The Seventh Ecumenical Council, Nicea II, convened in 787, and officially declared the use and veneration of images to be acceptable to the Christian faith. The fathers of the council followed the lead of St. John of Damascus and others who had defended the use of images against those iconoclasts who not only rejected their veneration, but said they should not be made. Iconoclasts had destroyed many ancient images so as to enforce their ideology unto the church. The council... Read more
When it was declared that Trump was sick with COVID19, because they have grown not to trust him and what he said, many people doubted it, and many continue to doubt it. But, every indication seems to suggest it is true. He can be seen to have difficulty breathing. Those around him are catching COVID19. It is spreading, and spreading hard and fast, with those in his immediate circle. It is easy to say, “they deserve it, this is justice.”... Read more
Fleur Brown, whose parents were adherents of Armstrong’s Worldwide Church of God, came to believe that she had been raised to believe in and follow a cult. Reflecting upon her experiences, she discusses how cults, and cult-like organizations, often use a pleasant approach to non-members as a way to recruit people to their organization (as well as to appear as if they are not a cult): “Everyone is so …(can’t quite put my finger on it … ah there it... Read more
Christians are to be guided by the principle of mercy. “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Lk. 6:36 RSV). We are told to learn what mercy is: “Go and learn what this means, `I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt 9:13 RSV). God made it clear, he does not desire the death of the sinner, but rather, that they should live: “Have I any pleasure in the death... Read more
Christians, like everyone else, are called to follow the dictates of their conscience. General moral principles can and should be taught. Conscience helps people determine how those principles apply in particular situations and contexts. Thus, St. Paul, encouraging Christians to financially help the church, uses general principles to do so while acknowledging the way Christians should use their conscience to decide how much they will give: The point is this: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he... Read more
In his first debate with Biden, Trump was asked if he were willing to condemn white supremacists. Trump, acting as if he were willing, asked for a name of a white supremacist group which he could condemn. Biden, it could be heard, answered by saying Proud Boys. In response, Trump said, “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.” That was the extent of Trump’s “condemnation.” That is, Trump was unwilling to condemn them. All he was wiling to do was... Read more
Early one morning, a man gets off the Brookland metro station at DC and walks slowly to the Shrine next to the Catholic University of America campus. As he walks, he hears a cry for help from the distance. The man crosses himself, prays for the person pleading for help, but continues on his way to the Shrine: he does not want to be late to Mass. A visiting priest, who will be offering the first Mass at the Shrine... Read more
St. Basil the Great tells us to glorify God as the “Master Craftsman,” for he created a wonderful, indeed, beautiful, world for us to live in. When we glorify him this way, we can be led from the beauty found in creation to the transcendent glory of God himself: Let us glorify the Master Craftsman for all that has been done wisely and skillfully; and from the beauty of visible things let us form an idea of Him who is... Read more
Often, reading the Gospels can surprise us. Jesus acts in ways which seem out of character, at least, different from how we expect him to act. Jesus came to save the whole world. Why, then, does it often seem like he believed his purpose was only with the people of Israel? Indeed, is that not what he tells a Canaanite woman who came to him, asking for his help? And Jesus went away from there and withdrew to the district... Read more
When someone criticizes the Knights of Columbus, an apologist will speak out and say the criticism is unjust and comes from someone who is anti-Catholic. It’s a common tactic. Instead of dealing with criticism, so-called apologists like to go on the attack. Calling someone anti-Catholic puts the other person on the defense, while the issues which have been raised become ignored. We can see this is what has happened when critics raise concerns with Catholics associated with a “Covenant Community.”... Read more
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