The Dispatch
A blessing, not a burden
“We like to think we live in the most tolerant society of all time,” Mike Michalak points out dryly. “But […] our answer in the 1950’s with my Uncle Ray [was to tell] my Grandma […]
The Dispatch
Canon 377 § 5 and the Chinese negotiations
Canon 377 § 5 of the 1983 Code states “In the future, no rights and privileges of election, nomination, presentation, or designation of bishops are granted to civil authorities.” Frankly, the canonical theorist in me has […]
The Dispatch
The call to holiness, the challenge of perfection
Readings: • Lev 19:1-2, 17-18 • Psa 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13 • 1 Cor 3:16-33 • Matt 5:38-48 “To be perfect,” the priest said in concluding his homily, “means that you should be […]
The Dispatch
Michael Novak, Rest in Peace
After a battle with cancer, Ambassador Michael Novak passed away this morning, February 17, at home, surrounded by his family. He was 83. During his last months, we at the Busch School of Business and […]
The Dispatch
Peter, Trump, and Francis
Last summer, while visiting family in Montana, I had a conversation with my brother-in-law—an Evangelical Protestant—about the papacy in general and the pontificate of Francis specifically. Chris’s questions were very thoughtful and not contentious in […]
The Dispatch
Catholic Composers: Henryk Gorecki
Henryk Gorecki is not a name that is known to the general public; in fact, it’s likely not a name that the general public even knows how to pronounce. But he was a figure of […]
The Dispatch
Judge Gorsuch and the Senate sausage factory
Just as people who like sausage shouldn’t visit a sausage factory, so people who stand in awe of the United States Senate shouldn’t get too close to the confirmation fight over Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, […]
The Dispatch
‘Sexual relations’ and ‘conjugal relations’ differ categorically
Among the fault lines revealed by the ecclesiastical earthquakes erupting after Pope Francis’ Amoris laetitia, we can see, I suggest, how some high-ranking ecclesiastics seem inadequately to understand the differences between “sexual relations” and “conjugal relations”. Most any […]
The Dispatch
Legos + Batman = “Awesome!”
MPAA Rating: PG USCCB Rating: AII Reel Rating: (4 out of 5 reels) The Lego Batman Movie is impossible to dislike. It is also the best Batman movie since The Dark Knight and the best […]
The Dispatch
Dame Louise backtracks
We seem to be rather short of good news for Catholics at present. Here is something that is at least faintly cheering. Dame Louise Casey is a government-appointed official with the rather worrying title of […]