Publication: Catholic Culture

Prominent Priest-Psychotherapist Accused Of Abusing Patients During Psychotherapy Consigned To Life Of Prayer

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Concluding canonical proceedings initiated in 2016, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has consigned Msgr. Tony Anatrella, a prominent priest-psychotherapist, to a life of prayer, the Archdiocese of Paris announced on January 17. The 81-year-old priest, who was accused of sexually abusing patients during psychotherapy, is barred from hearing confessions and celebrating Mass … Read more

A ‘Hostile Takeover’ of Catholicism

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Did you participate in the diocesan discussions leading up to next year’s Synod of Bishops? Neither did I. Were you invited to discussion groups and listening sessions? Neither was I. Oh, there were official announcements, no doubt, in diocesan newspapers and even parish bulletins. But like the vast majority of American Catholics, I paid them … Read more

Déjà vu All Over Again

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The caustic and always entertaining British novelist Evelyn Waugh observed: It is better to be narrow-minded than to have no mind, to hold limited and rigid principles than none at all. That is the danger which faces so many people today—to have no considered opinions on any subject, to put up with what is wasteful … Read more

How Long, O Lord? Praying About Pope Francis

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Before I make some pointed remarks about Pope Francis’ latest demonstration of inadequacy, let me make one thing perfectly clear—for it is important to enter into this discussion somewhat chastened. If we are Catholic but have not prayed regularly for Pope Francis, we have no right to complain. Do we think Satan does not specifically … Read more

Cardinal Gregory Cannot Duck the Pelosi-Communion Ban

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Canon lawyers disagree on whether Church law requires other bishops to honor Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone’s “Notification” barring Speaker Nancy Pelosi from Communion. But the logic of the matter is unavoidable. Other prelates—most notably Washington’s Cardinal Wilton Gregory—cannot ignore the challenge. The Washington archdiocese, in its first effort to avoid the question, issued an official statement: … Read more

Discord Among Catholic Bishops Is A Healthy Sign

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Up until recently, our bishops have apparently deemed it very important to avoid any public discord. But the façade of unity is disintegrating. And that, I suggest, is cause for celebration. There have always been disagreements among Catholic bishops. Intelligent men will always have different perspectives. Seeing things differently, they can discuss and debate and … Read more

Spy vs. Spy at the Vatican

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One Vatican office spying on another? It isn’t edifying. But read between the lines of the latest report emerging from the Vatican finance trial, and you can begin to see the outline of a larger scandal. The Pillar site, which continues to set the pace for coverage of the financial shenanigans, broke the story for … Read more

The Backward Logic of Traditionis Custodes

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Insofar as Traditionis Custodes provides any explanation for its open hostility toward Catholic traditionalists, that explanation lies in the claim that traditionalist communities have caused divisions within the Church. Therefore, Pope Francis suggests (and the Congregation for Divine Worship even more sternly insists) traditionalism must be suppressed. That logic is backward. It was not the … Read more

US Bishops’ Statement: An Invitation to Disobedience

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After voting almost unanimously to approve a long-awaited statement on the Eucharist yesterday, the members of the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) gave themselves a hearty round of applause. I wonder if they noticed that not many other Catholics are clapping. What was it that prompted the bishops’ applause? Were they saluting each other … Read more