Pope Francis has agreed to set up a commission to study the existence of deaconesses in the early Church, and to consider the possibility of restoring such offices today [news sources: one / two / three / four]. I’ve already been asked twice this morning in private messages, what I think of this. My initial “raw” / off-the-cuff responses in return Facebook PMs and in one private group, were the following: I don’t think it’s absolutely inconceivable, as there appear... Read more
Can. 846 ß1 The liturgical books, approved by the competent authority, are to be faithfully followed in the celebration of the sacraments. Accordingly, no one may on a personal initiative add to or omit or alter anything in those book The Church has dealt with such abuses, in Redemptionis Sacramentum, On certain matters to be observed or to be avoided regarding the Most Holy Eucharist (Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, Rome, on the Solemnity... Read more
This was drawn from lively discussions on my Facebook page. To tighten it up (people hate those long articles more and more these days!), I have excerpted my own observations only. * * * * * The pro-life trend is upward: with a majority now identifying as pro-life, and growing all the time. Good laws are being passed. All we need is a real Catholic revival to bring about some profound change: and the possibility of that happening and... Read more
It’s been stated that anti-Catholic, if used at all, is properly utilized only as an adjective and not as a noun (e.g., “the anti-Catholics on the Internet often blast Catholic Mariology”). The much more frequent usage is indeed as an adjective, but it is not altogether improper to also use it as a noun. As an analogy, take, for example, anti-Communist. That word can be either an adjective or a noun, in the same form, too: 1) adj.: characterized by opposition to... Read more
The following was taken from Newman’s book, Lectures on the Present Position of Catholics in England (1851). What struck me was the remarkable similarity of the traits of this species of virulent prejudice, compared to the two widespread “Derangement Syndromes” present today: the ones against Pope Francis and President Trump. Back in 1851 Americans were vigorously and tragically applying this prejudicial mentality to not only Catholics, but (enslaved) black people, Native Americans, and Irish and other immigrants coming into the country (e.g.,... Read more
*** Here’s something a bit different from my usual writing. It came about on the Coming Home Network forum [I was moderator there from 2007-2010]. One woman was expressing her fears about “measuring up” as a Catholic and of being lukewarm and not fully surrendering to God; not being “perfect,” etc. I had a few thoughts on that: * * * * * It’s all about God’s mercy and love. We are all part of the fall, and we... Read more
Deuteronomy 7:8 (RSV) but it is because the LORD loves you, and is keeping the oath which he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Deuteronomy 23:5 the LORD your God turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loved you. Deuteronomy 32:9-12 For the LORD’s portion is his people, Jacob his... Read more
This is a somewhat abridged version of chapter 2 of my 2002 book, Reflections on Radical Catholic Reactionaries [purchase at the link for as little as $2.99] ***** The orthodox, faithful, obedient Catholic outlook on the Church (even in the truly grave crisis it now endures — arguably the greatest ever) is far more sunny than that of radical Catholic reactionaries. Their incessant pessimism and cynicism often runs contrary to a robust faith and trust in God, and a working knowledge of... Read more
Pope Francis released his Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Querida Amazonia on 2-12-20. The hysterical and fanatical reactionary gossipy nonsense about married priests and a corrupted liturgy in the Amazon was utterly unfounded and erroneous, as always. I shall document numerous examples of it below. But first I’d like to remind readers of several recent controversies of a similar ludicrous and unfounded nature. If folks don;t learn from history, they will repeat the same mistakes again. We had the infamous “pope... Read more
This is a portion of my book, The One-Minute Apologist (Sophia Institute Press: 2007). All biblical quotations in my book (as usual) are from the RSV, unless otherwise noted. It is slightly different from the book chapter because it is my own original manuscript. ***** MARRIAGE AND FAMILY The Catholic ban on contraception is an arbitrary, unbiblical restriction It’s just one of many areas where Catholics are out of the mainstream Initial Reply * The prohibition of contraception was commonly accepted... Read more
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