Meet Randy Trendy and Maddy Traddy: See who you agree with…. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Randy: Don’t you think Pope Francis is great! He is a man of the poor for the poor. Maddy: I like the fact that he serves the poor, but people aren’t good just because they’re poor. And rich people aren’t bad just because they’re rich. Randy: Are you kidding me? Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor” and “It is more difficult for a camel to go through the... Read more

One of the most ridiculous misrepresentations of the Catholic Church is that it is an old fashioned, stuck in time, unchanging and inflexible institution. From the wordling’s point of view, it seems a no brainer. Here is a two thousand year old institution run by old white guys. They have guards with halberds for goodness’ sake–standing around in renaissance costumes. Speaking of costumes, the clergy all wear outlandish gear and wild old time hats. They maintain ancient traditions and customs... Read more

Why do so many people feel it necessary to find a category for the new pope and place him into and a label with which to brand him? Is he a liberal? Is he a conservative? Is he low church? Is he high Church? So many seem to want a label so they can either love him or loathe him. With a label they can keep him safe. I understand he is new, he is also non European. They want... Read more

There have been some rumblings amongst traditionalist Catholics that Pope Francis is going to turn out to be a liturgical liberal. Apparently a few extremists are worried that Pope Benedict’s encouragement of the Latin Mass and his bringing back some of the older styles of clerical dress and papal customs are going to be thrown out in favor of happy clappy masses, clowns, balloons and big puppets. Everyone should stop and take a deep breath and get a sense of... Read more

I was watching Marcus Grodi’s interview with Msgr. Steenson, the Ordinary of the Ordinariate of the Chair of St Peter the other morning, and Msgr Steenson observed that in the  Episcopal Church things went down the drain because whenever there was a controversial issue the leadership of the church urges everyone to “listen” to the experiences of those who were unhappy. The narrative was that the hierarchy of the church were cut off from “real people” that their “rules” alienated... Read more

What must the Cardinals think as they file into the Sistine Chapel today for another day of making history? They are in the center of a  room adorned with paintings by one of the world’s great masters. Above they see the creation of Adam, with God in his swirling robes touching him into life. From the beginning of the drama of salvation, the stories are arrayed before them and then at the end of the chapel is the great end... Read more