Mischaracterization of the TLM, Then and Now
Part Five of a response to Cavadini, Healy, and Weinandy’s critique of the traditional Latin Mass.
Development of Doctrine and Its Discontents
Development of Doctrine—a legitimate way to understand how the Church’s teaching appears different in different ages—has become a way to introduce innovations contrary to the Church’s perennial teachings.
Unity, Charismatic Masses, and Africa
Part Four of a response to Cavadini, Healy, and Weinandy’s critique of the traditional Latin Mass.
The Genesis of the Novus Ordo and “Theological and Spiritual Flaws” of the TLM
Part Three of a response to Cavadini, Healy, and Weinandy’s critique of the traditional Latin Mass.
Four Scores Just Sixty Years Ago?
We are not confusing the blogosphere with reality about Vatican II. We are lamenting the confusion born from ambiguity and the party strife born from both.
Misrepresentation of Mediator Dei, Sacrosanctum Concilium, and Ratzinger/Pope Benedict XVI
Part Two of a response to Cavadini, Healy, and Weinandy’s critique of the traditional Latin Mass.
Sacrificing Beauty and Other Errors
Part One of a response to Cavadini, Healy, and Weinandy’s critique of the traditional Latin Mass.
OK, Boomer: It’s time to move on from Vatican II
Why does it matter whether Vatican II succeeded or failed or hasn’t been implemented yet? All of the ink spilt over the Council only proves that Catholics are prisoners of Vatican II.
Joseph Ratzinger and the New Liturgical Movement
The struggle to define and to understand active participation is a fruit of two different conceptions of the liturgy. Joseph Ratzinger constantly affirmed the view that the liturgy is the the work of God and not a product of man.
How Many Roman Rites? (Guest: Peter Kwasniewski)
A recent series of articles by three respected Catholic scholars argued for the superiority of the new rite of the Mass over the old. We’ll talk to a liturgical expert about the two rites, their relationship, their development, and how they compare.
Vatican II: A Lawyer’s Perspective
The Second Vatican Council continues to provoke concern, as shown by the recent open letter from priests, scholars, and journalists in support of calls from Bishop Schneider, who believes it contains errors and ambiguities needing correction, and Archbishop Viganò, who has suggested it might be best to forget the whole thing. I don’t have much … Read more
Was Vatican II a Mistake?
Editor’s note: this article first appeared in the June 2004 print edition of Crisis Magazine. Most Catholics in 1959 probably didn’t even know what an ecumenical council was. And yet, here it was. Pope John XXIII announced that the goals of the Second Vatican Council would be “the renewal of the spirit of the Gospel … Read more
Young Catholic Activists Show the Oldies How It’s Done
The Catholic cybersphere has recently exploded, first with a video showing Pachamama statues being dumped into the Tiber, and then the video’s sequel, in which 26-year-old Alexander Tschugguel explained that he threw the statues in the river because he felt their presence in a Catholic church violated the First Commandment. It turns out Alexander and … Read more
SSPX: Back to the Bad Old Days?
“Tomorrow I’m leaving for Mexico,” Bishop Bernard Fellay tells me, “and then on to Cuba.” I balk. “What’s in Cuba?” The question seems to confuse him. “The faithful,” he explains. “They need Confirmation, too.” What’s the SSPX presence in Cuba like? “Small,” he tells me, “and mostly underground. They’re still badly persecuted by the communists.” … Read more
Why Vatican II’s Definition of Church Makes Sense
One of the most common criticisms of the Second Vatican Council is that it changed the teaching regarding the relationship between the idea of the Church of Christ and the Roman Catholic Church. Much of the debate among interpreters (and detractors) of Vatican II has centered around the phrase subsistit in, found in the conciliar … Read more
Vatican II’s Unpublished Condemnations of Communism
In recent weeks there have been a number of articles regarding the 100th anniversary of the launch of the Bolshevik Revolution—that is, the birthday of a bloodbath. In fact, here at the centenary of communism, the number “100” is fitting, given that 100 million is a good stab at the number of people annihilated by the … Read more
Vatican II Followed Ottaviani on Church and State
For many people, Alfredo Ottaviani—head of the Holy Office (later the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) from 1952 to 1968—is the epitome of intransigent, pre-Vatican II Catholicism. He is what the Council had repudiated and moved beyond, or so it is supposed. Indeed, the sentiment expressed by the motto of Cardinal Ottaviani’s coat … Read more
A Primer on Authentic Ecumenism
“Above all, it is necessary to recognize the unity that already exists.” ~ John Paul II There’s a 7-Eleven across the street and down a couple blocks from where I teach—Bethel College in Mishawaka. I often go there for an afternoon caffeine boost. I could walk, but if I’m pressed for time (or it’s winter), I’ll jump … Read more
The Single Lay State Deserves More Attention
The Church recognizes marriage, the priesthood, religious life, and the single lay life as definite states of life. It happens, at times, that in the discussion and discernment of vocations the first three of these four dominate, and the single lay life gets placed on the back burner. Vocation websites have pages dedicated to spouses, … Read more
Religious Liberty 50 Years After Dignitatis Humanae
Vatican II ended in December 1965 with an outpouring of enthusiasm and hope. The Council’s hope was grounded in two things: a renewed Catholic faith; and confidence in the skill and goodness of human reason. Half a century has passed since then. A lot has happened. The world today is a very different place from … Read more