Through Catholic Lenses - Page 4 of 8 - Viewing the world through our Catholic faith

Attacks Against Paper on Social Aspects of Gender Dysphoria

September 5, 2018 By Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC

About two weeks ago, a professor at Brown University published a study but now the study is being removed at the behest of transgender activists. The study dealt with social groupings of those with gender dysphoria and possible social factors in the condition. Gender dysphoria is the medical term for those unsatisfied with their biological sex. GD is a rather rare condition with prevalence estimates in medical literature ranging from 1 in 7,100 to 1 in 100,000 (there may be the impression… Read more

Co-Ed Change Rooms: Do They Increase Sexual Attacks?

September 2, 2018 By Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC

The Sunday Times (UK) released a report yesterday on where sexual attacks in pools and Sports facilities were happening. The majority were in change rooms where both biological sexes were present. They use “sexual attack” as a broad term to include voyeurism, sexual harassment, sexual assault, and rape. As the Times reported (my emphasis), The majority of alleged sexual attacks at Britain’s public swimming pools and sports centres occur in unisex changing rooms, according to data obtained by The Sunday Times. Nine out… Read more

I Found a New Spiritual Author in Julian of Norwich

August 28, 2018 By Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC

Recently, I’ve been reading An Explorer’s Guide to Julian of Norwich by Veronica Mary Rolf. Julian was a spiritual author who’d I’d vague heard about before. This book convinced me to buy Julian’s complete dialogues for further spiritual reading. I think this book is excellent. I will offer a general overview of Julian, a general outline of the book, some great lines and conclude explaining my 5-star rating. Rolf is in a unique position: she has money from her and… Read more

Two Legionaries Discuss How They Dealt With the Maciel Case

August 21, 2018 By Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC

A few people have asked me about how I dealt with the Marcial Maciel case. How did I deal with it and how is the Legion now? I can’t speak for the whole Legion, but I can speak for myself. I also found a fellow Legionary who wrote on Facebook and Instagram about his experience. Hopefully, these two stories might help Catholics today struggling with the sexual scandals in the US Church. They might give some of you hope. Fr…. Read more

“I am tired of the obfuscation of truth. I am tired of sin.” Bishop Morlino Responds to Crisis

August 18, 2018 By Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC

Bishop Robert Morlino of Madison posted a letter today which is a nice start of a response to McCarrick and the Pennsylvania Grand Jury report. The word “sin” or its variations appear 46 times in the letter. You can read it all in the Catholic Herald (diocesan paper). “I Am Tired of Sin” Morlino begins forcefully expressing his personal outrage at the situation. For my part — and I know I am not alone — I am tired of this…. Read more

Pope Francis Teaches Holiness: Gaudete et Exsultate Study Guide

August 18, 2018 By Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC

Recently Pope Francis wrote a document on how we can all be holy called Gaudete et Exsultate (Rejoice and Be Glad). I produced a study guide to help you if you want to read or discuss it. It has a lot to teach us all. I want to share with you a few points from it to give you a summary and encourage you to read it yourself. I highly recommend reading Gaudete et Exsultate. Summary / Introduction: As an apostolic exhortation, Gaudete… Read more

Further Down the Euthanasia Slippery Slope: 4 More Stories of Unjust Death

August 9, 2018 By Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC

A few weeks back, I posted about how euthanasia and assisted suicide were a slippery slope even as the proponents argued it wasn’t. Since then four more stories of this euthanasia / assisted suicide slippery slope have come to light. Proponents of this always argue it is about freedom before the law but the practice is anything but once the law is passed. The four stories today are about issues with end-of-life care in England, Canada twice, and Belgium. Withdrawing Life Support… Read more

The Death Penalty Is Wrong But Not Intrinsically Evil or Infallible

August 6, 2018 By Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC

People have been repeatedly saying that Pope Francis changed Church teaching on capital punishment on Thursday. They claim he infallibly declared the death penalty is intrinsically evil. This has two errors, it was neither infallible nor declared intrinsically evil. For reference, the key words in the statement from the Vatican are: The Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person”, and she works… Read more

Capital Punishment: Francis & the Tradition Before Him Are Both Right

August 3, 2018 By Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC

In the past two days, Capital Punishment has been a hot topic. Some claim previous Church teaching was wrong while others saying Pope Francis is a heretic. Neither of these positions holds water. Instead, both have their place to play and work in harmony using a hermeneutic of continuity. As Fr Thomas Petri, OP, noted, “I think Pope Francis’ change further absolutizes the pastoral conclusion made by John Paul II.” Fr Jay Scott Newman seems to agree in principle: “Do not be dismayed… Read more

How to Evangelize on Social Media (Evangelizing Social Media, part 4)

August 1, 2018 By Fr Matthew P. Schneider, LC

I know many people wanted this series to start with evangelizing on social media but I think the other three videos provide a good background. The first video provided a definition and history of social media. How social media affects our mindset was the theme of the second video. The third spoke of how we can evangelize that mindset. Now, we get to online evangelizing itself. Before embedding the video, two notes. This video begins with a question from the audience before the… Read more