Men, Women, Laity, and Clergy: God’s Wise Plan of Differentiated Order
Allowing women to be liturgical ministers stokes the flames of a false egalitarianism that agitates for women deacons and priests.
Can the Constitution Mandate Pregnancy and Vaccines?
Some of the arguments being used against Roe are also establishing a defense for vaccine mandates.
Where the Good Priest Must Go
Man’s willingness to believe or revile, whether based on evidence or on one’s side in the debates of the day, has no part in the priest’s job.
From the Ghetto with Love
As I overcame my fear and ignorance of the traditional liturgy, I found myself falling in love with it.
The Problem with the Female “Empowerment” Movement
Far from being the means toward self-actualization, female empowerment is its antithesis, as women lose the ability to have healthy and happy lives with men.
The Proposed Designs of Notre Dame’s Interior Will Be More Damaging Than Any Fire
Two years ago, the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris caught on fire, plunging the whole world into collective shock. Hundreds of images circulated online that showed the massive cathedral enshrouded by smoke and firefighters doing their best to put out the flames while the heroic priest Fr. Fournier distinguished himself by risking his life … Read more
Can a Catholic Be a Libertarian?
Lately I’ve been extensively reading the Austrian Economists and the thinkers of the Libertarian tradition. I can already hear the groans and screams of some readers pulling their hair—or beards—out as they lament the seemingly inexcusable faux pas of a traditional Catholic such as myself dabbling in the world of political and economic liberalism. I … Read more
Antony and Cleopatra in a Nutshell
Following hot on the heels of Macbeth and being first performed in late 1606 or early 1607, Antony and Cleopatra might be coupled with Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare’s earlier tragedy about erotic recklessness, written eleven years earlier. If, however, Romeo and Juliet might be forgiven for the follies of their head-weak and heart-strong youth, no … Read more
Dobbs and the Shaky Foundations of Roe
In the oral arguments in the much-anticipated Mississippi abortion case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization heard in the Supreme Court Wednesday, there was little discussion of the details of abortion. Instead, the status of the Court’s major precedents and the Court’s power and influence in American life were the main subjects. The immediate subject … Read more
George Floyd Was Not Jesus Christ
In anticipation of The Catholic University of America’s obligations and observations regarding Black History Month, an icon entitled “Mama” by artist Kelly Latimore was displayed outside Mary, Mirror of Justice Chapel at the Columbus School of Law—and, like the pachamama, soon disappeared. Whether this was an act that mirrored justice or injustice may be a … Read more
Attending Sinful Weddings
Deciding whether or not to attend the weddings of those not living in accord with the Church’s teaching on sexuality is, for many of us, an agonizing matter. People often ask for my advice. (I find it easier to advise them than to make similar decisions in my own life!) John,* a Catholic father, asked … Read more
What is the Mission of a Parish?
What is the Church for? If a member of an uncontacted tribe entered a typical Catholic parish today, how long would it take him to learn an accurate answer to that question? Recently, Fr. James Grant wrote in these pages about putting the parish mission into action. He points out clear problems in the Church: … Read more
’Tis the Season to Be Guilty
British polemicist Thomas Macaulay said, in criticism of the Puritans, that they “hated bear-baiting, not because it gave pain to the bear but because it gave pleasure to the spectators.” The Puritans were practically a comedy club next to any contemporary “Progressive.” As we enter the season of “winter holidays” (can’t say “Thanksgiving” and especially … Read more
Restoring Tradition
Editor’s Note: This is an exclusive excerpt from Joseph Pearce’s forthcoming book, Benedict XVI: Defender of the Faith. In May 2011, Georg Ratzinger, the pope’s brother, was asked during an interview what he considered to be the “focal points” of Benedict’s pontificate. Without hesitation, he singled out the pope’s efforts to restore the traditional liturgy: … Read more
The USCCB Eucharist Document Is Out, but the Scandal Is Still Here
One month after the election of Joseph Biden I met personally with the Archbishop of Detroit, Allen Vigneron. I knew that he had been appointed to head a working committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)—a committee formed to address how the bishops would deal with a Catholic president who advocates legalized … Read more
On Knowing Things That Truly Matter
Whenever I come across Groucho Marx’s advice about never wanting to join a club that would have someone like him as a member, I immediately think of the Roman Catholic Church, whose admission standards are considerably more relaxed. In fact, so wildly promiscuous is Old Mother Church that even Groucho Marx would be welcome. She … Read more
A Church Without Purpose
In a virtual conversation conducted earlier this year with His Excellency Bishop Robert Barron of Los Angeles, Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson bemoaned the overwhelming decline experienced by the Catholic Church in recent decades: My sense is that it’s because the Church does not demand enough of young people. And by not demanding enough it doesn’t … Read more
The Highly Religious “Nones”
Just what is that telling line that is often spoken by today’s “nones?” “I’m spiritual, but not religious.” Over the years, I’ve heard those very words many a time. In all likelihood, it’s not a deliberate lie to say that one is spiritual but not religious. In fact, “nones” who resort to this self-description may … Read more
The Victim Who Vanished
A short time ago, in the Maryland countryside, a priest the humble folk say bears a resemblance to Maximilian Kolbe turned on the ignition of his old silver pick-up and eased out of the parking lot of his St. Michael’s parish. He shifted into second gear and passed by a group of swollen-eyed parishioners standing … Read more
Warning: This Book is Dangerous
I pushed Michael Warren Davis’ new book, The Reactionary Mind (Regnery Publishing), on a friend of mine, a noted Catholic and academic leader. I told him a good part of the book was a defense of feudalism. I thought he’d like that. Instead, he said, “Well, recent scholarship shows that feudalism did not exist. So, … Read more