Thomas MacDonald writes well here about the foot washing to take place at the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Thursday. What he doesn’t mention is that the rubrics at the Mass call for men to have their feet washed. I wonder how many parishes have “creative” priests who use this as an opportunity to be “inclusive”. I’ve already had one person ask my advice on Facebook on how to respond to his priest who wants his seven year old... Read more

A friend of mine told me a miracle story last evening. He was driving along the road in the right lane. Two cars were beside him in the left lane. The road was in a suburban area. Ahead on the right he spotted a mother walking a dog coming in the direction facing him. Beside her was a young child jumping and playing. As he approached them, with the two cars still in the left lane beside him, the child... Read more

When I lived in England Anglicans almost universally referred to the Catholic Church as “the Roman Catholic Church.” They would emphasize the word “Roman”. The subtext was, “We Anglicans are Catholics too you know. It’s just that we’re not ‘Roman’ Catholics.” Very often this was accompanied by a branch of the Dan Brown school of church history in which Christianity came to Britain directly by Joseph of Arimathea. They would explain that he founded the Celtic Church which was independent... Read more

My post on why women cannot be priests has received plenty of interesting comments, but most of those who objected to my post were not Catholics. I think what they heard me say is that women should not be ordained at all. This is not my point. I’m quite happy for an Anglican Bishop to ordain women. If a Methodist Bishop ordains women ministers in his or her church I’m good. I really don’t mind at all if a Mennonite... Read more

My post on the impossibility of women’s ordination has garnered the most comments to my blog ever–and they continue to accumulate. A couple of things have arisen from the discussion which are worth mentioning. The first is a point of clarity. When I say that it is impossible for a woman to be ordained as a priest I am not stating my own opinion. I’m simply stating what the Catholic Church teaches. My post was an attempt to explain some... Read more

What is a Cosmic Mother or Father? It’s all linked with this amazing American girl Katie Davis and my post yesterday about women in the priesthood. In yesterday’s post I explained why it is impossible for women to be Catholic priests: because the priesthood is tied in with both the economy of salvation and the anthropology of what it means to be human–either male or female. Part of this was a discussion of what it means to be human and... Read more

G.K.Chesterton said, “Every argument is a theological argument.” Therefore we must be aware, in the argument for women’s ordination (and indeed in every argument) what forms of argumentation are being made, and where the essential truths lie for Catholics. Those who argue for women’s ordination usually do so using three forms of argumentation: 1. Utilitarianism 2. Sentimentalism  3. Civil Rights. The utilitarian argument goes like this: “Jane can do the job just as well–and better than a man. She has a... Read more

Atheist to Catholic convert: How nice for you. Since you’re a Catholic you don’t have to think about the meaning of life. Just believe whatever the Pope tells you. Catholic convert to Atheist: How nice for you. Since you’re an atheist you don’t have to think about the meaning of life since for you there is no meaning to life. Atheist: Your religion, with it’s Sugar Daddy in the sky who gives you eternal life is just wishful thinking for... Read more