The temptation to respond to attacks with force can be severe. Over four decades of columnizing in the Catholic press and elsewhere, I have generally resisted those temptations except under the gravest provocations. This is one of those occasions. Continue Reading »
Father Paul Mankowski was anything but boring. Continue Reading »
The recommendations of both the third-party report and the SBC task force avoid taking what should be the obvious first step in sexual abuse cases: Call the cops. Continue Reading »
Fr. Timothy J. Cusick joins R. R. Reno for a discussion of the importance of the evangelical counsels. Continue Reading »
The bishops’ most urgent obligation is to achieve principled consistency—according to the canons of natural justice and Catholic doctrine—concerning the priesthood of Jesus Christ. Continue Reading »
The prospect of mortality shakes even the firmest faith. Continue Reading »
I heard a bishop recently describe what his formation team does at his seminary: “They’re there and they keep an eye on the guys.” And I cringed. Priests assigned to seminary formation are not hallway monitors. They are intended to be mentors, teachers, and guides—nuances all captured in . . . . Continue Reading »
Theodore McCarrick has been stripped of his status as cardinal for pursuing young men throughout his clerical career. “Uncle Ted” liked to take his “nephews” to bed with him. The public revelations of this fact evoked outrage. It was not so much that a churchman sinned as that he did so . . . . Continue Reading »
One fact that has been overlooked for too long is the connection between priests who abuse minors and priests who are sexually active with adults. Continue Reading »
Francis's defense of Bishop Barros poses a serious challenge to the pope’s image. Continue Reading »
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