Thinking about Mortal and Venial Sin: Missing Mass

Last updated on: May 3, 2017 at 7:02 pm By Brett Salkeld

For many non-Catholic Christians interested in Catholicism, the Catholic distinction between mortal and venial sin can be a stumbling block. To many such people a sin is a sin is a sin. Fretting over the relative gravity of different sins seems counterproductive. What is necessary is an outright condemnation of sin, not a careful categorization of it. Furthermore, many people, including many sincere Catholics, struggle with the idea that missing Mass is a mortal sin. If you are going to... Read more

A Sunday “Anthem”

Last updated on: August 28, 2011 at 3:04 pm By Mark Gordon

We asked for signs the signs were sent: the birth betrayed the marriage spent Yeah the widowhood of every government — signs for all to see. I can’t run no more with that lawless crowd while the killers in high places say their prayers out loud. But they’ve summoned, they’ve summoned up a thundercloud and they’re going to hear from me. You can add up the parts but you won’t have the sum You can strike up the march, there... Read more

Resolved: the pastoral versus the doctrinal

Last updated on: August 26, 2011 at 8:34 pm By David Cruz-Uribe

Given the very interesting response to my colleagues remarkable short post on perfect versus imperfect contrition, I wanted to steal his format to ask a question that I have chewed on from time to time. It seems to me that many of the disagreements in the Church today can be framed as fights over whether the Church should be more “pastoral” (reflecting divine Love and Mercy) or more “doctrinal”(reflecting divine Justice and Righteousness). I am not happy with the terminology... Read more

Another case of Chaput-in-mouth disease

Last updated on: August 25, 2011 at 11:14 am By Morning's Minion

Writing at Faith in Public Life, John Gehring draws attention to a peculiar essay by archbishop Charles Chaput in which he denounces the media in the following terms: “We make a very serious mistake if we rely on media like the New York Times, Newsweek, CNN, or MSNBC for reliable news about religion. These news media simply don’t provide trustworthy information about religious faith—and sometimes they can’t provide it, either because of limited resources or because of their own editorial... Read more

A Study Of “On The Character of Men And the Virtuous Life”: Part XXVIII.

Last updated on: August 25, 2011 at 10:19 am By Henry Karlson

Introduction and Part II “The body sees by means of the eyes, and the soul by means of the intellect.”[1] Without eyes the body is without sight, and so cannot enjoy the “shining sun on earth and ocean.”[2] Similarly, the soul without an undefiled, pure intellect living in holiness is “blind.”[3] Such a soul has no apprehension of God, and so cannot enjoy Gods “incorruptibility” or “eternal blessings.”[4] “Ignorance of God is obtuseness and stupidity of soul. For ignorance gives... Read more

Football, Prostitutes, and Marriage

Last updated on: August 23, 2011 at 1:22 am By M.Z.

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Presently college football is being rocked by allegations that University of Miami players received improper benefits from a sports booster who was imprisoned recently for securities fraud after his near billion dollar Ponzi scheme collapsed. Among the improper benefits were cash payments to players, arranging prostitutes for players, hosting yacht parties, and in one case paying for the abortion of an impregnated prostitute. The usual laments are coming forth on how this has stained the game of college football and... Read more

The Bully Pulpit

Last updated on: August 22, 2011 at 6:31 pm By Henry Karlson

Many people dismiss what is said on the Catholic blogosphere because of what happens on it. While there is good which is done on it, there is also a small number of Catholics making a lot of noise and causing all kinds of problems in the Church. They do not represent the best of the Catholic faith, but they represent what is often heeded on the internet. Indeed, we find among the most vocal of the blogosphere a rather unsavory... Read more

Resolved:

Last updated on: August 22, 2011 at 1:46 pm By Matt Talbot

A church culture that fosters Perfect Contrition is superior to one that fosters Imperfect Contrition. Discuss. Read more

A Study Of “On The Character of Men And the Virtuous Life”: Part XXVII.

Last updated on: August 22, 2011 at 8:36 am By Henry Karlson

Introduction and Part II “As a man comes naked out of his mother’s womb, so the soul comes naked out of the body.”[1] A soul can emerge from the body in different ways; some come out “pure and luminous,” while others are spotted due to “faults,” and finally, some come out “black” due to their “many sins.”[2] “Thus the soul that is intelligent and enjoys the love of God reflects and meditates on the evils that follow death, and leads... Read more