MSW on the Left and Abortion

Last updated on: February 9, 2014 at 9:59 am By David Cruz-Uribe

Recently I wrote a critique of the Pro-Life movement, suggesting that it was in the grips of a totalizing ideology. Several commentators responded by arguing that this sort of attack was a reflection of partisanship, that it did nothing for the Pro-Life movement, and that I was turning a blind-eye to similar faults among progressive Catholics. This was not my intent, but I think these were substantive comments and worthy of further consideration. What kinds of criticism of the Pro-Life... Read more

Pope Francis: Solidly Pro-Life

Last updated on: January 25, 2014 at 9:19 am By David Cruz-Uribe

A oft used joke is to respond to a question whose answer is obviously yes by asking, “Is the Pope Catholic?” A variant of this would be to ask, “Is the Pope Pro-Life?”: the answer should be equally obvious. But it appears that this is not, or at least no longer the case. The most recent issue of Columbia, the house magazine of the Knights of Columbus, contains an article entitled The Gospel of Life According to Pope Francis. It... Read more

Reforming the Annulment Process

Last updated on: January 15, 2014 at 8:30 am By David Cruz-Uribe

Resolved: The canonical annulment process should be scrapped and the Catholic response to divorce should be reformed following the model of the Orthodox Churches. Fr. Peter Daly, a pastor in the DC area and a columnist for NCR, argues this point in a very powerful blog post. He is approaching it from a pastoral, not a doctrinal point of view, and he makes clear some of the painful issues he confronts. Some highlights: It is pretty clear from the Gospels... Read more

When Atheists Fail as Parents

Last updated on: January 14, 2014 at 12:43 pm By David Cruz-Uribe

The Guardian today has an essay by a bemused father whose eight year old daughter is converting to Catholicism. He and his wife, both atheists, are both quite taken aback by this decision. He writes: I was, however, inclined to agree when my wife, who’s a pretty vehement atheist, said that she could cope with just about any life decision our children may make – apart from them wanting to join the military or the clergy. So what happened when... Read more

A Quick Question on the Lectionary

Last updated on: January 12, 2014 at 9:59 am By David Cruz-Uribe

As I was studying the readings for today, I noticed a translation difference between the Lectionary and the NIV for today’s psalm, Psalm 29. This led me to poke around and I discovered that there were substantial differences between the Lectionary and the translation given in the NAB (revised edition). As given in the Lectionary, it reads (Ps 29, 1-2, 3-4, 9-10) Give to the LORD, you sons of God, give to the LORD glory and praise, Give to the... Read more

2013 in Review: Thank You to our Readers!

Last updated on: January 5, 2014 at 9:43 pm By voxnovablog

Just a quick note to wish everyone a (somewhat belated) happy and blessed New Year. Vox Nova continues to roll along and special thanks goes to our readers and commentators. I want to give a hat tip to our top five commentators this year, according to the the WordPress statistics: Peter Paul Fuchs 209 comments 2 Ronald King 189 comments 3 A Sinner 188 comments 4 Jordan 149 comments 5 trellis smith 135 comments Thank you for your participation, and... Read more

Cyril of Alexandria on Mary, Mother of God

Last updated on: January 1, 2014 at 9:03 pm By Joshua B

(Note: Somehow this didn’t get published yesterday. Better late than never.) In honor of this solemnity, excerpts from a homily of St. Cyril of Alexandria: Mary, Mother of God, we salute you. Precious vessel, worthy of the whole world’s reverence, you are an ever-shining light, the crown of virginity, the symbol of orthodoxy, an indestructible temple, the place that held him whom no place can contain, mother and virgin. Because of you the holy gospels could say: Blessed is he... Read more

Asking the Question: Why are they Poor?

Last updated on: December 28, 2013 at 11:28 am By David Cruz-Uribe

Preface: The following post is adapted from an article I wrote for the quarterly newsletter of the Solanus Casey Region of the Secular Franciscan Order. Last month I was named the regional chair of JPIC: Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation. This is a ministry shared by all branches of the Franciscan family. It is an expression of the incarnational theology of St. Francis of Assisi and for Secular Franciscans, flows naturally out of our rule: Let them individually and... Read more

Gaudete!

Last updated on: December 25, 2013 at 8:18 am By David Cruz-Uribe

On this blessed Feast of the Nativity, may the Lord give you every blessing under Heaven. May every gift given and received remind you of the gift of eternal life, which is His Son. Read more