Reflections from the pastoral ministry of an Evangelical Catholic Priest.
30 October, 2019
29 October, 2019
The Overstated Collapse of American Christianity
Three reasons the narrative of rapid secularization is incomplete.
Opinion | The Overstated Collapse of American Christianity - The New York Times:
Opinion | The Overstated Collapse of American Christianity - The New York Times:
28 October, 2019
LETTERS FROM THE SYNOD-2019: #9
Synod-2019 cast in sharp relief the grave doctrinal and theological issues facing the Church.
LETTERS FROM THE SYNOD-2019: #9 | Xavier Rynne II | First Things:
LETTERS FROM THE SYNOD-2019: #9 | Xavier Rynne II | First Things:
27 October, 2019
Roman Catholic bishops propose opening priesthood to married deacons in the Amazon region
The plan seeks to address a priest shortage in the Amazon region. But it touches on core traditions of the church.
Roman Catholic bishops propose opening priesthood to married deacons in the Amazon region - The Washington Post:
Roman Catholic bishops propose opening priesthood to married deacons in the Amazon region - The Washington Post:
B.C. man is one of the first Canadians with dementia to die with medical assistance
When Canada's medical assistance in dying law was passed in 2016, the widespread assumption was that it excluded those with a dementia diagnosis. But Gayle Garlock decided to challenge that assumption and to test the limits of the law.
B.C. man is one of the first Canadians with dementia to die with medical assistance | CBC Radio:
B.C. man is one of the first Canadians with dementia to die with medical assistance | CBC Radio:
Researchers cast spotlight on euthanasia for dementia in the Netherlands
Dutch EAS doctors use past statements to determine what demented patients want.
Researchers cast spotlight on euthanasia for dementia in the Netherlands:
Researchers cast spotlight on euthanasia for dementia in the Netherlands:
Russian biologist still plans to edit human genome
The journal Nature has been following Rebrikov’s experiments closely.
BioEdge: Russian biologist still plans to edit human genome:
BioEdge: Russian biologist still plans to edit human genome:
26 October, 2019
Lack of Eucharistic Belief: Faithful Affected by Secularism’s Strong Pull
What the Pew Survey Reveals About Belief in the Real Presence.
Lack of Eucharistic Belief: Faithful Affected by Secularism’s Strong Pull:
Lack of Eucharistic Belief: Faithful Affected by Secularism’s Strong Pull:
Movie Review: 'By the Grace of God' explores France's Catholic Church scandal
François Ozon's coolly devastating drama 'By the Grace of God' follows survivors of sexual abuse by a Catholic priest in Lyon, France.
Review: 'By the Grace of God' explores France's Catholic Church scandal - Los Angeles Times:
Review: 'By the Grace of God' explores France's Catholic Church scandal - Los Angeles Times:
Losing Our Faith in Political History by Raymond J. de Souza
About the election, three observations: one about history, another about campaigns, and the third about religion.
Losing Our Faith in Political History by Raymond J. de Souza - Convivium Magazine:
Losing Our Faith in Political History by Raymond J. de Souza - Convivium Magazine:
24 October, 2019
The Ideological Hijacking of Pope St. John XXIII
John XXIII knew that the Church’s evangelical mission would only meet the needs of the day if it were anchored in the ancient, abiding truths bequeathed to it.
The Ideological Hijacking of Pope St. John XXIII | George Weigel | First Things:
The Ideological Hijacking of Pope St. John XXIII | George Weigel | First Things:
23 October, 2019
Letters From the Synod-2019: #8
It made a great difference to the future of Christianity that the first Christians turned left rather than right when leaving the Holy Land on mission.
Letters From the Synod-2019: #8 | Xavier Rynne II | First Things:
Letters From the Synod-2019: #8 | Xavier Rynne II | First Things:
21 October, 2019
20 October, 2019
Vatican II's forgotten apostle of the poor stages comeback at Amazon synod
One could make the argument that the Vatican II figure to whom Pope Francis is closest actually isn’t John XXIII but rather Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro of Bologna, Italy, the council’s leading apostle of the “option for the poor.”
Vatican II's forgotten apostle of the poor stages comeback at Amazon synod:
Vatican II's forgotten apostle of the poor stages comeback at Amazon synod:
18 October, 2019
Amazon synod reports support, dissent on married priests and women deacons
Judging from Friday’s reports, the Oct. 6-27 Synod on the Amazon, there’s overwhelming consensus on most points, such as Pope Francis’s call for an “integral ecology.” Yet even within that climate of basic harmony, there were also scattered notes of dissent on two hot-button questions: Married priests and women deacons.
Amazon synod reports support, dissent on married priests and women deacons:
Amazon synod reports support, dissent on married priests and women deacons:
Letters From the Synod-2019: #6 - Xavier Rynne II
The conversation at Synod-2019 drinks more deeply from the wells of Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Margaret Mead than from the living waters of biblical revelation.
Letters From the Synod-2019: #6 | Xavier Rynne II | First Things:
Letters From the Synod-2019: #6 | Xavier Rynne II | First Things:
In synod's married priests debate, somebody finally names elephant in the room
If the Catholic Church were Microsoft or Walmart, it would have implemented a plan a long time ago to shift personnel to where its markets are growing. Instead, it’s effectively doing the opposite.
In synod's married priests debate, somebody finally names elephant in the room:
In synod's married priests debate, somebody finally names elephant in the room:
In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace
The religious landscape of the United States continues to change at a rapid clip, with both Protestantism and Catholicism experiencing losses of population share.
In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace | Pew Research Center:
In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapid Pace | Pew Research Center:
16 October, 2019
Historical Clarity and Today’s Catholic Contentions
Contrary to both traditionalist and progressive misconceptions, Catholicism was not a placid institution, free of controversy and contention, prior to Vatican II.
Historical Clarity and Today’s Catholic Contentions | George Weigel | First Things:
Historical Clarity and Today’s Catholic Contentions | George Weigel | First Things:
15 October, 2019
Barbara Kay: Stop the conspiracy theories about Canadian Catholics in government
Peddling the idea that any Christian pro-life group has the will to undemocratically infiltrate our government is irresponsible journalism.
Barbara Kay: Stop the conspiracy theories about Canadian Catholics in government | National Post:
Barbara Kay: Stop the conspiracy theories about Canadian Catholics in government | National Post:
Pope Francis and the Catholic church continue to look towards science, and that can only be a good thing
Pope Francis continues to champion the importance of science in our world. Having the head of the Catholic Church support various scientific movements is a win for us all.
Pope Francis and the Catholic church continue to look towards science, and that can only be a good thing:
Pope Francis and the Catholic church continue to look towards science, and that can only be a good thing:
From dementia to medically assisted death: A Canadian woman’s journey, and the dilemma of the doctors who helped
To give Alzheimer’s patient Mary Wilson the death she sought, her physicians had to make a tough decision in a short time – and risked going to prison if they got it wrong. Now they’ve been cleared of wrongdoing in a decision that could have wide-reaching implications for tens of thousands of Canadians.Wide reaching implications indeed! This is another step down that infamous 'slippery slope' diminishing the value of life. Why? Because with this decision life has now been reduced to one's cognitive capabilities. That should worry all Canadians a great deal imho. Alas though, I doubt that it will.
From dementia to medically assisted death: A Canadian woman’s journey, and the dilemma of the doctors who helped - The Globe and Mail:
Lonely voice in Brazilian episcopate speaks against synod document
Bishop José LuÃs Azcona is among the minority of Brazilian prelates to raise concerns about the synod, calling the Vatican meeting’s preparatory document “weak and inconsistent.”
Lonely voice in Brazilian episcopate speaks against synod document:
Lonely voice in Brazilian episcopate speaks against synod document:
Head of Vatican security resigns following news leak connected to internal financial investigation
Domenico Giani resigned after being unable to identify the source of a leak of a confidential Vatican security notice connected to ongoing financial investigations.
Head of Vatican security resigns following news leak connected to internal financial investigation | America Magazine:
Head of Vatican security resigns following news leak connected to internal financial investigation | America Magazine:
14 October, 2019
13 October, 2019
Catholic Church: Why young men are still choosing to be priests
Why are young men still choosing to become Catholic priests? It’s a fair enough question to ask any trainee priest in the current Australian climate: who, today, is choosing to devote their entire lives to the Catholic Church?
Catholic Church: Why young men are still choosing to be priests:
Catholic Church: Why young men are still choosing to be priests:
12 October, 2019
11 October, 2019
10 October, 2019
09 October, 2019
Letters From the Synod–2019: #2
Catholics are growing dispirited by a Church that increasingly presents itself as a global NGO whose primary concerns are political rather than spiritual.
Letters From the Synod–2019: #2 | Xavier Rynne II | First Things:
Letters From the Synod–2019: #2 | Xavier Rynne II | First Things:
08 October, 2019
07 October, 2019
06 October, 2019
Pope Francis Prays for ‘Daring Prudence’ During Amazon Synod
'Daring Prudence'? That's one of those oxymorons like 'Jumbo Shrimp'. It will be interesting to see how the Synod responds to such a confusing paradigm to work out.
Pope Francis Prays for ‘Daring Prudence’ During Amazon Synod:
Pope Francis Prays for ‘Daring Prudence’ During Amazon Synod:
05 October, 2019
04 October, 2019
03 October, 2019
02 October, 2019
At Vatican, Pompeo says authoritarian regimes see God as a threat
"At the Vatican on Wednesday, United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denounced authoritarian regimes and autocrats, naming Cuba, Iran, China and Syria as the roots of religious repression, because they fail to acknowledge a power higher than their own."I was with him until he said Iran. Maybe someone should explain the good Secretary that Iran is a full-fledged theocracy! It's because they believe that their God is the higher than the non-Islamic nations that they have organized their country into a 20/21st century version of 'Christendom' - a worldview long eschewed by the Christian faith. Such theocracies are in dire need of their own 'Enlightenment' if they truly want to respect the full panoply of human rights and freedoms that exist in most of the world today.
At Vatican, Pompeo says authoritarian regimes see God as a threat:
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- Joe Biden reportedly denied Communion at a South C...
- Dechristianity by the numbers
- The Overstated Collapse of American Christianity
- LETTERS FROM THE SYNOD-2019: #9
- Roman Catholic bishops propose opening priesthood ...
- B.C. man is one of the first Canadians with dement...
- Researchers cast spotlight on euthanasia for demen...
- Russian biologist still plans to edit human genome
- Texas divorce case opposes two views of child tran...
- Lack of Eucharistic Belief: Faithful Affected by S...
- Participant says debate on ordination distracted s...
- New complaint filed against Indianapolis archdioce...
- Movie Review: 'By the Grace of God' explores Franc...
- Losing Our Faith in Political History by Raymond J...
- Charles Lewis: When does a baby become an ‘it’?
- The Ideological Hijacking of Pope St. John XXIII
- Final synod document expected to mention female de...
- 'Border Church' and 'Border Mosque' team up for pr...
- Letters From the Synod-2019: #8
- LETTERS FROM THE SYNOD-2019: #7
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- Vatican II's forgotten apostle of the poor stages ...
- Click to Pray eRosary: Vatican releases 'official ...
- Amazon synod reports support, dissent on married p...
- Letters From the Synod-2019: #6 - Xavier Rynne II
- In synod's married priests debate, somebody finall...
- In U.S., Decline of Christianity Continues at Rapi...
- Historical Clarity and Today’s Catholic Contentions
- Letters From the Synod–2019: #5
- Barbara Kay: Stop the conspiracy theories about Ca...
- Pope Francis and the Catholic church continue to l...
- New “secret” documents expose Justin Trudeau’s rol...
- From dementia to medically assisted death: A Canad...
- Vatican Inculturation Document Sets Limits on Amaz...
- Lonely voice in Brazilian episcopate speaks agains...
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- Head of Vatican security resigns following news le...
- Letters From the Synod–2019: #4
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- The Dark Side of the Dallas Charter
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- Think You're Catholic? Let This Checklist Confirm It.
- Letters From the Synod–2019: #2
- Catholicism and modernity, reconsidered and “renar...
- 10 Ways We Can Heal a Wounded Church
- Synod's day one features ecology, married priests,...
- Archeologists say they have found a 5,000-year-old...
- Letters From the Synod-2019: #1
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- Catholic Church: Leaner, but Not in Decline: The C...
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