Arroyo’s Interdict and Cupichean Conscience
Jesuit Father Anthony Spadaro, the controversial advisor to Pope Francis, has re-tweeted (how I dislike that verb, just in passing) a call by Anthony Annett, an assistant to the director of the International Monetary Fund, to ‘interdict’ EWTN until they get ‘rid of’ broadcast host and interviewer Raymond Arroyo. I’m not sure Mr. Annett knows what an interdict is, but I presume Father Spadaro does.
So this is what it has come to, an interdict? To shut people up and stop any criticism of the papacy and its policies? To have to go to confession for daring to watch Mother Angelica’s network?
To paraphrase Aristotle, an error of one inch, if not corrected, will soon lead one five miles off the mark, and even the Pope and his advisors, as Saint Paul taught, must also at times be corrected, firmly and without hesitation, which is often the best way to lead one to the truth. So onwards, Mr. Arroyo, with respect, in the truth, and with confidence.
On that note, Cardinal Cupich of Chicago has a rather curious idea of conscience, and himself could use some correction, with a call for clarification (which is a lot of c’s in one sentence). What one ‘feels’ subjectively in one’s conscience does not make that conscience ‘good’. In fact, as Pope John Paul II taught in Veritatis Splendor, it can make it quite bad, even if, in some rare cases, one may be in invincible ignorance, which is ignorance one cannot conquer on one’s own, and indeed of which one is not even aware. It would be difficult for one who has all the moral truth, not least of sex and marriage, at their very fingertips (easily accessible in this age of internet) to claim such a state of invincibility.
Further, even in invincible ignorance, or even extreme constraint, an intrinsically evil action such as adultery “does not cease to be an evil, a disorder in relation to the truth about the good“, and, whatever one’s subjective guilt, the act still harms the person and all those involved in the sin, the abandoned spouse, the children, future generations, to name but a few.
In light of my reflections on the Chair of Peter, some clarity on conscience is long overdue, and ignorance most definitely is not bliss.
A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop
As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→
Remembering Father Alphonse de Valk
(Today marks the sixth anniversary of the death of Father Alphonse de Valk, C.S.B., a faithful, courageous and indefatigable Basilian priest, pro-life-and-family apostle, and the founder of Catholic Insight magazine. Here is what we wrote those on his entering into eternity five years ago, as we continue to remember him in our prayers and thoughts)[…]Continue reading→
Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk
As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→
Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace
Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→
Payette’s Payout
I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→
Saint Stanislaus of Szczepanów
We celebrate Saint Stanislaus today (+ April 11, 1079), in light of this Easter Octave, a bishop and martyr who accepted the episcopacy only at the direct order of Pope Alexander II. He proved a wise and courageous leader of his flock, put to death by his own king, Boleslaus, for rebuking the monarch’s ‘immoral[…]Continue reading→
Weronika Krawczyk and Injustice in Poland
Catholic Action in Poland has issued a formal statement appealing to the President of the Republic of Poland to pardon Weronika Krawczyk—convicted for warning other women against an abortion-performing gynaecologist. Catholic Action (AK) emphasizes that no apology is owed to a doctor who has performed numerous abortions and proposed others; furthermore, the organization considers the[…]Continue reading→
Three Easter Musical Gems: Bach, Palestrina and Byrd
A very blessed and glorious Easter! Christus surrexit vere, alleluia! As we begin this Easter Octave with the great Solemnity of Easter, music to lift the soul would be one of Bach’s Easter cantatas, composed during his time at Leipzig in the early 1700’s, for the six Sundays of this festive season, leading up to[…]Continue reading→
Saint Isidore of Seville, the Internet and Industriousness
Today, April 4th, muted this year by Holy Saturday, is the commemoration of Saint Isidore of Seville (560-636) a bishop and doctor of the Church during a tumultuous age, when civilization was crumbling, coming apart at its very seams, which may sound sort of au courant. Then again, the form of this world has always[…]Continue reading→
An Ancient Homily for Holy Saturday
The time between Good Friday and Easter Sunday is one of waiting, in silence, as the world wonders – anticipates – what will happen, after the death of Christ. We re-live this time each year in the anamnesis of our liturgy, and in turn look forward to the glorious re-creation of all things at the[…]Continue reading→