During his first homily as Pope in 2013, Pope Francis gave the following warning: …if we do not confess Jesus Christ, nothing will avail. We will become a compassionate NGO [non-government organization], but not the Church, the Bride of Christ. When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of... Read more
We live in the midst of a “synodal renewal of the Church.” This Church “listens” and “accompanies” God’s people, especially those on the “margins” (the marginalized). Starting in October of 2023, representatives of the Catholic Church begin meeting in Rome for the First Session of the Synod of Synodality. Here, the Church takes the information gleaned from the various “listen sessions” and begins to identify new ways to “accompany” its people, again, especially those on the “margins.” Well, not all... Read more
The current messaging coming from the Vatican baffles me. The Vatican appears to stand by while some bishops (especially in Germany) seek to change Catholic moral teaching. Pope Francis elevates cardinals among American prelates that dissent from Catholic moral teaching. Moreover, the Pope overlooks more faithful bishops and archbishops of dioceses that traditionally hold cardinals. The Pope labels “conservative” American Catholics ideologues. Young, more traditional priests, he labels too “ridged” or someone where “something bad is happening…on the inside.” And... Read more
The Church in the United States stands in the mists of sea change concerning the priesthood. From at least 2002, studies conducted on the priesthood show that most new priests ordained in the Catholic Church reflect a more traditional and conservative worldview. I often highlight concerns over potential heterodoxic and heteropraxic (unorthodox belief and practice) movements within the Church. These movements often surround progressive Catholic prelates. For example, the German Synodal Way, which authorized the blessing of same-sex couples, in... Read more
As a “conservative” Catholic, I often get pushback from “progressive” Catholics. They claim I am too Pharisaical, too judgmental, too imprudent, or just plain rude. Our ethical standards appear miles apart, yet we share the same Catholic Church. Why do they think I am rude? Well, I think Catholic moral teaching applies to all Catholics, regardless of situation or circumstance.* The word catholic means universal, therefore Catholic moral teaching applies universally to all Catholics. In this article, I put forth,... Read more
In the spirit of dialogue, I provided one of my critics a space to contribute. His essay is below. Thank you for reading. Fear is useless; what is needed is trust From the last thread, it’s no secret I was alarmed at Cardinal Burke’s seeming ignorance on the history of Church meetings–councils, synods, and other forms of consultation. In its broad sense, synodality happens all the time in the Church: parish councils, finance committees, and even the one-on-one experiences common in everyday life.... Read more
In a recent article, A Synod of Disappointment Looms: Who Is This Synod for Anyway?, I asked the question: who is the Synod of Synodality (SoS) for anyway? I examined the document release as guidance for the First Session, Instrumentum Laboris (IL), for insight into the ultimate ends of the SoS. Not alone in my confusion, one need only scan websites like The National Catholic Register and The Catholic Thing to find numerous articles attempting to crack the code of... Read more
How do we share the revealed truth found in Christianity, especially when this truth causes discomfort or demands a change in behavior? In Ephesians, St. Paul ties revealed truth with the attainment of maturity and seeing beyond deceitful schemes. This newly attained truth is the context in which love speaks. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until... Read more
Inspired by Dante’s Divine Comedy “As I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, I pray to the Lord my soul to take.” I dreamt I died… My vision slowly cleared to reveal – a road. Over the road, a sign read: I AM THE WAY TO PERDITION. I AM THE WAY OF SELF LOVE ABOVE ALL OTHERS. ALL ARE INCLUDED UPON THIS ROAD. ALL ARE AFFIRMED... Read more
Anyone familiar with the game of poker knows about the tell. For the successful poker player, the ability to read tells is crucial. To the unfamiliar, according to pokernews.com, tells are actions: either physical or verbal, players make at the table that might give away information about the strength of their hands. In other words, a tell tips (otherwise known as tipping their hand) other players off to the strength or weakness of a player’s hand of cards. Moreover, tells... Read more
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