Farewell to Luther
Luther’s theological positions were disastrously wrong, but his anguished search for certainty of his own salvation humanized him for me, as much as his screeching diatribes against the Church repulsed me.
On the Necessity of Latin
Does the Catholic Church need Latin? Most Roman Catholics now worship in the vernacular, and some argue that with good translations available, Catholics do not need to acquaint themselves with it, outside of a few specialists.
Catholics Must Make Alliances with the Elites
Twitter can force even the most powerful people on earth to listen. The Democrats learned this lesson all too well, which is why they were so invested in quashing news stories that might harm Joe Biden’s campaign in 2020.
A Unified Theory of “Backwardism”
What was so awful about the pre-Vatican II Church that its memory needs to be obliterated and those who hold to doctrines that are ancient in provenance must be labeled as “rigid” and psychologically damaged?
The Rise of Bureaugamy: What It Means for Social Conservatives
For unmarried women, the modern administrative state has taken the place that husbands traditionally occupied as provider and protector in what some have referred to as “bureaugamy.”
The Torn Mantle of Paul VI
Pope Francis seems to think he has taken up the mantle of Pope Paul VI, who one writer has called “the first modern pope,” where Francis thinks his successors turned away from it.
The Synod of the Red Death
Despite all the talk of “building a new Church,” the energy of progressive Catholicism is all in the service of denial and destruction.
Against the Magisterium of Specialists
In the Church, specialists should not rule, but instead it is the bishops who should act as “experts of the whole.” But, in practice, they often abandon this duty.
Where Heaven Lies: A (Qualified) Defense of a New Atheist
Sam Harris mocked religion by asking “Where is Heaven?”, but his question is a good one that Christians should be prepared to answer.
The Life and Death of a Catholic Community
The story of a small faithful parish unable to weather the storm of Covid and diminishing numbers.
Has Modern Media Created the Ultramontane Papacy?
The rise of the popular Catholic press was crucial to the development of ultramontane sentiment on a popular level in the nineteenth century, and its impact is still felt today.
The Forgotten Founder of Modern Catholicism
An obscure 19th century French Catholic priest was actually the forerunner for today’s Catholic liberalism. Looking back on his life can be instructive for the Church moving forward.
Why Some Americans Cling to Their Guns
The Founders’ republican ideals put a premium on personal independence, and having a population that could defend itself was part of that tradition. Moreover, it was also considered a check against tyrannical governments.
Doomscrolling Past Christ
Our social media addictions are interfering with our prayer lives and, ultimately, our relationship with Christ.
The Truce of ’68 Revisited
The “Truce of ’68,” in which dissent from Church teaching is allowed as long as one does not push for changes in controversial teachings, still holds but is crumbling.
Reality, Idealism, and Ukraine
The stakes for Ukrainians and Russians in this are existential; for Americans sitting behind computers, they are a luxury item to be indulged in, to signal one’s “virtue” by condemning the villain and praising the plucky underdog.
The Generational Divide in the Priesthood
A generational divide is at the heart of the wider divisions of faith currently roiling the Church, with younger priests more traditional than their older compatriots.
Hierarchy as Middle Management
In the 1970s, during the heyday of the chaos that followed Vatican II, a French bishop, when asked why he did not more firmly address the crisis, replied, “What can I say? I wasn’t chosen because they thought they might find a prophet in me, but just an administrator.” The Church has always struggled to … Read more
Asabiyyah and the Latin Mass
“To everyone who has, more will be given; but to him who has not, even what he has shall be taken away.” Memes are important in our society. In our virtual public sphere, they often express with clarity the issues at stake in our public life. The first one I ever recall seeing was back … Read more
Examining the Deep Roots of the Abuse Crisis
The ongoing sexual abuse crisis in the Church has left many good Catholics shaken, and like many I have tried to understand how this has happened. Obviously, homosexuality in the clergy plays a role, and the all-male nature of the priesthood provides opportunities for such abuse. But here I want to explore the larger historical … Read more