Category Archives: POPES

Pope Francis embraces USCCB’s “pastoral priorities”

A lot of people have written to me expressing their feeling that Pope Francis has “pulled the rug from under them” or even, melodramatically, “stabbed them in the back”. These are people who are, usually, deeply involved in the pro-life … Read More

Posted in Francis, Religious Liberty |
51 Comments

Fr. Finigan with a note to people who are upset

His Hermeneuticalness, my friend Fr Tim Finigan, has a good post which merits your attention. Read the whole thing there, but here is a sample: Popes may also teach privately. Such teaching would be expressed, for example, in sermons, interviews … Read More

Posted in Francis, Mail from priests, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged ,
48 Comments

What Did The “Poverello” Really Say?

On the Feast of St. Francis, Patron of Italy, Pope Francis went to Assisi. During one talk he clarified that the “peace” with which St. Francis is often associated is “not something saccharine“. To the dismay of LCWR keynote speakers … Read More

Posted in Francis, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, Our Catholic Identity, The Drill | Tagged ,
17 Comments

Where’s the ‘c’atholic Left’s usual liberal outrage?

Here is something curious. The Holy Father meets with his new Gang of 8, the cardinalatial kitchen cabinet, for – what? – 3 days? Did I get that right? Fr. Federico Lombardi, SJ, the papal spokesman said that during the … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Biased Media Coverage, Clerical Sexual Abuse, Francis, I'm just askin'... | Tagged , , ,
6 Comments

“Ring them bells St. Peter…”

At Sensible Bond a commentator reminded me of a song I haven’t heard for a long time. “Ring them bells St. Peter Where the four winds blow Ring them bells with an iron hand So the people will know Oh … Read More

Posted in Francis, The Coming Storm, The future and our choices | Tagged
13 Comments

What Did The Pope Really Say? 2 – Proselytism

For a while I have intended to write something on Pope Francis’ harsh comments in his informal chat related by the atheist newsie Eugenio Scalfari about proselytism. The Pope smiles and says: “Some of my colleagues who know you told … Read More

Posted in Benedict XVI, Francis, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Reading Francis Through Benedict | Tagged , ,
65 Comments

Pres. Obama praises Pope Francis for shaking off “obsession”

From Reuters: Obama welcomes Pope Francis’ remarks on gays, abortion Wed, Oct 02 17:03 PM EDT WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Barack Obama on Wednesday welcomed Pope Francis’ recent remarks that the Catholic Church must shake off [blech]an obsession with teachings … Read More

Posted in Francis, SESSIUNCULA | Tagged ,
51 Comments

Pope Francis v. Medjugorje?

Someone alerted me to a piece at the Italian site Corrispondenza Romana about something that Pope Francis said during a morning “fervorino” at Mass. My translation: Last Saturday 7 September during his morning meditation in the chapel of the Domus … Read More

Posted in Francis | Tagged , ,
2 Comments

Tornielli calls into question accuracy of Pope Francis’ interview. Fr. Z asks a serious question.

Andrea Tornielli has a piece today at Sacri Palazzi wherein he calls into question the veracity of Scalfari’s account of the interview with Pope Francis. I don’t have time to translate the whole thing for you at the moment, since … Read More

Posted in Francis, I'm just askin'... | Tagged , , , ,
47 Comments

Wm. Oddie on the rumor about Marini and the CDW

William Oddie has a spot-on column at the UK’s best Catholic weekly, The Catholic Herald. A few comments before we get to the main course. First, a few years ago a book came out over the name of (Archbishop) Piero … Read More

Posted in Francis, Liturgy Science Theatre 3000, The Drill | Tagged , , , , ,
45 Comments