St. Agnes

Carrie Gress

CWR Dispatch: The East, the West, and Simon Leys by Gerald J. Russello

A new biography and a new collection of essays provide details into the fascinating life and wide-ranging thought of author Simon Leys, who may have been the last great Catholic man of letters.

What does the pope mean by casuistry?

CWR: The Pope’s misuse of “calumny” distracts from deeper, more troubling questions by Christopher R. Altieri

The problem with Pope Francis’ defense of Bishop Juan Barros is not just that Francis has a poor grasp of technical legal terminology or that he misuses certain words, but that he thinks he knows better and refuses to listen to the people who do.

This would not be the first time Pope Francis’ lexical idiosyncrasies were cause for confusion. I still have not met anyone trained in the sacred sciences who can tell me what Francis means when he speaks of “casuistry” – or “abstract casuistry” – though it is clear he does not mean what is generally meant by the term, i.e. the resolution of moral problems by investigation into the specifics of the case and careful application of the general principles of moral science to the specific case, from within the specifics of the case, themselves.

CWR Dispatch: An evening with William Lane Craig by Bishop Robert Barron

CWR: Cardinal Burke: It is a “source of anguish” to hear suggestions “that I would lead a schism”

“The truth of the matter is marriage is not an ideal. It is a reality,” says Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke in a lengthy new interview with Chris Altieri. “What frightens me a great deal about the present situation of the Church,” he adds, “is what I would call a politicization of Church life and of Church doctrine.”

podcast

What is going on at the OSC at Fordham?

British Council Awards Grant to Orthodox Christian Studies Center for LGBTQ Research

Both faculty members in question are Greek Orthodox, I believe, solidifying the impression that their jurisdiction is the laxist in the U.S. Even if they weren't sincere believers in their project, this would still be scandalous to the faithful.

Cardinal Müller on Papal Authority

First Things: By What Authority
The pope's words are at the service of the whole Tradition of the Church, and not the other way around.

Some Reactionary Orthodox May Agree

Patriarch Athenagoras was a modernist or a heretic? Just because he didn't think there were significant (i.e. Church -dividing) theological differences between Roman Catholics and Byzantine Orthodox. I would guess that his understanding of the theological differences would be greater than that of Pope Francis.

Sandro Magister: Athenagoras, Orthodoxy's Bergoglio

Sun of Justice Preview

Exactly

Ed Peters on what seems to be the latest publicity stunt for the "populist, pastoral" pope: Thoughts on a Mid-Air Marriage (original)

In his update, Peters reports that this may have been a planned event. If that is the case, did the same person who got this to happen also have the conscience necessary to make sure the necessary vetting of the couple was done? Even if that were the case, the fact that this was publicized as a spontaneous event and to maintain a certain image of the pope speaks volumes about the papacy.

Hagiographical Skepticism

Where are the Bollandists now?

RTE Program on the Dominicans

Byzantine Blessing of the Great Waters for Theophany

Rorate Caeli: Mariawald Trappist Abbey Closed Down -- Summorum Undone by Current Vatican Regime

Eastern Christian Books: Nicholas Denysenko on Theophany and Chrismation

Eastern Christian Books: Nicholas Denysenko on Theophany and Chrismation

Eastern Christian Books: Syriac and Ethiopian Christianity

Eastern Christian Books: Syriac and Ethiopian Christianity

Alexander Lingas Interviews Marcel Pérès

Concept: Protopresbyter Alexander Schmemann on the Common and the Personal in the Divine Liturgy by V.V. Pechatnov

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Except the Patriarchate of Rome is not the Church Universal

In other news, Latins still infected with latinocentrism.