I mean, Warren was the man responsible for . . .