Free Republic

A survey of Catholics in Germany has revealed that most don’t stick to traditional religious teachings when it comes to views on marriage and sexuality. A study carried out by a Münster University research group questioned around 12,400 Catholics in 42 different countries. […] Over two-thirds—70 percent—of Catholics surveyed in Germany wanted same-sex marriages to be recognized and blessed by the church. The poll comes after a push just a few months ago from a laypeople’s organization calling on bishops to bless same-sex couples. This puts Germany in stark contrast with Poland, southern Europe and Brazil, where the majority of...

Lord, Keep Your Arm Around My Shoulder and Your Hand Over My Mouth! A Reflection on Common Sins of Speech Msgr. Charles Pope • August 19, 2015 • One of the greatest gifts given to the human person is the capacity to speak. It is also one of our greatest weaknesses. The Book of James says,We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what he says is perfect, able to keep his whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, and thus we can turn...

August 20, 2015   Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot and Doctor of the Church Reading 1 Jgs 11:29-39a The Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah.He passed through Gilead and Manasseh,and through Mizpah-Gilead as well,and from there he went on to the Ammonites.Jephthah made a vow to the LORD.“If you deliver the Ammonites into my power,” he said,“whoever comes out of the doors of my houseto meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonitesshall belong to the LORD.I shall offer him up as a burnt offering.” Jephthah then went on to the Ammonites to fight against them,and...

On Sunday, a 72 year old woman entered the north vestibule of St. Cecilia’s Cathedral on 40th and Burt Street. As she stood at the welcome table reading a copy of the parish newsletter, two black men, approximately 16 years of age, entered behind her. One grabbed her purse from her arm and ran out the door. The second, for no explainable reason, hit the woman squarely on the side of her face, knocking her down . The incident has sparked outrage. Police are now looking for the men responsible for attacking the 72-year-old woman. WOWT 6 News heard from...

Just a brief note to inform you that I have been blocked from Facebook. They claim that Msgr. Charles Pope is not my real name and are requiring me to submit government ID proving that Msgr. Charles Pope is my true identity. As of now, I have no intention of doing this since I consider it an unreasonable demand by them. They further indicate that even if I supply the IDs from at least two sources, that they reserve the right not to reactivate my account if the name I have used does not meet their preferences. They explain the...

Men and the Liturgy – Thoughts on a Recent Survey Msgr. Charles Pope • August 18, 2015 • A recent study of more than 1400 Catholic men from over 1000 parishes indicates a substantial disconnect from the Church and a dissatisfaction with what the Church offers and how she ministers to men. The survey was conducted in the fall of 2014 and an analysis of the results was published by Matthew James Christoff, Director of The New Emangelization Project (Helping Priests Become More Effective in Evangelizing Men).It is clear that “men” are not monolithic; they have a range of views...

Saint Benedict Center is losing our resident priest, who has been with us the last almost five years. We are looking for another priest to fill that role as soon as possible. Here in southern New Hampshire are a small group of religious brothers, sisters, and traditional Catholic lay faithful (200+ on Sundays). We have a small school, too, and do some publishing, such as this web site. Interested priests who are able to offer the traditional Latin Mass are asked to call or send inquiries to Brother André Marie: Email: bam [at] catholicism [dot] org Office: 603-239-6485 Mobile: 603-762-2148...

August 19, 2015   Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jgs 9:6-15 All the citizens of Shechem and all Beth-millo came togetherand proceeded to make Abimelech kingby the terebinth at the memorial pillar in Shechem. When this was reported to him,Jotham went to the top of Mount Gerizim and, standing there,cried out to them in a loud voice:“Hear me, citizens of Shechem, that God may then hear you!Once the trees went to anoint a king over themselves.So they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’But the olive tree answered them, ‘Must I give up...

In the post-Vatican II world where Catholic education suffered a steep decline and Catholics began to mesh indistinguishably with the culture, many Catholic devotions faded from view.  It was not a reflection of Catholicism, but rather of a world that became increasingly pre-occupied with non-religious concerns.But what was good centuries ago is still good today.  Being a Catholic always means more—the most—of what Christ had to give.   So in a world broken and scarred, Catholics can rest in the gifts of the ages—prayers, devotions, and graces in abundance with power beyond this world to repair and console. Meatless...

Greek to You? Don’t Dismiss It! The Importance of Recourse to the Greek Text of the New Testament Msgr. Charles Pope • August 17, 2015 • ...often and to strive to master ancient Greek. I am no Greek scholar, but as the years tick by I am becoming more and more familiar with the language in which God chose to inscribe His Holy Word of the New Testament.Something of the hidden richness of the Greek text struck me recently as I was teaching my parishioners in Bible study. (We are preparing for the arrival of the Pope in Washington by...

August 18, 2015   Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jgs 6:11-24a The angel of the LORD came and sat under the terebinth in Ophrahthat belonged to Joash the Abiezrite.While his son Gideon was beating out wheat in the wine pressto save it from the Midianites,the angel of the LORD appeared to him and said,“The LORD is with you, O champion!”Gideon said to him, “My Lord, if the LORD is with us,why has all this happened to us?Where are his wondrous deeds of which our fatherstold us when they said, ‘Did not the LORD bring...

FRONT ROYAL, VA — Millions of Americans, including many Catholics, were stunned when Cardinal Timothy Dolan, Catholic Archbishop of New York, attacked opponents of illegal immigration as “nativists” in a recent and widely-circulated column in a liberal New York tabloid. Unfortunately, Cardinal Dolan’s outburst represents a long line of liberalism on the part of America’s bishops — a position based not only on their “Social Justice” leftism, but because the welfare state which they celebrate doles out over a billion dollars a year to their Non-Government Organizations (Catholic Charities, Catholic Relief Services, Catholic Migration and Refugee Services, and so on)....

Poverty, Anyone? Why the First Evangelical Counsel Is a Gift for Us All Msgr. Charles Pope • August 16, 2015 • There are three evangelical counsels in Christianity: poverty, chastity, and obedience. Each, of course, presents challenges, but all are rooted in a similar goal: detachment. In obedience, God gives us the grace to free ourselves from pride and willfulness. In chastity, God gives us the grace to order and moderate our sexual passions according to our state in life, thereby reducing our obsession with their energy. And in poverty, God gives us the grace to suppress our greed and...

August 17, 2015   Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Jgs 2:11-19 The children of Israel offended the LORD by serving the Baals.Abandoning the LORD, the God of their fathers,who led them out of the land of Egypt,they followed the other gods of the various nations around them,and by their worship of these gods provoked the LORD. Because they had thus abandoned him and served Baal and the Ashtaroth,the anger of the LORD flared up against Israel,and he delivered them over to plunderers who despoiled them.He allowed them to fall into the power of their...

Costly Truth – A Homily for the 20th Sunday of the Year Msgr. Charles Pope • August 15, 2015 • In the Gospel today, we continue with Jesus’ great treatise on the Eucharist (John 6). Many of the Jewish listeners who hear Him speaking in the synagogue at Capernaum are grumbling and murmuring in protest at His insistence that they eat His flesh and drink His blood. But Jesus does not back down for a minute. In fact, He “doubles down” and quite graphically teaches a very real (as opposed to symbolic) call to eat His flesh and drink His...

August 16, 2015 Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Prv 9:1-6 Wisdom has built her house,she has set up her seven columns;she has dressed her meat, mixed her wine,yes, she has spread her table.She has sent out her maidens; she callsfrom the heights out over the city:“Let whoever is simple turn in here;To the one who lacks understanding, she says,Come, eat of my food,and drink of the wine I have mixed!Forsake foolishness that you may live;advance in the way of understanding.” Responsorial Psalm Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (9a) Taste and see the goodness of the Lord.I will...

Many Republican entertainers are clearly smitten with former reality TV star Donald Trump, but for conservative commentator Glenn beck, this makes no sense. Trump, a longtime crony capitalist, supports many liberal positions, including increased gun control and single-payer healthcare. ... "I get it if you are tired of politicians, A Republican progressive, or you are only about winning," Beck wrote in a message posted at Facebook [link at URL]. "Perhaps you are angry and you just want to make someone pay or just want something done and you don't carte how it gets done, but what PRINCIPLES does he have...

What’s Important Doesn’t Change – As Seen in a Commercial Msgr. Charles Pope • August 14, 2015 • The video below makes the point that “What’s important doesn’t change.” Not a bad reminder for us in modern times who have, to some extent, been bewitched by our technological advances. The fact that we have been to the moon and back does not mean that the moon, or the earth, or even we are different. Our knowledge may deepen our understanding of what is, but it does not change what is. There is a reality that we are discovering; we are...

August 15, 2015 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Mass during the Day Reading 1 Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab God’s temple in heaven was opened,and the ark of his covenant could be seen in the temple. A great sign appeared in the sky, a woman clothed with the sun,with the moon under her feet,and on her head a crown of twelve stars.She was with child and wailed aloud in pain as she labored to give birth.Then another sign appeared in the sky;it was a huge red dragon, with seven heads and ten horns,and on its...

A Brief Biblical Manual on the Problem of Deception Msgr. Charles Pope • August 13, 2015 • 0 Comments A great clarion call goes up quite often in Scripture: “Do not be deceived!” And indeed, this call must go up as never before, for we live in times of great deception. So many have been deceived about marriage, sexuality, life, the existence of God, and what our life is really all about. And while our current times show widespread deception, it must also be noted that deceiving and being deceived are common human tendencies, especially in our fallen condition. Scripture...