“My fault, my fault, my most grievous fault” is what we will soon say in the Confiteor. I know, I know. We will be blamed for dishing out the guilt and making people feel bad, but I think it is going to be refreshing–and here’s why: Our whole culture is awash with the pop psychology counseling [...]
A couple of priest friends of mine--I'll call them Father Gary and Father Larry-- who are cradle Catholics-- were chuckling about the Pope's visit last week. "Everybody's crazy about this pope." Fr Larry said. "Liberals think he's wonderful. Conservatives think he's terrible." "That's right." Fr Jerry pitched in, "Then the Pope talks about the devil, says same sex [...]
My article for Aleteia this week focusses on the positive message of Pope Francis. To spend all one’s time, therefore lamenting and lambasting evil is not actually the best way to overcome evil. The best way to overcome evil is to build up all that is beautiful, good and true. This is the positive way forward, [...]
I love the enthusiasm some of my friends have for the Extraordinary Form of the Mass. They take time and go to great expense and effort to make sure the worship of God is reverent, traditional, beautiful and transcendent. I'm giving them a thumbs up, straight A's, a shout out and genuine appreciation. Unfortunately, some of [...]
The Cappadocian Fathers My blog post for National Catholic Register this week points out the heresy of Arianism and how it is not just a fourth century issue. Arianism, simply defined, is the belief that Jesus Christ was not equal with God the Father, but was a created being. In the fourth century [...]
Kim Davis In watching the grilling that Cecile Richards--the CEO of Planned Parenthood received yesterday, what I found interesting was the way she deflected all questions that had anything to do with what might be right or wrong. She made it clear that Planned Parenthood was "judgement free" and that they respected the choices [...]
Anglican Women Priests On the now customary plane home press conference Pope Francis once again firmly closed the door to the possibility of women priests saying, "Women priests. That cannot be done." Go here for my short debate on the Catholic understanding of priesthood and why women cannot be ordained. Go here for a [...]
St Michael St Michael and All Angels. Today's feast day reminds me of that section in C.S.Lewis’ science fiction books where his hero Ransom discusses the reality of the angel-like beings the Eldils. It’s a cool argument. He suggests that the Eldils (angels) are invisible to humans not because they are less real, but more [...]
Bishops of the Celtic Orthodox Church My article for Imaginative Conservative this week explores the delightfully weird world of wandering bishops or episcopi vagantes. One area of eccentricity that never ceases to interest and delight are the “episcopi vagantes” or wandering bishops. These schismatics are often quaintly bizarre. On the fringes of lunacy, they set [...]
This picture of Madison Square Garden last night reminded me of the pictures you sometimes see of Joel Osteen's church and other mega churches. Permit us a bit of triumphalism, but the Catholic Church is the original mega church. We are full of faults and flaws because we are full of sinners, but a papal visit [...]