A System Is What It Does: On Cardinal McElroy’s Appointment
The Church, at least in its administrative aspect, is a patronage system, and the purpose of ecclesiastical appointments is to create powerful patrons who protect and promote clients.
TwitterPope vs. Master Catechism?
A new catechism tool could help even Vatican officials better understand the Catholic Faith.
The Unserious “House of Luce”
I expect heresy and moral scandal to blight the Church from time to time. What distresses me more is the utter lack of seriousness, the lack of appreciation for the awesome responsibility which Church leaders bear.
Answering Protestant Objections to Pope Francis
I’ve been told by several Protestants over the last decade that Francis is the single greatest obstacle to their conversion. How should I respond?
The Lessons of Louvain
Pope Francis was invited by the University of Louvain to celebrate its 600th anniversary, and a gaggle of feminist idealogues swarm all over him to demand an immediate “paradigm change” on all issues relating to women.
Love for St. Peter and His Successor
My love for Peter endures because he is like me, fragile flesh and blood, but also unlike me, in that he became holy, despite his sin. I must love the successor of Peter, even when that successor causes me to suffer.
Dishonest Agreement
The pope’s comment that “All religions are a path to God” was another instance where he says something which sounds charitable—and was likely meant charitably—but, in the end, turns out not to be so.
What the Pope Wanted to Say, Probably
There is a certain pastoral discretion required in an official visit to another country. However, discretion does not mean minimizing or relativizing the Gospel.
Picking Our Poison With Pope Francis
When faced with two political candidates who are not aligned with Catholic fundamentals, it is permissible to cast a vote against the candidate who would do the most harm.
Uncertain Trumpets: Cardinal Cupich and Pope Francis
From the Vatican’s embrace of a socialist dictator to Cardinal Cupich’s scandalous invocation at the Democratic National Convention, we find ourselves without leaders to guide us.
On Reading Literature: Thoughts for Pope Francis
Pope Francis recently wrote a letter on the role of literature in priestly formation, but a former associate dean of a Catholic seminary thinks it should have gone deeper.
Did Online Trads Cause the TLM Crackdown?
Ever since Pope Francis began to restrict the TLM, many have pointed to prominent traditionalists online as the reason. Is this true? If so, what does that say about the pope?
A Flight into Reality
The study of literature makes you free of the solipsism of the present, to see more clearly what Russell Kirk called “the permanent things.”
The Failure of Interreligious Dialogue with Islam
Last week, on the morning of August 7th, Pope Francis, just before his regular Wednesday general audience, received a group of representatives from the Afghan Muslim community in Italy. He touched upon the “complicated and dramatic history [in Afghanistan], marked by a succession of wars and blood-stained conflicts, which have made it very difficult for … Read more
Pontifical Alchemy Doesn’t Work
The desire to transform or otherwise unnaturally change aspects of the Church into something supposedly more valuable, or at least more appropriate for our times, is doomed to failure.
What Pope Francis Misses About the Nature of Faith
The teaching of Pope Francis on the nature of faith emphasizes one aspect to the detriment of another.
The Joy of Schism
Throughout Church history, Christians have frequently been happy to expel each other from the Church. That is no less true today, but what is the proper attitude of the Christian when it comes to schism?
J.D. Vance Is Right and the Pope Is Wrong on “Climate Change”
Leftist Catholics are upset that J.D. Vance doesn’t accept the mainstream narrative about climate change—charging that he’s defying “Church teaching.” Is this true?
Near Assassinations: Two Presidents, Two Popes
The attempted assassination of Donald Trump and a foiled attempt against Pope Francis harken back to two other attempted assassinations, and Our Lady’s role.
The Pope as the Custodian of Tradition
A complete prohibition preventing diocesan priests from celebrating the TLM would be inimical to the role of the Church as a careful custodian of the living form of tradition.