The Narthex
Priest Holes
A Chicago priest must hide from Cardinal Cupich?
By Richard DellOrfano | October 10th 2018 9:07 PMDuring the persecution of Catholics in Elizabethan England, Jesuit priests pretending to be family relatives or tutors hid in specially constructed ‘priest holes’ to avoid royal prosecutors. Surprise inspections and raids of family homes were not uncommon and if a priest was found, he would face torture and execution. Today,…
READ FULL BLOG POSTWithholding Tithes
Alongside prayer, money is our weapon
By Richard DellOrfano | October 5th 2018 5:27 PMLegatus, a group of Catholic business leaders, announced it is withholding an $850,000 tithe to the Vatican until it gets adequate answers to questions raised by financial and sex-abuse scandals in the Church. Without stating as much, the group is acknowledging the presence of present-day "temple prostitutes" and is acting toward…
READ FULL BLOG POSTLaity Rising
Group will help cardinals learn transparency
By Barbara Rose | October 4th 2018 5:55 PMMany a cardinal and bishop has praised lay involvement in the Church. One wonders if involvement by ex-FBI agents is what some didn't have in mind? A group of American laymen called Better Church Governance (BCG) is launching a new initiative to assess cardinals’ records on combatting abuse and corruption,…
READ FULL BLOG POSTBishops, Done at Age 75
Adjusting to a decadent milieu
By Barbara Rose | September 28th 2018 3:52 PMThe de facto split in the Church's hierarchy -- between orthodox and heterodox bishops, or traditional and liberal bishops -- manifests itself even in administrative details such as the bishops' retirement. The current Church-wide system of bishops automatically tendering their resignations at age 75 but not actually retiring until the…
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