Hochschild's Apology for the Pope's Statement on Same-Sex Civil Unions

Natural law includes clear teachings about marriage (because marriage is a reality independent of positive law).

Natural law does not include clear teachings about "civil unions" (because civil unions are, by definition, defined by positive law).

— Josh Hochschild (@JoshHochschild) October 22, 2020

Natural law includes clear teachings about what marriage is.

Natural law includes a general requirement that positive law support marriage.

Natural law does not determine precisely how positive law should support marriage.

— Josh Hochschild (@JoshHochschild) October 22, 2020

But the Natural Law does have something to say about non-procreative sex acts. It also arguably has something to say about what status should be given to those who engage in such acts with members of the same-sex. After all, Thomists recognize that law as a teacher, and in this case, it is not merely about the "union" alone, but everything that is associated with it and is legitimized by it. The fact that SSA may be involuntary does not mean that mercy requires that we validate their lifestyle choices.

The Feast of Christ the King

A Reflection on the Fate of the Feast of Christ the King https://t.co/nWZ0Oxrn3w pic.twitter.com/aBipvtPm48

— NLM (@NLMblog) October 21, 2020

NLM

The Papal Magisterium

Where in Vatican I does it say that it (along with infallibility) is limited to certain document types written by the bishop of Rome, or that certain formulae must be used to signal that it is ex cathedra?

Let's not forget that Francis believes even the things he says to the media are part of his magisterium: https://t.co/pw5uOm0v2n @CMReport

— Steve Skojec (@SteveSkojec) October 21, 2020

Rome: "Heresy is Preferable to Schism"

Could this be extended by Latin traditionalists to possible criticisms of Rome's negotiations with the Chalcedonian and non-Chalcedonian Orthodox?

For Cardinal Gerhard Müller, the prevailing thinking of German bishops and an increasingly radicalised laity is more akin to modernism than Protestantism but the Vatican won’t issue any serious ultimatum because it wants to "live in peace” https://t.co/tRbtZ3gmLe pic.twitter.com/H6u87d50Fn

— Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) October 21, 2020

Paolo Suess on the Amazon Synod

A year on from the #AmazonSynod, liberation theologian Paolo Suess laments that despite “great openness to real reforms,” in the end "traditionalists" prevailed. They “pushed the Pope into a corner,” he says, and accused him of heresies and division
https://t.co/xdyoKAwFFn

— Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) October 21, 2020

Wasn't Expecting the Next Problematic Statement So Soon

Will Latins reconsider their ecclesiology now? What will it take?

#PopeFrancis calls for civil union law for same-sex couples, in shift from Vatican stance https://t.co/kTtlwYyENd via @cnalive

— Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) October 21, 2020

Where do the Pope’s comments leave Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco who in 2007 led a major campaign against Italian government proposals for civil unions for same-sex couples, leading to death threats against him? He again resisted similar proposals in 2016 https://t.co/eK5SxvRIjF

— Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) October 21, 2020

The Vatican’s 2003 document on “Considerations Regarding Proposals to Give Legal Recognition to Unions Between Homosexual Persons” https://t.co/ZIi9hgjx0A pic.twitter.com/gbigAgR2rI

— Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) October 21, 2020

From @HuffPosthttps://t.co/qGpDOyae0m

— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) October 21, 2020

From @NewWaysMinistry https://t.co/bhZtu6yBoW

— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) October 21, 2020

From @TIME https://t.co/5C3XcqEtzt

— Bree A Dail (@breeadail) October 21, 2020

Foraging and Gratitude

Mark Lewis believes food should be hard work. “People need to be more thankful for the things they have," says the forager and retired professor. https://t.co/wMCbokoLpS

— Modern Farmer (@ModFarm) October 20, 2020

Who Are the True Romans?

“The Roman Empire we look back to as part of our heritage is Latin and Pagan, whereas the Byzantine Empire was Greek and Christian.”
Professor Andrew Louth FBA discusses the importance of Byzantine studies in modern scholarship: https://t.co/ZRcY3uCMP3

— The British Academy (@BritishAcademy_) October 20, 2020