Commentary by Jeff
Showing 62 articles by this author.
the new nuncio on gay pride
Dec. 17, 2005 - Last spring, as an international gay pride march was being planned for Jerusalem, Archbishop Sambi called the event "a provocation to the Jews, Christians, and Muslims of Jerusalem and all over the world." He added, "This is a holy city for people who accept the Lordship of God on their...
the new nuncio
Dec. 17, 2005 - This morning, the Holy See announced the retirement of Archbishop Gabriel Montalvo, Apostolic Nuncio to the United States. His successor is Archbishop Pietro Sambi, Apostolic Nuncio to Israel and Cyprus and Apostolic Delegate to Jerusalem and Palestine. Archbishop Sambri, to whom Pope John Paul...
How America's top papers are covering The Story
Feb. 28, 2004 - From the top ten newspapers that publish Saturday editions, in order of circulation:
Abuse Scandal Is Now 'History,' Top Bishop Says (New York Times)
Mahony Criticized by National Review Panel (Los Angeles Times)
4% of Priests Were Accused Of Sex Abuse Dec. 22, 2003 - The full text of the letter criticizing Catholic teaching on homosexuality (see Diogenes's post below) can be found here. The twenty-three signatories are... Dec. 20, 2003 - This morning, the congregation announced the approval of miracles attributed to four blesseds, clearing the way for their canonization. They are Bl. Giuseppe Manyanat y Vives (1833-1901), Bl. Nimatullah al-Hardani (1808-58), Bl. Paola Elisabetta (1816-65), and Bl. Gianna Molla (1922-62), the most... Dec. 7, 2003 - The opening paragraph of an article in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, December 2 ("New archbishop is called smart, kind, not flashy"):
He is a Wisconsin dairy farm boy who served as a lawyer to the Roman Catholic Church's highest court in Rome. He is a passionate defender of family farms, an... Dec. 7, 2003 - From today's Erie Times-News:
If you haven't noticed, the bishop is mad at us. Bishop Donald Trautman of the Catholic Diocese of Erie doesn't like it when the newspaper reports on stories that reflect badly on the Catholic Church or on him. He would prefer that we forget the sexual abuse... Dec. 6, 2003 - From today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:
In a letter obtained by the Journal Sentinel, [Archbishop-elect Raymond] Burke told ministry coordinator Marge Schumann that her organization should no longer participate in the [AIDS] walk because two other groups that benefit from it ... promote... Dec. 6, 2003 - From today's Wichita Eagle:
Bishop George Fitzsimons of the Diocese of Salina said he thinks Catholic politicians in his diocese are following church teachings for the most part.
"It does become a complex issue," he said. "On one hand, someone may be against abortion, the killing of an... Dec. 4, 2003 - In a 2000 arbitration case (State Fair of Texas v. State Fair Guides), retired Judge James Carmody ruled that Bronson Havard, doing business as State Fair Guides, showed "bad faith" in his registration and use of the domain names StateFairofTexas.com and TexasStateFair.com. Carmody ordered that... Nov. 11, 2003 - Bishop Victor Galeone, the bishop of St. Augustine since 2001, is a staunch defender of Humanae Vitae (click, then scroll down to "from the bishop"). In July, he issued an excellent pastoral letter on marriage. Three weeks ago, he said:
No, the Church is not a democracy. Thirty-five years ago,... Oct. 19, 2003 - From a recent letter of Nigeria's president, Olusegun Obasanjo, to the Holy Father:
History will, no doubt, acquit Your Holiness as one of the greatest Popes of all time. The world acknowledges the zeal, energy, commitment and revolutionary verve with which you have pursued your brief this... Oct. 10, 2003 - Fr. Lawrence Biondi, S.J., president of St. Louis University, treats the readers of today's St. Louis Post-Dispatch to a description of the anatomy of a statue that graces his campus. He then reflects upon human anatomy in... Oct. 5, 2003 - Cardinal-designate Okogie of Lagos, who has not minced words about feminine attire, has made equally unnuanced comments about Protestant Pentecostalism and the Catholic charismatic movement. According to today's Johannesburg Sunday Times:
Okogie has also attacked the country's rapidly expanding... Oct. 4, 2003 - Cardinal Stafford now leads the Apostolic Penitentiary. The new president of the Pontifical Council for the Laity is Archbishop Stanislaw... Sep. 28, 2003 - One "sexuality issue" about which the Nigerian cardinal-elect has spoken is feminine immodesty. Decrying the "degrading morality in the Catholic Church, particularly among the women," Archbishop Okogie of Lagos (according to this article) preached against immodest attire and "implored those in... Sep. 28, 2003 - According to this Web site, there have been two Scottish cardinals since the beginning of the twentieth century: Archbishop Gordon J. Gray of Saint Andrews and Edinburgh (1969) and Archbishop Thomas J. Winning of Glasgow (1994).
It surprises me that Archbishop Keith O'Brien of Saint Andrews and... Aug. 19, 2003 - A Rochester acquaintance tells me that among the confessionals being auctioned there this weekend is the one used by Archbishop Sheen while he was ordinary... Aug. 11, 2003 - Amr Mohammed Al-Faisal comments on the Anglican homosexuality controversy in the Saudi publication Arab... Jul. 31, 2003 - Interestingly, the document on homosexual civil unions is dated June 3, the memorial of St. Charles Lwanga and companions, who suffered torture and martyrdom rather than consent to the homosexual advances of the Ugandan... Jul. 30, 2003 - Click... Jul. 30, 2003 - President Bush has spoken out against same-sex marriage and is supporting legal action to define marriage as a union of one man and one... Jul. 15, 2003 - In the new issue of Our Sunday Visitor (July 20, p. 7, not online), Jonathan Luxmoore surveys how the Church in various European nations is ministering to those who have entered homosexual civil unions.
Geert Lesarge, spokesman for the Belgian bishops, says, "There is a difference between the... Jul. 15, 2003 - The announcement was posted on the Vatican Web site about ten minutes... Jul. 11, 2003 - Leila's post earlier today brings to mind a fine recent article in Lay Witness by Fr. Andrew Baker, an Allentown priest who works in the Congregation of Bishops. Fr. Baker notes that the mind of the Church is to exclude from ordination those with homosexual inclinations. In a footnote, he quotes... Jul. 11, 2003 - What do meeting participants Geoff Boisi, Mary Jane England (president of Regis College), and R. Robert Popeo all have in common?
According to fecinfo, they've all given substantial contributions to pro-abortion candidates in the last five years.
Mary Jane England is also a member of the... Jul. 1, 2003 - Noteworthy among Archbishop-elect O'Malley's statements as bishop of Palm Beach is his election statement of last October, in which he urges Catholics to transcend their "tribal allegiances" to the Democratic Party and vote for pro-life... Jun. 22, 2003 - The pope's address upon arriving in Bosnia-Herzegovina and homily at the Mass of beatification of Ivan Merz are available online (scroll down in each instance for the English... Jun. 21, 2003 - Readers can judge for themselves whether Bronson Havard, the Diocese of Dallas's spokesman and newspaper editor, made a good-faith effort in this editorial to characterize fairly the motives and concerns of three dozen prominent lay Catholics.
In his biography of Frederick the Great, Carlyle... Jun. 17, 2003 - The bishops' conference has posted the full text of Gov. Keating's resignation letter and Bishop Gregory's response. The governor pulls no punches, does not apologize, and praises Bishop Gregory:
"As I have recently said, and have repeated on several occasions, our Church is a Faith... Jun. 15, 2003 - From scenic central Pennsylvania comes this article about threatening letters sent to three orthodox Altoona-Johnstown priests. Federal officials and the state police are investigating the letters, sent by an organization that claims to represent twenty-six other priests. The diocese refuses to... Jun. 15, 2003 - His spokesman has announced that the governor will resign from his post on the national review... Jun. 13, 2003 - A new archbishop of Boston was not appointed this... Jun. 12, 2003 - A new archbishop of Boston was not appointed this... Jun. 11, 2003 - "Francisco Franco is still dead" is a classic Chevy Chase line from the first season of Saturday Night... Jun. 11, 2003 - And a new archbishop of Boston has still not been appointed.
Other items of interest:
Microsoft has issued a patch to fix a critical security flaw in Internet Explorer.
The Winnipeg Sun surveys conflicting reports on whether the Holy See has rejected a proposed... Jun. 10, 2003 - The speculation about the next archbishop of Boston has overshadowed discussion of Cardinal Bevilacqua's (seemingly) impending retirement. He turns eighty one week from today. Perhaps the appointments of the next archbishop of Philadelphia and the next archbishop of Boston will be made on the same... Jun. 10, 2003 - The Boston Globe recounts the treatment of Catholic students in public schools in the mid-nineteenth century.
Fr. Richard Vierling announces a promising Catholic high school textbook series (Catholic Educator's Resource Center).
The New York Times covers a girls-only Muslim prom in... Jun. 9, 2003 - AP reports that Msgr. Paul Langsfeld, vice rector of Mount St. Mary's Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md., has been named rector of the Josephinum near Columbus, Oh. Msgr. Langsfeld has spoken at a Fellowship of Catholic Scholars... Jun. 3, 2003 - Today is the fortieth anniversary of the death of Blessed John XXIII, whose teaching is so often distorted by the heterodox, at times blatantly. Visit the Vatican Web site and meet the real John XXIII, the author of eight encyclicals, including the sublime and forgotten Sacerdotii Nostri... Jun. 2, 2003 - The paper has updated its article following a press conference by the DA. Some excerpts:
"I do believe there was sufficient evidence to indict Bishop Thomas O'Brien for obstruction of justice," Romley said. The penalty, on conviction, would have been probation to 2.5-year prison sentence, plus... Jun. 2, 2003 - The Arizona Republic recently posted the text of the agreement on its Web... May. 28, 2003 - Business Week
examines how boys are falling behind girls academically.
The Baltimore Sun
reviews Philip Jenkins's latest book, "The New Anti-Catholicism."
And SF Weekly
devotes a lengthy article to clerical scandals in the Archdiocese of San... May. 21, 2003 - From the Albany Times Union: "A spokesman for the Diocese of Albany, Ken Goldfarb, said Bishop Howard Hubbard has 'never performed an exorcism, nor has he ever authorized nor been asked to authorize an exorcism for a victim of clergy sexual abuse, or for any other reason.'"
... May. 14, 2003 - The second reading in today's Office of Readings is a selection from St. John Chrysostom's third homily on Acts. The selection is a commentary on the choosing of St. Matthias; later in homily, St. John, himself a bishop, later turns to the episcopacy and episcopal ambition. Some excerpts:
"I do... May. 6, 2003 - In a 2000 arbitration case (State Fair of Texas v. State Fair Guides), retired Judge James Carmody ruled that Bronson Havard, doing business as State Fair Guides, showed "bad faith" in registering the domain names StateFairofTexas.com and TexasStateFair.com. Carmody ordered that the domain names... May. 5, 2003 - December 9, 1989: Bishop Thomas Tschoepe, age 73, receives a coadjutor bishop.
July 14, 1990: Bishop Tschoepe retires and is succeeded by his coadjutor.
The name of his see? Dallas. The name of his coadjutor? Bishop Charles... May. 3, 2003 - The Holy Father this morning appointed Archbishop Diarmuid Martin as coadjutor archbishop of Dublin. Archbishop Martin, formerly secretary of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, is now the Holy See's representative at UN offices in Geneva. He has represented the Holy See at various UN... Apr. 26, 2003 - The late Fr. John Hardon, S.J., wrote A Prophet for the Priesthood, a biography of Fr. Gerald Fitzgerald, the founder of the Servants of the Paraclete (referred to in Fr. Mankowski's post earlier today). The book is available from Eternal Life.
According to this review of the biography, Fr.... Apr. 24, 2003 - Today is the first anniversary of the final communique of the extraordinary meeting between the cardinals of the U.S. (and the USCCB leadership) and the heads of various curial dicasteries. Some excerpts:
Even if the cases of true pedophilia on the part of priests and religious are few, all the... Apr. 23, 2003 - One year ago today, the Holy Father delivered an address to the cardinals of the United States on the clerical abuse scandal. Among other things, he said:
It must be absolutely clear to the Catholic faithful, and to the wider community, that Bishops and superiors are concerned, above all else,... Apr. 20, 2003 - Surrexit Christus!
Click here
to read the Holy Father's paschal message to the city and to the world (Urbi et Orbi). Once you arrive at the site, either scroll down or click "traduzione in lingua inglese" for an English... Apr. 11, 2003 - St. Peter Damien's view of clerical scandal is a bit different from that of the expert Diogenes quoted earlier today:
O unheard of crime! O outrage to be mourned with a whole fountain of tears!.. What torment could be thought fitting for those who commit these great evils with their spiritual... Apr. 10, 2003 - Far different from contemporary experts' insights into the scandal is the teaching of the doctor of the Church, St. Peter Damian, in his treatise on clerical scandal. St. Peter begins by distinguishing the four degrees of the sin against nature, the most grave being the homosexual act. While... Apr. 9, 2003 - As clergy and laity alike turn to experts in this time of scandal, we might even more fittingly seek wisdom from St. Peter Damian (1007-72; proclaimed doctor, 1828), the doctor of the Church who (to my knowledge) discussed clerical scandal most extensively. Much as Diogenes has been distilling the... Apr. 9, 2003 - Throughout the duration of the clerical scandal, the mantra of the experts has been, "In past decades, we thought pedophilia was treatable; now we know it's uncurable."
R. Karl Hanson, one of the eight experts at last weekend's Vatican symposium on pedophilia, begs to differ. He believes that... Apr. 3, 2003 - Twenty years ago today, the Holy Father issued a remarkable letter, now largely forgotten, to the bishops of the United States on the state of religious life in our country. After recalling the praiseworthy deeds of religious from colonial times (and noting that the Church in the U.S. was... Mar. 25, 2003 - The quality of the ICEL translations of the Latin liturgical texts has been widely discussed. Today is the eighth anniversary of the Holy Father's encyclical Evangelium Vitae, a circumstance that calls to mind the less widely known infelicities in the official translations of papal documents.... Mar. 23, 2003 - Mark Bowden, "Tales of the Tyrant" (The Atlantic Monthly, May 2002)
"Justice for Iraq: A Human Rights WatchPolicy Paper" (December... Mar. 23, 2003 - "The Bill Show" -- P. J. O'Rourke's skewering of our former president in the March issue of The Atlantic Monthly -- approaches the Platonic form of... Mar. 21, 2003 - 150 years ago today, Bl. Pius IX issued Inter multiplices (http://www.ewtn.com/library/encyc/p9interm.htm), an encyclical epistle pleading for unity of spirit within the French hierarchy.
After praising the fidelity and vigor of the Church in France, the pontiff deplored the lack of unity... Mar. 20, 2003 - 149 years ago on this day, Blessed Pius IX issued Optime noscitis, his encyclical epistle to the Irish hierarchy on the proposed Catholic university of Ireland (http://www.ewtn.com/library/encyc/p9optim1.htm). The saintly pontiff notes, "As We know that you have already chosen Our beloved son,...text of the Chicago priests' letter
news from the Congregation of the Causes of Saints
what a difference four days makes
newspaper editorial on Bishop Trautman
a simple issue
a complex issue
glass houses
a fine Florida bishop
not your average letter from a politician
scabrous in St. Louis
limpid in Lagos
Cardinal Stafford transferred
another cardinal-elect, another comment on sexuality
Scottish surprise
bringing the temple to the moneychangers
sage commentary from an unexpected place
full text of new CDF document
full text of Archbishop O'Malley's installation homily
good news from Washington
the Belgians and the Dutch
Archbishop Rigali named archbishop of Philadelphia
whether homosexuals can be priests (continued)
about that meeting between the bishops and the experts (see Diogenes and Phil's posts below)
Archbishop-elect O'Malley's writings
the pope in Bosnia
Bronson Havard and bad faith
Gov. Keating's resignation letter
Altoona-Johnstown update
Governor Keating to resign
This just in: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead
This just in: Generalissimo Francisco Franco is still dead
a note to the younger crowd
Francisco Franco is still dead
the other appointment
religion stories of interest
new rector of the Josephinum
meet the real Pope John XXIII
updated Arizona Republic story on Bishop O'Brien
text of the agreement between Bishop O'Brien and the DA
worth reading
remarkable, when you think about it
St. John Chrysostom on bishops
Bronson Havard and bad faith
a history lesson
new archbishop of Dublin
Fr. Fitzgerald (Servants of the Paraclete founder)
another paper anniversary
a paper anniversary
Urbi et Orbi message
The Book of Gomorrah, nn. 6-10
The Book of Gomorrah, nn. 1-5
a doctor, not an expert
expert vs. expert
a missed opportunity
O tempora! O mores!
lest we forget to pray for the POWs
a delightful read
Pius IX, problems in the Church, and the plenary council
Newman and Islam
