On EWTN and Family Separation: Sister Vassa channels Mother Angelica

Last updated on: June 24, 2018 at 10:01 pm By Pete Vere

Addressing the topic of family separation at the border, Sister Vassa Larin said today on Saturday Morning Live: “This is a very painful situation […] I don’t know of anyone who could observe this story without being deeply disturbed.” For anyone following this controversy, I invite you to watch the full episode here: Eastern Catholics often describe Sister Vassa as ‘the Russian Orthodox Mother Angelica’. Not only is her show Coffee with Sister Vassa popular in Christian social media today, but... Read more

Breaking the Stranger’s Family: When Canada terrorized children

Last updated on: June 16, 2018 at 7:28 am By Pete Vere

I am the Stranger You can’t see me I am the Stranger Do you know what I mean The lyrics, from Canadian rock legend Gordon Downie’s “The Stranger,” refer to a tragic incident that exposed one of the darkest moments in Canadian history. On October 23, 1966, 12-year-old Chanie “Charlie” Wenjack died of exposure and starvation while attempting the 370-mile trek back to his village. This was during the early onslaught of Canadian winter. He was wearing only a light... Read more

Orthodox! But in communion with Rome? Choosing Sides in America’s Francis Feud

Last updated on: June 2, 2018 at 3:16 pm By Pete Vere

Would I consider jumping to an Eastern Orthodox jurisdiction prior to restoration of full communion between Constantinople, Moscow and Rome? It’s an interesting question. Especially for a former Traditional Latin Mass apologist turned Byzantine Catholic ecumenist. And especially for one who already practices and considers himself Orthodox in communion with Rome. Yet here I am again wrestling with this question. Or perhaps I should say mulling it over given my after-hours gig as a professional wrestling referee. In large part,... Read more

“A Jesuit with a Franciscan’s humility,” states Russian Orthodox abbott

Last updated on: June 1, 2018 at 5:53 am By Pete Vere

“Pope Francis the First, a Jesuit with a Franciscan’s humility” is among the best descriptions of the Holy Father that I have come across during his papacy. It is the title of Abbott Tryphon’s beautiful tribute on Ancient Faith Radio’s Morning Offering. Broadcast shortly after Francis’ election to the papal office, Father Tryphon’s opening paragraph has since proven prophetic: In Catholic Tradition, Francis of Assisi had a mystical vision in which Christ told him to rebuild His Church. In taking... Read more

On Waterboarding and Torture: What about Atheists and Youth?

Last updated on: May 12, 2018 at 8:31 pm By Pete Vere

Like capital punishment, torture is an issue that divides American Catholics from their co-religionists elsewhere in the developed world. A 2009 Pew Study noted the two biggest supporters of waterboarding and torture in the U.S. are white Catholics (51 percent) and white Evangelicals (62 percent). These two constituencies both buoyed and exceeded the U.S. national average of 49 percent. By comparison, a 2017 Campaign Research poll shows 71 percent of Canadians believe the use of torture is infective. Sixty percent of... Read more

Is Pope Francis Orthodox?

Last updated on: May 9, 2018 at 6:54 pm By Pete Vere

Is the pope Catholic? Quoting from the Church Fathers, Catholic apologists like my friend Dave Armstrong will argue that the Roman Pontiff is successor of St Peter. To which I respond as a Byzantine Catholic: the See of Antioch also was founded by St Peter prior to his co-founding the See of Rome with St Paul. All kidding aside, I agree with my Latin friends that historically the Roman Pontiff holds a special role in resolving disputes within the Church.... Read more

Met What?

Last updated on: May 9, 2018 at 7:15 pm By Pete Vere

I must be the only Catholic in the English-speaking world who was blissfully ignorant of the Met Gala, or that its theme this year had something to do with Catholicism. That was until 45 minutes ago when I woke up and started reading my favourite Catholic blogs. Both Patheos and Facebook this morning are a spectrum of reactions to the event–or more accurately, how celebrities dressed for this event. My own reaction as a Byzantine Catholic, now that I have... Read more

Save the capes and chapeau! Should Knights of Columbus look like Canadian veterans?

Last updated on: May 3, 2018 at 7:12 am By Pete Vere

I share many concerns about the new Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree uniform (pictured to the left). Not only is the beret bulky and in need of being formed, but the uniform overall resembles that of the Royal Canadian Legion. For those unfamiliar with the Royal Canadian Legion, it is Canada’s largest membership-based organization for veterans, serving military, and their supporters. Its closest U.S. equivalent would be the American Legion. The Canadian Legion uniform–which members have worn proudly as long as... Read more

An Orthodox understanding of Eucharist and Church

Last updated on: April 27, 2018 at 6:53 am By Pete Vere

In his classic bestseller The Orthodox Church, noted Metropolitan Kallistos Ware shares the following insight into the close connection between Eucharist and ecclesiology: [A]t the Eucharist the members of Christ’s Body the Church receive His Body in the sacrament. The Eucharist, by uniting the members of the Church to Christ, at the same time unites them to one another. Essentially, Ware is stating from an Eastern Orthodox perspective what then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger and Cardinal Avery Dulles have often stated from the... Read more

Wrestling with Anti-Semitism

Last updated on: April 26, 2018 at 12:10 am By Pete Vere

Please pardon this divergence from my usual themes of Eucharistic ecclesiology and Orthodoxy in communion with Rome. For those interested only in how I broke into the independent professional wrestling scene as a referee, feel free to skip the next three paragraphs. For those wondering why I have not yet weighed into the Catholic anti-semitic Facebook controversy, keep reading. Over the past few days, I witnessed several screenshots from a secret Facebook group for conservative and traditional Catholics. These screenshots... Read more