John M. Grondelski

John M. Grondelski (Ph.D., Fordham) is a former associate dean of the School of Theology, Seton Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey. All views expressed herein are his own.

recent articles

Confirmation Confusion

The Archdiocese of Baltimore recently announced that children there can now be confirmed at age nine. The change ostensibly is intended to deepen their faith and better engage their parents in their religious formation.

The Pope, the Poor, “Pageantry and Prominence”

When the pope warns against “pageantry and prominence,” I want to know how he will also protect against tacky and tawdry because the latter has often been the practical upshot of post-Vatican II liturgical choices.

Keep Ringin’ Those Bells!

Are ringing bells during Mass a vestige of the bad old pre-1969 Mass, where everything was hidden from the People of God in a dead language and the priest had to get the congregation’s attention?

Robbing Abraham to Pay Bartholomew

The professional ecumenical class claims a common Easter would promote “Christian witness, unity, and evangelization.” The claim leaves me unconvinced because it does not address calendar differences.

Europe’s Wars of Anti-Religion

Recent attacks on religion in Europe show that the land that nursed Christianity to maturity is in desperate need of re-evangelization.

“Celebrating” Death?

The Secular Left continues to co-opt traditional ceremonies. First it was same-sex “weddings.” Now it’s “funerals” for those about to commit suicide.

Toying with the Holydays

The latest installment of episcopal follies just exploded over this year’s status of Immaculate Conception. Is it a Holy Day of Obligation or not? It depends.

Whitmer Disrespects the Eucharist, Insults Catholics

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s recent TikTok video is either a desecration of the ritual of Communion, or she is completely unfamiliar with that central act of the Catholic and Orthodox faith. I don’t think it’s the latter.

Permanent Characters

How many Catholics take their sacramental characters anywhere near as seriously as the characters they tattoo on their bodies?

Americans Need to Appeal to Heaven

“An appeal to heaven” seems exactly what the American founding notion of law was, a notion that protects Americans against the abuse of their rights in the name of “law.”

Sanctifying Time

Recovering the Church’s tradition of regular and recurring religious practices throughout the day and in the course of the week, month, and year is not just folklore. It responds to a basic human need.

Love and Dignity

I admit a certain ambivalence about organizing a document around “human dignity” because I am unsure we’ve adequately prepared the ground to support that discussion, especially with non-Catholic circles.

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