Father Dwight Longenecker went on a rant, and it was too true. The only thing I would add is that there are a bushel and a peck of conservative hypocrites to sit on the shelf alongside the liberals. But that is another post, one which I need to write. Here’s part of what Father Dwight said: The attack on hypocrites in religion typically focusses on the uptight, self righteous conservative Catholic who judges others while they themselves are guilty of the... Read more
Want an insider’s view of the Synod? Check out Archbishop Mark Coleridge’s blog. He gives a daily update on the doings from his catbird seat on the inside. It’s engaging, informative and fun. Here’s a sample: When we made it back into the Hall yesterday, the Secretary General said the Pope wanted to say a word. My ears pricked up. This Pope doesn’t take the microphone just for the sake of it. What’s going on here, I thought. Well, again... Read more
Pope Francis has enacted an internal reform of the Vatican by combining Family, Laity and Life into one dicastery. I don’t understand the inner workings of the Vatican. But looking at this from the outside, it makes sense. If I am correct, a dicastery is a department within the Curia. The ministries relating to family, laity and life are certainly bound together by common interests. From Catholic News Agency: Vatican City, Oct 22, 2015 / 11:27 am (CNA/EWTN News).- Pope Francis... Read more
Mary Rezac, at Catholic News Agency, wrote a pithy summary of the German bishops’ efforts to change pastoral practice within the Catholic Church as it applies to marriage. Here’s part of what she said: Ok everyone, last German bishops blog for the duration of #Synod15! (At least, I think. I hope?) As they near the end of an eventful three weeks, the 13 small groups of the Synod on the Family, divided by language, have released their last reports before the conclusion... Read more
I wish that the Synod on the Family had been able to spend more time considering ways in which the modern world destroys families, often from the inside out. If they had, drug addiction would surely have found a way onto the list. Nothing is more insidious or difficult to address than drug addict family members. The rest of the family ends up paying a horrendous price for the love they feel for the addict, and the addict is destroyed... Read more
The Synod on the Family moved closer to a conclusion with the release of small group reports. It appears that the English-speaking reports call for no change so far as the issue of communion for divorced and remarried couples is concerned. Rather than try to summarize these reports, I’m going to link to them at the National Catholic Register, so you can read them yourselves. Remember, this link is only for the English-speaking reports. I’ve read the some of the reports... Read more
My friend Kathy Schiffer has the story. Remember the high-ranking Vatican priest who chose the opening of the Synod on Marriage to announce that he’s gay and then ride off into the sunset with his boyfriend and a book deal? His bishop has laicized him. I wonder how this guy managed to rise so high in the Church in the first place. Here’s a bit of what Kathy Schiffer has to say about it: The Polish priest who declared his homosexuality on the eve... Read more
Conscience is a weak reed on which to lay the foundation of your eternal destiny. I know from personal experience that I can convince myself of anything. I also know that I am not the only person with this problem. In fact, I would guess that this ability to justify oneself to oneself is part of the universal human condition. The truth is, people cannot do that which they cannot justify to themselves. I have no doubt that Hitler had... Read more
Nearly 500 British priests sent a letter to the Synod Fathers, urging them to stand firm on the question of communion for divorced and remarried Catholics. The priests called for the Synod Fathers to issues a “clear and firm proclamation” upholding Church teaching on marriage. From Catholic Herald: They write: “We affirm the importance of upholding the Church’s traditional discipline regarding the reception of the sacraments, and that doctrine and practice remain firmly and inseparably in harmony.” One signatory, who... Read more
Which is worse, killing someone, or disposing of their body improperly once you’ve killed them? In our nutty society, killing babies with abortion is considered a “human right” of the person who wants them killed. But, once the baby is dead, we do not — and I mean do not — want to see or hear of what is done with the baby’s corpse. Why? Why do Americans get so worked up when a doc mistreats the body of a... Read more
Select your answer to see how you score.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In