Richard Williamson, an ultra-traditionalist Catholic bishop whose denial of the Holocaust created a scandal in 2009 when Pope Benedict XVI rehabilitated him and other members of his breakaway society, has died.
Vatican II
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Remembering David Lodge, the ‘agnostic Catholic’ who captured the post-Vatican II zeitgeist
David Lodge’s novels—as well as his many works of nonfiction—made him an important figure in 20th-century British literature. He also captured well the angst of many lay Catholics in the aftermath of Vatican II.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Bishop John Cummins and the Catholic history of Oakland
Bishop John Cummins had a significant and lasting impact on the Catholic Church in his own diocese and elsewhere through his quiet leadership and ministry. He was a reminder to many of what Pope Francis meant when he called for bishops who are “pastors, not princes.”
Posted inFaith, Synod Diary
Synod Diary: The synod is going back in order to move forward
Synod observers, especially those who feel like the document has not gone “forward” enough, would do well to learn from Vatican II and its rollout.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
The synod is discussing the teaching authority of bishops’ conferences. It’s not a new debate.
Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, later Pope Benedict XVI, didn’t think much of bishops’ conferences. Among those who disagreed with the cardinal was Francis A. Sullivan, S.J.
Posted inFaith, Podcasts
George Weigel on why he’s skeptical of the synod
To better understand the concerns of those who are critical of the Synod on Synodality, ‘Jesuitical’ hosts Zac and Ashley speak with George Weigel, who is in Rome contributing to First Thing’s “Letters from the Synod” series.
Posted inFaith, Synod Diary
Synod Diary: Debunking 3 critiques about the synod
A number of assumptions continue to float around the synod that are only partially true or largely false.
Posted inFaith, Your Take
What makes liturgy ‘reverent’?
Our readers weigh in on the recent discussion between Rachel Lu and Matthew Cortese, S.J. on diverse forms of reverence in the Mass.
Posted inFaith, Features
Vatican II—and its media coverage—has a lesson for today’s synod: Don’t expect immediate results
A look back at the Second Vatican Council through the coverage offered by America and Commonweal offers two lessons: First, we should not expect the journey of the church after the Synod on Synodality to be smooth sailing. Second, the church is very much capable of getting through such turmoil, and emerging stronger from it.
Posted inArts & Culture, Catholic Book Club
Remembering Edward Schillebeeckx: the theologian working from the shadows of Vatican II
Edward Schillebeeckx, O.P., wasn’t officially a ‘peritus’ at the Second Vatican Council, but that didn’t stop him from having a powerful influence on the council and on church theology for decades afterward.