The Moynihan Letters

    Letter #101, 2022, Thurs, Aug 18: Spain     There is a proposal in Spain to pass a law this fall that would close a Catholic Benedictine monastery and remove the largest cross in the country — and perhaps the world — which is located on the monastery property (see picture and story below — the article [...]

    "Major hospitals and liberal states are making it possible for minor children to choose to have hormone therapy and other interventions to change their sex without their parents consent, or even knowledge! If you aren't morally panicked by this, you ought to be ashamed of yourself." —American Orthodox writer Rod Dreher, 55, author of the very important [...]

Maryknoll Father Vincent R. Capodanno, a Navy chaplain who was killed while serving with the Marines in Vietnam, is pictured ministering in the field in an undated photo. (CNS photo/courtesy Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers)     Letter #99, 2022, Tuesday, August 16: Fallen Chaplain     This letter concerns the sanctity of a U.S. Navy chaplain who [...]

    “'Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb' (Lk 1:42). These words, full of faith and joy and wonder, have become part of the 'Hail Mary.' Every time we recite this prayer, so beautiful and familiar, we do as Elizabeth did: we greet Mary and we bless her, because she brings [...]

    Letter #96, 2022, Friday, August 5: Francis     Vatican News, which is an official agency of the Vatican (preparing news reports every day on Vatican affairs), on July 30 published a transcription of the press conference Pope Francis, 85, gave on his flight back to Rome from Canada.     First, a few general observations:     1) It seems [...]

    Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, 81, has issued a comment on the Pope's recent trip to Canada, and on certain controversies that emerged during the trip (text below).     The controversies were mainly on two points:     (1) The Pope's apology for the abuse said to have been committed by Catholic missionaries and teachers of many Indian children [...]

    "I am of the opinion, to be sure, that the old rite should be granted much more generously to all those who desire it. It’s impossible to see what could be dangerous or unacceptable about that. A community is calling its very being into question when it suddenly declares that what until now was its holiest and highest [...]

    On the Work of God ("Opus Dei")     "Therefore, the Prelate shall not be honoured with the episcopal order." —Article #4 of the recent (dated July 14, two weeks ago, but released July 22, five days ago)) letter from Pope Francis entitled "Ad charisma tuendum" [literally, "For the charisma safeguarding," so, "For the safeguarding of the [...]

Photo Credit: Christian Icon Store     An image of the icon of Our Lady of Kazan, known popularly in Russia as "the protection of Russia." July 21 (yesterday) was the Feast Day of Our Lady of Kazan, commemorating the finding of the icon in 1579 in Kazan.     A reader just wrote to me: "Robert... [...]

    "The universal Church lives in and of the particular Churches, just as the particular Churches live and flourish in and from the universal Church. If they find themselves separated from the entire ecclesial body, they weaken, rot and die." —Pope Francis, from his "Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the Pilgrim People of God [...]