California Threatens the Seal of Confession
by Charlotte AllenCalifornia State Senator Jerry Hill has introduced a bill to abolish legal protection for the seal of confession. Continue Reading »
Letter to an Aspiring Priest
by Thomas Joseph WhiteI’m grateful to you for getting in touch. Many people today would no doubt think you are strange for considering the priesthood, given the cloud that hangs over the Church. Others might congratulate you for heroism. Actually, both reactions are excessive. For a Catholic young man who is fervent in . . . . Continue Reading »
Homecoming
by George WeigelPope Francis has named Bishop Gudziak the head of the Greek Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. Continue Reading »
Fr. Rosica, Fraud
by Joshua P. HochschildPlagiarism isn’t a violated property claim, but false representation: It is fraud. Continue Reading »
“Synodality” and the Rome Abuse Summit
by George WeigelThere is no single reform template that will address different forms of clerical sexual misconduct in quite diverse circumstances Continue Reading »
In Persona Christi Capitis
by Jonathan MitchicanThe teaching of in persona Christi capitis humbles the priesthood rather than exalting it to some magical status. Continue Reading »
Ellen or Wojtyla? A Priest Decides
by Carl R. TruemanA priest's op-ed provides a clear example of the problems faced by the Roman Catholic Church. Continue Reading »
Priests Speaking Out
by R. R. RenoIt's not a petition, strictly speaking. It's a statement of fidelity to the Catholic Church's historic teaching on sex and marriage. Originally signed by nearly five hundred English priests in March, it's now being circulated in the United States at credopriests.org and available for priest here to sign. Here's the statement: Continue Reading »
Why Louisiana Can’t Break the Confessional’s Seal
by Ulrich L. LehnerIn January of this year, the U.S. Supreme court declined to intervene in a case in which the prosecutor wants to force Fr. Jeff Bayhi, a priest of the diocese of Baton Rouge, to testify about a confession in court. He allegedly told a fourteen year-old in 2008 to forget about the sexual abuse she had suffered from a family member. If Fr. Bayhi indeed did this, he will have to take responsibility for this despicable and unpastoral act at a higher, heavenly court—but he cannot be expected to discuss the contents of a confession in a U.S. court of law. Continue Reading »
Fr. McBrien’s Legacy
by William Doino Jr.When Fr. Richard McBrien—author of twenty-five books, syndicated columnist, and previous chairman of the theology department at Notre Dame—died last month after a long illness, the Catholic world lost one of its best-known scholars and commentators. Continue Reading »
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