LCWR and Rome: the Opera of Catholicism – UPDATED

Last updated on: April 16, 2015 at 6:25 pm By Elizabeth Scalia

Recently, while watching some Catholic sniping and squabbling amid these internet comboxes wherein I dwell and make my living, I noted a particularly dramatic note of victimhood being voiced in one channel and fervent, mustachio-twirling glee emanating from another, and I suddenly realized why opera is an art-form created and first-sustained in Catholic cultures. We do love our arias and our grand, sweeping themes. The issue I had been monitoring was the sort of simple doctrinal rumpus that has become... Read more

Our Lady of Good Counsel, Pray for Us

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:29 pm By Elizabeth Scalia

I love her. She is in my hallway, above the holy water font But you know, when you see something every day, sometimes you forget to look, really look. So I am glad that Terry at Abbey-Roads wrote about her today. It reminds me that I need some Good Counsel; I need it right now, in fact. So I have taken an Icon from my desk and put it over the font, and brought Our Lady of Good Counsel to... Read more

NPR’s really good piece on the LCWR Story

Last updated on: April 16, 2015 at 6:21 pm By Elizabeth Scalia

Every time I think I’ve had it with NPR, they surprise me — they pull me back from the ledge with something really good. This time, it’s a three-way interview on the LCWR story with Journalist John Allen, Christendom College’s Donna Bethell and Sister Simone Campbell of NETWORK. All three are considerably more thoughtful and balanced on the issue than some print-media reports and Catholic analysts would suggest. Give it a listen or read the text. It’s good stuff. Read more

Name that Movie! – UPDATED

Last updated on: March 3, 2017 at 4:43 pm By Elizabeth Scalia

I saw this posted somewhere: And all I could think was: “I lieb ya, baby, I lieb ya, I lieb ya! Now lieb me alone!” Can you name the film? UPDATE: Okay, that was easy. Nathan Lane was great on broadway in Zero’s role, but I still love the original film the best. How is it possible that 1968, a year I hated, looks like more fun than anything we’re having today? Read more

Bible Basics for Catholics: A New Picture! – UPDATED

Last updated on: March 3, 2017 at 4:44 pm By Elizabeth Scalia

Got three new books in the mail yesterday, and I’m going to share all of them with you. I actually have about 25 books that arrived while I was sick last month and I never did get a chance to catch up on them, so perhaps this week I will slip them into the blog and let you make up your own minds about whether they might be of interest to you, but this book, Bible Basics for Catholics: A... Read more

Douthat talks with Moyers on Bad Religion – UPDATED

Last updated on: March 3, 2017 at 4:44 pm By Elizabeth Scalia

I’ve been recommending Ross Douthat’s book, Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics, both here and elsewhere. Here he sits with Bill Moyers and they get right into it, with Douthat quickly making an argument for robust institutional religion participation in the national dialogue — a religion that is “not separate from politics, that’s involved in politics, deeply influences politics but isn’t captive to a partisan cause of the left or right.” An excellent discussion — check it... Read more

C.S. Lewis. Nails it.

Last updated on: March 3, 2017 at 4:44 pm By Elizabeth Scalia

Lots and lots of editing work to do for the morning, so here is C. S. Lewis! Read more

The LCWR, Reform and the Persistence of Memory – UPDATED

Last updated on: April 16, 2015 at 6:21 pm By Elizabeth Scalia

My plan was to end the night with a linking round-up of reactions, thoughts and analysis of how the story of the Vatican’s call for a reform of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious was falling out. And I may still do that — when do I ever shut up? But for tonight, I can’t think of a better read for anyone interested in this story, than Max Lindenman’s brilliant, heartfelt and almost lyrical piece that reads like the turn... Read more

Style, Sex, Substance:Frank Talk from Catholic Women – UPDATED

Last updated on: March 3, 2017 at 4:44 pm By Elizabeth Scalia

The first time I head the title of Hallie Lord’s new book, I was intrigued: Then I saw the list of formidable female writers Hallie had assembled to write ten frank, strong, funny, thoughtful and wrenching essays on the challenges of living an authentically Catholic life in a world where women are expected to take their cues from Kim Kardashian and Reality Wives (no thinking required) or Hillarys-Clinton-or-Rosen (the thinking is settled). I was hooked. What writers? Besides Hallie herself... Read more

LCWR, the SSPX and the Vatican; Fun Times in Catholicland UPDATED

Last updated on: April 16, 2015 at 6:21 pm By Elizabeth Scalia

Busy days here at Patheos and I am only now getting to a bunch of emails from people asking me what I think about “this misogynist outrage from the Vatican” concerning the Leadership Conference of Women Religious. Others, possibly recalling a piece I wrote three years ago sound like they’re rubbing their hands together in anticipation; “I can’t wait to see what you have to say about this!” wrote one woman. I wrote back, “what I think may surprise you.”... Read more