Two years ago on Good Friday, I became a little more Catholic by acquiring the first and only crucifix I have ever worn. I bought it from a teenage girl in a coffee shop who was selling jewelry as a fundraiser for her church youth group. Although she was not Catholic, there were a couple of crucifixes among the necklaces she had for sale. What sold me on this one was when she pointed out that it was made of... Read more
For most of my life, I’ve misunderstood ascetic practices as shallow, utilitarian forms of self denial. For instance: fasting is many times associated with denying the body to strengthen the soul. This superstitious approach is too extravagant and detached from ordinary experience. We all know of ascetic practices that only deny the flesh in a superficial sense and result in a more vital and healthy body and spirit. Exercise, good eating, regular sleep: all of these things and more are... Read more
A lot of people are piling on Rick Santorum for his inopportune comments about Obama’s supposed “phony theology”. But most of these critics are missing something fundamental. They assume, albeit implicitly, that Santorum is speaking from the perspective of orthodox Catholic theology, and then denounce him for seeking to impose his theological views on a secular state. But this misses the point entirely. Santorum’s theology is most certainly not an orthodox Catholic position. His worldview owes far more to American evangelicalism and exceptionalism than historic Christianity.... Read more
George Weigel has a column today at National Review titled “The Catholic Betrayal of Religious Liberty.” It begins as an indictment of Democratic Catholic officeholders Nancy Pelosi, Patty Murray, Rosa DeLauro and Kathleen Sebelius, women he describes as “Catholic Lite,” and goes on to add Sr. Carol Keehan, president of the Catholic Health Association, to the list. But in an interesting twist, the column winds up as a long encomium to John Courtney Murray, the liberal Jesuit priest and political... Read more
This Lent we are reviving the “Nova’s Ordo” feature. Each week one of our contributors will offer a reflection on the Sunday readings. As (almost) always, commentary is welcome, but we will not be indulging in pedantic exegesis, and I ask that you refrain from the same. If you feel moved to comment, please do so in a spirit of Christian charity and with a positive contribution. Sunday should be the one day we suspend our endless disputations. And so,... Read more
It has been clear since he was elected that there was an irrational element to the conservative opposition to President Obama. Let me be clear: I am not saying that all such opposition is either irrational or wrong: the current imbroglio over the HHS mandate shows that there are legitimate grievances which can be made and which we need to take seriously. I have not fully parsed the religious liberties issues involved, and don’t particularly want to rehash them here,... Read more
Siddartha, raised in luxury, awakened to the truth that life is filled with suffering. He set out to see if there were a way out of such suffering. One night, he discovered there was; life had to be lived out, the suffering of one’s life had to be accepted, but one can experience the cessation of suffering and, at one’s death, enter into eternal peace. In his death and resurrection, Jesus Christ can be seen as confirming what Siddartha proclaimed... Read more
Much ink has been spilled already on the HHS Mandate and the response of the US Bishops. However, there is an important theological aspect which I believe has not been given the attention it deserves. For example, in MM’s recent post, he argues that “the principle here is supposed to be religious liberty, not an indirect funding of contraception by dealing with insurance companies” and asks why people are not making such a fuss over other instances of the state... Read more
While visiting New Orleans this past weekend, I walked into the St. Louis Cathedral at the end of Mass, just in time to hear Archbishop Aymond go into a discourse between communion and the final dismissal. It began, rather disoncertingly, with a historical reference to the allegedly “miraculous” Battle of New Orleans. But just as I was becoming thoroughly disgusted, the archbishop took an unexpected turn: today’s battle, he said, is not against the British but against racism and violence. He... Read more
Here’s a reminder for all of us who spend (waste?) inordinate amounts of time in virtual places like Vox Nova, beginning with yours truly, Bloviator-in-Chief. From today’s First Reading, James 1:19-27: My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept... Read more
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