On the eve of the Feast of the Epiphany in 2021, after churches had reopened but while many pandemic restrictions remained in place, three priests in my parish celebrated a traditional rite called the Blessing of Water on the Vigil of Epiphany. The rite is similar to rituals in the churches of the . . . . Continue Reading »
When a pastor in South Carolina withheld Holy Communion from Joseph Biden, a chorus of condemnations quickly followed. Continue Reading »
The teaching of in persona Christi capitis humbles the priesthood rather than exalting it to some magical status. Continue Reading »
To outsiders, the proposal of communion for the divorced and remarried seems a modest adjustment. But it has provoked adamant resistance among the faithful because it throws in doubt the basic logic of the gospel. From her beginnings, the Church has known that the baptized, while born again in . . . . Continue Reading »
The sacrament of reconciliation must remain a visible, objective sign of grace—despite those who wish to turn it into a mere subjective reality. Continue Reading »
Neither the Bible, nor church history, nor Christian experience indicates that a one-size-fits-all crisis conversion is necessary. Why is this claim the sort of thing that scares American Evangelicals? Continue Reading »
The heart of the matter is that, according to the teaching of the Church, there are norms that are valid without exception and not subject to individual discernment. The German bishops contradict this. Continue Reading »
Ever since the 1994 publication of the Evangelicals and Catholics together document (ECT), and with renewed urgency in the wake of the Affordable Care Act’s contraception mandate and the increased acceptance of same-sex marriage, there has been a growing affiliation between Rome and various evangelical traditions. The alliance has been based largely on the growing awareness that creedal Christian orthodoxy is in a marginal position in the public square. Despite their long history of conflict, Catholics and evangelicals have realized that they will be stronger if they face their challenges together. Continue Reading »
Subscribe
Latest Issue
Support First Things
