When Non-Negotiable Values Are Neglected

When Non-Negotiable Values Are Neglected

In the first chapter of his important new book, Pope Francis’s “Paradigm Shift”: Continuity or Rupture in the Mission of the Church?, José Antonio Ureta points out the lack of certainty about the Pope’s interpretation of Church teachings, using Francis’s own words. ✧                    †                    ✧ On the first anniversary of his accession to the … Read more

Becoming Acquainted With a Great Man of God

Becoming Acquainted With a Great Man of God 1

  A Review of the Book Pius IX by Roberto de Mattei (Leominster, England: Gracewing, September 2004) Today’s problems often seem to be the worst ever faced by the human race. Thus, it is easy to be overwhelmed by focusing on the division, apostacy, scandal, and confusion of the current age. One … Read more

What Is the Meaning of Pope Francis’s New Gesture?

What Is the Meaning of Pope Francis’s New Gesture? 1

Since the Middle Ages, Popes have used a ferula, a metal rod topped by a cross, to symbolize their authority. However, at the inauguration of the Youth Synod, on October 3, the Holy Father presented himself with a new papal ferula: a forking bamboo-like staff. The cross disappeared. Paying close attention, one … Read more

The Other Sexual Abuse Culture That No One Dares to Mention

The Other Sexual Abuse Culture That No One Dares to Mention

With the Kavanaugh confirmation hearings, the sexual assault debate ignited once again, as it will with each new accusation—whether true or false—of high profile celebrities or public figures. Every time, we hear the same message: There is an abuse of power that allows people to force themselves upon others. We are urged … Read more

Why Apple Is Shaking in Its Boots

Why Apple Is Shaking in Its Boots

I have always believed that Apple fears no one. Valued at over one trillion dollars, the maker of iPhones and iPads can do whatever it wants when marketing its products. It can count on the loyalty of tens of millions of passionate customers that make it immune to market fluctuations. Apple is … Read more

Save Us From the Deniers of Hell

Save Us From the Deniers of Hell 1

Anyone who wonders why the Catholic Church is in its present crisis need only read Dr. Scott Bruce’s “Do We Still Need to Believe in Hell?” The Wall Street Journal article (9/15-16/2018) recently appeared in its popular weekend review section. It was a rather typical yet brutal appraisal of the notion of … Read more