Mathew Block

Two days ago, the Catholic Herald posted a story about Pope Francis meeting with Rev. Dr. Nikolaus Schneider. The article is entitled “Lutheran pastor meets Pope Francis in Rome,” and the text of the article also refers to Dr. Schneider as a Lutheran pastor. There’s just one problem, . . . . Continue Reading »

Gene Edward Veith, author of God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in all of Life and Family Vocation: God’s Calling in Marriage, Parenthood, and Childhood (among numerous other books), has a new article on vocation over at Intercollegiate Review . In that article— “How to find your . . . . Continue Reading »

It is Holy Week, a time devoted to prayer and reflection on the sufferings and death of Jesus Christ. But there is a danger for Christians that, if we are not careful, we externalize the event too much. Continue Reading »

Yesterday marked the 457th anniversary of Thomas Cranmer’s martyrdom, something Philip Jenkins noted here yesterday . Cranmer is justly remembered for his work in framing the traditional Symbols of Anglicanism, notably The Book of Common Prayer and The Forty-Two Articles (which later . . . . Continue Reading »

The Weekly Standard has a compelling story highlighting philosopher Thomas Nagel and his rejection by fellow atheists for questioning materialism. The article, cleverly titled “The Heretic,” appears here . It begins by noting how Nagel found himself so despised by his colleagues: Thomas . . . . Continue Reading »

In an article for Canada’s National Post at the end of February,  I warned of a growing intolerance north of the border to people of faith. The prevailing mindset, I suggested, goes something like this: “If you must be religious, then for heaven’s sake do it in the privacy of . . . . Continue Reading »

Following the retirement of Pope Benedict XVI, a number of Lutherans (myself included) were left wondering what support his successor might lend to future Lutheran/Roman Catholic discussions. Few Roman Catholics have understood Lutherans so well as did Benedict. As John Allen Jr. has written , . . . . Continue Reading »

In March 1913, G.K. Chesterton’s Father Brown story “The Paradise of Thieves” was first published in an issue of McClure’s Magazine . The story revolves around acting and deception, and ends in the suicide of one of the characters. Now, a hundred years later to the month, . . . . Continue Reading »

In 1976, Joseph Ratzinger”then still a professor”suggested “it might be possible to interpret [the Augsburg Confession (CA)”i.e., the primary Lutheran confession] under the laws of the empire as a catholic confession.” He continued: “Efforts are underway to achieve a Catholic recognition of the CA or, more correctly, a recognition of the CA as catholic, and thereby to establish the catholicity of the churches of the CA, which makes possible a corporate union while the differences remain.” … Continue Reading »

Yesterday was the Diamond Anniversary of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s accession to the thrones of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Christians in these countries and throughout the Commonwealth thanked God for her sixty years of service, remembering St. Paul’s admonition to pray “for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and godly lives in all quietness and holiness.” … Continue Reading »