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Old Mass or New, Does It Matter?

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Father Joe

I read with interest the article by Gregory DiPippo about Brian Holdsworth’s video on the Church’s liturgies. A position is critiqued that argues that it does not matter which liturgical form is followed, either ordinary (reformed) or extraordinary (TLM). But in all honesty, I know of no learned believers who hold such a position. Note that the question here is not whether either liturgy (particularly the reformed ritual) is valid, licit, or spiritually effective. Catholics in good standing hold that the Mass in either form is a re-presentation of the sacrifice of Calvary, makes Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament, participates in the marriage banquet of heaven, and is an oblation for propitiation or for the satisfaction of sin. Either form constitutes Catholic worship, although one form or the other (and even how it is conducted) impacts upon what is communicated as well as to aesthetic tastes. The tension is real because both sides in the debate feel it does matter which form is followed, at least to them.

As a priest who is familiar with the older ritual, but has always said the reformed liturgy, my preference is for the somewhat streamlined liturgy of Paul VI. However, I can lament the reduction of certain beautiful prayers, especially from the revised offertory. Having admitted this, I believe in the freedom acknowledged by the late Pope Benedict XVI in granting liberty for priests and communities to celebrate the TLM. The two forms side by side might provide for deeper insight into any future reform. Indeed, looking back, it is likely that such a strategy might have borne better fruit than the reductionist intervention imposed after the council. While what is done is done, we can pursue a more gradual organic development of the Mass in the days to come. I suspect something of the blueprint in the English-speaking world might be the providential inclusion of the Anglican returnees in their three Personal Ordinariates. Their missal savors tradition, sacred worship-language, and a profound respect for the Roman Canon.

Why does a sizable remnant prefer the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) or Mass of Pius V? Advocates cite its perceived reverence or sense of mystery (especially with chants, Latin and sacred silence), historical continuity, and theological clarity. The concise rubrics give order to a worship that highlights the transcendent.

Those who prefer the Novus Ordo (Ordinary Form) or the Mass of Paul VI list the following: more complete biblical selections, renewed emphasis given to the homily, the restored intercessions or bidding prayers, clearer emphasis on community participation, an understandable vernacular, and an effort to connect with modern believers.

More than just subjective, the differences between the liturgies are real and objective, However, are they worth alienating whole groups in the Church? Traditional believers who argue that the reformed or “new” Mass is dangerous and refuse to attend are not being helpful and probably had a part to play in the renewed suppression of the TLM. Those who attend the reformed liturgy are also guilty of blaspheming the Holy Spirit by maligning an ancient Mass that formed and enriched the many saints.

The article sides with the advocates for the TLM and views the reformed liturgy as an orphaned child, belonging not to Vatican II and only vaguely to the Church’s patrimony. Pope Paul VI is faulted for placing his stamp of approval upon it. The author of the articles writes, “If we understand this, we can see why it is possible to question and even reject the modern rites without being disloyal to the Council.” Councils aside, popes view themselves as the Roman Rite. The late Pope Francis thought so for sure. Priests of the ancient Church imitated the papal liturgy and made it their own. If this is the case, can we really claim loyalty and reject outright the rite of the last six popes? We may each firmly believe we are right, but regardless of this, how do we move forward? I would stop worrying about the extremist fanatics and ponder the needs of the good people in the pews. If they love and feel enriched by the old Mass, then let them have it. If people prefer the new, and the celebration is reverent and sacred, then let them have their worship. Neither are second-class or bad Catholics.

We can discuss and debate the elements of liturgy. We can judge one as superior to another, or at least better in-tuned to our spiritual character. There are many rites of Mass within Catholicism. The Roman Rite is currently divided between the Traditional Latin Mass, the Novus Ordo, and (to a lesser extent) that of the Personal Ordinariate (former Anglicans). All liturgy should be reverent, giving emphasis to the sacred and focus upon the Almighty. Accidentals do matter. But the substance should not be eclipsed. There is a bottom line but all liturgies are not the same. Many today judge the Traditional Latin Mass by beautiful Gregorian chants, mysterious Latin which is the language of the Church, organized ritual and meaningful sacramentals, etc. But in days of old, there were no microphones on altars, priest often rushed through the prayers at machine-gun speed (especially on weekdays), low Masses lacked music or it was poorly done, homilies were skipped, and we simply said our rosaries or personal prayers during Mass. People grew spiritually but there was sometimes a disconnect. It was hoped that the Novus Ordo would bridge this, but problems remain and may have grown worse. Many today are quick to judge the Novus Ordo, not by reverent renderings, but by clown and puppet shows or with liturgical dancers or whatever. But these are the crazy aberrations.

My ministry is about the forgiveness of sins and helping people to get into heaven. That is really what the Church should focus upon. The Mass and the Eucharistic Christ are essential. Without the Mass, we will spiritually starve. Without the Mass, we cannot render the worship that Almighty God demands. If I were to reject a form of the Mass authorized by the Church and her popes, then my ministry would end and my flock would suffer spiritual starvation. A priest cannot reject a form of the liturgy that he is morally committed to offer. This being the case, how can any of the flock reject that Mass? I am only a poor simple parish priest in the trenches. I will leave it to better minds to ponder the important accidentals of Catholic liturgy. Meanwhile, I will daily approach the altar, knowing that I am a sharer in the Lord’s priesthood, and with the epiclesis and words of consecration, transform bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ.

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Have You Accepted Jesus as Your Personal Lord & Savior?

Posted on December 6, 2025 by Father Joe

My evangelical friends delight in distributing pamphlets that urge all they meet to make “a saving faith profession in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.” This usually comes along with a few essential questions posed to Catholics about their state of faith. The believer might answer that he is a baptized Catholic who partakes of the sacraments. Frequently this response is rebuffed because the non-Catholic questioner has little or no place in his faith system for sacraments. A follow-up query is, “If you were to die right now, where would you expect to spend eternity?” Learned Catholics might say “purgatory,” an answer sure to set the evangelical off because he already presumes Catholics are destined for hell and he can allow for no purification after death or prayer for the dead. His faith ignores the history or tradition of faith and any escape from stark individualism. His notion of “church” is one of fellowship but not of sanctification.

The heart of the Church are the sacraments instituted by Christ. These divine mysteries have undergone development but in one form or another were celebrated from the earliest days of the new dispensation. Indeed, the Mass is a command performance given to us by the Lord. The redemptive Cross and paschal mystery of Christ is remembered and made present. We find ourselves at the sacred oblation of Calvary where the Lord Jesus is substantially present and “really” active for our sake. He is the one high priest and the saving victim. Baptism as the gateway to the sacraments stems from the Lord’s demand to his apostles at the Great Commission.

Apologetics arguably would have the informed Catholic immediately assault the simplistic assumptions of the non-Catholic. Indeed, the fundamentalist missionary at this point often fully unveils his anti-Catholic posture. But given poor catechesis and lackluster devotion, most Catholics prove lacking in making any kind of suitable reply. Some will fall prey to the traps laid before them and accept the hollow and bigoted negative assessments of their holy faith. Those that will try to argue often run out of steam. They find themselves on the offensive but only armored with a faith based upon authority and not directly upon the truths of Scripture and Catechism.

As I said, the gullible might allow their faith to be errantly taught to them from a source hostile and bigoted to Roman Catholic. False teachings emerged either from outright ignorance or deception. I would urge those with a superficial faith-understanding not to engage such outreach ministers. Those trained to recruit Catholics are often given a series of religion questions to undermine the faith of those targeted. They have memorized biblical proof texts. Sadly, biblical quotes are taken out of context and are often misinterpreted. We must not relinquish the parameters of the discussion. Ideally, we should have the same stamina and desire to make converts as our challenger. How should we proceed in such situations if one is a knowledgeable Catholic?

First, realize that you and the fundamentalist speak a very different faith language. Do not surrender the upper ground. This is how I respond at the very top of the conversation: “Yes, I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior, not just personally but corporately within the context of the Church that Christ directly founded upon his rock Peter and given to the apostles.” Second, if they should ask about our eternal destiny, make it clear, “Trusting in Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, I have every reason to HOPE for a share in eternal life with God in heaven.” Remember, even should we pass through purgatory, all the poor souls are destined for paradise.

Third, if they should emphasize the need for a verbal faith profession, explain that you affirm Christ and your belief in the Mass and in a weekly creedal profession. If they debate this, I would explain that “once saved, always saved” has been proven repeatedly to be false. Even Protestant ministers who claimed “Jesus” have fallen and committed the most devastating sins. While the faith of a few might have been counterfeit, we take them for their word that they believe in Jesus and his saving works. But real faith can die. One must remain steadfast in faith.

Fourth, I would ask the would-be missionary a question, “what is faith?” It is amazing how many people stumble on this matter. Faith is not magic. Too many regard it as did Martin Luther, simply as a juridical imputation. The argument is that we remain sinners, but that Jesus stands between us and God the Father. When the Father looks upon us, he only sees his Son and gives us a share in his Son’s reward. But Jesus speaks in the Bible of being born again— that repentance and conversion must be effective and genuine— that we must be changed. We must be holy as God is holy. A saving faith in Christ is transformative. We can still stumble but baptism has configured us to Christ. The sacrament (water baptism in the name of the Trinity) is essential. We are incorporated into the mystical body of Christ and into the family of faith. This is a royal family, and we enter the divine kingdom. Christ is King and Mary is our Queen Mother. We become adopted sons and daughters to the Father, children of Mary and kin to Christ. Sin is washed away, original and personal. We are granted sanctifying grace. Our Lord gives us the sacrament of penance so that we as sinners (who believe in Jesus) might become saints. The Bible makes the dynamics of faith quite clear. I would tell the missionary who targets Catholics, “We are saved as members of a new People of God, the Church. This personal and communal faith must be realized in loving obedience.” The two-fold commandment of love toward God and neighbor comes from the mouth of Jesus. The commandments given the first people called by God have not lost their binding force. We must realize or manifest a saving faith through works of charity. We cannot save ourselves. Works have value because “greater is he who lives in me than he who lives in the world.” If Christ is alive in us, then his works will always have saving or meritorious value. We must be transformed into the likeness of Christ. This is made possible by sanctifying grace. We are saved, not by faith alone but by grace alone.

Faith in the Lord is everything. There is no such thing as a part time Christian. Ours is a jealous God. The posture of the creature to the Creator is one of humble submission and dependence. We must surrender ourselves to him and to his service. Prayer and the sacred liturgy allow us to join the angels of heaven in their celestial praise of God as Holy, Holy, Holy.

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Where is the Justice?

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Father Joe

Maybe I am handicapped by chronic cynicism? But I am often wary of those who criticize others about how they understand justice when their own appreciation would likely not muster close inspection. The word “justice” like “love” and “rights” has been hackneyed in every possible way, as well as assumed into the ranting politics of left, right and all stances in-between. The Black Lives movement clamors for justice against racism and power. Radical feminists define justice as liberation, not only from males but from their own biology and fertility. Militant Zionists demand a justice for past Jewish martyrs with a retributive justice hard to distinguish from revenge. Marxists demand a one-sided variation of justice reminiscent of Robin Hood, where the people “rise up” to steal from the rich (the bourgeoisie) and give to the poor workers (the proletariat). [In practice a party dictator takes power and all bets about justice are off the table.] While American citizens can rightly demand border security, what becomes of justice without sufficient compassion or mercy, particularly when the poor and the persecuted are lumped with criminals and the gangs from drug cartels? Can a society justly take the lives of the guilty in capital punishment when it wrongly strips the innocent unborn of any right to life? [The late Pope John Paul II said “no,” that any jurisdiction to deprive another of life under the banner of justice is forfeited in a culture of death.]

It is hard for a civilization to appreciate the cardinal virtue of justice when it is saturated with a parade of vices. While quick to judge, many people literally do not know what it means to be good or what constitutes the “right thing.” I suspect that is why we see the vast multiplication of surveillance cameras. Increasing numbers of people feel it is okay to steal, so long as they are not caught. Intimidation has replaced the virtues.

What do we as human beings have coming to us and what is “due” or owed to others? This varies from person to person. Business and general exchange of services relates to commutative justice. The employer should pay his employee an adequate wage. The employee needs to be diligent in providing serves or goods for which he or she is remunerated. Distributive justice is directed toward our relationship with a community. We all have equal rights to the same freedoms and general opportunities. But we do not all have the same resources, talents or obligations. This form of justice respects proportionality. Each person in a society does his or her part for the whole. Finally, there is what we call social justice. Here we often find a conflict between legal definitions and what we regard as just according to both divine positive law and natural law.

Turning to the Church, we need to cease mimicking the polarity that we find in partisan civil politics. Otherwise, we violate the peace of Christ that we celebrate at the Eucharist. This peace is focused upon our unity in Jesus Christ. How can we possibly appeal to those outside the Church for either evangelization or for social justice while our own believers are at each other’s throats in divergence from one another. We should not compromise the Gospel of Life by making too little of abortion or making too much of capital punishment. There need be no conflict about preserving secure borders and in proportional justice to illegals, distinguishing between desperate families who love the promise of America and the criminal invaders who should be expelled or punished. Neither side should use the justice system to attack political enemies. All should demonstrate a religious respect for the Holy Father, instead of a nasty knee-jerk criticism about the role of women, gays, environmental stewardship or various liturgical concerns. I really hate the current politicization of faith. We should not be quick to judge or condemn the Catholic character of men and women who voted either for Harris or Trump or someone else in the last election. Neither candidate articulates nor manifests the full kerygma as we understand it. No Catholic should allow his or her party platform or agenda to supplant the demands of the Gospel. The moral values of the Gospel are what they are. We should all seek to be good Catholics, keeping the commandments and loving God and our neighbor. We should exhibit a modicum of human respect, even when differences of opinion are severe. This must be the stance from both authority and from the rank-and-file. We need to be contrite about past ridicule and careful not to mock others or to use incendiary language. It is far better to build bridges than to burn them down.

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[1] First Sunday of Advent 2025

Posted on December 1, 2025 by Father Joe

Isaiah 2:1-5 / Psalm 122: 1-2, 3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9 / Romans 13:11-14 / Matthew 24:37-44

Today we begin the Advent season and Advent is a time of preparation. Look into your lives as you prepare for the non-spiritual celebration of Christmas – a time of shopping and cooking – of tree-buying and decorating – a time of cleaning. It is also a time of renewal. Before texting, Facebook and emails, many of us would write letters and holiday cards to friends reconnecting and telling them about the past year with its joys and sorrows. We would renew old friendships. Given the current cost of postage and the intrusion of modern technology, letters and cards are increasingly out of fashion.

It is still a time of travel. Families and friends try to get together. If this is so physically, I would remind us that Advent is a season of spiritual travel. We travel into the Light and by the Light. Today, we ignite one candle on the Advent wreath and as the weeks go by we will light the second, third, and fourth. It is hoped that the Light of Christ will burn evermore brightly in our hearts. While we might be surrounded by darkness, we are called as pilgrims to follow the one who is the Light of the World. He illumines our way into the kingdom. The promise of the first reading is realized: “O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!” Without the Lord, we would be lost.

Advent is a time of coming home. It is also a season of becoming, knowing both growth and fulfillment in the Lord. Advent is the pregnant time in the history of salvation. We make ready for the Second Coming of Christ by remembering his first coming hidden in the womb of Mary. Advent signifies the ancient promise given the Jews for a coming Messiah. Christmas is the realization of that promise. Later Lent and Easter will celebrate the work of our Savior to redeem a people and to give us a share in his divine life.

Today’s first reading speaks of a day of promise when God’s justice will be fulfilled and peace will reign. The responsorial recalls Jerusalem as the city for the first people chosen as we await a new house of the Lord. “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” This admonition is fulfilled with the house Jesus built, the Church. The second reading urges us to read the signs of the times. The days grow short and we must be awake or alert as watch-persons for the Lord, ready when he comes. We read: “You know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed . . . .” The Gospel continues this theme. We are urged to be steadfast, awake sentinels for the Lord’s return and judgment. Jesus says, “So too, you also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

In our readings over the next few weeks, we will hear of a call to peace, and a call to justice. There is a joyful hope. Indeed, we will be told to rejoice because the Lord is near, because the Lord has removed the judgment against us. We also begin a new liturgical year. We have a fresh start; a chance to set our spiritual lives on a path that will lead us to that joyful welcoming of the Christ-child on Christmas morning. We will also heed the words of John the Baptizer when he says, make ready the way of the Lord; and when he tells us to receive a baptism of repentance. In the light of the liturgical renewal and in response to the Baptist’s cry, we would do well to reflect upon the sacrament of reconciliation.

The sacrament of reconciliation, as we shall see is also a means of preparation. It allows us to be healed and restored. It joins us more closely to Almighty God as it is his life, his grace, which we receive every time we celebrate the sacrament. Oftentimes we think that we only receive God in the Eucharist. We receive God every time we celebrate any of the sacraments; because each sacrament was instituted to be a channel or instrument of God’s life – God’s grace. The sacrament of penance is a sign of hope and loving trust in God’s forgiveness. It is a call to justice, a justice which forces us to examine, in truth, our relationship with God, with our brothers and sisters, and with our very selves. The sacrament also brings us peace. Oftentimes, the emotional burdens of guilt can weigh heavily upon us. It causes stress and disruption in our lives. By celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation, we can put much of this behind us. We can be at peace with ourselves and with those whom we encounter. Finally, this sacrament allows us to begin again— to be restored— to be made whole.

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Mixed Signals about Homosexuality in the Church

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Father Joe

Recently the morning news was buzzing from right to left about Gio Benitez receiving his confirmation at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York on Monday, November 10, 2025. Normally, such an event would not be news, even for a celebrity, as he is the co-anchor of the Good Morning America television program. However, what made this event controversial in the eyes of many is the fact that he is a homosexual and that his same-sex husband Tommy DiDario was his sponsor.

The journalist says some wonderful things about his spiritual journey. However, our standing with God is not purely subjective. Each of us must earnestly struggle with our weaknesses and sins under the light of the revealed Gospel so that we might be disposed to divine grace. What the Bible and the Catechism teach matters if we accept that God has revealed his truths to the Catholic Church. The Scriptures are critical of homosexual acts and classify them as grievous sins. There is no getting around that fact. The universal catechism, while not opposed to an air of welcoming, nevertheless, classifies same-sex attraction as a “disorientation.”

The Old Testament is the most severe (Leviticus 18:22 and Leviticus 20:13) and is often cited by those who favor criminalizing homosexual activity. Secular critics have gone so far as to stamp these passages as hate speech. The story of Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19) is reckoned as corporate condemnation for any society that permits or condones homosexual acts. The apostle Paul is the chief moral teacher in the New Testament. He stamps same-sex intimacy as sinful and contrary to the laws of nature (Romans 1:26-27). St. Paul warns that deviant acts will forfeit our place in the kingdom of heaven (1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Timothy 1:9-10).

Benitez had long wrestled with his Christian faith. His online testimony to this struggle is quite moving. Here it is in his own words:

“Six months ago, the death of a humble pope unexpectedly took me on a journey that was a lifetime in the making. Fr. James Martin, SJ was on GMA speaking about Pope Francis’ legacy of inclusivity. His words struck me. It was the first time I had seen a priest speaking in such a beautiful way about LGBTQ people. / I had received my baptism with my mom 25 years ago when I was 15. In secret, that nagging question persisted: if God created me, how could he not love me? I went on to study religion in college, searching for proof of God’s love. / In May, I walked through the doors of St. Paul the Apostle Church for the first time as Fr. Eric Andrews preached on three simple words spoken by Christ: Love One Another. ‘When we’re able to love and love freely and openly – and love ourselves as well – we are a long way down the road to fulfilling the Kingdom of God.’ / It turns out proof of God’s love wasn’t in the books or lecture halls, or even the amount of years I spent studying. That divine love was in me all along, always whispering guidance, gently reaching out with arms wide open, and like Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, patiently waiting for me to reach back out and embrace the greatest mystery. / My Confirmation Mass was a very small gathering of family and friends who have quietly been with me on this journey. But in my mind, those empty pews were filled with a cloud of witnesses: my grandparents who taught me how to pray, my aunts and uncles who helped raise me, and dear friends – praying for me behind an invisible veil. / I found the Ark of the Covenant in my heart, stored there by the one who created me… exactly as I am.”

In all this my one concern is about identifying a whole class of persons as “LGBTQ people.” While we can be distinguished by gender, and then only male and female, many of us fail to see how sexual orientation suffices as a sufficient category to denote a class of people. Each of us is so much more than our sexual attraction and behavior. It may be the result of past segregation and criminalization, but I would urge everyone to get beyond such classifications. Proponents of the homosexual lifestyle argue that such identification is a personal decision rooted in orientation and gender identity. But gender is not fluid; rather, it is fixed. Heterosexual or homosexual, one is not an animal without control or discipline. We all have freedom and choice about what we do, good and bad. Those who espouse a strict determinism and lack of choice are deceived. Yes, you have no say about being black or white or about being male or female; however, one can either remain virtuous and pure or pursue vice and immorality. While our discipleship will come to define us in the world to come as either saved or lost, in this world we need not allow our identity to be utterly exhausted by the sins of fornication, adultery or sodomy.

The core problems raised by critics emerge in Benitez’s remarks of appreciation:

“My deepest gratitude to Fr. Eric Andrews, Fr. James Martin, Fr. Paul Rospond, and Fr. Chris Lawton, SP for showing me that God’s loving mercy is unconditional, for Joey Chancey for pouring his heart out into the piano keys and into our friendship, Catherine Allison for allowing us to hear what an angel sounds like, Don Saladino for his prayers, my mom and sister for being examples of grace in action, and to my incredible husband and sponsor, Tommy DiDario, for supporting me through it all.”

First, we have lost something of the distinction between official Catholic doctrine and laws on one hand and pastoral accommodation on the other. This was long understood regarding the matter of artificial contraception among married couples. The prohibition was publicly affirmed by the Magisterium; however, Pope John Paul II urged confessors (within the internal forum) to exhibit heightened sensitivity. Fr. James Martin and many of his fellows say and do little that is not widely publicized. There is a lack of consistency in echoing the catechism. Ecclesial discipline is regularly compromised. This ministerial imprudence has created moral scandal in the public forum. Gio Benitez, as a layman drawn to the faith, largely follows the priest’s lead. Papal favor extended to Fr. Martin, along with an ambiguity rooted in compassion, set the stage for such head-scratching incidents as reported here.

Second, we must be careful about judging the candidate because those who had charge of him sought to normalize his irregular union. Red flags are raised and questions asked. Did Benitez go to confession prior to confirmation so that he would receive the sacraments in a state of grace? Was there firm amendment of life? Would there be a real effort at living a brotherly life with his special friend in mutual celibacy? Certain answers could very much change the moral tone of the situation.

Third, he not only refers to Tommy DiDario as his “husband,” but we are told that he acted as his sponsor. How can we process this? The Christian faith clearly teaches that the sacrament of marriage is an exclusive “covenant” relationship between a man and woman that is both “love giving” and “life giving.” No simulation of the marital act between two males or two females can realize the potency of the true marriage bed. The fact that he was his sponsor makes what happened quite brazen. I would argue that not being married in the Church would alone be a sufficient impediment to the sacrament. But who knows? He may have been confused or misguided about this as well. Clergy bless same-sex couples and do so with impunity. It may very well be the case that certain clergy have conducted clandestine marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples. This muddies the water even though such efforts would always and everywhere only be “attempted” marriages.

No sooner did this news story break, it was followed up with one about the private Vatican audience of Archbishop José Gomez of Los Angeles with a same sex “married couple,” Alex Capecelatro, CEO of Josh.ai, and his so-called husband Brian D. Stevens, a celebrated Catholic philanthropist. The encounter was cordial and they joked with one another. Christopher Hale’s article posted at LETTERS FROM LEO stated:

“A lifelong Catholic who briefly entered the seminary to become a priest, Brian Stevens has dedicated decades to charitable works. He’s a Knight of Malta who has led pilgrimages for the sick to Lourdes nearly 33 times. Close friends say his generosity knows no bounds.”

While compassion and hospitality are clear to me, I am really at a loss about what is happening. It seems to me that this was a teaching moment, and yet it is not the lesson many of us would have expected from the magisterial office of the Church. Yes, we need to meet people where they are. Certainly, we should acknowledge the goodness and charity they share with others. But can we be silent about sin? What about pointing out the way to repentance and greater fidelity? Maybe I am too hard-headed to understand? Do I stand guilty of hardness of heart? Maybe I am missing something. If clergy are confused and uncertain about the direction of the Church, how can the flocks be properly led by their shepherds? We all need to pray for the good of souls and to pray for the Holy Father.

A Catholic analysis must take into consideration our Christian anthropology that flows from the sources of revelation (Scripture and Tradition), natural law, and Church authority.

Crucial in this discussion is the definition or meaning of love. Often the element of sexual intimacy collapses into what we mean by love. When it comes to same sex relationships, indeed even heterosexual involvement outside of traditional marriage, any sexual activity is morally wrong. Sexual congress outside of what constitutes the marital act (consensual vaginal intercourse) is highly problematical. Neither oral nor anal sex consummates or realizes the nuptial bond. The former is often blamed for certain cancers of the mouth and the latter for tearing the rectal lining. There are consequences for the violation of nature.
The Church is no enemy of love. Indeed, our Lord gives us a two-fold commandment that should guide us in our union with God and with one another. We read in Matthew 22:37-39: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” While there are various types of love, the Church would argue that the erotic must be reserved to married men and women. However, this love must detach itself from lust as it devalues the beloved and makes bodies interchangeable. Relationships poisoned by lust are often manipulative, corrupted by pornography and frequently subject to infidelities leading to adultery. The Church would counsel “holy passion” for married couples. This passion includes the drive for union as an expression of fidelity and a desire for a family. The intensity is focused on a particular person and no one else. The good and happiness of the beloved becomes paramount. Outside of marital love, what is left? Obviously, there is parental love, love between siblings (brothers and sisters), fraternal love (with friends and neighbors), etc.
What is left if anything for special friends who share a same-sex attraction? First, there must be due caution given the ancient maxim that true love cries out for unity. Disorientation creates a danger of a moral fall when people live in “close” proximity. Second, celibate friendships between men, as those between women, can be intensely strong, becoming something on the level of family. We perceive this in religious communities and in fraternal orders of Catholic men. Many will call special friends their “brothers” and “sisters” despite the lack of blood ties. If couples can adopt children as their own, why cannot men and women do something similar? Might it be recognized by the Church and by the state? Well, surprise, we have been here before. It may be a way out of the present conundrum if same-sex couples are willing to embrace sacrifice and if the Church is able to trust her people.
Christian antiquity included a service for joining two people into a non-carnal relationship called adelphopoiesis (Greek for “brother-making”). This is not analogous to marriage and as with the Courage Movement, men and women so united would be commended to celibate love or service to others as well as to lives of intense prayer. This spiritual brotherhood (and by extension today, spiritual sisterhood) would be formally recognized. They could reside together and share their lives. Such unions were celebrated and blessed by the Church until the 14^th and 15^th centuries. The practice is somewhat reminiscent of the friendships between boys when they informally pledge themselves as “blood brothers.” However, this Church bond emphasized both a chaste and pure life (no dating or courtship) and mutual support in the growth into holiness. They would throw themselves into sacramental life, i.e. the Mass and the regular use of the sacrament of penance.
This rite of becoming siblings was never understood as akin to becoming spouses in marriage. It recognizes the moral law from both nature and revelation. Why is this important? The Church does not have the authority to modify or dismiss the moral law. The commandments still bind us. Even the Pope is merely the servant of the Word, not its master. Priests who take it upon themselves to welcome those in intimate same-sex bonds or attempted marriages err grievously by not echoing the call for repentance and reform. Outside of such admonitions, they do them disservice and enable or validate sinful behavior. This is a travesty because every ordained priest is given the vital mission to extend Christ’s mercy. His essential mission is the forgiveness of sins. Any compromise about this is a violation of his mission as a minister of reconciliation with God. If one truly believes what the Church teaches, then the leading of another into error and sin is a failure to love as we should. Special friends of the same gender, as spiritual brothers or sisters, should be willing to place any selfish desires or urges behind the good of the beloved. Real love means actualizing the three “Hs” in the beloved’s life—making him of her happy, healthy and holy. This may require a high degree of mutual sacrificial love. Indeed, it makes love real and heroic.

We cannot directly bless same-sex unions or bonds. However, a 2023 Vatican decree does permit non-liturgical benedictions for those seeking divine grace and mercy.

While we should show natural respect to persons, compassion to those in difficult situations, and a practical sensitivity, we can never bless same-sex unions as marriage. Conceding that homosexual acts are “intrinsically disordered,” the Church urges homosexuals to live chaste and pure lives so that they might regularly receive the sacraments and be counted as full members of the faith community. While differing orientations can make us nervous and uncomfortable around each other, orientation should not be grounds for unjust discrimination.

Homosexuals are hurt or feel insulted when well-meaning people say about homosexuality, “I hate the sin, not the sinner.” The reason for the basic upset is that many have come to associate their central identity with orientation and lifestyle. They have connected what they feel and what they do with who they are. This is a mistake. As children created by God, they are treasured for an infinite value and with a high dignity that can be further enhanced by divine grace. Sins of rebellion and/or of weakness rob them of all they can be.

All individuals should be respected as God’s children. The two-fold commandment would have us treat one another with compassion, not with any meanness of spirit. Instead of a harshness that comes when we focus purely on the law, we need to develop a sensitivity to the struggle and woundedness of others. We are not mindless and heartless robots of metal but knowing and loving creatures of flesh and blood. Many are driven less by their heads and more by their hearts and what they feel.

Can we welcome and accept those that believers of old would have stoned, so that by accompanying them they might yet be saved, and us along with them? Friendship, prayer, sacraments, prudent counsel, and faithful witness can form consciences and make possible repentance and conversion. Pope Francis would never have us underestimate what it means to be companions on the journey. I would suggest that the greatest fruits will not be in the ministry of Fr. James Martin SJ (who is strong with inclusion but weak with orthodoxy) but rather in the efforts of the late Fr. John Harvey, OSFS. He left us with Courage International (for celibate Catholic homosexuals) and EnCourage (for their families and friends). Fr. Harvey believed that our homosexual and lesbian brothers and sisters might find meaning and happiness, not in fighting the teachings and structures of the Church, but by embracing them.

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Satan Club at Anne Arundel Community College

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Father Joe

Anne Arundel Community College is literally in our backyard. Montgomery County is also considering adding a Satan Club to their approved campus organizations. Disguised behind a false rationalism and a host of liberal causes, it is a hate group and exists only to mock both faith and believers.

When people claim Satan but then argue that it is all a ploy, don’t believe it. They are fooling themselves. I have no doubt that the devil has his hand in this!

The Satanic Circle asserts that it does not believe in a literal Satan. Members claim a degree of enlightenment they do not possess. Dismissive of the many great scientists and thinkers who posited faith in a higher power, they grant to science a form of natural faith even though it asks different questions than philosophy and theology. Deductive science might tell us how a watch runs but not who made the watch. The theoretical sciences and mathematics deal with abstraction over the real. While many aggressive atheistic thinkers attack religion as espousing a “God of the Gaps,” they are blind to their own gaps in understanding both the macro- and micro universe. Many of the so-called rational satanists are those with weak minds who parrot the arguments of influential atheists in the scientific community. They are particularly influenced by those in the media. Kids in high school and rebellious youths in college are quick to distance themselves from the beliefs and values of parents and others. They image religious believers as ignorant fools while in fact they are the ones who have little knowledge of anything and know next to nothing about the ultimate questions. They live lives devoid of any appreciation of metaphysics and genuine intellectual reflection. Adherents rattle on against theistic faith even as they make a religion or cult of their atheism and proposed satanism.

Their reasoning signifies dislocated or illogical atheistic rationalism. They make many claims but do not know how to think for themselves. Question them about the definition of a syllogism and they would only give a blank stare. Those with recourse to a dictionary or the internet might answer with words they do not understand. Unable to truly debate, they turn to so-called proof-statements from leaders in the movement. But those answers fail to satisfy so they turn to mockery and ridicule. These new militants who promulgate an evangelistic or missionary atheism, have fooled themselves. We must not allow the wool to be pulled over our own eyes. This is a real concern at a time when many youths are only superficially Christian. They do not understand their faith as they should, and they cannot defend it.

The devil is powerful, and he strategically exploits doubts and denials about his existence. Those who caricature him as a joke do not know that the joke is on them. This new breed of satanist might welcome occult witches or Wiccans or even new age religionists to their gatherings for “fun,” but in debates they are also criticized as closet theists. They purloin their symbols and nomenclature as their own. They deny that the supernatural is real even as they come under a hidden spiritual oppression. Signs of such manipulation are realized in the dark fruits of their coalition. They go out of their way to mock Christian believers while demanding respect for themselves. They hate the Jews as the progenitors of the Judeo-Christian faith. Indeed, they would side with terrorists against the state of Israel. They are inherently Marxist, contending for “mischief” or revolution to overthrow genuine faith and the Mosaic commandments. They create a false dichotomy between reason and faith, elevating a science that does not have all the answers, especially about the ultimate meaning for humanity.

They are political activists. Instead of arguing for Christian stewardship over creation, they raise up nature and ecology as in rivalry or war with humanity. They would save whales but exterminate unwanted human babies. The new Gnostics, while they claim an allegiance to science and nature, wholeheartedly endorse same-sex disorientation and gender dysphoria. They not only support the LGBTQ+ agenda, but they also embrace a no holds barred sexual expression between consenting adults. Despite the clear mention of the Almighty in our founding documents as a nation, their interpretation of separation of church and state would go far beyond the intent of our founding fathers. Instead of a mere prohibition of a national denomination or confession, they propose the disavowal of any belief in God and the accompanying religious values. Under the heading of “bodily autonomy,” they would deny the right to life of the unborn. Against the Gospel of Life, they are activists for abortion on demand “whenever women want it.” This false secular humanism allows hidden demons to savor their favorite food, the sacrifice of children to the lust and selfishness of their sycophants.

The satanists are of two types, exhibitionists on one side and cowards on the other. The first group believes in shock value. They are often heavily tattooed and have disturbing body piercings. They wear clothes that immediately offend with crude or derogatory messages. The second group are outright cowards. They love to wear masks and hoods to disguise their identities. Both feel that they can use Satan as a weapon and not get hurt, themselves. But they are slaves of the devil even if they are unaware. They are wounded by sin and sentinels for hell.

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We Will Never Exhaust the Divine Mystery

Posted on September 9, 2025 by Father Joe

The souls of the dead in heaven are divinized as saints by grace but by nature are still human. We will have a share in the risen life of Christ. However, we will always be finite creatures. There can be no tedium in heaven because by intellect and will, we can never fully exhaust the divine mystery. We will be drawn eternally into the depths of knowing and loving God. This process begins in this world. We come to the Lord with a faith realized in loving obedience. God gives us sanctifying grace and we are made sons and daughters to the Father, kin to Christ, children of Mary and inheritors of the kingdom of heaven. Death makes this orientation permanent. We encounter Christ, not as strangers but as friends. Restricting ourselves to this world, we find that all the saints of the Church demonstrate great holiness while many of their opinions, even in reference to religious faith, sometimes fall short or are inexact. Error will certainly end when we pass through the door from this world to the next; but our capacity to understand and to contain the mystery of God will always be limited by our nature. This truth applies to both angelic and human spirits.

I do suspect there is a profound openness to truth and the gift of love in heaven. This would conflict with hell where the demons and lost souls know something of the truth but place a limit or barrier upon their knowing and loving. We experience in this world a similar type of division and adversity from those with hardened hearts, “I want nothing to do with you! I’ll use you up and throw you away! You mean nothing to me! I disown you!” The damned in hell probably have a comparable mentality and stagnation of the heart.

Here on earth we receive the risen Lord in the Eucharist. God feeds us. There are no sacraments in heaven as there is no need for sacred signs. The saints see God and the mystery directly. There is no more faith because the saints behold and know God (as well as his truths) in an immediate fashion. There is no more hope because every aspiration has been realized. The only theological virtue that can cross the threshold of heaven with us is love or charity. This love draws us into the Trinitarian life. The sacrifice of the Pilgrim Church re-presents the oblation of Christ. The sacramental meal is a foretaste of the banquet of heaven where our union with God is realized and our Lord gives us a full share in his life. There can be no melancholy or boredom in heaven. Paradise is a far cry from the popular image of lazy angels sitting on clouds playing harps. The mystery of God can never be exhausted. There will always be more to know. The more we know, the more we will love. The more we love, the more we will want to know. This is the pattern of the finite creature to the infinite Creator.

I can well appreciate that secular critics deny the soul and view the intellectual life as the operation of fleshy brains. Romantics might speak of the heart as the source of love, but in truth the brain is the place where material memories and thinking takes place. As a Christian, I would suggest that as a composite of flesh and spirit, the efforts of the brain mimic the powers of the soul. Brains are not all the same and all of them have limits in regard to learning and to the physical senses. Cerebral matter can also become diseased, causing people to struggle with thinking and remembering the most basic of facts and relationships. The brain is physical and like the rest of the body, it has parts that can break down. Parallel to this, the human soul has no parts and is indestructible. It grants us a self-reflective knowledge that goes beyond the ability of the brain. We are more than thinking meat. Memories are not merely stored as electrochemical processes used by neurons but also make lasting impressions upon the human soul. Just as we are often surprised by the detail of dreams; I suspect we will also be surprised as to what the soul retains after death. What would a human being be if he were never to forget and we were to ponder matters with perfect clarity? I suspect that the material brain both enables rational knowing and reflection as well as impedes it. (In any case, I would not want to define the soul as simply a hard drive or cloud backup of what is in our brains. There is a constant inter-working that is part of the mystery of the human mind as understood by Christian believers.) What we now see as through a fog or veil, we will see clearly.

What and who we know, as well as love, survives the grave. Indeed, it gives us our eternal orientation. We are either like the wise virgin bridesmaids at the door with the burning lamps or like the foolish ones who walk away looking for more oil. When Christ, the divine bridegroom comes for us, he should find us alert and ready to enter into the nuptial banquet. If we fail to remain steadfast and prepared, we might hear those terrible words of damnation, “Amen, I say to you, ‘I do not know you.’”

If pride is the overriding sin of the devils, then a lasting humility is the posture of the saints. Compared to God we may seem insignificant, literally as nothing. And yet, Almighty God has looked upon us as his children. I would argue that the prayer that Jesus gives his apostles has an eternal significance. The word Jesus uses for “Father” is purported by certain exegetes as the one used by little children. I suppose we would render it as “papa” or “daddy.” All of us, even the greatest doctors of the Church like Augustine and Aquinas, may be counted among the babes of heaven. We are summoned to know and to love God while in this world. All we know is still just scratching the surface. Eternity will allow us to continue this exploration of knowing and loving. Humility is not just the approach of men and women in this world, but of the saints and angels in the next. We must become like little children if we want a place in the kingdom. Those who are bloated with pride, feeling that they are all grown up and know enough already will find themselves in hell. Similarly, all those who place limits on love will also know the loss of heaven.

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The Ranks of Heaven

Posted on September 8, 2025 by Father Joe

While discussing the nature of heaven, a view was put forward that seemed eerily similar to the utopian goal of communism. It was suggested that the kingdom was a classless society where everyone was equal in terms of standing and in reference to spiritual gifts. This was claimed as necessary to avoid conflict and competition. It was even argued that God, or at least the incarnate Christ, would be in the mix as just one of the crowd. I was aghast at the notion, and argued that Jesus is a divine Person of the Blessed Trinity. Our posture in heaven is to adore or worship God. Given that there is a hierarchy of angels and multiple choirs, why would we think that mankind would be reduced to one rank and a single chorus?

It was charged that I would divide the heavenly kingdom between an elete class and second-class citizens. As a believer, it is my conviction that the dignity of persons and the sanctity of life are “incommensurate” goods. If such be the case in this world, then how could I argue a loss of value or multiple values in the world to come? Attempting a response, I asserted as a fundamental truth that everyone is loved by God as precious and irreplaceable. But that does not speak to our personal histories, the depth of our faith and convictions and the capacity we have for grace and holiness. It is apparent that some have a greater capacity to sacrifice and to love than others. There are certain people who live such exemplary lives of witness that they are canonized as saints by the Church. They become our heroes who demonstrate how many callings and lives can follow in the one way of Christ. Some have walked with the Lord their entire lives. Others have borne great crosses. Still some come back to the Lord late in life. They may all win heaven, but I would not suspect that we would suddenly become all the same. While I certainly think the existence of heaven and hell is an expression of divine mercy and justice; I do not think it necessitates an egalitarian equality in our status before God.

Pride can have us wrongly demand a choice place. I suspect this type of mentality might awkwardly land us in hell. Pride can also demand that no one else have a better or more desirable place. This way of thinking would probably (at least) land us in purgatory. I do not believe the souls of the just are concerned about such matters. They are just happy to have a room in the house of God. One may have the basement and another, a penthouse; the saints are not afflicted with jealousy. Our posture or place will reflect the truth and that will be enough for us. The tremendous joy of being in God’s presence will make any sentiments of loss impossible.

I suspect our proximity to God will be dynamic and always moving forward. Just as we must be disposed or open to the graces of God in this world; the souls of heaven will abide with God in direct proportion to their ability to know, to love and to open themselves to the divine mystery. Analogies fall short. More than being in a mere room, we will know a profound union with God. We will live within the Trinity itself. Some will find themselves in the periphery of this mystery and others will be closer to its heart. We are made for God. We are not interchangeable, and as distinct persons, each of us will have our own song in the divine harmony of praise.

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The Intercession of the Saints

Posted on September 7, 2025 by Father Joe

Taking the side of the Pharisees over the Sadducees, Jesus testifies to life after death. “That the dead will rise even Moses made known in the passage about the bush, when he called ‘Lord’ the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive” (Luke 20:37-38). While the gates of heaven are closed before the coming of Christ, our Lord speaks of a genuine communion between the living (on earth) and those heroes of faith who had come before. Jesus will ultimately translate these souls from the limbo of the fathers into heaven.

Over the years in debates with fundamentalists about the communion of the saints, many of them insist that the saints are sleeping and others that they are alive but cannot possibly be aware of what is happening on earth. Catholicism would argue that the heavenly saints are alive, aware of us and praying for us. Admittedly, there is some question as to whether this awareness is part of the fabric of the afterlife or whether it is made possible through a special divine intervention. We know that in Jesus Christ love is stronger than death. While our loved ones are taken from our sight, we are still bonded to them in love. This speaks to the profound mystery of the Church in pilgrimage, in purgation and in glory.

Some of our number have run the race and have won a share in the crown of Christ. They remain in solidarity with brothers and sisters in the world who are still being tested. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us” (Hebrews 12:1).

I do not believe that our guardian angels and the blessed souls watch us as earthly voyeurs might watch a reality television program. Instead, they are actively engaged. They reach out to us with their love and worship God with orations of praise and incessant intercession. They seek to protect us from malignant spiritual entities. They would have us where they are. Those in glory are not suffering amnesia about those they have left behind. Indeed, I suspect they know us better than before because now they see us as we truly are, behind all our posturing and deception. They cannot force us to the will of God. But their witness and prayers may help some to find the path to eternal life. One critic suggested that if the saints were to see their earthly family and friends sinning then it would bring them sadness— no, this is contrary to heavenly joy. While it might be hard for us to understand, this is not the case. Heaven will never be held hostage to sin or hell. The saints cannot be sad because where they are has no room or vacuum for sadness. While they are aware of us, their sights are also always upon God. The barrier or membrane between heaven and earth will allow such helps as happiness, counsel, and love to pass through; but never sadness, manipulation, hatred or despair. The heavenly saints like our Lord are now impervious to pain. This is one of the most profound mysteries for us who must still endure this veil of tears. The saints implore grace that we might know repentance, conversion and faith. They pray that we might be courageous in adversity. They beseech the throne of God to be merciful to us. Chief among the saints is Mary who loves and intercedes for us with her immaculate and “maternal” heart.

Christ is the way, literally the link between heaven and earth. This is our lifeline. This is the real reason why the saints are still aware of us and why we remember them as alive in the Lord. We are not orphaned by God. While we await the final judgment and the consummation of the world, we acknowledge that we have not been abandoned. Christ is present in the proclaimed Word. Christ is present in his priests who stand at the altar and who offer the forgiveness of sins. Jesus is present in his person and in his saving activity at every Eucharist. We receive the risen Christ in Holy Communion. The Lord is with us when we gather to pray. The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ. No part of this body has been severed. The Church is one: the Church in pilgrimage, the Church in purgatory and the Church in heaven. We are one in the Lord. We have been reborn and given a new identity by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The saints are calling us to the other side of the rainbow. The Lord calls us each by name. Heaven beckons to us.

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The Saints Raise Their Hearts & Minds to God

Posted on September 5, 2025 by Father Joe

There are a lot of misconceptions about heaven. It is not a place where we can better satisfy hedonistic longings. Many of the renditions of heaven on television and in movies would in time probably more resemble hell than paradise. It is not simply a place where nice people go after death. Being nice will not save us. The pattern given to us by Scripture is crucial: repentance, faith in Christ, conversion and loving obedience. Jesus is the Way and the Truth and the Life. There is no other way to the Father. This truth of the kingdom may strike many as unfair, but God is the one who sets the parameters for justification. The acquisition of heaven is not further self-absorption; no, it is rather a detachment that allows for transformation and identification with Christ. The disposition open to grace and holiness is what remains crucial. We must empty ourselves to be vessels of the holy. The saints of heaven have one overriding activity— they give eternal glory to God. Any vision of heaven that neglects this facet is false.

We were made for God. Our hearts will know incalculable joy in being within the divine presence. Heaven is not merely a place where men will reason without feeling like the Star Trek Vulcans attempt to do. Our minds will acquire the truth for which we have always longed— to see and know God face to face within the beatific vision. But while we will not be afflicted with fickle emotions, as human beings we will have our hearts and feelings saturated by the divine presence and we will be touched by infinite love. We will be home with the Lord. There will be no more sadness and tears. All will be joy.

We are promised restoration beyond the grave. We will not be disembodied ghosts forever. We believe that just as our Lord rose from the dead in a glorified body, so shall we be restored, and similarly with immortality. Further, while on our earthly pilgrimage, our emotions and passions are often rebellious and our nature is wounded by concupiscence. The saints will not know rebellion in their members. We will know control and order, not as robots or ants, but as the children of Adam and Eve were meant to be from the beginning. Of course, we will also be more as the incarnation and work of Christ has merited for us a share in the grace-filled divine life. Humanity is raised to a level higher than ever before. Like the angels, there will neither be marriage nor the begetting of children; instead, we will experience in the light of Christ the immensity and purity of love beyond the current shadows. While our bodies have often had dominion over our souls, the situation is reversed in heaven. We will be our true selves. We will know and love and live in grace, no longer subject to the accidents of nature or corporeal chemistry. We will be able to think and feel without distraction and disorientation. Our human nature will be perfected. As Dr. Kreeft says in his essay on heaven, “All our humanity is perfected, not diminished, in Heaven.”

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