29 March AD 2024

MONDAY EDITION

Cardinal O’Malley wants Vatican report on who knew what about McCarrick

Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston wants to see a report from the Vatican detailing who knew what and when about Theodore McCarrick ☩ Inés San Martín of Crux

Where are Lenten Practices in the Bible?

What Catholics & other Christians observe during Lent is altogether in line with biblical teaching. ☩ Dave Armstrong of National Catholic Register

Archbishop says Church has ‘squandered trust’ during sex abuse crisis

There is a “long road ahead of us” to implement all the norms necessary to fight clerical sexual abuse, according to Archbishop Philip Naameh of Tamale. “We have thereby squandered the trust placed in us,” he said, “especially with regard to abuse within the area of responsibility of the Church, which is primarily our responsibility. We have not afforded people the protection they are entitled to, have destroyed hopes, & people were massively violated in both body & soul.” ☩ Charles Collins of Crux

Six Things to Do Before Lent

Lent is less than a month away, & this year, we’re preparing our hearts to enter into the greatest story ever told. It’s a whirlwind of emotions, going from Genesis to Jesus in Sacred Scripture. We know how the story ends, but are we prepared for the long road to get there? This Lent, we’re taking a few steps to get ready to enter the desert. Here’s how we’re getting ready for the demanding, powerful, joyful story presented in Genesis to Jesus. . . ☩ St. Paul Center

Fr. Thomas Rosica's Plagiarism is Much Worse Than Thought

Will publications that have published @fatherrosica review his work? Take this article he published in @americamag. It is almost entirely lifted from writings by @Cardinal_Wuerl & @jimbretzke. ☩ Matthew Schmitz via Twitter

Journalists will be bishops’ ‘worst enemies’ if they continue to cover up abuse

Throughout the Vatican abuse summit, the role of the media in exposing the misdeeds and cover-ups the Church has often discussed. ☩ Charles Collins of Crux

Love: The Source & the Summit of the Catholic Faith

“Thus it is evident to everyone that all the faithful of Christ of whatever rank or status, are called to the fullness of the Christian life and to the perfection of charity; by this holiness as such a more human manner of living is promoted in this earthly society.” (Lumen Gentium, 5, 40) ☩ Greg Chrysostom of Catholic Stand

Father Matthew Schneider is dead wrong

I shouldn't be surprised, it was written on Patheos, but still. . . ☩ Connecticut Catholic Corner

Covington Catholic Student Sues Washington Post Over Nathan Phillips Story

Attorneys for Nicholas Sandmann announced they filed a $250-million lawsuit against the newspaper. ☩ Christine Rousselle of CNA via National Catholic Register

The New York Times Pushes a Tired & Flawed Gay Priest Narrative

In its recent Sunday edition, America’s newspaper of record ran a front-page article on the challenges facing gay Catholic priests titled “A Silent Crisis for Gay Priests.” This latest article is flawed; the narrative is false. . . ☩ Adrian Reimers of Crisis Magazine

Google Officials Meet With Planned Parenthood President as It Comes Under Fire for Censoring Pro-Lifers

Google’s political biases are showing again. ☩ Micaiah Bilger of Life News

Recovering from Cultural Dementia

. . .The thing I did suspect, because it confirms what I’ve seen all these years, is that poetry has been almost wholly abandoned. ☩ Anthony M. Esolen, Ph.D., of The Catholic Thing

Why This Priest is Ready for Martyrdom if California Forces Priests to Break Confessional Seal to Report Abusers

A new bill was just presented in California that would force priests to reveal what is said in the confessional. The result of this law would be imprisoned, & possibly martyred priests. And it probably won’t stand up in court. ☩ ChurchPOP

The Great Deception & God’s Mercy

As I reflected on the incessant infighting about all kinds of things in the world, social media, and the Church, I wondered why we spend so much time fighting over trivial matters. ☩ Susan Skinner of Catholic Stand

‘Abhorrent’: Advertisers Bail on YouTube After Pedophiles Flood Platform’s Comment Section

Several major companies stopped buying advertisements on YouTube after their ads appeared on videos where pedophiles littered the comment sections, The New York Times reported Wednesday. ☩ Chris White of The Stream

Percentage of souls who go to heaven vs. hell, How many are saved?

Are only a few saved? Does the greater proportion of humanity end up in hell? Some quotes attributed to the Mystics & Saints ☩ Mystics of the Church

The Rotten Fruit of Secularization

Only he who lives according to the commandments of God can be a good shepherd and a model for the flock. ☩ Gerhard Cardinal Müller of National Catholic Register

‘Cultural Totalitarianism’

. . .the attempt by the left to seize total control & use every power at its disposal (political, economic, cultural, technological) to smash its moral opponents, once & for all. . . ☩ Rod Dreher of The American Conservative

Why Are Jacinta & Francisco Always Scowling?

Jacinta & Francisco were canonized by Pope Francis on May 13, 2017. Their feast day is February 20. ☩ Kathy Schiffer of National Catholic Register

Anthony Esolen on the Real Way Home

☩ John M. Grondelski, Ph.D., of National Catholic Register

How to Correct Some Misunderstandings About Mary

☩ Dave Armstrong of National Catholic Register

Catholic judges are not obligated to recuse themselves in capital cases

☩ Ryan Proctor of Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy