Free Republic

Quick thoughts about Archbp. Viganò’s Letter to Pres. Trump I’ve had a lot of people asking me via email to comment – or rather why I haven’t commented – on Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s Letter to Pres. Trump (V2POTUS).I’ve been busy!However, a little gap of time before rushing into the click scramble does everyone some good. We can think a little.First, I’ve enjoy immensely the reactions from the radically papalotrous New catholic Red Guard after Pres. Trump tweeted about The Letter.  Some examples from Twitter:And these only scratch the surface. BTW… Austen is rejoicing at the civil violence of the...

At The Catholic Thing Fr. Jerry Pokorsky has a good piece about being non-judgmental, particularly about non-judgmental priests.  I think we have all met that sort, right?  These pathetic, flexi-spined cowards who would be, were Dante in charge, consigned to chase the pointless ever-whirling banner on the empty plain, pursued by stinging flies, treading upon hideous worms.Two snips: Non-Judgmental Shepherds[…]Someone recently told me about a Catholic religion teacher who was called by a concerned parent. The teacher was presenting the Catholic faith in a methodical fashion. An upcoming topic was to be love and marriage. The parent wanted assurances that his...

From the canonist Ed Peter’s fine blog In The Light Of The Law. He doesn’t have a combox over there and doesn’t mind if we use his stuff here. DO, however, go over there to his place regularly. Emphases are from Peters, comments mine: Misunderstanding the (alleged) 'Congo contraception' caseEven by the standards of his reign, the presser Pope Francis conducted on his return flight from Mexico has provoked an unusual number of questions. [No kidding. You should see my inbox, too!] I wish to address only one of those here.Preliminarily, I note that the burden is not on the...

Church architecture reflects the faith of the people who build churches.These days many of the modern Catholic churches I have seen look more like municipal airport buildings than structures to house the most sacred thing humans can undertake, the place where heaven and earth meet.I was recently sent a link to a site about a new church in Moscow. The church was recently completed and consecrated by Patriarch Kirill in December 2015. A Miracle of Liturgical Art: The Church of the Protection of the Mother of God at Yasenevo[…]But most astonishing by far was the project to decorate the interior...

(Taken from both Chaplet of the Holy Face of Jesus: Roman Catholic Man and Chaplet or Crown of the Holy Face: CatholicTradition.org.) The chaplet has for its object the honoring of the five senses of our Lord Jesus Christ and of entreating God for the triumph of His Church. The chaplet is composed of a cross, 39 beads, six of which are large, and 33 of which are small. The 33 small beads represent the 33 years of the mortal life of our Lord. The first 30 recall to mind the 30 years of His private life, and are divided...

From a reader…QUAERITUR: Who is a member of the Roman Catholic Church? Is baptism all that is required? What about people baptised into the RC Church who later in life do not believe in some of the teachings of the RC Church (eg regarding homosexuality) but still go to Mass & Holy Communion? Can they still claim to be members? This seems like a simple question, calling for a simple answer.  It isn’t.From the perspective of the world, the Church, like any other “club” should have clearly demarcated lines of membership, with an initiation process, rules for membership, and penalties...

Another bishop supports the idea that teachers in Catholic schools must serve also as role models. The Cardinal New Society, which watches the status quaestionis of Catholic education in these USA, has a letter that His Excellency Most Rev. Richard Lennon, Bishop of Cleveland, sent to teachers in the diocese entrusted to his care.Find the great news feed of the Cardinal Newman Society on the sidebar of this blog! Teachers ‘Instrumental’ in Developing Students’ Catholic Faith, Says Cleveland’s Bishop LennonCatholic school teachers must be role models of faith and morality for their students to emulate, Bishop Richard Lennon of Cleveland,...

The MSM took what the Pope said on the airplane (about a homosexual who is trying to live a holy life), that is, “Who am I to judge?” and ran with only half the story, giving the impression that Pope Francis approved of some way of homosexual acts.Wrong.  HEREThis Pope is not a liberal when it comes to doctrine.  He doesn’t think that homosexual sex is okay.I have been saying for a couple years now that when liberals figure that out, they will turn on Francis.I read this today at the Telegraph: Pope Francis ‘refuses’ gay French ambassadorPope Francis’ reputation...

Do you recall that, last year, Card. Burke consoled a little boy who was crying because he couldn’t yet receive Communion?  HEREThis is somewhat beyond the ken of most catholics, I believe.  They might console a Questioning-status minor not yet able to vote more than once in the same pro-same-sex “marriage” referendum.   But, I digress.  This shouldn’t be polemic and… there I went and did it.  Sorry!  I am under the weather.So, last year Card. Burke consoled a boy who couldn’t receive Communion.  At that time His Eminence said that his time would come soon enough.The day came!Here is a piece from...

In these USA Monday, 8 December, is a Holy Day of Obligation because Our Lady under the title of Immaculate Conception is the Patroness of our nation.So, several readers have asked about fulfilling the Mass obligation.  Here’s is one: If I have already fulfilled my Sunday mass obligation for December 7, if I go to mass again on the evening of December 7, will that fulfill my obligation for December 8th even if it is not the “official” anticipated mass for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception? Ah… my old nemesis!I posted on this scenario in the past and...

From a reader (who has sent queries before about a writing project): I’m sorry if I’m been annoying at all in the past. But I have another question this one is for a writing project that might never get off the ground, but in case it does. Could water that is extratrestrial in origin e.g from a comet or another planet be valid matter for baptism? I parried back: Water is water. H2O. Right? And I went about my day, self-assured in my concise response.The inquirer reposted: Yep, essentially. But there exist other types of water like D2O [which everyone...

Click to PRE-ORDER I have been posting about the soon-to-be-released book by five cardinala and four scholars called Remaining In The Truth Of Christ. This book is a defense of the Catholic doctrine marriage. It is an important book, some of it may be hard for all readers to read, but it is worth the effort.It is still available for 25% off as a pre-order. HEREThus, I was please to find an EXCELLENT comment in the other entry, so good that I reproduce it here as a separate post.I want to thank PaterAugustinus for his honest evaluation of Orthodox oikonomia....

CNN has posted what an only be called a cheap shot at American bishops.This is yellow journalism.The story, HERE, is about the “lavish” residences of some bishops.The piece starts out with an rookie … or rather unprofessional… error, that is, the suggestion that the personal residence of the Holy Father, Pope Francis, is some sort of studio apartment over the local mercado. It cost a hell of a lot of money to get the building ready for the Pope to live in, and it ain’t cheap to provide security there. But poverty can be expensive.In any event, Fishwrap took this...

As you may have heard, some nitwits have scheduled use of a public venue in Oklahoma City for the purpose of a Satanic Black Mass. It is unclear if they have a consecrated Host.This is, I think, mostly a sophomoric stunt. It is, nevertheless, a horrible blasphemy.The Bishop of Tulsa, His Excellency Most Rev. Edward Slattery, has issued a letter to people in his diocese. HERE A letter from Bishop Slattery Countering with Prayer the proposed Black Mass in Oklahoma City My Dear People:As has been widely reported, a Satanic Black Mass has been scheduled for September 21 in Oklahoma...

In Iraq, ISIS is bulldozing churches and turned the Cathedral of Mosul into a mosque. Meanwhile, many thousands of miles away…… in the National Post: What’s happening to Montreal’s churches? Quebec finding new ways to preserve its heritage in a secular ageMONTREAL — Weight machines fill the space where once there were pews, and visitors sip nutritional green smoothies, not communion wine. But despite its dramatic transformation into a private gym and spa, the onetime Dominican St. Jude’s Shrine on Montreal’s St. Denis Street remains a temple of sorts.“It becomes almost a religion for some people,” Sonya Audrey Bonin, general...

Yesterday I posted an ACTION ITEM! for your kind attention, a poll on a Michigan media site (please go an vote!) about an upcoming fauxdination of a woman that was to take place at a Congregration Church. You could tell how the paper/site was biased in favor of this offensive fake ordination.Our own eagle-eyed Elizabeth D, frequent commentatrix here, saw this followup story: Harassment forces relocation of Womenpriest ordination SaturdayTHREE OAKS, MI — Lillian Lewis, who is to be ordained [nope] as a priest [nope] Saturday by a dissident [yep] Catholic group, says harassing phone calls have forced relocation of...

From a reader…QUAERITUR: I have been asked to be my nieces godmother but I have to make my confirmation. The lady at the church [?] told me I can not do so until I have my marriage convalidated by the church. I have talked to several people and they find that odd. My husband (who is Methodist) is going to be the godfather is weary about it finds it extremely odd as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thank you. I’m not sure who the “lady at the church” is – and sometimes these nameless and titleless people can...

The other day I posted about the installation of a new Communion rail in the Church of St. Mary in Pine Bluff, WI. HERENow I read that a new rail will be installed in St. Joseph’s Church in Macon, GA.From Southern Orders (excerpt): The unanimous consensus was conveyed to Bishop Hartmayer [in the diocese of Savannah] and he approved of the decision. Then a small fund raiser was carried out and as if God Himself endorsed our plan, out of the blue a large, large bequest was given to us in a Last Will and Testament of a wonderful parishioner...

I had a comment in my messages from an Observant Person who had the misfortune to read an article about Card. Kasper’s remarks on marriage in advance of the Synod.The Observant Person pulled a strange quote from Kasper via CNS: “he allowed for the possibility that in very specific cases the church could tolerate, though not accept, a second union.”? Huh? ”Tolerate though not accept”?There’s marriage and then there’s marriage*How can the Church tolerate what the Church cannot accept? There is a logical disconnect.What is this supposed to look like in concrete terms?Let’s take this into the parish. There are...

You are a homeless person. You are sick and you know it is bad. You stagger into the ER of St. Ipsidipsy Catholic Hospital in Tall Tree Circle. You have no insurance, health coverage, or money. You are seen by a doctor and treated.The Obama Administration then punishes the hospital for treating you, a person without government-approved obligatory Obamacare.From the Daily Caller: Obamacare installs new scrutiny, fines for charitable hospitals that treat uninsured peopleCharitable hospitals that treat uninsured Americans will be subjected to new levels of scrutiny of their nonprofit status and could face sizable new fines under Obamacare. A...