Humanae Vitae and the Law of Gradualism
January 5, 2021Three years ago Kristina and I were really struggling with NFP. At the time we were married for six years and dealing with a surprise pregnancy, anxiety/depression, and the real life struggles of having four kids under five years old. This was after learning three different methods of NFP, having four NFP instructors, and seeing a NaPro doctor. All this took its toll on our marriage and our faith. Our own struggles opened up conversations with many other couples in similar, and often more difficult, situations who were absolutely drowning as they attempted to follow the Church’s teaching about family…
Each country also belongs to the foreigner
I don’t think Pope Francis is recognized enough for his skill as a theologian. It is the Pope Emeritus who is, rightly, widely recognized as possessing a brilliant theological mind. Francis, on the other hand, is seen as the great…
Francis’ Vision of a Fraternal Economy
Pope Francis is signing a new social encyclical, Fratelli Tutti, this weekend. The Holy Father has spoken about human fraternity throughout his pontificate, so it’s not a surprise that he chose this topic for an encyclical. In preparation for this…
Conscience and the Sunday Obligation
When the pandemic hit the United States earlier this year, bishops across the country made the necessary but unprecedented decision to dispense the faithful from their traditional obligation to attend Mass every Sunday. Six months later, we are slowly beginning…
New Podcast – Apostles’ Field Guide
I’m excited to share with you a new project that I’ve been working on, the Apostles’ Field Guide podcast. I love reading the Catechism and I study papal encyclicals for fun (which is a useful hobby when your day job…
Theosis, Pastoral Accompaniment, and the Law of Gradualism
Back in January the Lord put on my mind and heart an idea for a theological essay that he wanted me to write. I don’t say that lightly here. Never before has something burned within me until I wrote it…
Infinitely loved by God
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court ruled that the federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating against their employees because of sex also prevents them from discriminating against employees because of sexual orientation and gender identity. In response to that…
May we be profoundly shaken
For the past couple of weeks I have taken up Pope Francis’s recent encouragement that we read his encyclical Laudato Si. I’m ashamed to say that I’d never read it before, but I decided that now is as good a time as any…
You are your Brother’s Keeper
Across the country, bishops are gradually beginning to allow public Masses again. This process will be slow-going, and the dioceses that are reopening have extended the dispensation of the faithful from their obligation to attend Sunday Mass. How public liturgies look…
Is this a divine punishment?
I think it’s completely natural for believers to look at this pandemic and the profound suffering it is causing and ask themselves “why?” The Catechism calls the experience of suffering and evil a “scandal” before going on to say, “If…
At every time and in every place
Millions of Catholics around the world are now facing the reality that they won’t be able to attend any Holy Week liturgies or receive Communion on Easter Sunday. The Triduum is one of my favorite times of the year. I…
