The True Colors of Schism in Self-Styled “Traditionalism”

The self-proclaimed “traditionalist” movement is showing its true colors more and more. I think they have probably always had schismatic tendencies, but in the past they seem to have been more subtle in their argumentation. This could very well be why the Holy Spirit chose Pope Francis for this era. Francis is forcing them to …

Is the Catechism of the Catholic Church “simply” a sure norm for teaching the Faith?

An article got passed around my parish (not by my priest, but by a layman). It was so terribly argued that I was surprised people would take it seriously, and saddened that some of these are within my own parish. Like many things like this, I wrote up a response and decided it was worth …

Did Archbishop Víctor Manuel Fernández say there was a unique “Doctrine of Pope Francis”?

No. He did not. From the interview with National Catholic Register, Fernandez said, When we speak of obedience to the magisterium, this is understood in at least two senses, which are inseparable and equally important. One is the more static sense, of a “deposit of faith,” which we must guard and preserve unscathed. But on …

Vatican I and Dogmatic Submission to Non-Infallible Doctrines and Disciplines

Disclaimer: Like all of my posts, this is a blog of my personal thoughts. I am a layman trying to understand difficult topics and may not have all the necessary information. I’m still learning so any conclusions stated here may not be fully correct and will likely be developed with any new information. The first …

Catholic Discordance by Massimo Borghesi | A Book Review

As an Evangelical American in college, I allowed myself to be led down the primrose path of Capitalism and warmongering; in other words, Neoconservatism. I began reading a lot of apologetics for Capitalism and supported George W. Bush's wars in the Middle East. Much of this was because of things I saw as a kid …

“The Orthodoxy of Amoris Laetitia” by Pedro Gabriel: a book review

The Short Review Anyone concerned about the controversy surrounding Amoris Laetitia needs to read this book. https://wipfandstock.com/9781666733280/the-orthodoxy-of-amoris-laetitia/ The Longer Review Pedro Gabriel is a regular contributor to the website Where Peter Is and has become of one my favorite authors there. When I heard he was writing this book I was excited, and Mr. Gabriel …

Is anything wrong with Ultramontanism?

Of course, before such a question can be answered, Ultramontanism itself must be defined. From ChurchPop From what I can gather, when one speaks of Ultramontanism one is speaking of neither a specifically defined orthodox nor heretical position. As far as I know, the Church has neither defined the term nor used it in any …

Is Sacrosanctum Concilium the Last Word on the Liturgy?

Disclaimer: This post is getting into some weeds, and it’s always easy to get things wrong when we’re getting into such minutiae. I am a simple Catholic layman trying to understand things based on the materials I can actually get ahold of, so I may be wrong on my conclusions. I am willing to be …

What is Happening to Joseph Pearce?

"There are kings of the earth who have despotic authority, which their subjects obey indeed but disown in their hearts; but we must never murmur at that absolute rule which the Sovereign Pontiff has over us, because it is given to him by Christ, and, in obeying him, we are obeying his Lord. We must …

John Henry Newman on the Authority of the Pope

I have said that, like St. Peter, he is the Vicar of his Lord. He can judge, and he can acquit; he can pardon, and he can condemn; he can command and he can permit; he can forbid, and he can punish. He has a Supreme jurisdiction over the people of God. He can stop …

Pope Francis on Radical Individualism

Individualism does not make us more free, more equal, more fraternal. The mere sum of individual interests is not capable of generating a better world for the whole human family. Nor can it save us from the many ills that are now increasingly globalized. Radical individualism is a virus that is extremely difficult to eliminate, …

Lex orandi, lex credendi

Lately I've been pondering the old Catholic saying lex orandi, lex credendi---the law of prayer is the law of faith (CCC 1124). In principle, it seems to mean that there is an intimate relationship between how we worship and what we believe. It's a beautiful saying that highlights the need for good and proper liturgy. …

Pope Francis on the Ideology of Gender

Yet another challenge is posed by the various forms of an ideology of gender that “denies the difference and reciprocity in nature of a man and a woman and envisages a society without sexual differences, thereby eliminating the anthropological basis of the family. This ideology leads to educational programmes and legislative enactments that promote a …

Pope Francis on living with eternity in mind

We know that it happens that, unfortunately, we forget the purpose of our life, that is, the definitive appointment with God, thus losing the sense of expectation and making the present absolute. When one makes the present absolute, he or she looks only to the present, losing the sense of expectation, which is so good, …

Fratelli Tutti – An Encyclical for Our Times

I am caring less and less what others have to say about Pope Francis. When I read Pope Francis apart from any secondary commentary, I quite enjoy it and am always challenged to be a better Catholic. Therefore, when his new encyclical Fratelli Tutti was released, I rushed to read it before having the misfortune …

Pope Leo XIII on Catholic Journalism

Longinqua, Encyclical On Catholicism in the United States, January 6, 1895http://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiii/en/encyclicals/documents/hf_l-xiii_enc_06011895_longinqua.html "They who desire to be of real service to the Church, and with their pens heartily to defend the Catholic cause, should carry on the conflict with perfect unanimity, and, as it were, with serried ranks, for they rather inflict than repel war if …

Saint Jerome on Papal Primacy

From Letter 15, To Pope Damasus, written in A.D. 376 or 377. http://newadvent.org/fathers/3001015.htm Eight points jump out at me regarding this letter. 1. Saint Jerome affirms the primacy of the Pope, the Bishop of Rome. 2. He calls the Pope the successor of Peter and sits in the Chair of Peter. 3. He says the …

John Henry Newman on Development of Papal Supremacy

When the Church, then, was thrown upon her own resources, first local disturbances gave exercise to Bishops, and next ecumenical disturbances gave exercise to Popes; and whether communion with the Pope was necessary for Catholicity would not and could not be debated till a suspension of that communion had actually occurred. It is not a …