Dwight Longenecker's Blog, page 79

Welcome to the Marriage Mess

So many are lamenting the immorality of the Supreme Court’s decision yesterday, but I can’t help seeing the idiocy of it. This is not only a grossly immoral decision but it is silly, short sighted and stupid. Think about it for just a moment. The effect of this ruling is that anybody can marry anybody. [Read More...]

What Happened to Me at Medjugorje

The news is breaking that the Vatican has given a negative ruling about the alleged supernatural events at Medjugorje. Of course before making any full comment we’ll want to read what the CDF has to say, but on this occasion I thought it might be of interest if people heard my Medjugorje story: I was [Read More...]

Why Did God Destroy Sodom and Gomorrah?

One of those interesting details has surfaced which reminds you that everything is connected. It is now predicted that the Supreme Court will give its ruling on same sex marriage on June 30. The Mass readings for that day are Genesis 19.15-29 – the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. We should be clear. The destruction [Read More...]

Why Laudato Si is Brilliant Evangelization

This week’s article for Aleteia explains why the Pope’s encyclical should be regarded as a milestone in Catholic evangelization. The pope realizes that many outside the church and outside Christianity cannot hear the simple message of Christ because of the distractions of religious language, historical prejudice, cultural baggage and anti religious propaganda. So he takes [Read More...]

Can You Disagree with the Pope?

My latest article for CRUX rounds up opinions about the Pope’s encyclical. Some say –”Meh. Disregard it.” Others say, “It is almost infallible! Everyone must submit!” My own attitude to Laudato Si’ is one of critical enthusiasm. I think the pope could have used a good editor. The encyclical is verbose and often vague. I share William [Read More...]

Pope Francis Should Back Birth Control?

I can’t resist G.K.Chesterton’s quip: “Birth control? No birth. No control” Writing here at the National Catholic Reporter, Jamie Manson argues that Pope Francis should have lifted the birth control ban in his recent encyclical. Manson uses the usual over population scare tactics that we’ve seen in the famous 1968 shock horror “non fiction” work The [Read More...]

Send a Monk to Norcia

Beneath the monastic church in Norcia is the crypt which marks the site of the birthplace of St Benedict and Scholastica. Justin Leedy is the aspirant monk who would like to join the young community who are resurrecting Benedictine life at the birthplace of St Benedict in Norcia, Italy. During my visit to Italy I [Read More...]

How to Be a Happy Conservative

Too often conservatives are portrayed as miserable curmudgeons, parsimonious prudes and paranoid puritans. My latest article for Intercollegiate Review explains how a conservative worldview can make you happy. Being conservative helps us attain all four levels of happiness. A basic conservative principle is self-reliance. At the animal level, happiness is enhanced if the person earns his [Read More...]

Pope Francis, Ents and Inklings

Fr Barron has an excellent article reproduced below which picks up the main teaching theme of Pope Francis’ encyclical. He traces the philosophical roots and traces the same themes in the work of J.R.R.Tolkien and C.S.Lewis. I might add that the pope’s fellow Jesuit, Gerard Manley Hopkins also laments the smudge and soil man’s industrial [Read More...]

Gay Marriage: A Simple Solution

Everybody should see the storm clouds on the horizon. The re-definition of marriage is gathering pace not only in the USA but around the world. Same sex marriage is going to happen whether we like it or not. Those who are in favor of same sex marriage will continue to push for what they perceive [Read More...]