Phyllis Zagano

Just Catholic: "The Two Popes" is feel-good fiction about the disparate personalities of Pope Francis and his predecessor. Now, a "three pope" book tries to pit Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah against Francis.

Just Catholic: Wannabe schismatics claim anyone who disagrees with them, beginning with Pope Francis, is a heretic. News flash: They are not "wannabe schismatics." They are already in schism.

Just Catholic: The Austrian who stole the statues of Our Lady of the Amazon and tossed them in the Tiber is on a U.S. speaking tour. There seems to be all-in-one packaging in the message of the thief and his gun-toting supporters: They deny climate change and decry married priests, women deacons, and the pope himself.

Just Catholic: Laws on clerical marriage and the ordination of women arise from the same misogynistic swamp. And each is what canon lawyers call a "merely ecclesiastical law."

Just Catholic: The Amazon synod has no voting women. It was not always like this. Years ago, the abilities, intellects and legal authority of women were respected.

Just Catholic: For the developed world's pundits and politicians, the discussion is not about people who are poor. It's about themselves. As our collapsing world writhes in pain, they break out in Twitter wars.

Just Catholic: The situation on the U.S. southern borders is disgraceful. In Texas alone, some 16,000 persons jam detention centers, hoping for asylum. They came in hope. They may be sent back. What is going on?

Just Catholic: What deacons do not do is buy their way up the ladder, for there is none to climb. Deacons are ministers. For the most part, diocesan priests are wholly dependent on their bishops, who may in turn be indebted to their metropolitan archbishops, who may in turn be indebted to the nuncio, and so it goes.

Just Catholic: You may consult your notes regarding your personal examination of ancient liturgies, historical documents, epigraphical evidence, frescos, mosaics, and early literary descriptions of ministry by women.

Just Catholic: Yes, women — and men — can receive communion at any Mass, but the distance between the people of God and the altar is exponentially and symbolically increased when tens or hundreds of bishops, priests and deacons form a virtual armed guard, with or without torches.

Just Catholic: The Holy Father resumed the Lenten theme of corruption just a few days ago, calling it a "plague," but when there are thousands of bishops, chances are that every day something will happen someplace to tar the story and obfuscate the Good News.

Just Catholic: German Cardinal Gerhard Müller perhaps overlooks these points in the very Catechism of the Catholic Church he wields against Pope Francis: 1) only the priesthood and episcopate participate in the priesthood of Christ; and 2) the divine image is present in every person.

Just Catholic: Historical documents — canons, liturgical texts, and other writings — speak freely and regularly about women deacons, not priests, "ordained" or "blessed." Facts are facts.

Just Catholic: Media help convince us the sky is falling. What once was a slow drip of bad stories, now is a torrent washing away all other church news. And that is the problem. There is no other news.

Just Catholic: There are dioceses all over the world without bishops. And there are many competent, experienced churchwomen who could easily run them.

Just Catholic: The current kerfuffle about laywomen voting at the Synod of Bishops both gives evidence to and deflects the real discussion. 

Just Catholic: As the church recoils at sex abuse, bishops will soon gather in Rome to talk about young people. But, like water dripping on a stone, the same story is wearing people's patience thin.

Just Catholic: Pennsylvania is bad enough. What if the other 49 shoes drop? Will other U.S. attorneys general follow Pennsylvania's lead? Will they launch investigations? Will they rid of us these troublesome priests … and bishops?

Just Catholic: Fearing a bishop's power, no one wants to say anything. And it's not just clerics whose cries are muffled. It's lay employees and religious sisters who need their jobs.

Just Catholic: Frightened, starving, poor people walk, they swim, they ride the seas in all sorts of vessels for a chance at freedom. And this is the pope's fault?