Cardinal Walter Brandmüller – one of the four dubia cardinals – just published in the German newspaper Die Tagespost a commentary responding to the recent claims put forth by the right hand of Chancellor Angela Merkel, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. That is to say, especially her call for female priests in the Catholic Church. Brandmüller thus firmly … Read more
It’s been a very long week. The kind you feel deep down in your gut. The fallout of the Alfie Evans case continues, and I’ve spent more time on Twitter than I should have over the past few days doing battle with the ghouls who continue to protest that Alder Hey did nothing wrong and … Read more
On the occasion of the 200th anniversary of Karl Marx’ birth, Cardinal Reinhard Marx gave an interview in Germany in which he claimed that Marx unmistakably influenced Catholic social doctrine, adding that he was “impressed” by the Communist Manifesto. Karl Marx has often been referred to as the father of Communism, a political theory linked to … Read more
This might well have been one of the most poignant Easters in our lifetime. It was overshadowed by Pope Francis’ purported claim — later half-denied — that Hell does not exist, a claim which caused the public indignation of Catholic author and former presidential candidate Patrick Buchanan: Nor is it only in the realm of … Read more
On January 31, 2018, Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin gave an extensive interview to Vatican Insider in which he explains the reasons the Holy See wishes to engage the Chinese Patriotic Church in “constructive dialogue.” Of course Parolin assures everyone that the only motive of the Holy See in this matter is “the good … Read more
On December 30, the Feast of the Holy Family, three bishops from Kazakhstan — Tomash Peta, Metropolitan Archbishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana, Jan Pawel Lenga, Archbishop-Bishop emeritus of Karaganda, and Athanasius Schneider, Auxiliary Bishop of the archdiocese of Saint Mary in Astana — issued a statement saying any change in sacramental discipline that would allow … Read more
Anyone who has had to wrestle with grave questions on morality, theology, or vocation knows how stressful it can be. The regular ways of Providence, which permit that we undergo mental and emotional agony in order to arrive at a satisfactory possession of virtue or knowledge, can be rough. Wrestling with Providence feels like being … Read more
What if a man, a man of eminence and of great and well-credentialed education, a man of authority, a priest, even, a man who has the ear of the Pope, told you that sometimes 2 + 2 = 5? Would this man by virtue of his lofty position be correct? What if a small child, … Read more
Maike Hickson and Josef Seifert offer personal reflections on the late Cardinal Carlo Caffarra.
Editor’s note: As we continue our exploration of the Church’s magisterium in light of some more recently troubling papal documents, we are pleased to introduce this work from Dr. des. John P. Joy. Joy wrote his doctoral dissertation in dogmatic theology “On the Ordinary and Extraordinary Magisterium from Joseph Kleutgen to the Second Vatican Council” … Read more
Image: Sistine Hall of the Vatican Library – by Michael Osmanda (CC) Over the past few days, as I’ve worked on this piece, I’ve learned a lot about the Church’s magisterial office. Perhaps it would be better to say I learned how much I don’t know. As I mentioned in the article linked above. I’m … Read more