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Where Peter Is

Tagged: Phil Lawler

Obedience / Pope Francis / Rigidity / Schism

The road to schism isn’t a one-way street

In the last several days, many Catholics have been discussing Pope Francis’s comments about a potential schism in the Church, specifically in reference to a movement (in the U.S. Church and elsewhere) that is highly critical of Francis and his teachings. In his comments, Francis described the causes of schism, suggesting that they occur when: Ideologies enter into doctrine and when doctrine slips into ideology that’s where there’s the possibility of a schism. There’s the...

Amoris Laetitia / Marriage / Pope Francis

The Space Between: A Criticism of Lawler’s Lost Shepherd

Philip Lawler, in his book Lost Sheperd, argues that Francis is creating confusion intentionally as a means to usher in radical changes that could not be carried out through the formal processes of the Church. By introducing question marks into bedrock doctrines of the Christian faith, the Pope is setting the stage for liberalizing change. If a Pope, therefore, wants to allow for women priests, he won’t be able to issue a formal declaration, given...

conspiracy theories / From Papa Francis / Pope Francis / Uncategorized / urban legends

Another Phil Lawler Bomb: The Confusion is Self-Promotional

Another day, another Phil Lawler bomb lobbed at Pope Francis. Another online article accusing the Holy Father of undermining orthodox Catholic teaching, causing confusion in the Church, and other alarmist sensationalism. Here we go… again. Oh yes, and another concluding paragraph self-promoting Lawler’s new book. A book that paints Francis as a bad pope. As I have stated on several occasions: “The self-promotion in Phil Lawler’s neverending criticism of the Holy Father? It is not...

Yes, Pope Francis is Catholic. So why are Professional Catholics still complaining?

Pope Francis / Uncategorized

Yes, Pope Francis is Catholic. So why are Professional Catholics still complaining?

Catholic musician and blogger Mark Mallett–a fellow Canadian–has compiled Pope Francis’s statements concerning moral and theological controversies in our time. In each of these statements Pope Francis presents orthodox Catholic teaching clearly. For instance, on the Rosary and devotion to the Blessed Mother, the Holy Father states: In the Rosary we turn to the Virgin Mary so that she may guide us to an ever closer union with her Son Jesus to bring us into...

Scalfari / Uncategorized

CHANNELLING MOTHER ANGELICA: Russian Orthodox Nun vs Catholic Apologists Critical of Pope Francis

Sister Vassa Larin is not a Catholic apologist. Sister Vassa is not even Catholic. Sister is a nun with the traditionalist Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia (ROCOR)–a group that prior to its recent reconciliation with the Moscow Patriarchate was often compared to the SSPX within the Catholic world. Sister also boasts a doctorate in Eastern theology, which makes her a Russian Orthodox theologian as well. Sister Vassa is the closest Eastern Orthodox equivalent to...

From Papa Francis / Uncategorized

Confusion – now about hell – is the hallmark of Phil Lawler

In an online article he published yesterday, Phil Lawler claims that Pope Francis is causing confusion over hell. Here is Lawler’s exact quote: Pope Francis cannot deny the existence of hell without directly contradicting the teaching of the Church. But he can create confusion, and he has done so once again. Did he deny, or at least question, the existence of hell? We don’t know. Actually, thanks to Google, we do know! A quick Google search...

Amoris Laetitia / Pope Francis / Uncategorized

Trust on a Cliff

In 1972, I spent 40 days in a hermitage a mile from Christ in the Desert Monastery, in Abiquiu, NM. (“Hermitage”? Please translate into standard modern English.) That is, I went camping with a friend for a couple of weeks, then alone for a few weeks more. I had no agenda for the summer, just an idea that felt like an invitation. Jesus says we should call his Father, the creator of the universe, Our...