As research for an exciting project I’m reading .The Watchers: A Secret History of the Reign of Elizabeth I Stephen Alford’s excellent study of the spy network in Elizabethan England. He does a great job in portraying the reality of the Elizabethan police state. We have got used to the version of English history in which Henry VIII–a kind of sixteenth century English Idi Amin– was a great sporting sort of fellow who, “Ho, ho, had an eye for the ladies... Read more
This week’s article at Imaginative Conservative offers a critique of Benjamin Franklin’s rationalism Like most Freemasons, Franklin had a spiritual blind spot. There was nothing wild and mystical in his life. Passion and romance in religion were alien to him. His creed was one of common sense, mild-mannered good works and human virtue. As such it was not only blind. It was bland. I came across a quotation of his the other day which sums it up. He wrote, “The... Read more
One of my wisecracks is, “I used to be chaste, but she caught me.” Sorry. Bad joke. Another one liner on the subject that has changed my life is Pope St John Paul’s observation, “Chastity is the work of a lifetime.” Think of it like this: chastity is the work of a lifetime because it is a beautiful, mature and profound virtue. Chastity is like a great work of art–a masterpiece that is only completed after years of trial and... Read more
In the wake of the recent resounding thumbs up to same sex marriage in Ireland, and as the Supreme Court debates the issue of same sex marriage and Pope Francis prepares for the second round of what promises to be a bruising Synod on the Family we should all wake up to the fact that marriage is a mess. We should open our eyes and realize that the human race is in a historic battle to understand what marriage is,... Read more
My article for Aleteia this week gives a sketch of the various Catholics who are, or may be, in the running for the White House. There have never been as many Catholics stepping up for the top job and their backgrounds and opinions provide an accurate reflection of a diverse and divided American Catholic Church. As the race for the White House gears up, all eyes are on the presidential contenders, and there has never been a larger crop of... Read more
When the kids were little I remember Mrs Longenecker telling me that she was in the family van with a friend and their infant was in the back seat screaming his head off. The mom countered by opening a lollipop and giving it to junior. Mrs Longenecker observed in her usual down to earth way, “Why did you do that? That was not smart. You just rewarded him for screaming. If you give him candy when he screams he’ll scream... Read more
My article this week at the National Catholic Register explains the Catholic reasons why same sex marriage is an impossibility. This is the main reason why the Catholic Church will never allow same sex weddings — because we believe that marriage is a sacrament, and we can’t change the content of the sacrament. A sacramental marriage is between one man and one woman for life, and we can’t change it any more than we can say the grass is purple or the... Read more
When faced with the multiplicity of religions its easy to think that they are all the same Its easy to think they are all either man made religions or that they are simply the accident of certain historical and cultural conditions. The question to ask when considering the validity of a religion is where its authority comes from. It the main authority is some guy from the American mid west who had some dreams in the 1870s you’re probably on... Read more
A reader has asked me why I don’t write more on subjects like the environment and income inequality. I’m as shocked as the next ordinary person to see the vast inequality of income in the United States. I’m even more shocked to see the vast inequality of income between a “poor” American and someone in the developing world. However, I don’t think income inequality is the real problem and that’s why I don’t write about it much. The problem isn’t... Read more
Readers may have picked up that I am not particularly delighted by the prospect of a Hillary Clinton presidency. No matter how much publicity there is for her record of scandals, incompetence, manipulation and lies, no matter how much publicity there is for her husbands slime ball behavior, abuse of women and louche lifestyle, no matter how much their “charitable foundation” is exposed for corruption, bribes and double dealing, I think it is very possible that she will be elected.... Read more
Fr. Dwight Longenecker
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