Religion

So now that I’ve decided that Christ is a sign of contradiction and that we should “accept and pass on to others the whole of the truth that sets men free,” what next? Sounds hugely ambitious. Still, everything has to be put in its setting and grand plans do that. And I suppose the idea … More ...

A look around the net confirms that mainstream and liberal religion is instinctively left-wing, traditional and orthodox religion right-wing. The exceptions usually seem a little artificial, more a matter of sticking with a theory than immediate unselfconscious perception of how things are.

I suppose the reason things sort out that way is that both mainstream … More ...

The great contribution religion can make to us today is to liberate us from the chains of modernity. “Religion today must speak to modern man” is true the way “religion in a jail must speak to prisoners” is true.

Fundamentally, modernity is an attempt to abolish the transcendent and reconstruct the world as a system … More ...

I’ve been reading Matthew in the Vulgate and rather like it. The Latin is simple—the vulgar tongue after all—and familiarity with it helps with the language of the Tridentine mass. Also, it means something that the words are words that some people in the Palestine of Jesus’ time might have used. It seems to bring … More ...

Some interesting background on Vatican II: Diary of an insider (the “insider” was Yves Congar).

I have no knowledge of Congar or his views, but gather that one objection he made to the pre-Vatican II situation was over-centralization. I agree with that. All I’d add is that if centralization is the problem reform-from-above and rule … More ...

To touch on current events, it’ll be interesting to see how this plays out: Vatican drafts new guidelines for accepting priestly candidates that (apparently) will bar homosexuals. A common response in American church circles to settled doctrine on homosexuality has been in effect to say “yes, official doctrine is that it’s sinful, but it’s not … More ...

I went around the corner to the closest Catholic church to do the day-of-obligation thing. It was the first English mass I had been to for a while, and I found it hard to adjust completely.

I do prefer the old Latin mass. Still, everything should be the best of what it is. For example, … More ...

All Saints’ Day, a day of obligation I’m told, so in an hour I’ll go off and discharge my duties. I’m starting to feel like a papist already.

This sort of discipline is a good thing, I think. It marks off particular days for common recollection and worship, and if you don’t happen to feel … More ...

There’s been too much gloom about grand public affairs in my comments. Confucius never heard of the mote and the beam, but he knew that we should start on things by turning ourselves around. Besides, we’re told that God is present if we pray, so not everything is bad.

With that in mind, but in … More ...