Pope Francis
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…
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…
The insidiousness of the opposition
?Opposition to the pope is not new, but what is new is the level and intensity that is there?It?s the insidiousness of the opposition movement that I think is scandalous for us.? Archbishop Wilton Gregory, the new archbishop of Washington,…
?I?m still teaching the same things I always taught??
In my spiritual formation as a young adult, the idea of a future schism?refusing to submit to the teaching of the pope?was presented as a ?liberal? concept. The idea was that in the name of progress, some Catholics rejected papal…
A Response to Ross Douthat
Where Peter Is was recently mentioned in the New York Times, in a column by Ross Douthat entitled, ?What Will Happen to Conservative Catholicism?? In the piece, he surveys the ways that conservative Catholics in America have responded to Pope Francis. He…
The lie behind rigidity
Picking up on what the pope said last month about rigid Catholics as well as the parable of the the Prodigal Son, I want to highlight a homily that the pope gave back in 2016. In that homily the pope draws our…
What did Pope Francis say about rigid priests?
In an address to bishops in Madagascar, Pope Francis warns his audience not to let the fear of not enough priests justify them being undiscerning in priestly formation and accept men into the priesthood who aren?t striving for holiness. He says,…
Our Father
For the past week, and up until just a couple days before Pentecost, the Gospel readings for daily Mass are from John?s recounting of the Last Supper. Here Jesus repeatedly speaks about, and prays to, ?the Father.? I want to…
