Chaput the Straight Shooter – “The most damaging parts of Francis’ style were his lack of interest in clarifying theological issues and his obvious distaste for some parts of the Church.” ‘The courage to be candid’ – Chaput on Francis, and what’s next (The Pillar)
Extraordinary Reversals – “C.C. Pecknold reflects on Pope Francis and the broader historical significance of his pontificate.” Guardians of the Faith (Postliberal Order)
Diseases of the Curia – “I and another commissioner interviewed nearly every one of the bank’s 115 employees, but we found that assurances of confidentiality from the pope himself could not overcome their terror of speaking frankly.” Pope Francis and the Vatican Deep State (First Things)
Mifepristone Not Safe – “This largest-known study of the abortion pill is based on analysis of data from an all-payer insurance claims database that includes 865,727 prescribed mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023.” The Abortion Pill Harms Women: Insurance Data Reveals One in Ten Patients Experiences a Serious Adverse Event (Ethics and Public Policy Center)
Man-like Beasts in a Fascinating Tale – “Donald Jacob Uitvlugt has married the old talking animal story with a more newfangled kind of story: the multi-generational space flight narrative.” Every Bunny Was Kung Fu Fighting (The Imaginative Conservative)
Theological Journalism – “Our goal, now as then, is to shed light on the present circumstances and future prospects of the Catholic Church—a discussion now focused on the drama of a papal conclave … ” Letters from Rome 2025 – The Papal Interregnum No. 1 (First Things)
Their Revolution Is Dying – “On one side are the aging liberal revolutionaries. On the other side are faithful cardinals determined to protect the Catholic faith.” The Papal Conclave Is A Battle Not Just For The Catholic Church But For Western Civilization (The Federalist)
Cardinals Are Gathering – “Even the average Catholic might be prompted to ask exactly how a conclave works. Here are the answers.” Papal Conclave: The Facts (Catholic Answers)
A Wall of Noise – “Even his enemies fought to temper their public comments, undoubtedly conscious of the enduring Latin injunction de mortuis nil nisi bonum, that one must not speak ill of the dead.” Francis, the Pope who alienated good Catholics (Conservative Woman)
An Anxious and Uncertain Time – “When the world’s cardinals enter the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope in the coming days, Catholics everywhere will be frantically pressing the ‘refresh’ button on their web browsers.” Bishop Varden: ‘We’re never passive bystanders’ (The Pillar)
Judgments about Immigration – “As I showed in a recent article in Public Discourse, the Catholic Church teaches that prosperous nations have a duty to welcome immigrants, but only to the extent they are able, and that governments may restrict immigration … ” Catholicism and Immigration: A Rejoinder to Cory and Sweeney (The Public Discourse)
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There is a world of difference between an “immigrant” and an “illegal alien.” Don’t dare conflate the two
An immigrant is to be welcomed. Someone who comes here ILLEGALLY i e. crosses our border in a way that breaks our laws is NOT welcome and should be arrested and immediately sent back to his/her country of origin. The illegal alien is encouraged to come here by leftists who hope to gain an electoral advantage and in their cynical manner, be the dominant force in politics. That is subversive and treasonous.
Don’t let the media confuse you about immigrants who are desirable and illegal aliens who are not. And Catholic Church agencies that provide succor to illegal aliens ought to be defunded and prosecuted.
This is the yawning ignorance some propagate and fuel the innuendo underpinning the immigration debates. What proof do you have that illegal aliens are encouraged to come by leftists? I know many people classified as illegal aliens whose claims have been adjudicated and given legal status who have never voted. It is grossly mistaken, disingenuous and blatantly sinful to spread such misinformation. Do you know how long it takes to become a citizen in the United States?
There are mechanisms in place for people across the world to make application LEGALLY to enter the USA and, if they desire, to apply for residency or citizenship. I’m afraid you’re the one who’s obfuscating here.
People who were not citizens of the USA were invited by the Biden administration to enter the USA without going through the immigration process established by its immigration laws, and deal with this executive branch improvisation later, by appointment:
CBS News: Migrants who entered U.S. via Biden-era CBP One app stripped of legal status, told to leave “immediately”
That’s really a shame. Those people are human beings and unless they’re members of gangs and here to commit crimes, it’s no way to treat people.
Biden was wrong about the border and immigration but if you give someone your word you should keep it. Especially as a nation.
Seriously, What proof have leftists encouraged illegal migration?? When do they ever shut up about it? Even American leftists routinely encourage trashing the border. That’s like asking when did the Nazis ever say anything unfavorable about Jews.
Never a dull moment. What to read first? And I have an election to unpack too.
Will add there is an interesting article is in the PJ Media site about Woke attorneys leaving the Department of Justice. The reason being the new Trump appointed head of the Civil Rights Division said they will be focused on defending the civil rights of Jew, Christians etc. There will be no more focus on persecuting people praying by abortion centers etc. Apparently 100 of 350 lawyers took the buy out offered to them in the DOJ Civil Rights Division.
good news thanks for sharing
Simon Caldwell’s “Francis, The Pope Who Alienated Good Catholics” is a clear, concise, direct and brutally truthful assessment of the disastrous Bergoglian papacy.
We must not forget about Rupnik and his vacant-eyed desecrations, Kissyboy Tucho, the elevation of the climate delusion to religious dogma, the acceptance of a number of mortal sins, and the wholesale suppression of the Catholic Mass. To name just a few.
Bergoglio’s was a historically failed papacy. If, when he elected, he had set about to serve the unholy spirit and deliberately destroy the Church, I’m not sure what he would have done differently.
brineyman, I fully agree with your take of Caldwell’s article. He nails it. As regards not speaking ill of the dead, of course, in all charity we should not do that but we have every right and duty to speak of the legacy left behind. If that legacy reflects poorly, then that is on the deceased. Pope Francis’ legacy is one of a deliberate, “make a mess” dumpster fire. I agree with your premise that if Francis was trying to do violence to the Church I do not know how he could have done a better job of it. I believe, my faith tells me, that Pope Francis served God in a way not understandable to me as I do not claim to know the mind of God. (Saint Theresa’s “writing straight with crooked lines” thing.) May God be merciful to Francis’ soul and may the Cardinal electors choose a good and holy Pope.
For much needed humor to counteract any angst or worry about the conclave and our future, see https://firstthings.com/the-first-things-conclave/
NB: The writing and humor increase after the first few selections. Highly recommended: Carl Trueman and Leibovitz. Julia Yost, Aabram, Veronica, and Schmitz are funny too. Let me know what you think.
Meiron above – I read the First Things article on the conclave (gave up on the podcast). All I can say is I’m really impressed with the wisdom of the two who picked my guy!!