Free Republic

Zeal is More Necessary Today than Ever – True Zeal, That Is, Not a Mere Human Imitation of It Msgr. Charles Pope • September 27, 2015 • One of the great virtues related to charity is zeal. Zeal is the ardor of charity; it is love burning brightly. It is a fiery love for God, for His gracious truth, and for the salvation of souls.Because of human fear, sloth, and self-seeking, zeal is rare. It is especially difficult to find in our present age, when relativism and “tolerance” are so prevalent. Both relativism and excessive tolerance are really little more...

Mo Rocca, an openly gay TV reporter and comic, read from the Bible at Pope Francis' Mass at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Friday.

NEW YORK, September 26, 2015 (ChurchMilitant.com) - A scandal has erupted in the Big Apple after last night's Papal Mass at Madison Square Garden, where a famous open homosexual served as lector during Pope Francis' Mass. Mo Rocca, an American comedian, actor and journalist, well known for his role on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and now a commentator for CBS, admitted his homosexuality during a podcast interview in 2011. The then 42-year-old Rocca spoke of his joy at being in New York at the site of the Stonewall Riots, when gay "marriage" was passed in New York state,...

Three Principles for Prophets: A Homily for the 26th Sunday of the Year Msgr. Charles Pope • September 26, 2015 • In today’s gospel we see three principles for prophets. And in speaking of prophets, it is referring to you, too. For by our baptism, we are all summoned to be prophets for the Lord.I. PROPER PRIORITIES – The text begins, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” (Mark 9:38)The Apostle John’s consternation bespeaks confused priorities. Task number one is to...

Pope's Address at Ground Zero "This flowing water reminds us of yesterday’s tears, but also of all the tears still being shed today" New York City, September 25, 2015 (ZENIT.org) Staff Reporter | 1905 hits Here is a Vatican translation of the address Pope Francis gave today at an interreligious ceremony at Ground Zero. He began the Spanish-language address apologizing for being unable to give it in English. * * * Dear Friends, I feel many different emotions standing here at Ground Zero, where thousands of lives were taken in a senseless act of destruction. Here grief is palpable. The...

He cited an online post he had seen from a 17-year-old gay Catholic. "The church has a lot to say about what I'm not supposed to do," the youth wrote. "But ... I couldn't find any church document (about) what a gay person is supposed to do with his life. I feel abandoned by the church." He said the church teaches much about the beauty of marriage, but then tells its gay members they "can't have this wonderful thing."

The election of Jorge Bergoglio was the fruit of secret meetings that cardinals and bishops, organized by Carlo Maria Martini, held for years at St. Gall in Switzerland. This is what is claimed by Jürgen Mettepenningen and Karim Schelkens, the authors of a just published biography of the Belgian Cardinal Godfried Danneels, who refer to the group of cardinals and bishops as the “Mafia-club”. Danneels, according to the authors, had worked for years in preparation for the election of Pope Francis, which happened in 2013. He himself, however, in a video recorded during the presentation of the book admits that...

The Pope never mentioned Jesus by name once at the UN. "Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved."

Of Pictures and the Pope – A Humorous Look at Our Growing Need for Photographs Msgr. Charles Pope • September 24, 2015 • In all the coverage of Pope Francis’ visit to Washington, many are doing an admirable job of analyzing what is being said and done. The nature of this blog is less the coverage of “happening now” news and more a steady pondering of the message of the Gospel and how it relates to our cultural setting.Permit, therefore, a brief observation of the papal visit from the standpoint of the crowds that flock to see him. Please do...

Not once was the name or Our Lord Jesus Christ proclaimed aloud. Not even a subtle illusion. Not even a blessing. Even at St. Patrick's Church later, not even a formal blessing to Catholics. Is the Pope embarrassed to be Catholic? Is he even? Not once was the word "abortion" used. There were references to protecting "human life at every state of development." Yes, the Pope opposes abortion. But that weak statement could mean anything to anyone. To me it could mean from conception to natural death; to someone else it can mean birth until life has no dignity. It...

EDITORIAL WASHINGTON, D.C., September 24, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) -- In his historic address at the US Congress today Pope Francis focused on immigration, human dignity, poverty and the environment. Speaking before all senators hours before they vote on defunding Planned Parenthood, at no point did he mention abortion by name. He spoke to Congress of “money that is drenched in blood, often innocent blood,” but was referring only to the sale of weapons. “In the face of this shameful and culpable silence, it is our duty to confront the problem and to stop the arms trade,” he said. Prompting palpable joy...

I don’t want to spend a great deal of time on the text of the speech. You can read it for yourself. But there are a few of points I want to highlight and ask questions about. First, I said in my post yesterday morning that the White House address was a missed opportunity to talk about abortion in a week when Congress was duking it out over defunding Planned Parenthood. People got angry with me. I said at the end of the post, “Here’s hoping that in the Congressional address tomorrow, our modern holocaust gets more than a passing...

If You Don’t Know the Bad News, the Good News is No News – A Meditation on the Coming Year of Mercy Msgr. Charles Pope • September 23, 2015 • As we prepare for the “Year of Mercy” we need to continue to understand that mercy is very good news. However, there is an old saying, “If you don’t know the bad news, the good news is no news.”Sadly, many people today understand mercy in a very detached way, a way that is apart from repentance and a deep knowledge of our sinfulness. Too many people think that mercy means...

Cardinal Vincent Nichols has indicated that he expects the Synod on the Family to consider changes in the Church’s pastoral approach towards Catholics who have divorced and civilly remarried. The Archbishop of Westminster said one of the major challenges facing the synod was how to identify a pattern of conversion that would allow the divorced and remarried back into full Communion with the Church. Although the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that such people are in a situation of “public and permanent adultery”, synod fathers such as German Cardinal Walter Kasper have proposed that some remarried Catholics might be...

Msgr. Charles Pope • September 22, 2015 • Today we welcome Pope Francis to the United States. In so doing, we welcome more than just a popular public figure. We welcome someone whom the Lord prays for in a very special manner. Simon Peter and his successors enjoy a special charism to unite us, by the Lord’s prayer and grace. Let’s look at the scriptural foundation of this prayer and charism and see how essential the office of the pope is for us.One day, near the final ascent to Jerusalem, the Lord warned of a fundamental problem that the Church...

Myth #3: Peter was important, but he had no special authority that could be passed on to a successor like the pope. Peter’s role as “chief apostle” is evident in the fact that he is mentioned more than any other apostle, often speaks for the whole group, and is placed first in every list of the apostles. Since Judas is always listed last, we can deduce that these lists were made in order of importance. Moreover, Christ made Peter alone the shepherd over his whole flock (see John 21:15-17), and the book of Acts describes Peter’s unparalleled leadership in the...

On the upcoming Yom Tov of Sukkos, we will say the berachah of “Ata Bechartanu,” the blessing thanking Hashem for having chosen us from among the nations. Interestingly, that very closeness has been the cause of terrible persecution the Jews have experienced. Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky would say that those who have made us suffer for calling ourselves the “chosen” people do not realize that being chosen comes with extraordinary responsibilities as well, as we say in Selichos, “Ashamnu m’kol am – We are guiltier than all of the nations.” As the am hanivchar, it is our responsibility to uphold human...

A Study in Contrast and Paradox: The Pope’s Thursday Schedule Msgr. Charles Pope • September 21, 2015 • 0 Comments CREDIT: Jaclyn Lippelmann, The Catholic StandardOn Thursday morning, Pope Francis will speak at a joint session of Congress. Shortly thereafter he will journey to a nearby center of Catholic Charities. In so doing, he will be meeting very different groups of people: politicians, and the poor, legislators and the less fortunate.There is in these visits a powerful contrast. But not all things are as they appear for not as man sees does God see. Let’s consider both.The day will begin...

See also our previous pieces: Can zealous Bishops and Cardinals question the Annulment Reform and ask for its abrogation? For the record: Cardinal Burke's latest address on the Synod and "Annulment" Reform. Rorate reminder: 2015 Synod poised to assault Humanae Vitae too. Head of Vatican Commission Admits in Official Paper: Surge in Number of "Annulments" Intended Something is definitely in the air: Prominent canonists initially lauding the marriage nullity reforms, then backtracking, then public coming out strongly against these, and very real talk of discontent among a significant number of canon lawyers and prelates. And we're not talking about traditionalists...

The Apostolic and Evangelical Journeys of Jesus, Writ Large! A Reflection on the Biblical Roots of a Papal Visit Msgr. Charles Pope • September 20, 2015 • In the papal visit soon to unfold in this country we see writ large a process and pattern established by Jesus Himself. In this blog post we will look especially at the process of preparation and see that it is quite directly connected to the way in which Jesus operated.To many readers of the gospel, who overlook the details, it could seem that Jesus and the Twelve just wandered about in a haphazard...