The Rev. Billy Graham, the famous U.S. Evangelical preacher, who was immensely famous in the 20th century for his “Crusades” and acted as an advisor to many U.S. presidents, passed away Feb. 21 at the age of 99. Rev. Graham was known for going beyond the thought of many Evangelical Protestants with an openness to Catholicism, seeing the shared faith and the good works that came from the Catholic Church.
Editorials
Culture of Death
On Ash Wednesday a bloody rampage by a crazed young man, Nikolas Cruz, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas H.S. in Florida, killed 17 people and wounded 14 others. This is a tragedy and a massacre of innocents.
Rediscovering Paul VI
With the exception of Pope John Paul I, no pope since the Second Vatican Council is less known and less appreciated than Blessed Paul VI.
Humanae Vitae at 50
On July 25, 1968, Blessed Pope Paul VI released his long-awaited encyclical on birth control, “Of Human Life,” or as it is called in its Latin title, “Humanae Vitae.”
An Educated Clergy
This past week, a Plenary Session of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was held at the Vatican. This was a meeting of those priests, religious, and laity who work in this particular Vatican office with the Holy Father, Pope Francis. The role of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith is not to be “the Holy Inquisition” as it was called many years ago, but one of clarifying and defending the faith and the sanctity of the Sacraments.
Life is Non-Negotiable
Once again, the March for Life in Washington, D.C., has proven to our nation and the world that Americans value life, from conception to natural death. The Pro-Life March was bolstered by the video appearance of President Donald Trump, marking the first time that a U.S. President has spoken in person to the gathered crowds.
Lesson for Pols
This week, a venerable Catholic school in the borough of Queens – St. Pancras, Glendale – announced that it is being forced to close its doors at the end of the current semester. St. Pancras, which has been open for more than 100 years, has been a bedrock to the stability of Glendale over the years. Its contribution to the public good is immeasurable.
Stop Bickering!
This week saw the release of “Fire and Fury” by Michael Wolff, a book detailing the inner workings of President Donald Trump’s administration. Far from a flattering piece, its author and publisher have received “cease and desist” notices from the president’s lawyers.
Inner Reform
Each year, the Holy Father gives an end of the year address to his Vatican Curia and, each year, it has turned out to be a stinging, strident remonition to the cardinals and Vatican officials. This year was no different, with the pope reminding those that serve the Church in administrative capacities at the Vatican that careerism and bitterness have no place in the life of the Church. In striving for reform of the Vatican Curia, the Pope quoted a 19th century Belgian papal statesman named Frédéric-François-Xavier De Mérode: “Implementing reforms in Rome is like cleaning the Egyptian Sphinx with a toothbrush.”
Word Made Flesh
I saw a stable, low and very bare,
A little child in a manger.