New Oxford Notes: May 2014
False Mercy & the Integrity of Marriage
Cardinal Burke, the Church's foremost expert on annulment, said the process is "essentially connected with the doctrinal truth" of the Church, and changes should be considered with great care.
READ MORE ON THIS NOTE.As the Tables Turn
The shift in the Congregation for Bishops could signal a coming sea change in the type of bishops and priests who are tapped to head American dioceses over the next decade.
READ MORE ON THIS NOTE.A Slow-Motion Implosion
The recent history of the Anglican Communion shows that shedding virtually all of its distinctively Christian moral teachings in order to achieve "relevance" has disastrous results.
READ MORE ON THIS NOTE.How Effective Is the "Francis Effect"?
The alleged "Francis effect" on church attendance appears to be more wishful thinking than actual fact, but the Church's financial figures have experienced a boost.
READ MORE ON THIS NOTE.You May Also Enjoy
The interim report of the Synod on the Family shone a light on reformers who seem bent on transforming the Church into a replica of the Anglican Communion.
"Every consonance or harmony, every concord, every friendship and union," Maritain writes, "proceeds from the divine beauty…which gathers all things together and calls them to itself."
San Francisco Catholic Charities will continue to allow same-sex parents to adopt children, but they will refer them to another agency.