Distinctly Catholic

The hard core Trads are not happy. Check out some of these comments at the blog Traditio.

In the days and weeks ahead, we will find out more about Pope Francis. We will find his writings, all of which will be translated into many languages very soon. We will listen to interviews with people who know him, who have worked with him. We will watch him as he begins to flesh out his own papacy. But, today, we should not rush past the amazing human aspect of yesterday’s events.

Over at Huffington Post, Michael Novak interviews George Weigel about his new book. Well, perhaps interview is not the right word in this context as there is more fawning than questioning in the text. But, is it not ironic that Weigel denounces solipsism in an article that is almost a perfect example of the phenomenon?

Those of us who are fans of Msgr Lorenzo Albacete are such because of commentaries like these two from Sussidiario. They demonstrate why he is the acknowledged chaplain of the Mystery Party here in the U.S. Church.

The first is on two pictures, the one of an emerging planet being born and the other of Pope Benedict's helicopter leaving the Vatican.

Last night, my friend Chris Matthews had me on his show “Hardball” to talk about the issues facing the Church at this moment of transition. The other guest was a woman named Mary Johnson, a former nun who has a new book chronicling her decision to leave her order, and – I have not read it but Chris told me about this – her sexual affairs first with a woman, then with a man.