More Confusion from the Pope – “That all religions have equal weight is an extraordinarily flawed idea for the Successor of Peter to appear to support.” The Pope and Other Religions (First Things)
The Absurdity of Materialism – “David Bentley Hart has published a gigantic, compendious, exasperating, bombastic masterpiece of a book that every serious person should consider reading.” The mysteries of mind (World)
In Care of Poland – “Poland’s Catholic bishops have accused the state authorities of “violating the law”, including by seeking to expand abortion rights, improperly treating prisoners, “spreading hate”, and “marginalising the importance of religion”. Catholic church accuses Polish state of “breaking law, spreading hatred and marginalising religion” (Notes from Poland)
Patience Is a Virtue – “Americans are more impatient than ever—and it’s affecting everything from our waistlines to our relationships.” The Lost Art of Waiting (The Free Press)
The Jewish Roots of Veneration of the Saints – “Protestants insist that the veneration and intercession of saints is a later pagan accretion into Christianity. My research has led me to the opposite conclusion: the belief goes back to first-century Judaism.” Jews and the Saints (Catholic.com)
Answering Controversies with Faith and Reason – “Recruits to the Catholic faith are often more receptive to the hot buttons of the faith than many cradle Catholics.” Hot Buttons of the Faith (Catholic Culture)
Escaping Poverty – “The single greatest attribute one needs to escape the cycle of poverty is discipline. When I say ‘discipline,’ I mean the ability to engage in short-term denial for long-term gain.” Bogan Elegy: A Survivor’s Guide to Escaping Suburban Poverty (Acton Institute)
Fleeing Liberal Family Policies – “Parents are not generally moving towards states with the preferred family policies of progressives. They are moving out of these states, including Democratic states, like New York, California, Massachusetts, and Oregon, all well known for their liberal family policies.” The Blue State Family Exodus: Families Are Migrating to Red and Purple States (IFStudies)
Big Brother Suppresses Siblings – “In 2023, the total fertility rate fell to 1.62 births per woman, a 2 percent decline from the previous year and the lowest rate recorded since the government began tracking it in the 1930s.” Big Government Is Leading to Smaller Families (National Review)
Because of Dobbs – “It has been two years since the Supreme Court decided Dobbs v. Jackson, overturning Roe v. Wade. It is worth taking stock of where the pro-life movement finds itself now.” The Way Forward After Dobbs (First Things)
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“The Jewish Roots of Veneration of the Saints ”
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That was very interesting. Thank you so much for sharing the article.
@More confusion from the pope
From Archbishop Chaput, we read: “That all religions have equal weight is an extraordinarily flawed idea for the Successor of Peter to appear to support.”
Is it all about REMOVING boundaries and even contours, in order to then rationalize one particular point? In Fiducia Supplicans the blessing of “irregular” situations of all kinds is authorized while the bubble-wrapped agenda is then to (informally and spontaneously!) bless the homosexual lifestyle one couple at a time–as couples.
And in Singapore, does the implied equivalency of all searching and expressive religions—apart from supernatural Self-Disclosure (!) by the Triune God—likewise attempt an environment for the anti-binary LGBTQ lifestyle as a religion (?) or possible church-within-a-Church? (Not speaking here of the cry of individual and often victimized persons.)
STANDING BACK, we might begin to understand this pattern of “confusion” by noting that some minds are simply and even giftedly captivated by the singular, particular and concrete—but, at the expense of rational coherence and universal truth. Too bad that, from time to time, such minds are elevated by others into the papacy where guardianship of the singular, particular, concrete, and true event (!) of the Incarnation/Resurrection is to be proclaimed, or at least artfully recalled and proposed (rather than imposed), rather than not.
Will the NEXT CONCLAVE select, from within mortal and imperfect humanity, a candidate better equipped to advance the Second Vatican Council (aggiornamento as rooted in ressourcement), and the valuable clarifications supplied by our two previous popes? Recalling also the role of St. John Paul II in at least taking down the Soviet Union (1991) and then speaking clearly to the reframed 21st Century in Centesimus Annus (also 1991), and Veritatis Splendor (1993).
@ More Confusion from the Pope
Bishop Chaput offers a more direct, critical analysis of Pope Francis than others I’ve read. Although I’m confident there are others that are explicitly condemnatory. His main point is that the Roman pontiff must defend the exclusive truth of the faith as witnessed by the blood of the martyrs.
It leaves us with a better sense as to the direction the faithful should take. Clearly to remain adherent to the Apostolic doctrines and major councils of the Church absent of what is occurring with the Synod on Synodality.
Yes, I am repeating myself on this site but it has to be said again. Covid revealed the true rot at the heart of the physical church. If Mass and all adoration could be suspended by mere government edict, not guns and bullets, then surely what was on offer was not all that special, a short hop from well, nothing distinguishes our worship from any other kind. I sincerely believe the church is in a state of denial. We were told vaccination was an act of charity, workers who opposed it on the grounds of it being unethical had no one having their back. Now the pope says the quiet bit out loud, we are just another path. If that is so why not belong to some happy clappy anything goes path to the Lord?
Alice: bullseye. Thanks!
You must understand Teilhard heresy to understand PF. Get the book “Theistic Evolution” by Wolfgang Smith – he dissects and dismembers Teilhard’s feeble and fabulous effort to cram a new form of religion into the Darwinist fantasy of evolution. H/T to William Briggs – Statistician to the stars.
All this other whining and wheezing is completely off point from the core issue.