Martini’s Endless Dream

Edward Pentin of the National Catholic Register wrote, “The former cardinal-archbishop of Milan [Jesuit Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini], a favorite of those pushing for heterodox reforms in the Church, had envisioned a permanent synodal Church in which the idea of collegial governance introduced at the Second Vatican Council could be better realized.  The Jesuit biblical… Read More Martini’s Endless Dream

Addressing a “Different Kind of Crisis”? A New Introduction to Vatican II

…and Interview With the Authors, Shaun Blanchard and Stephen Bullivant. Note: The book under discussion here represents only one of a number of interpretations of Vatican II and it’s fruits which are found at this website. See Labels / Categories for others. — Editor. “There is a story, perhaps apocryphal, that sometime in the 1950s,… Read More Addressing a “Different Kind of Crisis”? A New Introduction to Vatican II

Multiple Desecrations and the Tragic Pontificate of Francis 10 Years Later

Updated. Cardinals Mueller and Burke on the German Synod and beyond. “Bishops are accusing brother bishops of schism and heresy — and it’s all over the most fundamental and crucial doctrines of the Church.” Signs of the times. “Desecration is the act of depriving something of its sacred character, or the disrespectful, contemptuous, or destructive… Read More Multiple Desecrations and the Tragic Pontificate of Francis 10 Years Later

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on False Compassion

Never more timely. Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979).  A formidable scholar, prolific author, and Catholic University professor for 23 years, Archbishop Sheen was also a pioneer of the new evangelization. A charismatic radio and television personality and a zealous preacher of the Gospel, his whole-hearted embrace of modern means of communication gave him access… Read More Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen on False Compassion

Drs. Larry Chapp and Rodney Howsar on “Suicidal” Vision of Cardinal McElroy

Robert Walter McElroy (born February 5, 1954) is an American prelate of the Catholic Church who has served as the sixth bishop of the Diocese of San Diego in California since 2015. He has written articles for America, the official magazine of the Jesuits in the United States. Pope Francis created him a cardinal on 27 August 2022.[1] Wikipedia. “Cardinal McElroy’s theological vision is a recipe for… Read More Drs. Larry Chapp and Rodney Howsar on “Suicidal” Vision of Cardinal McElroy

Cardinal Pell’s Pessimistic Assessment of the Pontificate of Francis

“The Christo-centricity of teaching is being weakened; Christ is being moved from the centre”. Thank You to Brother Andre Marie, MICM, for clarifying for his readers that Cardinal Pell, according to Vatican Journalist Sandro Magister, was in fact the original ‘Demos,’ the author of this remarkable final assessment: THE VATICAN TODAY Commentators of every school,… Read More Cardinal Pell’s Pessimistic Assessment of the Pontificate of Francis

Archbishop Gänswein’s New Book on Benedict XVI

National Catholic Register: “The book, which offers insights into Pope Benedict XVI through the eyes of a direct witness, should be understood as a memorial, not an indictment. …of course, there is Archbishop Gänswein’s open anger and surprise at being abruptly relieved of his post as prefect of the Papal Household by Pope Francis, without… Read More Archbishop Gänswein’s New Book on Benedict XVI

Fr. Frank Pavone and Contraception Rumors. Updated.

Newsmax. “The Vatican has defrocked Father Frank Pavone — who has been described as “the most vocal Catholic priest in America for the pro-life movement” — in a move that has shocked Church conservatives. This past weekend the Catholic News Agency (CNA) revealed the full text of a letter from Archbishop Christophe Pierre, the Apostolic Nuncio to… Read More Fr. Frank Pavone and Contraception Rumors. Updated.

A Note to the Always Interesting Dr. Larry Chapp on Hell

…he seems to express a kind of anxiety or apprehension here about the obvious problem of the magisterium as he “comes out of the closet” and reveals himself to be an eschatological “universalist”. Dear Dr. Chapp: A point towards the clarification of thought from a layman and obvious non-theologian: Despite making many interesting —even profound—… Read More A Note to the Always Interesting Dr. Larry Chapp on Hell

Revisiting the 2018 Dreher / Douthat Interview: the Great Gamble of Francis.

Updated. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat’s new book, To Change The Church: Pope Francis And The Future of Catholicism … is an urgent, compelling work of popular religious journalism. Douthat reads the signs of these anxious times with acute clarity and far-seeing vision. This book is must reading for every Christian who cares about the fate of… Read More Revisiting the 2018 Dreher / Douthat Interview: the Great Gamble of Francis.

Did Archbishop Vigano Overreach Regarding the Mass of Paul VI?

Fr. Brian Harrison, a well-known theologian who has long been conversant with traditionalist polemics thinks so, and he stated his reasons publicly in the pages of The Wanderer back in January, 2022 Archbishop Viganò Vs. The Novus Ordo By Fr. Brian W. Harrison, OSThe WandererJan. 27, 2022 Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, former papal Nuncio to… Read More Did Archbishop Vigano Overreach Regarding the Mass of Paul VI?

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger on Reasons for Vatican II

Even if it may have caused more problems than it solved, Vatican II for the future Pope was in no small part about reintegrating loose and undisciplined elements of immutable Catholic doctrine with Christological and Eucharistic teaching. George Weigel writes, “In the years immediately after the Council, Joseph Ratzinger (the future Pope Benedict XVI), who… Read More Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger on Reasons for Vatican II

Judeo-Christian Westernism. An Impossible Triangulation.

Review Author: Jason M. Morgan, April 2022, New Oxford Review. The Right Side of History: How Reason and Moral Purpose Made the West Great. By Ben Shapiro. Publisher: Broadside Books. Pages: 288..Price: $27.99. The Person of Jesus Christ is the hinge of all human history. The Messiah for whom the Jews had waited broke into our world in Bethlehem… Read More Judeo-Christian Westernism. An Impossible Triangulation.

Catholicism, Tradition and Protestantism

“One body, one Spirit, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one Father of us all” — Eph. 4: 4-6 Every ecclesial community brings its tradition(s) to bear in the exegesis and understanding of Scripture. Even independent Protestant Fundamentalist pastors and larger Protestant denominations employ their traditions [i.e., their received community understanding of texts] as a… Read More Catholicism, Tradition and Protestantism

The New Oxford Review Exchange on Whether Vatican II Was Necessary

It Ain’t Broke, But Let’s Fix It Anyhow June 2004, NOR We picked up a Catholic magazine, and on the cover was one big headline, and it was a striking one: “Was Vatican II a Mistake?” In the background to the headline were a litany of post-Vatican II disasters: “practicing homosexuals in the priesthood,” “pro-abortion… Read More The New Oxford Review Exchange on Whether Vatican II Was Necessary

Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich On the Infiltrations of a Dark Theology

Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824) was a German Augustinian nun of great sanctity. She was beatified by Pope St. John Paul II on 3 October 2004, Vatican City. Progressives were not pleased. Anne Catherine Emmerich endured a life of sufferings and bore the stigmata of our Lord. She was a seer who witnessed scenes from… Read More Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich On the Infiltrations of a Dark Theology