Imagine you read a story that purported to be about the 2004 election. The writer framed the story as being entirely about Howard Dean and John Kerry; he explained how Dean mounted a strong challenge, but was ultimately defeated by Kerry; he interviewed partisans for Dean and lukewarm supporters of Kerry. The story never once [...]
I was asked in another place: “I thought you ‘uber Catholics’ always taught that since Vatican II was a pastoral council and not a doctrinal council, it wasn’t binding on Catholics.” That’s not a straw man; some “traddies” do take that position. But I’m not a traddie; they do not speak for me, nor I [...]
David Bonagura discusses What the SSPX Reconciliation Means – and Doesn’t. Let’s dig in directly with my emphases and comments: Few things make Catholics forget the precept of charity more than discussion of the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX), the traditionalist group of bishops and priests who, due to their opposition to the Second Vatican [...]
In a recent post re-proposing “fish friday,” I implied that I disagree with the 1966 decisions of Paul VI and the NCCB (USCCB’s forerunner) to make fish friday optional, but set aside that discussion until today. One of the things that worries me is Catholic identity; I would call it waning but that seems a generation [...]
Periodically, someone will suggest that bishops ought to be elected, and they will place immense weight on the point that bishops were once elected; they are likely to offer a quote (without sourcing) that he who is to govern all should be chosen by all. While it’s true, after a fashion, that bishops were elected [...]
Dear Len, I may call you Len, right? (Since you addressed the Holy Father by a familiar diminutive of his birth name in a public letter, I shall consider formality to be ceded ground.) Anyway, your letter has some problems. I’m just going to get out The Red Pen—as a professor, I’m sure you’re familiar [...]
In What Makes us Catholic, Thomas Groome recounts a Jewish friend’s simple, direct, and satisfying explanation of his adherence to kosher rules: “It reminds me to bring my faith into every aspect of my life, even decisions about what to eat.” I would say the same about “fish friday”: Choosing fish—or pineapple pizza, or pasta [...]
Fr. Zuhlsdorf has a post noting the distortions that follow from misunderstanding Vatican II’s call for “active participation” in the liturgy. Some people will claim that active participation provides some warrant for a vernacular liturgy, but that view is untenable. It’s vital to understand that the council didn’t invent “active participation”; in trying to convey [...]
The Bishops of Scotland are considering having congregations stand in places that they once knelt. I have no comment on the propriety of the change, but I do have one observation about its timing: “If the Scottish bishops go ahead with this proposal, it would make sense for any changes to congregations’ participation in the [...]
An interesting perspective on Universae Ecclesiae in this interview. And in this, William Oddie praises the Bishops of England and Wales, in general for improvements since the Holy Father’s visit to Albion last fall, and in particular for a pastoral letter they have sent on the new translation (read the letter here). From the former: [...]
