Dwight Longenecker's Blog, page 24

Pope Francis and Fozzy Bear

This article explains how Pope Francis, in a recent meeting with religious superiors expressed his dismay at the growth of vocations among “restorationist” religious orders. He’s worried that they are too “rigid”. “The decline of religious life in the West worries me,” Pope Francis said in an exchange with superiors of men’s religious orders. Nevertheless the [Read More...]

Why Do Priests Wear Fancy Robes?

My latest blog post for National Catholic Register poses the question from a Protestant, “Why do you Catholic priests wear those fancy robes? Go here to read the answer. Image Wikkimedia

Peace or a Sword?

Yes it really is the sword Gibson used in Braveheart. I was in LA in a meeting with Steve McEveety about a film project and there it was in his office… Anyway, the point is (if you’ll excuse the joke)… From time to time I have been blamed for being divisive. Its a charge that [Read More...]

Ten Reasons Why I’m For Betsy DeVos

Embed from Getty Images   I still don’t like Donald Trump, but if Betsy DeVos is for school vouchers I’m for Betsy DeVos. Here are ten reasons why school vouchers are a good idea. They Give Parents Choice – It is interesting how, when it comes to aborting unborn children liberals are all for parental choice, [Read More...]

The Tale of Two Catholic Churches

I will be re-posting various article from the past that I have written for various outlets. This article was first published by National Catholic Register in 2008. The Tale of Two Churches I have been a Catholic now for thirteen years. Like most converts, I described my reception into the Catholic Church as ‘coming home.’ [Read More...]

Donald Trump and Padre Pio

I’m a committed Catholic and a cautious conservative. I’m Catholic because I’m convinced of the truth of the Catholic faith. I’m a conservative because it has always seemed to me that the conservative philosophy has reason, experience and common sense on its side. However, I’m a “cautious” conservative because I am aware that any philosophy [Read More...]

Why So Much Fear In America?

When I lived in England people were not so scared all the time. Here in the USA I hear so much fear from people. I’ve lived back in my home country now for ten years. For eight of those years Barack Obama was the president. From those who disliked the president there was so much [Read More...]

Am I a Priest or a Projector Screen?

You know those screens they had when we were kids? Uncle Joe would wrestle with the tripod legs and pinch his fingers trying to raise the darn thing, then he’d plug in the projector and show his holiday slides until everyone was yawning. I sometimes feel like one of those projector screens. A woman writes [Read More...]

Are Muslims Our Brothers and Sisters?

The US Conference of Catholic Bishops have issued a statement re-assuring everyone that Catholics are welcoming to refugees. This is unremarkable in itself and simply re-affirms other documents which  lay out Catholic social teaching on refugees and immigrants. It’s good to hear the church’s social teaching on these matters, but one does pause to wonder at [Read More...]

Trump and the Media: Dumb and Dumber

Embed from Getty Images   The left clearly don’t like President Trump’s edict suspending travel from seven countries, but their hysterical hyperbole over the whole matter isn’t going to do them any favors. The executive order might be dumb. The media’s response is dumber. This post really isn’t about the order itself or about Trump. [Read More...]