How to Write Well – and Why (The Catholic Thing): “Bad writing suggests confused and lazy thinking. We fix, or at least improve, our reasoning skills by reading – books of substance, lots of them, varied and good.”
The Epstein files and the desecration of the sacred – what they reveal and how to read them (OSV News): “News of the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, followed by Feb. 24 arrest of Peter Mandelson, former British ambassador to the United States — made headlines around the world, given its unprecedented nature.”
Bishop Coll: young Catholics seek ‘doctrinal solidity, not adaptability’ (The Irish Catholic): “While Church debates continue about synodality and reform in preparation for an Irish Synod in October, Bishop Niall Coll of Raphoe has delivered a clear and sometimes firm message: the next generation of Catholics is not looking for endless discussion or progressive experimentation — they are looking for truth.”
On Rape, Prolifers should Show Humility and Heroics (The Human Life Review):”There is evidence that many people with pro-life and conservative values fall short in appreciating the gravity of rape.”
What I Saw at Notre Dame (Word on Fire):”The greatest risk in the modern world of distraction and uncertainty, missteps and misunderstanding is to forget who and what we are. “
The Christian Responsibility for the Poor in the Scriptures (Homiletic & Pastoral Review): “If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.”
Death as a same-day service (Catholic Culture): “Here’s a ghoulish statistic from Ontario’s ‘Medical Assistance in Dying’ program: In 2023, more than 200 people who applied to the program were dead within 36 hours. For 65 people, the state program provided same-day service.”
No Snow Days From Daily Mass, (National Catholic Register): “Whatever the weather or the circumstances, the understanding at Corpus Christi Parish in Sandwich, Massachusetts, is that if the priest can make the walk from the rectory to the church, Mass goes on, even in blizzard conditions.”
In full: unpublished letter reveals Benedict XVI’s final reflections on prayer and the future of faith (The Catholic Herald): “The unpublished letter by Benedict, dated Vatican City, 27 April 2021, is titled “Introduction: Thoughts on Christian Prayer” and sets out a concise yet theologically dense meditation on the nature of prayer as the fundamental religious act.”
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Clery need to stick to the mission of the Church. That means that clergy need to stop inserting themselves into politics. That is the prerogative of the laity. If bishops want to engage in politics, they should resign their episcopal office and run for political office.
I heartily agree
Dear Deacon. I have tried to exclude political influence when I write. “Separation of church and state.” However, I would ask how it is possible when the politician has a powerful position in the government and displays vile, amoral behavior? Eg, lies profusely, spews hatred toward his perceived enemies, and disparages his competitors.
My political allegiance is sadly in jeopardy.
Godbless.
Youl have to be more specific than this. Otherwise, you’re speaking in riddles.
Convoluted writing such as MorganD’s is a window in his inner turbidity.
MorganD: What “separation of Church and State”? What does this mean to you, outside of the practice of taking refuge in popular cliches? There is absolutely no constitutional basis for deriving such an assertion, when the Constitution clearly states than Government has no right to persecute religion nor in any way suppress the public voice of religion. Just how do you propose keeping God out of His creation?
At the end of the day political allegiance isn’t really that important Mr Morgan, but our Christian allegiance is.
Political parties come and go. And change over time.
“but our Christian allegiance is.”
I just about spit my coffee out reading these words written under your pseudonym, given your fanatical devotion to Israel and contempt for people who don’t subscribe to the Israeli claims and hegemonic territorial ambitions. Of course, even Israel doesn’t believe in those claims, as an ethnic Jew who converts to Christianity forfeits his or her individual claim.
But I’m sure you’ll get around to commenting on the NEXT article on the atrocities being visited on Nigerian Christians.
Perhaps so Mr. Pitchfork. From what I’ve read there are also Muslim deaths in Nigeria but it sounds like Christians have been the more frequent target.
I just about spit my whiskey out reading: “given your fanatical devotion to Israel and contempt for people who don’t subscribe to the Israeli claims and hegemonic territorial ambitions.”
When has the mild-mannered mrsCracker ever expressed contempt for anyone?
Territorial ambitions? After a history of giving up land hoping to inspire peace?
Peacefulness also being a state of soul not very common among demonic Islamic fanatics nor with those with very real venom for Israel.
The hyperlink for Benedict XVI’s final letter redirects to Lawler’s article on the reality of euthanasia in Canada.
Sorry about that. Here’s correct the link. https://thecatholicherald.com/article/unpublished-letter-reveals-benedict-xvis-final-reflections-on-prayer-and-the-future-of-faith
The link to this article:
In full: unpublished letter reveals Benedict XVI’s final reflections on prayer and the future of faith (The Catholic Herald): “The unpublished letter by Benedict, dated Vatican City, 27 April 2021, is titled “Introduction: Thoughts on Christian Prayer” and sets out a concise yet theologically dense meditation on the nature of prayer as the fundamental religious act.”
goes to the article on euthanasia in Ontario at Catholic Culture.
An interesting quote from another Catholic Herald article:
“The Desert Fathers warned that the devil first approaches us looking for dialogue.” [Attention synodalists!]
“The serpent in the garden did not begin by demanding Eve’s allegiance, but by posing a question: ‘Did God say, “You shall not eat of any tree of the garden”?’ To enter that conversation is to follow his logic, which begins in suspicion, hardens into accusation, and ends in division.
https://thecatholicherald.com/article/the-interior-life-in-an-age-of-outrage
@How to Write Well – and Why (The Catholic Thing):
Author Francis X. Maier refers to Christopher Laschs’ book “Plain Style: A Guide to Written English”,and provides a link to the Amazon.com page for it. Amazon has both hardcover and paperback editions, but there is no Kindle version or other ebook. The publisher, the University of Pennsylvania Press, sells an eBook here:
https://www.pennpress.org/9780812218145/plain-style/
Buying and using this eBook requires creating a VitalSource account for the purchase, and using the Bookshelf app for the reading. Bookshelf is available for many platforms, and appears in Apple’s App Store.
Some academic research libraries provide online access to this title for their faculty, students, and staff through the De Gruyter University of Pennsylvania Press Complete eBook-Package.
It is encouraging to see more books from university presses being available as eBooks. “Plain Style” was published on May 3, 2002, while the eBook was published on May 13, 2025.
@ The Christian Responsibility for the Poor in the Scriptures
“If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.”
These words are ‘attributed’ to Saint John Chrysostom. Like other catchy phrases it does have value. Universal? As in every instance as Leo XIV’s ‘The migrant is Christ knocking at the door’? Chrysostom would certainly reference the real needy beggar rather than the devious.
A ‘beggar’ among many once knocked on my rectory door with his female companion holding her cat in her arms, and asked for money to fix his carburetor. I directed him to the police station where we had a fund for the frequent needy travelers on I 40 on the way to CA. He seemed miffed. I offered sandwiches which they took, then whisked off tires screeching reaching 60 mph in seconds. I thought I would like to have that carburetor in my vehicle.
Otherwise give what you can even if there’s some doubt.
Yes. Chrysostom addresses the poor in Homily 50 but AI notes that no source ties the direct quote to Chrysostom. Homily 50 speaks to the poor and the parable of those on the left and right side of Jesus at Judgment at Matthew 25:42. Jesus speaks of HimSELF being hungry and thirsty and/or HIS BRETHREN being so.
We can distinguish the good Catholic parishioners from the atheistic souls in need. Ratzinger’s “The Meaning of Christian Brotherhood” distinguishes even Protestants as our ‘sisters’ (not ‘brothers’) in Christ. Ratzinger distinguishes those of other religions and atheists as farther and farther away from accepting Christ in His Body (as the Eucharist). Those who do not accept the Eucharist are not In, With, Through Christ’s Body to the same extent as those who accept Him In The Eucharist.
We accept and are bound to care for our family more than we are bound to care for the hunger, poverty, or nakedness of strangers, criminals, or those of other religions.
Your last paragraph speaks to the beautiful relationship of family, when sanctified it reflects the heavenly bond of the communion of saints. And it tells us of the tenderness of the Father.
Honor your father and your mother. Even if he or she becomes a dotard. The day when grown children cared for their parents at home is lost, we have a ‘place for Mom’, to consign her lest we make the uncomfortable effort to care for her as she did for us. But then what is filial love?
Father, you’re right about caring for parents in their dotage. I remember a story told to me by a Christendom College student who was leaving college after two years. I asked him why and he told me: “I found what I came looking for…a wife.” He was from a farming family in Canada and he mentioned that on the farm was a main house and, in close proximity, a smaller one bedroom house. It was intended that when the children of the married couple are launched, the couple moves into the smaller house when an older child gets married, is prepared to run the farm and start a family in the main, bigger house. It seems to me a most humane treatment of elders. If I had to do my life over again, I’d have built my houses with a main house with a 1-bedroom accessory unit to move into when older and allow one of my children to occupy the main house. Too often the elderly are warehoused. I think the Amish do it differently.
Deacon, when my father became housebound he looked me in the eyes and said, Peter, don’t let them put me in a nursing home. He died at home with us.
Having had experience as a young man with the Legion of Mary my experience of nursing homes in Brooklyn wasn’t good. Nonetheless, what really matters is the love they deserve.
Presently, I visit a local nursing home on weekends in upstate NY. Conditions are infinitely better. Although, there are many a parent who suffers neglect from their children.
These days with virtually every street drug contaminated with fentanyl giving cash to a panhandler or beggar can be their death sentence.
@ In full: unpublished letter reveals Benedict XVI’s final reflections on prayer and the future of faith
The future, he says, ‘is no longer awaited with hope but with apprehension; it has even become a nightmare for many’ (Cardinal Parolin). Benedict’s focus on the Eucharist as our gift for strength, and prayer united with Christ present in the Eucharist.
Times are trying, despite evidence here and there of witness and growth in the faith overall, the Church is in decline while the world hurtles in unity with the Zeitgeist. He remains with us. And will to the end.
Would there be any cause for comfort? Comfort is not our pursuit, rather to suffer with the crucified Savior. Suffering is of course not very pleasant, although when offered in and with Christ, as said in the Eucharistic prayer, Per Ipsum, et cum ipso, et in ipso est tibi Deo Patri omnipotent, in unitate Spiritus Sancti. We offer ourselves with Him in His supreme act of love as an oblation to the Father sharing in his fragrant offer.
This supreme act of love, to which all disciples of Christ are called, is what both transcends and realizes our end, in this life in preparation of the next. It will not be great ideas, theological excellence of itself that will have fruition, rather the living of that theological excellence in our lives in imitation of Christ’s saving act.
Bishop Coll is clearly well intended in advocating objective truth, but his willingness to make concessions to synodality as part of this pursuit undermines his argument. Discernment is a Catholic value grotesquely abused during the Francis pontificate, which used the term as a central principle of his synod agenda to justify what amounted to dictating to God what our “new religion” desires rather than submissions of humility. Discernment used to mean asking God’s help in deciding between two goods, like a young person making a career decision. Now it has come to mean assuming God’s validation for overturning received immutable truth as we make God subordinate to the world.
Epstein Files: Was -Is- Epstein’s Fantasy Island the single only such operation and Epstein the single only such figurehead?
The TV series Fantasy Island is from the 70’s. Someone was poking at King Charles how long he knew Andrew Mountbatten Windsor Wettin, Esq., was involved with Epstein. What about the locals and the officialdom in the Virgin Islands, they mean to say they knew nothing, including among them the big legacy family names.
Was the Epstein op supplying women for accompaniment and entertainment and cultural relief, for spies on mission.