News

By Phil Lawler, Catholic Culture - … as I heard the words of St. Paul (2 Tim 1”7) that “God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.” The spirit of timidity counsels us to be silent. The spirit of power impels us to speak, and the spirit of love and self-control urges us to help care for the welfare of our neighbors more than we care for our own comfort. We should speak—even if speaking makes us squirm a bit—if by speaking we can move a sinner toward repentance. Yes, we should be merciful toward others—but remember that admonishing sinners is a spiritual work of mercy.

By Auguste Meyrat, Crisis Magazine - Some have noted how seldom Pope Francis invokes the name of Jesus in his public statements. When he draws attention to the plight of the poor, he doesn’t consider the primary causes—which are often spiritual—but only the effects, which are material. This is why he speaks of the struggle of migrants and refugees far more than he speaks of tyranny, social dysfunction, or bankrupt ideologies. For him (and most liberal Christians), the problem begins at the border, not at home.

By Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register - The Catholic Church is heading toward an “internal papal schism” whereby Pope Francis effectively leads two opposing factions, Capuchin theologian Father Thomas Weinandy has warned… These are divided, he said, into one loyal to the papacy yet critical of this pontificate, and the other supportive of him due to his tolerance of ambiguous teaching and pastoral practice… “This is the real schism,” observed Father Weinandy, a former chief of staff for the U.S. bishops' doctrinal committee, in a commentary published today in The Catholic Thing.