Benedict’s Intervention
In a remarkable turn of events, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI – former cardinal Josef Ratzinger – has just released a reflection on the current sex-abuse crisis in the Church, indeed in the world. The 6000 word article – originally destined for publication in a journal for Bavarian priests – analyses the source of the widespread misunderstanding and misuse of sexuality, the deformation of that great gift of God – corruptio optimi pessima – which has now as the worm turns so corrupted our world: The causes are many: the Nietzschean ‘death of God’, the unhinging of our moral life from any objective criteria, the hedonistic sexual revolution of the sixties, the loss of Faith and a sense of the eternal, and a reduction of the Church to a pragmatic entity that we might shape at will.
Homosexuality, pornography, paedophilia are manifestations – of various degrees of gravity – of the self-centred dissociation of sex from its original and immutable purpose, for unity and procreation within a faithful and fruitful marriage.
As Carl Olson puts it, Benedict’s piece is both insightful, but also incomplete (as any such brief analysis must be). But it is telling that the former Pope felt in his conscience – after revealing his intent to Pope Francis – that he had to speak out in some way, that perhaps the recent response of the Vatican was not quite enough, or needed clarification. There are deeper issues at play, powers and principalities, as Benedict alludes, the Devil prowling around seeking to devour souls. This is not an earthly battle, but a heavenly, even apocalyptic, one, and, we as Catholics must stand firm and united.
As the former Pope puts it toward the end:
One of the great and essential tasks of our evangelization is, as far as we can, to establish habitats of Faith and, above all, to find and recognize them…
An exhortation that goes back to his 1985 interview in The Ratzinger Report, upon which Carl Sundell has so providentially just written, wherein the then-Prefect of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith predicted that the Church in the future would be smaller, more scattered – persecuted, perhaps – but stronger for all of that, like sparks shining amongst the ruins and stubble of a post-Christian dystopia.
So keep the Faith, dear reader, along with hope and charity, which is keeping everything together, as the form of this world passes away.
Carney’s Amoral Majority
After five defections – euphemistically described as ‘crossing the floor’ – and three by-elections, Mark Carney and his Liberals how have their coveted majority. One wonders what bowls of pottage were offered in back-room deals. In the archaic monarchical system that is the Dominion of Canada, this majority allows the newly-minted Prime Minister to rule[…]Continue reading→
Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress
This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→
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→
A Tale of Two Benedicts
A grace-filled Holy Week to all our readers! As we await and prepare for the Resurrection about to dawn upon us, we might keep in mind two Benedicts: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, requiescat in pace, elected on this day in 2005; and today’s commemoration of the mystic pilgrim, Benedict Joseph Labre, who died on this[…]Continue reading→
My Name is Bernadette
April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]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→
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam and Suffering Joyfully
Saint Lydwina of Schiedam (1380 – 1433) was one of the countless and glorious ‘victim souls’ in the history of the Church, those whose lives are filled with suffering, often of an unimaginable intensity, but who suffer joyfully. She was a fifteen-year old Dutch girl, out skating one day, when she fell and broke one[…]Continue reading→
The Glorious Martyrdoms of Martin and Maximus
As we enter into Eastertide, we recall on this 13th of April Pope Saint Martin I (+655), one of the noblest, if most tragic, of the successors of Saint Peter. Born in Umbria, Italy, he was of noble lineage, with great intelligence combined with charity and love of the poor and the Church. While still[…]Continue reading→
Canonizing Sister Faustina and Divine Mercy
HOMILY OF THE HOLY FATHER MASS IN ST PETER’S SQUARE FOR THE CANONIZATION OF SR MARY FAUSTINA KOWALSKA Sunday, 30 April 2000 1. “Confitemini Domino quoniam bonus, quoniam in saeculum misericordia eius”; “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever” (Ps 118: 1). So the Church sings on the Octave of[…]Continue reading→