Mark P. Shea's Blog, page 52

In the World, the Laity Preside

The last in a four part series on the relationship between the lay and ordained offices. Last time in this space, we noted that at the altar, the priest presides.  That said, it is important to understand that, in the world, whither we go once we have received the sacraments, we laity properly preside.  As […]

Of Dogs, Fleas, and Jordan Peterson

Poor Jordan Peterson. He famously chose to hang out with visible-from-space member of the white supremacist, neo-Nazi Alt Right: CBC interview yesterday offers stunning proof of my appalling character (having failed to watch The Metaphysics of Pepe: https://t.co/udlyBEnRED) pic.twitter.com/012Bft8Q6i — Jordan B Peterson (@jordanbpeterson) January 27, 2018 Now he tries to tell the Freak Show […]

Our Myth, Their Lie

This is a really good article by somebody who has figured the core falsehood at the bottom of the wrong-headed Conservative Catholic “reform” of the Church: that the problem is gays and liberals and if we can just purge them then the Church will be right as rain again.  It’s just not true.  The problem […]

This is extremely cool!

This is extremely cool and is, in it’s own way, a tribute both to Tolkien (whose vision of war in Lord of the Rings is hugely influenced by the trauma he endured in WWI) and to the ANZAC troops who were massacred in huge numbers in the Great War, leaving a bloody gash in the […]

Another heroic saint in the Church speaks out…

…on behalf of the only people who actually matter in the Church’s abuse scandal, victims: The core mistake being made by the Cult of Vigano is not in thinking that the Pope could have treated victims badly. We already know that he did that with the victims in Chile and that strongly suggests he did […]

The National Catholic Reporter is simply right

So when the Right Wing Noise Machine (Catholic edition) has been so wrong about so much so many times for so long that only a fool would continue to unquestioningly trust their judgment, it is prudent to consider the possibility that the people who saw and reported accurately on the problem of priestly abuse nearly […]

At the Altar, the Priest Presides

Part 3 of my series on the relationship between the lay and priestly offices: Last week in this space, we talked about the need to discern the distinction between Magisterial teaching and a cleric asking us to truly do evil or neglect to fight evil.  My basic point is that we should be docile to […]

A Tale of Two Covenants, Part Four

Why have we been talking for three weeks about the relationship of the Mosaic Law and the gospel? Well, in addition to the fact that it’s good to know what the Church teaches about our relationship with our Jewish older brothers, it’s also important if we want to have the foggiest clue of what large […]

A Tale of Two Covenants, Part Three

Many Reactionary Dissenters claim that the Church at the Second Vatican Council reversed itself not merely on prudential or disciplinary matters but on essential teaching when it comes to the Church’s relationship with the Jewish people. The epicenter of this claim is not hard to find. It is, of course, common knowledge that Christians are […]

A Tale of Two Covenants, Part Two

As we discussed in our last column, the Progressive Dissenting reaction to the Reflections on Covenant and Mission document was as wrong as it was hasty. Many people assumed that “the Church now teaches” that salvation was possible apart from Jesus Christ. But in fact the Church has never reversed (and will never reverse) its clear teaching […]