How Parenthood Brought a Dad Back…

Last updated on: January 9, 2018 at 10:14 am By Mark Shea

…to being a fully active and participating Catholic: Therefore I see no reason to accommodate the Faith to liberalism—to mute the Church’s claims to universal authority, to downplay the most inconvenient aspects of Her social teaching, to form compromising alliances for the sake of power in the present order. Even if this could all be accomplished shrewdly through emphases and implications without sacrificing an iota of the substance of the Faith, it would still be doubtlessly an accommodation that contains... Read more

The Alleged Intelligence of Trump

Last updated on: January 12, 2018 at 8:06 am By Mark Shea

As a result of Trump loudly acclaiming himself a “stable genius” last week, I wound up having an conversation with my chum, David Curp, who teaches 20th century Eastern European history at Ohio University. He’s one of my favorite people on the planet. Here’s how it went. Somebody remarked that Trump’s tweet was the mark of an imbecile (I agree). Dave replied: The challenge here is we have to explain a remarkable problem – how did he manage to get... Read more

Christian vs. Christianist: Shithole Edition

Last updated on: January 11, 2018 at 6:09 pm By Mark Shea

Christian: For consider your call, brethren; not many of you were wise according to the flesh, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth; but God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong, God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no flesh might boast in... Read more

Compare and Contrast: Christian vs. Christianist on Nukes

Last updated on: January 11, 2018 at 8:46 am By Mark Shea

Here is the Christian position, articulated by Rome, which called the use of weapons of mass destruction a “crime against man and God, meriting firm and unequivocal condemnation” (Gaudium et Spes). Pope Francis sez: Addressing the international symposium on Nov. 10, Pope Francis did not just condemn the threat of using nuclear weapons. He categorically declared their very possession is immoral. “They cannot constitute the basis for peaceful coexistence between members of the human family, which must rather be inspired... Read more

Pete Vere Apologizes to Dave Armstrong

Last updated on: January 7, 2018 at 12:24 am By Mark Shea

It’s good to see grace and humility and charity wherever you find it. This is well done: APOLOGY TO DAVE ARMSTRONG AN AMERICAN APOLOGIST WHO DEFENDS THE HOLY FATHER I’ve been meaning to apologize to Dave Armstrong for the past few weeks, but was too busy defending him from his critics. Three years ago, almost to the day, Dave Armstrong and I had a massive falling out. I won’t get into the exact issues too deeply because we still view... Read more

Some Lessons I Learned about Starting Out Sick

Last updated on: January 9, 2018 at 2:15 pm By Mark Shea

…in the New Year are discussed over at The Catholic Weekly. Just as I entered the symbolic beginning of life dead-dog sick on January 1, 2018, so we all enter life “dead in trespasses and sins” (Ephesians 2:1). I know. What a bummer. Catholics are sooooo gloomy. We need to get rid of this original sin jazz and put in happy stuff instead, right? Not so much as you might think. When I go to the doctor for a diagnosis... Read more

Had Stephen Walford and Pete Vere on Connecting the Dots

Last updated on: January 9, 2018 at 1:03 pm By Mark Shea

…for my first show of 2018! Stephen is a British theologian and Pete is a Canadian canon lawyer. In case you missed it, Pete had some great remarks on Amoris Laetitia the other day and he also brought my attention to Stephen’s piece for Vatican Insider which threw down the gauntlet to the Francis Haters and their increasing wilful distortions of fact in their increasingly perverse war on him and the Magisterium. I thought, “Anybody as hated and maligned for... Read more

After Hubris, Nemesis

Last updated on: January 9, 2018 at 10:20 am By Mark Shea

Trump Talking Head: “If Donald Trump has three more years like the year he just had of amazing successes,” Cortes said, with a twinkle in his eye, “he can run against a combined ticket of Jesus and the Virgin Mary and he will still win in 2020.” Clip here. Read more

A good psalm for the New Year

Last updated on: January 10, 2018 at 8:31 am By Mark Shea

Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the faithful! Let Israel be glad in his Maker, let the sons of Zion rejoice in their King! Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with timbrel and lyre! For the LORD takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with victory. Let the faithful exult in glory; let them sing for joy on their couches. Let the high... Read more

I’m not crying. You’re crying!

Last updated on: January 6, 2018 at 12:48 am By Mark Shea

I love living in the 21st century. Read more