"The world can and must return to God: this is a necessity dictated by the divine order that the Creator has imprinted on creation. It must return to God, because only where Christ reigns can there by true justice and true peace." —Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, in a June 21 interview conducted by American political [...]
In 2022, the many crises facing the Church and world — from confusion regarding Church doctrine to the conflict in Ukraine — seem to be intensifying. In response, Church leaders are pointing to some “hard truths” By Robert Moynihan, Ph.D. “What we are seeing [in Ukraine] is the brutality and ferocity with which this war [...]
Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, 67, an advisor to the Russian government after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and an advisor to the Vatican in recent years, has just published a piece in Tikkun magazine which he calls the present war in Ukraine "the culmination of a 30-year project of the American neoconservative movement." Full text [...]
Letter #79, 2022, Thursday, June 30: Again, World War III... Today marks the end of the first half of 2022. I begin with a couple of "news notes," then return to sending out articles and essays I find of interest, as I announced in the last two emails ago, in helping to create a kind [...]
St. Irenaeus of Lyons (c. 140 to 202 A.D.) depicted in stained glass in St. Irenaeus Church in Lyons, France (link). He has been declared the Patron Saint of Church unity Letter #78, 2022, Tuesday, June 28: World War III Today is the feast day of St. Irenaeus of Lyons. Five months ago, [...]
British scholar Anatol Lieven, 61, in a photo from 10 years ago at the Chatham House event "A New Era in Maritime Security?: Risks, rules and responsibilities," held in October 22-23, 2012, in London. Anatol Lieven is a British author, journalist, and policy analyst best known for his expertise on the Taliban of Afghanistan. He is currently [...]
"Restorationism has come to gag the Council [Pope Francis referring to the Second Vatican Council, 1962-1965]. The number of groups of 'restorers' – for example, in the United States there are many – is significant." —Pope Francis, in a May 19 conversation in Rome with Jesuit magazine editors from a number of countries. The full [...]
"Notice that this phenomenon of abstract ideas about the human condition is ancient. It characterized, for example, decadent scholasticism, a theology of pure ideas, totally distant from the reality of salvation, which is the encounter with Jesus Christ. That is why a cultural magazine must work on reality, which is always superior to the idea. [...]
"One wonders whether the transfer of Metropolitan Hilarion to Budapest is related in any way to the position taken by Patriarch Kirill on Ukraine. Aside from advocating peace and help for refugees, Metropolitan Hilarion has been relatively quiet on the subject of Ukraine. He has not echoed the more controversial statements made by the Patriarch." [...]
Pope Francis greets cardinals during the Mass marking the closing of the Year of Faith in St. Peter’s Square on November 24, 2013, the Solemnity of Christ the King. Letter #73, 2022, Thursday, June 9: Endings In Rome in recent days, there is much talk about "August 27" and "August 28" -- and on [...]
