Catholic Church

By Msgr. Charles Pope - One of the cultural issues that underlies this scandal, as well as others that have been in the news recently, is a tendency to treat sexual sins lightly. Since the 1960s there has been a steady erosion in the proper understanding of sexuality. While no one lived perfectly before that time, sexual sins were considered serious; blatant disregard for biblical sexual norms was considered by most to be shocking and scandalous.

By Dr. Gregory Popcak, Catholic Exchange - Even so, we all have to remember to do whatever we can to intentionally drag ourselves out of the cesspool at least several times a day to remember that God is good.  That there is still beauty in the world.  That the Holy Spirit is alive and well. And, most importantly, that there are real, hurting people who need to see that someone in the Church is still capable of love, compassion, and goodness.

By James V. Schall, S.J.,  The Catholic Thing - Whenever things look particularly bleak, I turn to Samuel Johnson. In The Idler for 21 October 1758, he wrote: “It has been the endeavor of all those whom the world reverenced for superior wisdom to persuade man to be acquainted with himself, to learn his own powers and his own weakness, to observe by what evils he is most dangerously beset, and by what temptations most easily overcome.”

By Msgr. William King, JCD, National Catholic Register - Calls abound for the convening of an extraordinary synod of bishops to consider … what? Some have suggested a synod on the life and ministry of clergy, but is that really the issue?... Behind all the words written about it, it seems the need is not a synod of bishops, but a synod about bishops, and specifically about how they make decisions in their dioceses... An “extraordinary” synod, however, is intended “to treat affairs that require a speedy solution.” Recall, however, that “speedy” is understood in the Church’s pace and that a world synod is neither simple nor quick in its planning or execution.