Many of you may not be aware that the journalist named Terry Mattingly is Eastern Orthodox, and that besides writing columns has also taught courses in places as diverse as Northern Baptist Seminary, Milligan College, etc. He is an astute observer of popular and official religious trends, and an excellent writer. I subscribe to one of his columns, and […]
Wisconsin and Catholic Social doctrine
I received a highly thoughtful reply to my post on the withheld wages of workers from Fr. Gregory Jensen, who has his own blog, called Koinonia. And, though he was objecting to some points I made and asking probing questions about others, it was a pleasure to read him because he had gone to the […]
The bottom line of the healthcare debate
One of the problems with the current arguments in the healthcare debate is that they do not deal with a reality that was present before a current Federal Law, a reality to which the bishops of the Roman Catholic Church (and the Pope) say we must not return to. What is that reality? Well, let […]
On doctrinal canons and disciplinary canons
There is a division found in the Orthodox Church that is also found in the Roman Catholic Church and also the Anglican Church. It is a division that is so old, that is predates the division between East and West. That is the division between what are called doctrinal canons and disciplinary canons. This has […]
The Pope’s Westminster Hall Address
Recently Pope Benedict XVI visited England. While there he addressed a rather large gathering of both religious and secular leaders at Westminster Hall. The leaders were from religion, politics, and academia. You can both watch and read his address here. What he said is important enough that I am going to pre-empt my next posting […]
Private property and the Roman Catholic Bishop’s immigration statements
Let’s look at another point raised by one of those who commented on immigration as regard the statements of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops called Strangers No Longer: #35 says that “all the goods of the earth belong to all the people”. Wow. That eliminates all private property up to and including my […]
A balanced view of the Roman Catholic paedophilia scandal
Yesterday I asked some questions about how does one differentiate between a conspiracy and simple paranoia thinking? How does one accept criticism from those outside of your political or philosophical or religious circle? Well, I have an excellent example of how to do so in an article written by Peggy Noonan, a former speechwriter for […]
How can one tell if it is a conspiracy?
I have a serious question. As you have read lately, Pope Benedict XVI has been taking a lot of heat for the growing pædophilia scandal in several countries. But, it is the reaction that raises a question in my mind. I know the responses that I have read from the Vatican and from other Roman […]
Roman Catholic bishops, healthcare, and pro-life
Yesterday, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops published a statement to go along with the signing of the new healthcare bill by President Obama. I posted the statement yesterday on this blog, but it can also be found here. It, and the letter to Congress that I also posted yesterday, are important statements, both […]
Roman Catholic and Orthodox differences on Original Sin
In a couple of the last posts there has been an ongoing discussion of the differences in the concept of Original Sin between Roman Catholicism and Orthodoxy. So, let me put a couple of citations from the Wikipedia that may help people to see the differences. Why from the Wikipedia? Well, because they are better […]
