Podcasts about Canon law

This episode introduces our series on Orthodox Christian virtue, beginning with the call to authentic masculinity. Fr. Anthony explains that true manhood is humble, courageous, and sacrificial, and can only be formed through living a life in fellowship with others. ------------- Introduction to our Series on Orthodox Christian Virtue Men's Group, Christ the Saviour in Anderson SC Fr. Anthony Perkins, 28 September 2025 Etymological note: the word “virtue” is from the Latin virtus, which means strength, manliness, and moral excellence.  The trick is not to redefine moral virtue around fallen concepts of manliness, but to regain the sort of masculinity that is, by its nature, both strong and godly (ie, holy). Why a Series on Orthodox Christian Masculinity? ·      Men struggle with the development of a proper goal and worldview that would allow them to thrive, specifically as Christian men. ·      Men increasingly lack sound role models and guides, but there are many influencers who would fill that role for all the wrong reasons and give bad advice. ·      This combination of high demand and unreliable supply means that everyone suffers; men who are called to be part of the solution to the problem of the world's pain instead increase it. ·      The Orthodox Church is the fullness of the faith, but has addressed this problem inconsistently (Note on the book “Why Men Hate Going to Church”).  It is great to have Orthodox influencers addressing the issue, but this happens at the expense of building the kind of community would and should naturally foster community.  Men can watch videos, listen to podcasts (do men even read books anymore?!), and increase their tribal commitment to virtue, but unless they are in the trenches with other men committed to the same goal and part of a system that blesses and supports the goal and its pursuit, this is idle posturing.  o   This is the problem of superficial mentorship: ideas without connection or skin in the game. (incomplete or bad ecclesiology).  It is both gnostic (because it is anti-incarnational) and Protestant (in that each person becomes their own guide, moving to the idea/guru that matches their inclinations rather than joining and submitting to something substantial and real). o   The temptation of clericalism.  Leaving all teaching and mentoring to the parish priest. (incomplete or bad ecclesiology) o   As on the internet, the men who might want to step up and fill this void may not be suited for it because they lack the proper temperament, manner of life, experience, or training.  (Self-selection is bad ecclesiology.) Remember Matthew 15:14b on the blind leading the blind. ·      This is NOT a series that is going to present THE ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING OF MASCULINITY ™ so that we can all adjust our minds to its reality.  Lord willing, it will teach the right ideas, but that is not how real spiritual formation happens. ·      It is a series that is part of our effort to create a community of men who not only understand masculine virtue and commit themselves to its achievement, but also one where we train and work towards that standard together.  So it includes NOT JUST ideas of manliness but intentionally develops scalable ecclesial institutions that incarnate the living of those ideas through the brotherly support, mentorship, encouragement, and accountability. Your role in the process: commitment to living a life of virtue in community with others. My role in the process and why I am the leader of our local chapter ·      Long-standing commitment to Christian virtue and all the sacrifices that entails; as well as the many blessings that have followed. ·      Married thirty-five years.  ·      A respected and decorated leader in the Army, community, and Church. o   Retired Military Intelligence Chief Warrant Officer with deployments throughout the world, to include two to Afghanistan. o   Three master's decrees: political science, divinity, and special education. o   Ordained as a priest in 2007, have been teaching seminary since 2008; and have served in multiple leadership positions in the national church and at seminary. ·      Trained and experienced in the concepts of teamwork, spiritual development, community, and theology. ·      A lifetime of experience teaching these concepts and discipling others to teach them in the military, academia, parishes, seminary, and on the internets. If I were into self-promotion or social media, these might get me a following; but the real reason that I am the leader of the process is ontological, that is to say baked into our reality: I am the legitimately and canonically ordained priest assigned by our bishop to the priest – that is to say the “elder” and pastor – of this parish.  This would be true even if I had never served in the military, taught at seminary, or enjoyed the benefits of a healthy marriage.  It is accepting the fact that we “go to war with the army and leaders we have, not the ones we want” that allows us to get traction in doing the work we are called to do.  We might gain a rudimentary understanding of what we are called to do and be as Christian men from our favorite Orthodox influencers on the internet, but if we are more attached to them and their virtual communities than the leaders and community in which we actually live, then we are setting ourselves up for failure.  The Church has been perfecting the saints for many centuries without the internet; it is foolishness to jettison that system in favor of one that has not been tested and is known to be skewed towards narcissism and exaggeration.  So here are the objectives of this series: ·      To provide a deeper understanding of Orthodox Christian Masculinity that each of us can defend and commit ourselves to. ·      To provide tools that will allow us to grow in personal holiness, first by dealing with our fallen “manly” temptations (anger, lust, gluttony, manipulation, and just checking out) and second by the acquisition of a peaceful, confident, and humble spirit. ·      To provide the tools – and not just the ideas! – to lead our family, communities, and parish. ·      To develop and intentional community of men, with mentorship, discipleship, and accountability. ·      That mentorship includes o   The expectation that every man will go to confession regularly and schedule meetings with his priest as necessary.  We should be going to confession AT LEAST FOUR TIMES A YEAR; the ideal is once a month. o   The development of horizontal friendships with other men IN THIS PARISH for encouragement, accountability, and the deepening of Christian love. o   Each of us will develop and maintain a relationship with a mentor.  You can have more than one mentor, just like you can go to more than one priest for confession, but the point is that salvation is LOCAL.  Again, you don't go to war with the army and leaders you want, but with the one we have.  The temptation is to Americanize ecclesiology through the internet and to turn the local stable of churches and paraliturgical communities into our very own spiritual buffet.  Didn't we say we wanted to give that way of thinking up when we became Orthodox? These mentors are: §  [NAME] §  [NAME] §  [NAME] §  [NAME] o   Why these?  §  They are old.  Let no man despise your youth, but a healthy culture has a special place and respect for gray beards.  Younger men are wonderful spiritual brothers and we should rely on them for such.  They can certainly be leaders in other ways, AND it is our job (and especially mine and the mentors) to disciple them so that they are able to do a better job than us when their beards turn gray.  This is within the spirit of having age requirements for formal ordination. §  They have been committed Orthodox Christians for a while.  This is important because it takes time for Orthodoxy to gain traction.  No one doubts the novice's commitment, but experience is required for mentorship.  Again, this is in line with the spirit of ecclesial norms: Canon Law prohibits the ordination of novices.  ·      Think of it as a kind of apprenticeship, but one where we are all already active life-smiths, but need a good system to help us improve the quality of our work. So what is Orthodox Christian Masculinity? ·      The way of a man committed to living out his faith humbly, courageously, and sacrificially in service to God, family, and community. o   Humble o   Courage (confidence) o   Sacrificially: DUTY!!!  Get up and do something!  Reliability.  “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.” —Theodore Roosevelt We are doing great deeds together.  To the glory of God and the transformation of the world.. Future classes: Mentors are going to lead.  Spiritual discipline and asceticism.  How to build a strong and safe home.  Financial asceticism.  How to protect and serve the weak and vulnerable.  In the meantime, commit yourself to being a reliable and godly man.  Peaceful and strong.  Give up things that distract you and build up habits that will make you better.  Lead your family in prayer, lead them in going to church; encourage your friends to be godly and hold them accountable in private when needed, and live the kind of Cross-carrying life that transforms your souls towards perfection and brings peace and joy to those around you.  

Father Charles Azzopardi is the Roman Catholic Church's new Bishop in Gibraltar. He takes over from Bishop Carmel Zammit, who - in keeping with Canon Law - was obliged to send in his resignation when he turned 75 last year. The Newsroom's Christina Cortes covered the press conference at the Cathedral of St Mary the Crowned. In King Charles III's National Day letter this year, he praised Gibraltar's 25 year environment plan, which “places sustainable development goals at the heart of creating a greener, more sustainable and low-carbon Gibraltar." Environment Minister John Cortes gave us his reaction to the King's words.A Public Sector Pay and Industrial Relations Framework Agreement was signed yesterday by the Government, Unite the Union, the GGCA, the Police Federation, and the NASUWT. The teachers' union says that its long-standing call to review the £50,000 pension cap will be considered. We had NASUWT President, Clive Barton in the studio.In sports Jose Mari Ruiz spoke about GFA's second Euro qualifier against Czechia, gave a roundup of the fixtures, and looked ahead to the traditional Caleta regatta later this evening. And, each September mental health charity GibSams recognises Suicide Prevention Month as a time to raise awareness, spark conversations, and show support. As part of the initiative the community has been encouraged to wear green today. We spoke to the charity's Brenda Cuby and Vivian Benatar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This Week in the Nation’s Capitol (Trump addresses his religious liberty commission at The Museum of the Bible … + … Trump’s apocalyptic meme aimed at Chicago … + … Hyundai plant raid= Trump’s investment policies vs immigration policies)… GUEST Greg Clugston … SRN News White House Correspondent. What’s good to watch?… GUEST Abby Olcese… writer on film, pop culture and faith … she’s written for Think Christian and RogerEbert.com … author of “Films for All Seasons: Experiencing the Church Year at the Movies” GUEST Father Lou Vallone ... was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pgh in 1973 ... Since his ordination, Fr. Lou has shepherded the faith communities of 9 diff parishes, 6 of them as pastor ... Now retired as a Pastor & Adjunct Professor at Duquesne University, he spends his time as a Charter Member and Master Coach for the Human Formation Coalition and gives retreats, days of recollections and missions for clergy & parishes, as well as consulting & lecturing in Canon Law as an Advocate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Week in the Nation’s Capitol (Trump addresses his religious liberty commission at The Museum of the Bible … + … Trump’s apocalyptic meme aimed at Chicago … + … Hyundai plant raid= Trump’s investment policies vs immigration policies)… GUEST Greg Clugston … SRN News White House Correspondent. What’s good to watch?… GUEST Abby Olcese… writer on film, pop culture and faith … she’s written for Think Christian and RogerEbert.com … author of “Films for All Seasons: Experiencing the Church Year at the Movies” GUEST Father Lou Vallone ... was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Pgh in 1973 ... Since his ordination, Fr. Lou has shepherded the faith communities of 9 diff parishes, 6 of them as pastor ... Now retired as a Pastor & Adjunct Professor at Duquesne University, he spends his time as a Charter Member and Master Coach for the Human Formation Coalition and gives retreats, days of recollections and missions for clergy & parishes, as well as consulting & lecturing in Canon Law as an Advocate.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Discover why John the Baptist was martyred and how Canon Law still challenges us today.Morning Offering, August 29, 2025Every morning, join Father Brad as he begins the day with prayer and reflection. In a few short minutes, Father Brad guides you in prayer, shares a brief reflection grounding your day in the Church's rhythm of feast days and liturgy, and provides you with the encouragement necessary to go forward with peace and strength. Disclaimer: The ads shown before, during, or after this video have no affiliation with Morning Offering and are controlled by YouTubeLet us do as the saints urge and begin our days in prayer together so as a community of believers we may join the Psalmist in saying, “In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait expectantly.” (Psalm 5:3-4)________________

Have a Social with the Saints! Receive encouragement for your daily life as we meet & discuss this Doctor of the Church, founder of the Redemptorists, a former lawyer, and the patron saint of confessors and of those who suffer from religious scrupulosity. Who was he? How will he help and inspire you? Be encouraged and inspired for your daily life! Get a free quote card and pamphlet of St. Alphonsus Liguori here. We invite you to share them with friends and family. We want to hear from you! What struck you about St. Alphonsus Liguori? Please send us your feedback to join the conversation by email at ministry@pilgrimcenterofhope.org The official Socials with the Saints theme song is “Hero's Ascent” by Chris Haugen. Used with permission. Thanks for listening, and remember, you are never alone in the communion of the saints! May God bless you. Help us spread hope!

7-30-25: Canon Law - Nicole Delaney by

WBEN's Tom Puckett on a Canon Law expert's view on whether parishes should pay into the Buffalo Catholic Diocese's abuse settlement fund full 53 Mon, 14 Jul 2025 07:52:00 +0000 o0RWrkPufTlChJd11eAdrV33WAJr9UKy news & politics,news WBEN Extras news & politics,news WBEN's Tom Puckett on a Canon Law expert's view on whether parishes should pay into the Buffalo Catholic Diocese's abuse settlement fund Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc. News & Politics News

Recent decades have seen seismic changes to traditional gender roles, leading to deep and sometimes difficult questions about what it means to be a man today. Some argue it's provoked a ‘crisis in masculinity'. This term is debated, but there are growing rates of loneliness, poor mental health, and even suicide, in men. At the same time troubling forms of so called ‘toxic masculinity' are being promoted by some online influencers.Delyth Liddell and guests examine the issues. Is masculinity under threat or is it simply being redefined? What is masculinity anyway? And does scripture and Biblical manhood have any relevance to this discussion today? Reverend Will Rose-More is an ordained minister and is the author of ‘Boys will be Boys and other myths'. He's editing a forthcoming book on masculinities and trauma in church and theology. Charlotte Thomas is an honorary tutor at Cardiff University and is currently studying for a PhD in Theology on hypermasculinity and the Bible, particularly looking at an American Christian men's group called the ‘Promise Keepers'. Jon Stockley is the national director for Christian Vision for Men Wales. Father Sebastian Jones is the Superior of the Oratory of St. Philip Neri at Cardiff. He's also the Parish Priest of St Alban's Parish Splott, and lectures in Canon Law.

St. Joseph Foundation president and canon lawyer Philip Gray on the Buffalo Catholic the Diocese's rationale on which parishes should pay how much toward the clergy abuse settlement full 565 Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:30:00 +0000 xPAvc0wKtOu6bRJVCVz2Ozjlvdi5HNOf buffalo,news,wben,buffalo catholic diocese,st. joseph foundation,canon law,philip gray WBEN Extras buffalo,news,wben,buffalo catholic diocese,st. joseph foundation,canon law,philip gray St. Joseph Foundation president and canon lawyer Philip Gray on the Buffalo Catholic the Diocese's rationale on which parishes should pay how much toward the clergy abuse settlement Archive of various reports and news events 2024 © 2021 Audacy, Inc.

Finance Councils in parishes are an advisory group of parishioners who can provide the pastor with financial advice and guidance for operating the parish. Kathy McKinless, of the Diocese of Arlington, Virginia, joins this episode of On Mission with Chris Pierno, Sarah Scalfaro, and Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. to share her experience in the finance field and within dioceses and parishes.Finance councils are required by Canon Law to advise the pastor on financial matters within the parish. Their responsibilities can include budgeting, strategic planning, running financial reports, and maintaining the integrity of internal operations. Kathy also provides practical advice to members of finance councils and to individuals who are interested in joining their parish's finance council. A finance council's collaboration with the parish's pastoral council is integral to smooth operation of the parish as a whole. Related On Mission episodes:Dr. Timoney on Parish Pastoral CouncilsParish Pastoral CouncilsParish Faith FormationParish Evangelization From the Ad Infinitum blog:Finding Faith in a New Parish View Collaboration in Ministry resourcesPurchase the book In Service to the Parish and the Church: A Formation Series for Parish Pastoral CouncilsCheck out the main Saints and Feast Days websiteDownload the App on the App Store or Google Play  Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify On Mission is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources and podcasts. Listen to Fr. Frank's weekly reflections and recent blogcasts.

“For you are a people sacred to the Lord, your God, who has chosen you from al the nations on the face of the earth to be a people peculiarly his own.” Deuteronomy 14:2      Characteristic #31 “Every atrium avails itself of the help of a priest who is attentive to the children, particularly to their religious capacities, celebrates Eucharist and sacrament of reconciliation with them, and works in harmony with the spirit of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. “32 Points of Reflection of The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”    Submit a Podcast Listener Question HERE!    Fr Joseph joins us on the podcast to share about how he became involved in CGS and how it has affected his view of children's spirituality and his vocation as a priest. He also shares a few tips on how to get your own priests and deacons involved in CGS.   Fr. Joseph Lustig is a priest of the Diocese of Boise, Idaho and a native of Cottonwood, Idaho. He has completed formation in and assisted with CGS levels one and two. He has been a parish priest for six years and currently is completing a Licentiate in Canon Law from Saint Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, where he also serves a local parish in its atrium. If you have any questions or want to reach out, you can contact him at fr.lustig@icloud.com.    Books You May Be Interested In:  Preaching With Children  The Religious Potential of the Child    Episodes from other Priests:    Episode 29 – CGS and Christian Unity with Bishop Talley  Episode 32 – A Priest in the Atrium   Episode 85 – CGS and Accompaniment with Fr Boniface Hicks  Episode 125 – A Priest in CGS with Fr Kevin Douglas  Episode 138 – CGS and Ignatius Spirituality with Fr Joseph Hicks      BECOME AN ORGANIZATION MEMBER!  Organization Members are any entity (church/parish, school, regional group, diocese, etc.) that either offers CGS and/or supports those who serve the children as catechists, aides, or formation leaders) Organization Members also receive the following each month:  Bulletin Items - 4 bulletin articles for each month. We have a library of 4 years of bulletin items available on the CGSUSA Website.  Catechist In-Services to download TODAY and offer your catechists. We have six in-services available on the website.  Assistant Formation - prayer service, agenda, talking points, and handouts.  Seed Planting Workshop - prayer service, agenda, and talking points.  Family Events: downloadable, 1/2 day events for Advent, Christmas/Epiphany, and Lent.  Catechist Prayers and prayer services  and so much more!  Click Here to create your Organizational Membership!      AUDIOBOOK:    Audiobook – Now Available on Audible  CGSUSA is excited to offer you the audio version of The Religious Potential of the Child – 3rd Edition by Sofia Cavalletti, read by Rebekah Rojcewicz!  The Religious Potential of the Child is not a “how-to” book, complete with lesson plans and material ideas. Instead it offers a glimpse into the religious life of the atrium, a specially prepared place for children to live out their silent request: “Help me come closer to God by myself.” Here we can see the child's spiritual capabilities and perhaps even find in our own souls the child long burdened with religious information. This book serves as a companion to the second volume, The Religious Potential of the Child 6 to 12 Years Old. The desire to have this essential text available in audio has been a long-held goal for many. The work of many hands has combined to bring this release to life as an audiobook.    Find out more about CGS:       Learn more about the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd     Follow us on Social Media-  Facebook at “The United States Association of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd”  Instagram-  cgsusa  Twitter- @cgsusa  Pinterest- Natl Assoc of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd USA  YouTube- catechesisofthegoodshepherd 

In this enlightening episode of "Father and Joe," hosts Father Boniface Hicks and Joe Rockey delve into the profound world of papal encyclicals and their significance in modern society. The conversation explores the importance of taking the teachings of God and applying them to contemporary issues through the lens of encyclicals, all while understanding their hierarchy in relation to divine revelation found in the Bible.Father Boniface elaborates on how encyclicals are structured to build upon one another, providing a rich tapestry of Catholic doctrine that demands thoughtful engagement. The episode touches on various well-known encyclicals, including Pope Francis' "Laudato Si," and discusses the layered complexities and common misconceptions surrounding these papal documents. The hosts address the broader purpose of encyclicals, which is to teach and integrate theological insights into everyday life while steering clear of simplistic interpretations that can dilute their deeper meanings.The episode transitions into an engaging discussion about Pope Leo XIV, a figure distinguished by his unique blend of North American, Roman, and South American experiences. Father Boniface highlights how Pope Leo brings a global perspective to the papacy, traversing cultural and ecclesiastical divides. His diverse background in administration, pastoral ministry, and missionary work positions him as a "bridge builder" in a world often fragmented by tribalism.Listeners gain insight into the authoritative role of the Pope as the Vicar of Christ, tasked with teaching, governing, and sanctifying the Church. Father Boniface shares personal reflections and stories that illustrate the Pope's profound influence as a spiritual leader and teacher, continually shaping the Church's mission to nourish the faithful through authentic doctrine and the sacraments.Tune in to this episode for a rich, nuanced exploration of the papal role in guiding the Church, the layers within Church teachings, and how the humility and humanity of its leaders continue to inspire believers worldwide. The dialogue wraps up with an invitation for listeners to engage further by sharing their questions and feedback via email.Tags:Father Boniface, Joe Rockey, Catholic Church, Encyclicals, Papal Role, Spiritual Direction, Pope Leo XIV, Encyclical Hierarchy, Catholic Doctrine, Divine Revelation, Laudato Si, Rerum Novarum, Church Teachings, Pope Francis, Papal Authority, Vicar of Christ, Bridge Builder, Global Perspective, Catholic Podcast, Spiritual Insight, Theology, Faith Exploration, Spiritual Growth, Relationship with God, Missionary Work, Pastoral Ministry, Religious Orders, Augustinians, Church History, Canon Law, Universal Church, Pope as Teacher, Papal Influence, Moral Doctrine, Deepening Faith, Sacred Tradition, Biblical TeachingsHashtags:#FatherAndJoe, #CatholicPodcast, #Encyclicals, #ChurchTeachings, #PopeLeoXIV, #SpiritualDirection, #VicarOfChrist, #CatholicDoctrine, #DivineRevelation, #PapalAuthority, #LaudatoSi, #FaithJourney, #GlobalChurch, #TheologyTalk, #FaithAndLife, #ChristianPodcast, #PopeFrancis, #FaithExploration, #SpiritualGrowth, #PapalInsights, #CatholicFaith, #SpiritualWisdom, #DoctrineAndFaith, #BridgeBuilder, #Augustinians, #UniversalChurch, #MissionaryLife, #FaithInAction, #FaithAndCommunity, #SacredTradition, #FaithfulWitness, #BiblicalLearning, #MoralAuthority, #ChristianUnity, #PapalTeachings, #FaithDevelopment, #CommunityOfBelievers, #DeepeningFaith

Just three weeks ago, we had a momentous event in the life of the Church, the election of a new Pope. Robert Cardinal Prevost became the 267th successor of St. Peter and so the oldest institution in the world continues.And yet there are some in the traditional Catholic world who do not accept that Leo XIV is the Pope of the Catholic Church. These people are called sedevacantists.Sedevacantists are Catholics who believe that there is no Pope of the Catholic Church because the Pope has fallen into heresy. Most believe that there has not been a legitimate Pope since Pope Pius XII died in 1958. I want to warn you against this opinion.The sedevacantists represent something new in the history of the Church. There have been bad Popes throughout the Church's history, as well as anti-Popes, but never a movement of people who have claimed that the Pope had no authority over them and yet claimed to remain Catholic. It is striking that Our Lord Himself was not a sedevacantist. The religious leaders of His time were evil, yet He supported their authority, “ The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses. All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not; for they say, and do not” (Matt. 23:2) Perhaps this example of Our Lord is why there has been no real sedevacantist movement until modern times, despite the fact that there have been plenty of bad Popes.Perhaps another reason why there have never been sedevacantists until the current crisis in the Church is that no one in the Church has the authority to depose the Pope. There is a principle in Canon Law which states that “No one judges the first seat”. There are theologians who have speculated that the Pope might automatically lose office if he falls into heresy. But it is clear that no individual Catholic is in a position to say whether that has happened or not. Our Lord certainly does not ask us to decide whether this or that person is the Pope or not. The Church could never have any real unity if that were the case. Just think what would happen if a company would run that way. For Abp. Lefebvre, it was theoretically possible that a Pope could lose his office by falling into heresy. But, in practice, he realized that he was not in a position to make that judgment and the prudent thing to do was to give the Pope the benefit of the doubt. That was why, while he recognized the terrible scandals that were happening in the pontificate of John Paul II, he yet went to the Pope and tried to work with him to get permission to consecrate bishops. We will obviously be doing the same with Pope Leo XIV. Unlike Abp. Lefebvre, the sedevacantists do believe that they are in a position to decide with certainty that there is no Pope. But this seems rash, imprudent and prideful. It also seems to represent a bad ecclesiology. The Church simply cannot work that way.

The world's cardinals will enter conclave tomorrow to elect a successor to the late Pope Francis. The process is steeped in history and tradition and to take us through the whole process is Dr Kurt Martens, Ordinary Professor in Canon Law at the Catholic University of America.

IMAGE DESCRIPTION: By Pufui Pc Pifpef I - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=31309211 via Wikipedia LINKS Vatican bio of Cardinal Raymond Leo BURKE https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/documentation/cardinali_biografie/cardinali_bio_burke_rl.html        Raymond Leo BURKE on FIU's Cardinals Database (by Salvador Miranda): https://cardinals.fiu.edu/bios2010.htm#Burke                             Cardinal Raymond Leo BURKE on Gcatholic.org: https://gcatholic.org/p/2334                                                Cardinal Raymond Leo BURKE on Catholic-Hierarchy.org: https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bburke.html                            Apostolic Signatura on Gcatholic.org: https://gcatholic.org/dioceses/romancuria/d13.htm   Apostolic Signatura on Catholic-Hierarchy.org: https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dbgch.html 2003 Catholic News Agency bio of Archbishop Burke: https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/286/pope-appoints-bishop-raymond-burke-as-new-archbishop-of-st-louis  Merriam-Webster, “Defender of the Bond”: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/defender%20of%20the%20bond#:~:text=The%20meaning%20of%20DEFENDER%20OF%20THE%20BOND,the%20marriage%20bond%20in%20suits%20for%20annulment Dead Theologians Society: https://deadtheologianssociety.com/about/  Catholic Herald analysis of Cardinal Burke's 2014 reassignment: https://web.archive.org/web/20160701214308/http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/news/2014/11/10/thousands-sign-petition-thanking-cardinal-burke/  2013 National Catholic Reporter commentary- “I want a mess” -Pope Francis: https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/distinctly-catholic/pope-i-want-mess  2014 CruxNow “Soap Opera” Synod on the Family coverage: https://web.archive.org/web/20141017055135/http://www.cruxnow.com/church/2014/10/16/synod-is-more-and-more-like-a-soap-opera/ Amoris Laetitia: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20160319_amoris-laetitia.html  2017 Knights of Malta reshuffle: https://catholicherald.co.uk/pope-names-archbishop-becciu-as-personal-delegate-to-order-of-malta/  2018 National Catholic Register editorial Reflection on Amoris Laetitia controversy https://www.ncregister.com/news/francis-fifth-a-pontificate-of-footnotes  2016 National Catholic Register coverage of the Dubia: https://www.ncregister.com/news/four-cardinals-formally-ask-pope-for-clarity-on-amoris-laetitia Traditionis custodes: https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/motu_proprio/documents/20210716-motu-proprio-traditionis-custodes.html  Cardinal Burke's Statement on Traditionis Custodes: https://www.cardinalburke.com/presentations/traditionis-custodes The 2023 Dubia (w/Pope Francis' responses): https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2023-10/pope-francis-responds-to-dubia-of-five-cardinals.html  National Catholic Reporter coverage of removal of Cardinal Burke's Vatican apartment and salary: https://www.ncronline.org/vatican/vatican-news/pope-francis-remove-cardinal-burkes-vatican-apartment-and-salary-sources-say Anonymous “Cardinal Burke is my enemy” report: https://catholicherald.co.uk/pope-calls-cardinal-burke-his-enemy-and-threatens-to-strip-him-of-privileges-reports-claim/  Where Peter Is coverage of Cardinal Burke's 2024 private meeting with Pope Francis https://wherepeteris.com/cardinal-burkes-meeting-withĥhh-pope-francis/    Thank you for listening, and thank my family and friends for putting up with the time investment and for helping me out as needed. As always, feel free to email the show at Popeularhistory@gmail.com  If you would like to financially support Popeular history, go to www.patreon.com/Popeular. If you don't have any money to spare but still want to give back, pray and tell others– prayers and listeners are worth more than gold!   TRANSCRIPT Welcome to Popeular History, a library of Catholic knowledge and insights.   Check out the show notes for sources, further reading, and a transcript.   Today we're discussing another current Cardinal of the Catholic Church, one of the 120 or so people who will choose the next Pope when the time comes. The youngest of six, Raymond Leo Burke was born on June 30, 1948, in Richland Center, a small town in sparsely populated Richland County, Wisconsin.   Not too much later, the family moved north to tiny Stratford, Wisconsin, where he grew up.   We've had a *lot*, of midwestern Cardinals, in fact all but one of our 8 American Cardinals so far has been born in the midwest, a percentage I would probably consider shocking if I didn't identify as a midwesterner myself, though technically I'm about as much of a northern southerner as you can get, considering my parents basically moved to Virginia to have their kids and immediately moved back to Ohio once that was accomplished. But enough about me, this is about Raymond Leo Burke, who signed up for Holy Cross Seminary in La Crosse in 1962. Later he went to The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he wound up with a masters in philosophy in 1971. After that he was sent to Rome for his theology studies, getting a second masters, this time from the Gregorian. He was ordained by Pope Paul VI–yes, *before* JPII, crazy I know, in 1975 on June 29th, which longtime listeners will probably clock as the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul and more importantly the Popeular History podcasts' official anniversary date.   Returning to Wisconsin as a priest for the Diocese of La Crosse, Father Burke served as an associate rector for the cathedral, then as a religion teacher at Aquinas High School in town.   Making his way back to Rome, Father Burke returned to the Gregorian to study Canon Law, by 1984 he had a doctorate in the topic with a specialization in jurisprudence.   He came back stateside long enough to pick up a couple diocesan roles back in La Crosse, but soon enough he went back to the Gregorian for a third time, this time not as a student but as a teacher, namely as a Visiting professor of Canonical Jurisprudence, a post which he held for nearly a decade from ‘85 to ‘94.   He wound up becoming the first American to hold the position of Defender of the Bond of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, as a reminder that's basically the Vatican's Supreme Court.   As for what being a Defender of the Bond entails, it's basically the guy in charge of proving the validity of a disputed marriage, typically–I'd imagine--oversomeone's objections, or else, you know, the case wouldn't have wound up in court.   In 1994, his white phone rang, and it was Pope John Paul II, calling to make him bishop of his home Diocese of La Crosse. Father Burke was personally consecrated by His Holiness in the Vatican.   In ‘97, Bishop Burke became a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, ranking as a Knight Commander with Star automatically by virtue of his being a bishop. The Order traces its origins to the First Crusade, making it one of the oldest chivalric Orders in the world–and it's not the only such order Bishop Burke will get involved in.   In 2000, bishop Burke became National Director of the Marian Catechist Apostolate, something which certainly seems near to his heart considering he's still in the role. Well, international director now, as things have grown.   In 2002, Bishop Burke invited a fairly new apostolate named the Dead Theologians Society to the diocese, which isn't something I'd normally include, but I wanted to make sure it got a shoutout because it started at my parish. Oriented towards high school and college students, they study the lives of the saints, and Cardinal Burke is a fan, saying: “I am happy to commend the Dead Theologians Society to individual families and to parishes, as a most effective form of Catholic youth ministry.”   In 2003, Bishop Burke became Archbishop Burke when he was transferred to the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Saint Louis, where he served until 2008, when he was called up to Rome, to serve as prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, there's that Vatican Supreme Court again, and this time he's running it. And if you're making assumptions based on that appointment, yes, he's absolutely considered one of the foremost experts on canon law worldwide, having published numerous books and articles.   In 2010, Pope Benedict raised Archbishop Burke to the rank of Cardinal Deacon and assigned him the deaconry of S. Agata de 'Goti. Naturally he participated in the 2013 conclave that elected Pope Francis, where I am prepared to guess he was in the minority given subsequent events.   The next year, so 2014, Cardinal Burke was transferred from his top judicial spot to serve as the patron of the Sovereign Order of Malta, aka the Knights of Malta, a reassignment that was generally interpreted as a demotion, given he was going from his dream job for canon law geek that made him the highest ranking American in the Vatican at the time to a largely ceremonial post that was, well, not that.   [All that is nothing against the Knights of Malta, which these days are a solid humanitarian resource and quasi-state trivia machine I'll give their own episode at some point.]   The tension between Cardinal Burke and Pope Francis has been fairly clear from the start. They have fundamentally different approaches and styles, and frankly different goals. Cardinal Burke is dedicated to maintaining tradition as the safest route, while Pope Francis has famously called for shaking things up, for example saying:   “What is it that I expect as a consequence of World Youth Day? I want a mess. We knew that in Rio there would be great disorder, but I want trouble in the dioceses!”   That's Pope Francis, of course. Just before his transfer out of his top spot at the Vatican's court, Cardinal Burke noted that many Catholics, quote:   “feel a bit of seasickness, because it seems to them that the ship of the Church has lost its compass.”   End quote.   To his credit, Cardinal Burke took the move in stride, which matches up well with his general view that authority should be respected and that, as a canonist, the Pope is the ultimate authority.   Deference to such authority in the context of the Catholic Church is known as Clericalism, and being pro or anti Clericalism is another point of disagreement between Cardinal Burke and Pope Francis, who said “I want to get rid of clericalism” in the same early interview I mentioned before.   Part of what Cardinal Burke was responding to with his “lost compass” quote was the first stages of the Synod on the Family, which veteran Vatican reporter John Allen Jr described as like a “soap opera”, with working notes that were released to the public speaking positively about things like same-sex unions and other relationships the Vatican tends to describe as “irregular”. After the Synod on the Family wrapped up, in 2016 Pope Francis produced a post-synodal apostolic exhortation called Amoris Laetitia, or “The Joy of Love”, which I saw one of my sources described the longest document in the history of the Papacy, a hell of a claim I am not immediately able to refute because it sure *is* a long one, which is primarily known for the controversy of just one of its footnotes, footnote 351.   I'm still making *some* effort to make these first round episodes be brief, but it's important to keep things in context, so let's go ahead and look at the sentence the footnote is attached to, which is in paragraph 305, and Then the footnote itself. If you want even more context, the entirety of Amoris Laetitia is, of course, linked in the show notes.   Here we go:   “Because of forms of conditioning and mitigating factors, it is possible that in an objective situation of sin – which may not be subjectively culpable, or fully such – a person can be living in God's grace, can love and can also grow in the life of grace and charity, while receiving the Church's help to this end.”   And yes, that is one sentence. Popes are almost as bad about sentence length as I am.   Without the footnote, this probably would have gone relatively unnoticed, the Church accompanying sinners is not a fundamentally revolutionary idea. But the footnote in question gets specific and brings in the Sacraments, which is where things get touchy:   “In certain cases, this can include the help of the sacraments. Hence, “I want to remind priests that the confessional must not be a torture chamber, but rather an encounter with the Lord's mercy” I would also point out that the Eucharist “is not a prize for the perfect, but a powerful medicine and nourishment for the weak”.   For one thing, just to get this out of the way, some of that is in quotation marks with citations. In a document like this that's pretty normal, showing how your argument is based on precedent and authority. Except in this case the precedent and the authority being cited is literally Pope Francis himself. To be clear, this is a normal Pope thing, I found multiple examples of JPII and Pope Benedict doing the same thing, it just amuses me.   Anyways, the idea of people in objectively sinful states receiving communion is hyper-controversial. After all, even as far back as Saint Paul, receiving Communion “unworthily” is an awful thing. Of course, questions have long followed about how anyone can be truly worthy of the Eucharist, with the basic answer there being “with God's help”, but yeah, it's tricky.   We can have an educated guess how Cardinal Burke felt about all this, because he and three other Cardinals--it'll be a while before we get to any of the others–anyways Cardinal Burke and three other Cardinals asked Pope Francis some fairly pointed questions about this in a format called a dubia, traditionally a yes/no format where the Holy Father affirms or denies potential implications drawn from one of their teachings to clarify areas of doubt. In this case, there were five questions submitted, with the first and I daresay the most sincerely debated being the question of whether footnote 351 means divorced and subsequently remarried Catholics can receive communion. There's lots of subtext here, but as a reminder this is actually the *short* version of this episode, so pardon the abbreviation. The next four questions are, to put it snarkily, variations on the obviously very sincere question of “does the truth matter anymore?”   Pope Francis decided not to answer these dubia, which the Cardinals took as an invitation to make them–and his lack of a response–public. Not as a way of outing him after his refusal to answer gotcha questions with a yes/no, not by any means, but because clearly that's what not getting an answer meant Pope Francis wanted them to do.   Now, there's something of an issue here, because we're nearing record word count for Cardinal Numbers, and that's without any real long diversions about the history of Catholicism in Cardinal Burke's area or his interactions with the local secular ruler. It's all been Church stuff. And we're nowhere near the end.   The reality is that I'm painfully aware my own discipline is the only thing that keeps me from going longer on these episodes when appropriate, and the major driving force for keeping them short was to keep things manageable. But now that I'm no longer committed to a daily format, “manageable” has very different implications. And even my secondary driver, a general sense of fairness, not making one Cardinal's episode too much longer than the others, well, the other Cardinals in this batch have had longer episodes too, so it's not as much of a lopsided battle for the First Judgment, and it's not like longer automatically means more interesting.   In the end, with those inhibitions gone, and a sense that this stuff is important and it would be a shame to skip big chunks of it if Cardinal Burke *doesn't* make it to the next round, I'm going to go ahead and keep walking through this so it gets said, and let it take what time it takes. My best guess is we're about halfway through. That way there's no special pressure to make Cardinal Burke advance just to cover anything I felt was too rushed. Don't worry, there's still plenty being left out. Fair?   Fair or not, Let's resume.   In 2015, so after his relegation to the Knights of Malta but before Amoris Laetitia and the Dubia, Cardinal Burke was added to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, which is still one of his roles though like other Vatican offices it has since been rebranded as a Dicastery.   In 2017, Burke's posting as Patron of the Knights of Malta, the one I described as largely ceremonial, threatened to become interesting when Pope Francis forced the head of the order to resign over, well, condoms, basically. But as soon as things started looking interesting Pope Francis helicoptered in an archbishop to serve as his “special delegate” and more importantly his “exclusive spokesman” to the Order, which effectively sidelined Burke from a gig he had been sidelined *to* a few years earlier.   Nevertheless, 2017 also actually saw Burke start to bounce back some. I want to re emphasize this is notably *after* the Dubia, when later in the year Pope Francis picked Cardinal Burke as the judge in the case of an Archbishop who had been accused of sexully abusing his altar servers. The Archbishop was found guilty and deposed, and by the end of the year, having gotten his feet wet again, Cardinal Burke was back on as a member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature, though, notably, not as its head anymore.   The next major flashpoint came In 2021, when Pope Francis published Traditionis Custodes, a document that severely restricted the celebration of the old Latin Mass.    Long story short, what's colloquially called Latin Mass is the version of Mass that was the main liturgy for Latin rite Catholics for hundreds of years until the Second Vatican Council kicked off serious updates in the 1960s, the most obvious of which is the general shift from Latin to the use of local aka vernacular languages, and the second most obvious is the direction the priest is facing for the majority of the liturgy. There's obviously more detail available on everything I just said, and people have *opinions*, I'll tell you that for sure.   Cardinal Burke's fundamental opinion was and is that the Latin Mass is great and should be maintained and that, in short, Pope Francis may even be overstepping his bounds in restricting it as much as he is with Traditionis Custodes, which is a strong claim given the whole, you know, general idea of the Papacy.   A few weeks after the Traditionis Custodes stuff went down, Cardinal Burke was on a ventilator fighting for his life. We're only doing living Cardinals at this time, so no suspense there for us, but his bout with COVID was touch-and-go for a while there.   In June 2023, notably a few weeks before his 75th birthday and that customary retirement age, Pope Francis replaced Cardinal Burke as the Patron of the Knights of Malta with an 80 year old Jesuit Cardinal. If you're noticing that Burke was relaced by someone who was themselves a fair bit older and also well past retirement age, yeah, you're not alone in noticing that, and you wouldn't be alone in thinking that some kind of point was being made here.   Just a few weeks after that retirement, Cardinal Burke attached his name to another dubia document, this one covering a larger variety of topics and appearing and in the context of the ongoing Synod on Synodality.   Cardinal Burke was again joined by one of his fellow signers of the first dubia, the other two having passed away in 2017, may they rest in peace. They were also joined by three Cardinals who had not cosigned the previous Dubia, though all of those are over 80 and so we won't be covering them for a while.   In any event, this second set of dubia covered a wider range of topics in its five questions, including two particularly hot-button issues, namely the question of blessings for same sex unions, which is something I will refer you to my Fiducia Supplicans anniversary coverage (oops, didn't get that out yet) on for fuller detail, and notion of women serving as deacons, which is still an open question at the time of this writing: as we've discussed previously, ordination has been pretty firmly ruled out, but there may be room for an unordained diaconate. After all, Saint Paul entrusted the letter to the Romans to a woman he described as a deacon.   Pope Francis actually responded to this second dubia the day after the dubious Cardinals submitted it, giving lengthy and detailed answers to all of their questions. Naturally this seems to have annoyed Cardinal Burke and his compatriots, because remember, traditionally answers to Dubia have been yes or no, and so they reframed their questions and asked Pope Francis to respond just with “yes” or “no”. When it was evident His Holiness was not going to reply further, the Cardinals once again took the lack of an answer- or rather the lack of yes/no format answers- as encouragement to publish everything, which was an interesting move since that seems to have essentially set Fiducia Supplicans in motion, as Pope Francis indicated an openness to informal blessings for homosexuals in one of his dubia responses. All of that is in the show notes.   Later in 2023, Pope Francis stripped Cardinal Burke of his Vatican apartment and retirement salary, which I have been tempted to call a pension but everyone I've seen calls it a retirement salary so it's probably safest to follow suit. Officially no reason was given, but I mean, you've listened to this episode, take your pick of tension points and believe it or not I've skipped several chapters of drama real or alleged. Speaking of alleged, this is the Vatican, so anonymous sources are happy to weigh in, including alleging that Pope Francis straight up said “Cardinal Burke is my enemy”. I don't think I buy that he was so plain about it, but I also don't expect Cardinal Burke is Pope Francis' favorite guy.   On December 29, 2023, Cardinal Burke had a private audience with Pope Francis for the first time in over seven years. Cardinal Burke's last private audience with Pope Francis had been back in 2016, four days before the first dubia was made public.   The idea of the two having a little chat grabbed media attention more than any other meeting between a Cardinal and a Pope that I can recall. As is typical for such one-on-ones, no official reason or agenda was given, and it's not likely we'll ever know what exactly was said, but I've got to hand it to Cardinal Burke for his response when Reuters asked him about it:   ‘Well, I'm still alive.'”   Raymond Leo Cardinal BURKE is eligible to participate in future conclaves until he turns 80 in 2028. “AM I THE DRAMA”? Today's episode is part of Cardinal Numbers,  and there will be more Cardinal Numbers next week. Thank you for listening; God bless you all!

Mike Gormley and Dave VanVickle are joined by cannon lawyer, Fr. Brian Austin. Together they discuss the origins of canon law, the difference between church and secular legal law, papal primacy, and discuss the role of the Catholic Church through the chaos of history. Snippet from the Show If you believe that God wants you to be happy then how does that change what law is? Well it goes from being the arbitrary, tyrannical, imposition of an authority over me, right? And the scariest thing is not the tyrant, the scariest thing is its arbitrariness. We want to hear from you! Email us at eksb@ascensionpress.com with your questions/comments Don't forget to text “EKSB” to 33-777 to get the shownotes right to your inbox! You can also find the full shownotes at www.ascensionpress.com/EveryKneeShallBow

The Code of Canon Law is silent on the matter, but it doesn't to say anything at all. The basic sensus fidelium should tell all Catholics that this is a gross act of impiety.Sources:https://www.returntotradition.orgContact Me:Email: return2catholictradition@gmail.comSupport My Work:Patreonhttps://www.patreon.com/AnthonyStineSubscribeStarhttps://www.subscribestar.net/return-to-traditionBuy Me A Coffeehttps://www.buymeacoffee.com/AnthonyStinePhysical Mail:Anthony StinePO Box 3048Shawnee, OK74802Follow me on the following social media:https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToCatholicTradition/https://twitter.com/pontificatormax+JMJ+

Earlier this year Dr Kurt Martens, Professor of Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, joined Damian Thompson on Holy Smoke to unpack what happens during a papal conclave. There was heightened interest in the process due to the film Conclave, which swept the awards season, but also because Pope Francis was hospitalised at the time. Despite showing some signs of recovery – including being able to meet world leaders such as King Charles III and J.D. Vance – Pope Francis died on Easter Monday. Here we reissue the episode with Dr Martens, looking at what happens when a pope dies, with a new introduction from Damian. Writing the cover article for the Spectator this week, Damian writes: ‘the next Vicar of Christ will face challenges that dwarf those that confronted any incoming pope in living memory. The Church is mired in doctrinal confusion; its structures of government are fragmented; sexual scandals have been hushed up at the highest level; and it is staring into a financial abyss'. What can we expect from the upcoming conclave?  Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Earlier this year Dr Kurt Martens, Professor of Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, joined Damian Thompson on Holy Smoke to unpack what happens during a papal conclave. There was heightened interest in the process due to the film Conclave, which swept the awards season, but also because Pope Francis was hospitalised at the time. Despite showing some signs of recovery – including being able to meet world leaders such as King Charles III and J.D. Vance – Pope Francis died on Easter Monday. Here we reissue the episode with Dr Martens, looking at what happens when a pope dies, with a new introduction from Damian. Writing the cover article for the Spectator this week, Damian writes: ‘the next Vicar of Christ will face challenges that dwarf those that confronted any incoming pope in living memory. The Church is mired in doctrinal confusion; its structures of government are fragmented; sexual scandals have been hushed up at the highest level; and it is staring into a financial abyss'. What can we expect from the upcoming conclave?  Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

pWotD Episode 2912: Pope John Paul II Welcome to Popular Wiki of the Day, spotlighting Wikipedia's most visited pages, giving you a peek into what the world is curious about today.With 263,814 views on Tuesday, 22 April 2025 our article of the day is Pope John Paul II.Pope John Paul II (Latin: Ioannes Paulus II; Italian: Giovanni Paolo II; Polish: Jan Paweł II; born Karol Józef Wojtyła, Polish: [ˈkarɔl ˈjuzɛv‿vɔjˈtɨwa]; 18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 1978 until his death in 2005.In his youth, Wojtyła dabbled in stage acting. He graduated with excellent grades from an all-boys high school in Wadowice, Poland, in 1938, soon after which World War II broke out. During the war, to avoid being kidnapped and sent off to a German forced labour camp, he signed up for work in harsh conditions in a quarry. Wojtyła eventually took up acting and developed a love for the profession and participated at a local theatre. The linguistically skilled Wojtyła wanted to study Polish at university. Encouraged by a conversation with Adam Stefan Sapieha, he decided to study theology and become a priest. Eventually, Wojtyła rose to the position of Archbishop of Kraków and then a cardinal, both positions held by his mentor. Wojtyła was elected pope on the third day of the second papal conclave of 1978, and became one of the youngest popes in history. The conclave was called after the death of John Paul I, who served only 33 days as pope. Wojtyła adopted the name of his predecessor in tribute to him.John Paul II was the first non-Italian pope since Adrian VI in the 16th century, as well as the third-longest-serving pope in history after Pius IX and St. Peter. John Paul II attempted to improve the Catholic Church's relations with Judaism, Islam, and the Eastern Orthodox Church in the spirit of ecumenism, holding atheism as the greatest threat. He maintained the Church's previous positions on such matters as abortion, artificial contraception, the ordination of women, and a celibate clergy, and although he supported the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, he was seen as generally conservative in their interpretation. He put emphasis on family and identity, while questioning consumerism, hedonism and the pursuit of wealth. He was one of the most-travelled world leaders in history, visiting 129 countries during his pontificate. As part of his special emphasis on the universal call to holiness, John Paul II beatified 1,344 people, and canonised 483 saints, more than the combined tally of his predecessors during the preceding five centuries. By the time of his death, he had named most of the College of Cardinals, consecrated or co-consecrated many of the world's bishops, and ordained many priests.He has been credited with fighting against dictatorships for democracy and with helping to end communist rule in his native Poland and the rest of Europe. Under John Paul II, the Catholic Church greatly expanded its influence in Africa and Latin America and retained its influence in Europe and the rest of the world. On 19 December 2009, John Paul II was proclaimed venerable by his successor, Benedict XVI, and on 1 May 2011 (Divine Mercy Sunday) he was beatified. On 27 April 2014, he was canonised together with John XXIII. He has been criticised for allegedly, as archbishop under Communist Poland, having been insufficiently harsh in acting against the sexual abuse of children by priests, though the allegations themselves have been criticised. Posthumously he has been referred to by some Catholics as Pope St. John Paul the Great, though that title is not official.Under John Paul II, two of the most important documents of the contemporary Catholic Church were drafted and promulgated: the 1983 Code of Canon Law, which revised and updated the 1917 Code of Canon Law, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the first universal catechism to be issued since the Roman Catechism.This recording reflects the Wikipedia text as of 02:52 UTC on Wednesday, 23 April 2025.For the full current version of the article, see Pope John Paul II on Wikipedia.This podcast uses content from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.Visit our archives at wikioftheday.com and subscribe to stay updated on new episodes.Follow us on Mastodon at @wikioftheday@masto.ai.Also check out Curmudgeon's Corner, a current events podcast.Until next time, I'm generative Danielle.

Potiphar's Wife: The Vatican's Secret and Child Sexual AbuseThe ‘cover-up' of child sexual abuse by the Catholic  Church has been occurring under the pontificate of six popes since 1922.  For 1500 years, the Catholic Church accepted that clergy who sexually  abused children deserved to be stripped of their status as priests and  then imprisoned. A series of papal and Council decrees from the twelfth  century required such priests to be dismissed from the priesthood, and  then handed over to the civil authorities for further punishment.That  all changed in 1922 when Pope Pius XI issued his decree Crimen  Sollicitationis that created a de facto ‘privilege of clergy' by  imposing the ‘secret of the Holy Office' on all information obtained  through the Church's canonical investigations. If the State did not know  about these crimes, then there would be no State trials, and the matter  could be treated as a purely canonical crime to be dealt with in secret  in the Church courts. Pope Pius XII continued the decree. Pope John  XXIII reissued it in 1962. Pope Paul VI in 1974 extended the reach of  ‘pontifical secrecy' to the allegation itself. Pope John Paul II  confirmed the application of pontifical secrecy in 2001, and in 2010,  Benedict XVI even extended it to allegations about priests sexually  abusing intellectually disabled adults. In 2010, Pope Benedict gave a  dispensation to pontifical secrecy to allow reporting to the police  where the local civil law required it, that is, just enough to keep  bishops out of jail. Most countries in the world do not have any such  reporting laws for the vast majority of complaints about the sexual  abuse of children. Pontifical secrecy, the cornerstone of the cover up  continues. The effect on the lives of children by the imposition of the  Church's Top Secret classification on clergy sex abuse allegations may  not have been so bad if canon law had a decent disciplinary system to  dismiss these priests. The 1983 Code of Canon Law imposed a five year  limitation period which virtually ensured there would be no canonical  trials. It required bishops to try to reform these priests before  putting them on trial. When they were on trial, the priest could plead  the Vatican ‘Catch 22' defence—he should not be dismissed because he  couldn't control himself. The Church claims that all of this has  changed. Very little has changed. It has fiddled around the edges of  pontifical secrecy and the disciplinary canons. The Church has been  moonwalking.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Christopher McLaughlin joins us from Glasgow, Scotland and is one of the people heading up the Cause for Tommy Burns, hoping that Tommy will eventually be declared a saint in the Catholic Church. Christopher is our guest on this episode and shares his experiences and knowledge about the quest for Tommy's sainthood that many are praying for. Tommy was a professional soccer player, which in Scotland and most of the world, is called football. Tommy was a footballer for the famous, and beloved, Celtic team in Glasgow from 1975 to 1989 and later coached and managed the team. Tommy died in May of 2008 at the young age of 51 of melanoma, a form of skin cancer. He left behind his wife and four children. Christopher has a wealth of knowledge about Tommy, his life, and his humble and deep devotion to God and the Catholic faith. Christopher shares some history of Catholicism in Scotland and how it is intertwined with Celtic football. Tommy was very pious and humbly practiced corporal works of mercy throughout his life. According to Christopher, the love for Tommy was very apparent at his funeral, which included 40 priests and an estimated 20,000+ people. Christopher describes the process of opening a Cause for Sainthood according to the Church's Canon Law. The first step involves the bishop of the diocese where Tommy passed away. The final step, which could be a few years to hundreds of years away, culminates in the Pope declaring the person a saint. There are many steps and an enormous amount of prayer, research, and verification prior to a Pope declaring someone a saint. Opening a Cause for Sainthood does not guarantee Canonization, it often does not.  Christopher, and his fellow researcher Philip Church, are the “petitioners” in this process (see sainthood link below). They are asking for anyone who knew Tommy or is praying for an intercession from Tommy to contact them at contact@tommyburns.org Information about the process of sainthood in the Catholic Church: Saints | USCCB #catholicsports, #tommyburns, #celticfootball

We welcome back Fr. Gerald Murray to discuss recent pronouncements from the Vatican about immigration, in light of canon law and the tradition of the Church.  Show Notes Letter of the Holy Father to the Bishops of the United States of America (10 February 2025) | Francis Vatican Thinks 'Charity' Means Championing Democrat Causes Catholic Charities: Insurrection As Charity » Maureen Mullarkey Pastor Doug Wilson — Christians and Immigration Trump Should End Medicaid for Illegal Immigrants This Lent, compare your life to a migrant's, pope says | USCCB iCatholic Mobile The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! "Let's Take A Closer Look" with Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J. | Full Series Playlist Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

The film Conclave has picked up a host of awards across all the major ceremonies so far, including at the Screen Actors Guild, the Golden Globes, and winning Best Picture at the BAFTAs. Adapted from the novel by Robert Harris, it also has eight nominations at the upcoming 2025 Academy Awards. Full of intrigue, the film has viewers wondering how true to life the process depicted on the big screen is. And, with Pope Francis hospitalised, amidst the award season, this has only heightened interest in Papal conclaves and the election process.  Dr Kurt Martens, Professor of Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, joins Damian Thompson to unpack the process. What really happens when a Pope dies? Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

The film Conclave has picked up a host of awards across all the major ceremonies so far, including at the Screen Actors Guild, the Golden Globes, and winning Best Picture at the BAFTAs. Adapted from the novel by Robert Harris, it also has eight nominations at the upcoming 2025 Academy Awards. Full of intrigue, the film has viewers wondering how true to life the process depicted on the big screen is. And, with Pope Francis hospitalised, amidst the award season, this has only heightened interest in Papal conclaves and the election process.  Dr Kurt Martens, Professor of Canon Law at the Catholic University of America, joins Damian Thompson to unpack the process. What really happens when a Pope dies? Produced by Patrick Gibbons.

Here is my homily from February 9, 2025, the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C. See the readings at usccb.org.

Fr. Gerald Murray is the Pastor of Holy Family Church in the Archdiocese of New York. He received his Doctorate in Canon Law from the Gregorian University in Rome in 1998, and he is one of the most well-respected Canon Lawyers in the church today. He also served in the U.S. Naval Reserve Chaplain Corps from 1994 to 2005.   In Today's Show   Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

 35 Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands.Sint lumbi vestri praecincti, et lucernae ardentes in manibus vestris,  36 And you yourselves like to men who wait for their lord, when he shall return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open to him immediately.et vos similes hominibus exspectantibus dominum suum quando revertatur a nuptiis : ut, cum venerit et pulsaverit, confestim aperiant ei.  37 Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh, shall find watching. Amen I say to you, that he will gird himself, and make them sit down to meat, and passing will minister unto them.Beati servi illi quos, cum venerit dominus, invenerit vigilantes : amen dico vobis, quod praecinget se, et faciet illos discumbere, et transiens ministrabit illis.  38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.Et si venerit in secunda vigilia, et si in tertia vigilia venerit, et ita invenerit, beati sunt servi illi.  39 But this know ye, that if the householder did know at what hour the thief would come, he would surely watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken open.Hoc autem scitote, quoniam si sciret paterfamilias, qua hora fur veniret, vigilaret utique, et non sineret perfodi domum suam.  40 Be you then also ready: for at what hour you think not, the Son of man will come.Et vos estote parati : quia qua hora non putatis, Filius hominis veniet. St Raymond, eminent minister of the sacrament of Penance, was a priest of the Order of St Dominic, celebrated for his virtues, his miracles and his writings of the Canon Law. He died A.D. 1275.

A bishop, a scholar, and a moral arbitrator, Burchard of Worms was a man of many roles, but it's his monumental work of church law, the Decretum, that may reveal folk beliefs about magic that persisted well into the eleventh century. This episode brings you the story of The Corrector and the folk magic of early medieval Europe. Researched, written, and produced by Corinne Wieben with original music by Purple Planet.Episode sourcesSupport the showEnchantedPodcast.netFacebook/enchantedpodcastInstagram/enchantedpodcastTumblr/enchantedpodcast

Dear Friends of TRADCAST: On account of a medical emergency in the family, we were not able to complete TRADCAST 039 in time for year's end. It will be published as soon as possible in January 2025. Today, instead, we will publish here the audio version of a lively debate about issues pertaining to Sedevacantism between two priests of the Society of St. Pius V (SSPV) and two representatives of the 'indult' (Ecclesia Dei) traditionalist position. The discussion places heavy emphasis on the 1983 Code of Canon Law and its controversial Canon 844 regarding the administration of the sacraments to non-Catholics outside the danger of death.  The participants are Bp. Clarence Kelly (SSPV), Fr. William Jenkins (SSPV), Fr. Brian Harrison (OS), and Count Neri Capponi. The moderator is Fr. John Perricone. The entire debate is available in video at YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVefD8Fwxj4 Please see the following blog post for more information on this discussion and a response to the argument made by Fr. Harrison that Pope Pius XII also permitted Eastern Orthodox to receive the sacraments (which is false): https://novusordowatch.org/2024/01/sspv-novus-ordo-debate-sedevacantism/ It is estimated that this discussion took place around 1995 and was probably held in New York, United States. Total run time: 2 hours43 minutes For more information, please go to https://novusordowatch.org/2024/01/sspv-novus-ordo-debate-sedevacantism/

Patrick answers a listener's question about attending Saturday vigil Mass to meet Sunday obligation. Canon Law 1248, subsection 1, states that the Mass must be after 4 PM. Any earlier time won't fulfill this requirement. Email – What’s the earliest I can go to Mass on Saturday for it to count as my Sunday obligation? (04:06) Patrick shares a Yahoo news story: “'Elon Musk has killed the bill': Tech billionaire flexes newfound political muscle” (07:32) Tim - I think we should be cautious about Elon Musk. If he turns bad, we will all fall with him. (19:53) Robert - How should a Christian view Elon Musk? It seems like he has devoted himself completely to material success. He doesn't live a Christian life. (33:38) Chinto – My favorite Christmas present memory is when my dad bought us a go cart. (37:38) Manuel – What parts of the bible are changed in the Jehovah’s Witness bible? (46:58)

What is a declaration of nullity, and how is it different from divorce? Can the Catholic church ever dissolve a marriage? What factors would render a marriage null? What does the process of annulment involve?In this episode, we look at the often-misunderstood process of annulment. Donate via PayPalSupport us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/References and further reading/listening/viewing:Matthew 19The Code of Canon Law, 1055 - 1165 Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, "Norms on the preparation of the process for the dissolution of the marriage bond in favour of the faith"Canon Law Made Easy:"What is the Pauline Privilege?""When is a 'Natural Marriage' a Valid Marriage?""Marriage and Annulment""Can a Catholic Ever Get Married in a Non-Catholic Church?""If a Catholic Marries a Non-Christian, How is it a Sacrament?""Catholics in Non-Sacramental Marriages"Ascension Presents, "The Truth About Annulments"Catholic Answers:"The Difference Between Sacramental and Natural Marriage""Why Does the Church Not See Adultery as Grounds for an Annulment?""Can Marriages Between Unbaptized People Be Dissolved By Divorce?""If I Married a Non-Baptized Person in a Civil Wedding, do I Need an Annulment to Remarry?""Why Can Valid Marriages Between Unbaptized People Be Dissolved?""Marriage and Consummation""Why The Church Cannot Marry the Impotent""What are Grounds for Annulment?"Donate via PayPalSupport us on Patreon!Contact the podcast: crashcoursecatholicism@gmail.com.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crashcoursecatholicism/

After a long hiatus, Fr. Harry talks with Fr. Anthony about how his community is recovering from the hurricanes, the joy of being a pilgrim in Athens, and a summary of the discussions of the meeting of Canonists he was there to attend. It concludes with a discussion about how the need to take even seemingly irrelevant canons (Jewish doctors!?) seriously. Enjoy the show!

By causing Christians to believe that the star on the Israel flag is the Star of David, they don't realize that it is the evilest Satanic symbol that is used to invoke the power of demons.    NEWS:  A critical undersea Internet cable connecting Finland and Germany was severed on the morning of November 18. […] The post  Is Trump the ANTI-CHRIST?  Shabbatai Tzvi, Messiah of 1666 called his religion “The holy religion of Edom”.  Edom, the Physical Manifestation of Satan on the Earth.  Vatican Canon Law and the Jewish Talmud, The same old master-slave relationship.    appeared first on Psychopath In Your Life.

He ran track in high school, competed in intramural sports, later taught himself golf, and coached youth league basketball and baseball, winning a regular season and a post-season title. In 2011 he was ordained to the Diaconate in the first class in the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas.  He has been a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus, and this year was awarded a Licentiate in Canon Law from St. Paul University in Ottawa, Ontario.  He is a Board member of Deacons Of Hope, a pro-life, non-profit ministry.

In continuation of our series on the Papacy, Justin Hibbard gives a brief snapshot of some of the greatest Popes in history. What common traits did these great Popes share; how did they balance spiritual, political, and administrative leadership; and how did their papacies change the world? Subscribe to Why Catholic? wherever you get your podcasts.Check out the Why Catholic Etsy shop (all proceeds support this podcast).Become a free subscriber or a patron of Why Catholic? and get the next episode and a discount code to the Why Catholic Etsy shop in your email inbox.Follow Why Catholic on Instagram.Subscribe to Why Catholic on YouTubeSHOW NOTES:* Battle of Lepanto - painting by Andries van Eertvelt* Episode 90 - The Hypostatic Union* The Tome of Leo (449)* Episode 111 - Papal Infallibility* Canons of the Council of Chalcedon (451)* Episode 104 - The Nuclear Football* Orthodoxy by GK Chesterton* Letters of Pope St. Gregory Great* Love and Responsibility by Karol Wojtyla* Dignitatis Humanae (1965)* Gaudium et spes (1965)* Humanae Vitae (1968)* Evangelii Nuntiandi (1975)* Video of Pope John Paul II's Election* Video Playlist of 1995 World Youth Day Mass in Manilla, Philippines* Video: 40 years ago, John Paul II's first visit to Poland that brought the collapse of communism by Rome Reports* The Cold War: A New History by John Lewis Gaddis* Video: Assassination attempt on Pope John Paul II* Video: Pope John Paul II Meets His Would-Be Assassin* Code of Canon Law (1983)* Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (1990)* Episode 63 - Not All Catholics are Roman Catholic* Catechism of the Catholic Church* Episode 105 - The Upside Down Kingdom Get full access to Why Catholic? at whycatholic.substack.com/subscribe

Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the wound of abortion. Fr. Mike emphasizes that all human life deserves protection, especially the unborn, but he also emphasizes the importance of God's mercy. He explains that those who have procured an abortion are excommunicated, subject to the conditions established by Canon Law. However, the excommunication does not limit the scope of God's mercy, but rather highlights the gravity of the sin. Fr. Mike concludes by highlighting that if abortion is a part of your story, you are encouraged to take the step towards confession and forgiveness, to be met with mercy and love and be welcomed home. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 2270-2275. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Fr. Gerald Murray is the Pastor of Holy Family Church in the Archdiocese of New York. He received his Doctorate in Canon Law from the Gregorian University in Rome in 1998, and he is one of the most well-respected Canon Lawyers in the church today. He also served in the U.S. Naval Reserve Chaplain Corps from 1994 to 2005.     In Today's Show     Visit the show page at thestationofthecross.com/askapriest to listen live, check out the weekly lineup, listen to podcasts of past episodes, watch live video, find show resources, sign up for our mailing list of upcoming shows, and submit your question for Father!

Bobby Maddex interviews Dr. Andrei Psarev, a professor of Russian Church History and Canon Law and the Director of Undergraduate Studies at Holy Trinity Orthodox Seminary, about his daily reflections on the history and theology of the Orthodox Church, now available on Substack: https://andreipsarev.substack.com.

In this segment from the Son Rise Morning Show on Sacred Heart Radio, Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. discusses Male Religious communities and the difference between Apostolic and Contemplative communities.Apostolic communities are characterized by their work of charity in the world. They are sent out to care for those who are suffering and witness Christ. The contemplative communities emphasize the need to pray for the world and growing in a deeper relationship with God through their prayer.“The religious state is a public and complete state of consecrated life….religious observe the three evangelical counsels of chastity, poverty, and obedience. They bind themselves to observe these by means of vows, which are either perpetual or temporary but renewed when they expire (can. 607.2). These vows are always public vows, i.e. recognized as such by the Church (can. 1192.1). This religious state requires fraternal life in community and also a degree of separation from the world in conformity with the character and purpose of the individual institute (can. 607.2 and 607.3).” Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life; See also Code of Canon Law, 607.2“The life consecrated through the profession of the evangelical counsels [chastity, poverty, and obedience] is a stable form of living by which the faithful, following Christ more closely under the action of the Holy Spirit, are totally dedicated to God who is loved most of all…” – Code of Canon Law, 573.1Notes:Learn more about religious life hereConference of Major Superiors of MenExplore contemplative men's communitiesClick to view Living as Missionary Discipleship ResourcesVocational Discernment ResourcesRead Ad Infinitum blog posts on Accompaniment and Mentorship Follow us:The Catholic Apostolate CenterThe Center's podcast websiteInstagramFacebookApple PodcastsSpotify Fr. Frank Donio, S.A.C. also appears on the podcast, On Mission, which is produced by the Catholic Apostolate Center and you can also listen to his weekly Sunday Gospel reflections. Follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X (Twitter), and YouTube to remain up-to-date on the latest Center resources.

Questions Covered: 01:42 – What does a day-in-the-life of Jimmy Akin look like? I know so many of us are in awe of your depth and breadth of knowledge. It would be interesting to see how you structure your day with learning etc. 06:40 – I have a few questions that I have had on my mind for some time now. It is said that Latin is especially efficacious for prayer and exorcisms because it is the official language of the church. My question is this, for an Eastern Rite Catholic, who would be under the authority of their church's head (although the Pope's authority is, of course, universal and preeminent) and have their own Codes of Canon Law, would the native language of that church be more efficacious or similar in efficacy to prayers in Latin? Or would this only apply to the ancient languages? E.g. Latin, Greek, Aramaic, Coptic, Hebrew, and possibly Church Slavonic and Arabic. 14:22 – What’s your thoughts about whether animals and our pets can be in heaven with us or not? 18:55 – Does the church condone organ donation? 20:28 – Also should we vote for a candidate who is for abortion, when there is no one who is prolife. Should we vote for the lesser of two evils? 21:51 – I have full confidence that you are knowledgeable about the “identity” issue. What would you offer in scripture and the catechism to someone who identified as a furry? 28:38 – Given the tragic shortage of priests, what would you recommend to someone seeking a spiritual director who is having a hard time finding one? 32:08 – I'd like your advice on what to tell my 9-year-old about Blessed Imelda Lambertini (the young girl who reportedly died of joy upon receiving the Eucharist). After hearing about Blessed Imelda my 9-year-old is scared that the Eucharist will kill her too. And for my own curiosity, do you know if this is a documented account or more of a pious legend? Thanks! 37:39 – The strongest challenge I ever heard from a Protestant about the Assumption is, “How can the Catholic Church dogmatically declare that the Assumption was ‘believed at all times by the Church’, when there is literally no evidence anywhere in the Bible, Church Father writings or, apocryphal writings of the first Century?” 43:05 – What separates the “New Atheists” from the old Atheists? 45:26 – If there are many other planets with life, then how would they be saved? Did Christ death and resurrection count for them also and if so, how would they know. Or did God save each planet with aliens differently? 48:14 – What are some of the best ways to practice becoming as humble as possible, like Our Lady? 50:13 – Is it possible for your guardian angel to not like you or something about you? For example, maybe your guardian angel doesn't like the same kind of music you listen to. I wonder if a guardian angel ever feels like they preferred getting someone else to guide. 52:38 – Who would win in a fight, the Incredible Hulk or felony tax evasion? Asking for a friend ️ 53:43 – Why was it necessary for the Church to make the immaculate conception and assumption into dogmas (vs leaving them as non-mandatory for belief teachings)? …

Questions Covered: 01:12 – Did fetal microchimerism have a part to play in Mary's assumption? 06:10 – There is a practice where people fast during lent from one thing (food, vice.) Some people say that when you pray Sunday evening prayer 1 on Saturday, it is now Sunday where you feast and you don't have to fast from your Lenten fast anymore. Is this a sound practice or should one only stop their Lenten fast on Sunday? 09:55 – Is it true that the ends never justify the means? It seems that this belief would prohibit things like war. A popular moral question is; If the nazis asked you where a Jewish family is hiding, isn't it best to lie? How else can you respond? I haven't heard you speak on this and I'm interested in your perspective 13:22 – Why do priests not get to marry? Doesn’t this lead some into sexual sin anyways when they harm children in the worst cases? God gave us a holy marriage between men and women for this purpose. Why? 19:14 – If the West believes in original sin, and the Eastern Orthodox believe in ancestral sin, where does that put Eastern Catholics? I spoke with one Eastern Catholic priest who said they affirm ancestral sin, but I thought in order to be Catholic you had to believe in original sin? 21:08 – Both are good, but is it better to know history or philosophy? Concerning Catholicism or life in general (your opinion). 23:15 – I have a question concerning canon 285.2 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law. It states: “Clerics are to avoid those things which, although not unbecoming, are nevertheless foreign to the clerical state.” Is the law thinking of any special area here? Could you give an example of something that is totally fine to do for a layperson but not for a priest? 31:09 – Do you like tooled leather? 32:12 – Can you explain Vicarious Satisfaction as taught by Aquinas vs. Penal Substitutionary Atonement and is Penal Substitution the foundation for salvation by Faith Alone? 36:52 – Kinda a silly question, but when Moses, Elijah, and other old testament characters “saw God,” did they see Jesus before He was sent from heaven and born unto the world through the Blessed Virgin Mary? Or did they actually see “God the Father?” 40:41 – You have previously critiqued the philosophical version of the Kalam argument because you believe God is capable of actualizing a universe with an infinite past.  Let’s take that for granted. It seems to me that an atheist cannot make such an appeal to support the possibility of an infinitely old universe. Therefore, could someone use the philosophical version of the Kalam as a sort of “internal critique” of the atheist worldview. One can say, “What you describe is impossible without divine omnipotence making it happen.” 44:39 – To what extent is the Catholic dogma of the Assumption of Mary a potential stumbling block to reunion with Eastern Orthodox churches?  I have heard that they believe something similar, called the Dormition of Mary, but I don’t know if the belief is uniform among all Eastern Orthodox churches, or if it’s exactly the same as the Assumption. 47:59 – Why did God not give us a mortal sin (or Grace) detector so we can know with certitude what we did was deadly or venial or simply a vice? 51:00 – What if a person had no faith all its life, just refused to believe and then gets dementia or alzheimers is there still hope for them to get to heaven 52:32 – Can you please contrast the passage from Luke 1:28 where the Angel Gabriel addresses Mary with the greeting “Hail, full of grace,” with the passage from Acts 6:8 (also authored by Luke) where Stephen is described as “full of grace.” …

A listener named Charles emails Father Dave with a question of faith.  “This weekend at our vigil Mass, the priest wasn't able to make it to Mass unexpectedly. What should we (the parishioners) have done? We have no deacon in our parish, and I was asked to lead a communion service. Was that proper?” Father Dave explains that in the Catholic Church there is a protocol called “Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest.” These protocols were developed by the Church because in many places in the world there aren't enough priests to cover all the churches and all the Catholics on any given Sunday.  ‘Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest' states that a bishop may appoint a person other than a priest to lead this celebration. LISTEN: Why Are There Multiple Eucharistic Prayers?  “Sunday celebrations in the absence of a priest are commonly called a ‘community service,'” Father Dave says.  “Typically, what this look like is Mass minus the Eucharistic Prayer, and [the service] could be led by a deacon, an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion or another lay person, depending on who the bishop appoints.  There could be a choir, readings, communion, and if there is a deacon, even a homily — because a deacon can properly preach a homily.” In order for Holy Communion to take place, there needs to be enough consecrated Hosts in the tabernacle to distribute to people.  Almost every parish has a fairly sufficient amount, and in places where these celebrations are a regular event, they prepare ahead for it. Father Dave notes that ideally most parishes would have a contingency plan in case the priest could not make Mass unexpectedly, but admits that he knows very few parishes that do. “So in Charles' case, it's much more likely that there wasn't a contingency plan. So could somebody read the readings and go to the tabernacle and distribute communion? Yes. There's nothing wrong with that, particularly in an emergency situation. Nobody gets in trouble. It's not against Canon Law. It's not invalid. It's not a sin. It's none of that. The Church is not looking to penalize people for having a desire to receive the Eucharist. Why are we having a three- year Eucharistic Revival? This is the goal. This is what we want. We want people to desire the Eucharist.” LISTEN: My Priest Cut Off Confession. Am I Still Absolved?  Father Dave points out that this kind of emergency situation that happened at Charles' vigil Mass highlights the need for more education and awareness for parishioners because, in the future, these types of situations are only going to increase. “So Charles,” Father Dave says, “I don't know exactly what you did. It was not wrong to do it even if it was not by the protocol of the ‘Sunday Celebrations in the Absence of a Priest.' Thanks for stepping up.”

St. Victor's Major Seminary was established by the Missionaries of Africa (White Fathers) in 1946 to train natives to minister to their own people in their native language and culture.  St. Victor's Seminary is in need of the following:1. Provision of Basic Books for seminarians (Breviary, Catechism of the Catholic Church, New Jerusalem Bible, Jerome Biblical Commentary, Code of the Canon Law, Vatican II Documents, The Book of Rite, etc.,) 2. Provision of Wi-fi for internet to enhance teaching and learning.3. Support to start a self-help or self-reliant project in the rearing of animals and fowls. This we hope will enable us to provide the protein needs of the seminarians.4. 5 Projectors for lectures and other academic programmes. 5. To establish a Computer Laboratory for seminarians (10 Computers, 2 Printers and I Photocopier)6. Course and references books for consultation by students and formators7. Bicycles for weekly apostolates for seminarians You can donate to this appeal by writing a check to "St. Patrick Catholic Parish" and putting 'Missionary Appeal' in the Memo line, or click this link to donate online (https://giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/saintpatrick) and select "Missionary Cooperative Appeal" from the Fund drop-down menu

We welcome back Fr. Gerald Murray of EWTN to discuss synodality, the role of the laity, and to examine the cases of Archbishop Viganò and Fr. Marko Rupnik.   Show Notes Two Perspectives on the Synod's New ‘Working Document' - The Catholic Thing Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith Press Release - 7/5/2024  Edward Feser | Blogspot BREAKING: Knights of Columbus to cover Rupnik art in DC and Connecticut – Catholic World Report The Love Song of M. Ivan Rupnik » Maureen Mullarkey The Station of the Cross Merchandise - Use Coupon Code 14STATIONS for 10% off | Catholic to the Max 25 Year Anniversary Celebration | The Station of the Cross Catholic Media Network Read Fr. McTeigue's Written Works! Listen to Fr. McTeigue's Preaching! | Herald of the Gospel Sermons Podcast on Spotify Visit Fr. McTeigue's Website | Herald of the Gospel Questions? Comments? Feedback? Ask Father!

A listener named Sara emails Father Dave a question of faith: “First of all, I have listened since 2006. I love you all. Now you may find this crazy but I have been thinking about becoming Catholic since then! I am concentrating on the Eucharist because I get completely overwhelmed by the rules. Is this a sin? I feel it keeps me from Jesus rather than closer. I am in RCIA (Rite of Catholic Initiation for Adults). I have a wonderful teacher. I probably would have come into the Church this past Easter but ran into an annulment problem.  So do you recommend me focusing on the Eucharist?” Father Dave says that the teaching of the Church recommends that all Catholics focus on the Eucharist. “The Second Vatican Council, building on the teaching of 2000 years that came before that, referred to the Eucharist as the summit and source of our faith.” The summit is the peak of the mountain that we are all climbing towards, Father Dave explains, but it is also the source of our journey to the top of the mountain. “The Eucharist is not only the top of the mountain, it's also the backpack filled with water and granola bars and what fuels us. It's the summit and source.” RELATED: Busted Halo's Guide to the Eucharistic Revival Father Dave acknowledges that there are a lot of “rules” to Catholicism that can seem overwhelming but makes the case that the rules are there because of the human condition and original sin. “It's not a defect of Christ himself or the Church. It's just that we're like Adam and Eve, we tend to choose the wrong thing just by design. And so those rules are there to help us keep on the straight and narrow so that we can be focused directly towards the summit and source of our faith — towards the Eucharist.” Most of the rules, Father Dave adds, are about how we live with one another. “On the subway, you can't have your boombox blaring. It's not because I don't want that person to experience the music, it's because all the other people on the subway may not want to listen to the same thing. So that's what almost all rules in any walk of life for humans are about. And I would say that's the case with the Church as well, that most of the things in the Catechism, most of the things in Canon Law are about how we interact with one another.” RELATED: A Beginner's Guide to Eucharistic Adoration Father Dave wonders if it is not necessarily all the rules that are overwhelming Sara from converting to Catholicism but just one or two rules that might be a sticking point for her. He encourages her to focus on the Eucharist, but also to lean on others that have converted that can be good sources of wisdom and information.  “So yes, as someone coming into the Church, focus primarily on the Eucharist. But like many things I think you'll hear in the Catholic Church, It's not either or.  It's not either the Eucharist or all the rules. It's you focus on the Eucharist, but we need the rules too. It's what we call ‘both and.' It's both of those.”

The ‘cover-up' of child sexual abuse by the Catholic Church has been occurring under the pontificate of six popes since 1922. For 1500 years, the Catholic Church accepted that clergy who sexually abused children deserved to be stripped of their status as priests and then imprisoned. A series of papal and Council decrees from the twelfth century required such priests to be dismissed from the priesthood, and then handed over to the civil authorities for further punishment.That all changed in 1922 when Pope Pius XI issued his decree Crimen Sollicitationis that created a de facto ‘privilege of clergy' by imposing the ‘secret of the Holy Office' on all information obtained through the Church's canonical investigations. If the State did not know about these crimes, then there would be no State trials, and the matter could be treated as a purely canonical crime to be dealt with in secret in the Church courts. Pope Pius XII continued the decree. Pope John XXIII reissued it in 1962. Pope Paul VI in 1974 extended the reach of ‘pontifical secrecy' to the allegation itself. Pope John Paul II confirmed the application of pontifical secrecy in 2001, and in 2010, Benedict XVI even extended it to allegations about priests sexually abusing intellectually disabled adults. In 2010, Pope Benedict gave a dispensation to pontifical secrecy to allow reporting to the police where the local civil law required it, that is, just enough to keep bishops out of jail. Most countries in the world do not have any such reporting laws for the vast majority of complaints about the sexual abuse of children. Pontifical secrecy, the cornerstone of the cover up continues. The effect on the lives of children by the imposition of the Church's Top Secret classification on clergy sex abuse allegations may not have been so bad if canon law had a decent disciplinary system to dismiss these priests. The 1983 Code of Canon Law imposed a five year limitation period which virtually ensured there would be no canonical trials. It required bishops to try to reform these priests before putting them on trial. When they were on trial, the priest could plead the Vatican ‘Catch 22' defence—he should not be dismissed because he couldn't control himself. The Church claims that all of this has changed. Very little has changed. It has fiddled around the edges of pontifical secrecy and the disciplinary canons. The Church has been moonwalking.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-opperman-report--1198501/support.

Together, with Fr. Mike, we examine the wound of abortion. Fr. Mike emphasizes that all human life deserves protection, especially the unborn, but he also emphasizes the importance of God's mercy. He explains that those who have procured an abortion are excommunicated, subject to the conditions established by Canon Law. However, the excommunication does not limit the scope of God's mercy, but rather highlights the gravity of the sin. Fr. Mike concludes by highlighting that if abortion is a part of your story, you are encouraged to take the step towards confession and forgiveness, to be met with mercy and love and be welcomed home. Today's readings are Catechism paragraphs 2270-2275. This episode has been found to be in conformity with the Catechism by the Institute on the Catechism, under the Subcommittee on the Catechism, USCCB. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/ciy Please note: The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.