Introduction to Part I “I will do whatever my bishop asks me to do.” During my time in seminary, most seminarians did not anticipate huge struggles living the promise of obedience. Seasoned priests told us: “Everyone thinks celibacy is t … [Read more...]
Stir into Flame: A Response to the Survey Among Recently Ordained Priests
June 24, 2022 by Fr. Andrew LaFramboise
Saint Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy is particularly encouraging to young priests. Being a young priest, I can relate to Timothy and his vocation to shepherd the people of God in the midst of challenging circumstances. Paul writes to e … [Read more...]
The Implications of the Priesthood of John the Baptist
August 16, 2021 by Joel R. Gallagher
One of the most famous depictions of the crucifixion of Jesus is that of German painter Matthias Grünewald. Grünewald’s most recognized work appears on the center-front panel (when wings are closed) of his polyptych masterpiece, the Ise … [Read more...]
Catholics in High Public Office Today
June 30, 2021 by Lawrence B. Porter, STL, PhD
Today there are approximately 51 million Catholic Christians in the United States. The U.S. population currently numbers approximately 330 million, and thus Catholics make up only about one fifth of the population. Nevertheless, there is an … [Read more...]
The Demographics of the Extraordinary Form
Young People, Families, Sex Ratios, and Diversity
January 14, 2021 by Dr. Joseph Shaw
The Foederatio Internationalis Una Voce (FIUV, or Una Voce International) recently submitted to the Holy See a report on the availability of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite around the world (hereafter, “the FIUV Report”), in the pre … [Read more...]
Alternate Views on the Root Causes of the Bishops’ Clergy Sex-Abuse Cover-Up
July 26, 2019 by Rev. Martin R. Tripole, SJ
The Church is now in the throes of the second wave of the clergy sex-abuse crisis, which began June 20, 2018, with the exposé of former cardinal archbishop of Washington Theodore E. McCarrick’s abuse of minors and seminarians. Since then, at … [Read more...]
“Lord, to Whom Shall We Go?”
September 1, 2018 by Mother Mary Assumpta Long, OP
We are deeply saddened by the news that comes in daily about the sexual abuse involving the hierarchy (cardinals, bishops, and priests) in the Catholic Church. We certainly believe that those found guilty should be punished and live out … [Read more...]
Best Practices for Clergy Assignment Boards
April 27, 2015 by Jim Lundholm-Eades
This is an assembly of some best practices for clergy assignment boards, gleaned from examples in dioceses across the U.S., encountered while doing numerous assessments of chanceries relative to best practices at the request of their … [Read more...]
Sacrificing Priests on the Altar of Insurance
February 24, 2015 by David A. Shaneyfelt and Joseph P. Maher
Fr. Bob (that’s what we’ll call him) was a faithful parish priest for more than 25 years. One day, a process server showed up at the rectory door and handed him a summons and complaint. The complaint alleged that some 20 years earlier he had … [Read more...]
Questions Answered
August 11, 2014 by Fr. Brian Mullady, OP
Does the Church state that there is an ideal form of government? What Magisterial status does the teaching of the popes on contraception enjoy? Can it be changed? Must we believe it? Plato, St. Thomas Aquinas, and A … [Read more...]
Making sense of another ambiguous “compromise”
February 19, 2013 by Archbishop Charles J. Chaput, OFM Cap, DD
Bishop's Corner The scholar, Yuval Levin, has stressed that the new HHS mandate proposal, “like the versions that have preceded it, betrays a complete lack of understanding of both religious liberty and religious conscience.” To live w … [Read more...]
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