Category Archives: The Drill

The historical view – the “long view” – Wherein Fr. Z rants.

Pope Francis is confusing.  Reasonable people won’t deny that.  He is confusing to both the Left and the Right, as well as the tepid, but for different reasons. Some people are really upset by him.  I spend quite a bit of energy in … Read More

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29 Comments

Hard views of Pope Francis from Spectators

I bring to your attention a couple hard-hitting pieces not for the purposes of depressing you, but informing you. I’ve advised elsewhere that if this pontificate, or perhaps “parenthesis”, is getting you down, then stop paying so much attention to … Read More

Posted in Francis, GO TO CONFESSION, The Drill, The future and our choices | Tagged , , ,
70 Comments

Canonist Ed Peters’ stern words about the dangers of anti-law mentality

Distinguished canonist Ed Peters has something to say about canon law and the disasters that follow when a spirit of antinomianism ticks up.  HERE  My emphases and comments. Canon law has never been ‘the frame of reference’ for the Church When … Read More

Posted in Our Catholic Identity, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Olympian Middle | Tagged ,
18 Comments

Synod thoughts and thanks to readers

First, I am deeply grateful for the donations that have come in to defray the cost of my travel to Rome.  Some have been widow’s mites, some have been hefty, all have been warmly appreciated.   Since I have been … Read More

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Mass for Benefactors, some Synod Notes, and forming my Battle Plan

While here in Rome, I have each day been saying Mass for my benefactors for this Rome trip.  Today I will be saying Mass for you sometime between 1800-1900 (I think) Rome time.   If I am not mistaken, in … Read More

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19 Comments

Rome – Day 3: Synod Free Zone, Abbatial Mass and – Fr. Z rants

I have been – mostly on purpose – in a Synod Free Zone in the last few days, even though I am at Ground Zero.   Yes, I am hearing a lot.  No, I am trying not to let it … Read More

Posted in ¡Hagan lío!, Be The Maquis, Cri de Coeur, GO TO CONFESSION, Hard-Identity Catholicism, New Evangelization, Our Catholic Identity, Si vis pacem para bellum!, The Coming Storm, The Drill, The future and our choices, The Olympian Middle, Wherein Fr. Z Rants | Tagged ,
34 Comments

Sam Gregg on “primacy of conscience”

Sam Gregg of Acton Institute has a great piece today at Crisis about the topic of “conscience”.  My emphases. An Archbishop and the Catholic Conscience Conscience is one of those subjects about which numerous Catholics today are, alas, sadly misinformed. Despite … Read More

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8 Comments

Where does “reconcile” come from? UPDATES

I received a couple notes about where the word “reconciliation” comes from. Odd. Anyway, rather than write it all out here is a page from a dictionary of Latin etymology, Ernout Meillet. It derives from ancient words for “call”. Look … Read More

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11 Comments

VIDEO: Wherein Card Arinze explains “conscience”

The mighty Francis Card. Arinze gave a video interview to LifeSite.  He reminds everyone of what real primacy of conscience is in the Church’s teaching.  He clarifies that we have the responsibility to have a properly formed conscience. We cannot simply claim … Read More

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Sam Gregg: Intrinsic Evils, Final Realities, and the Synod

At CWR, Sam Gregg has a good piece of analysis. Samples… It was inevitable. Any discussion about marriage and the family during a synod of Catholic bishops was always going to involve questions of morality. Just as the furor around Humanae … Read More

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24 Comments