Signs of the Times: Prayer breakfasts are generally not controversial events in the Catholic world, except when they are stages for giving awards to people like Attorney General William Barr.
In tackling clergy sex abuse, the "Authentic Reform" schedule includes such topics as "Humanae Vitae as a Charter for Reform," "Purifying the Clergy" and "The Problem of Homosexuality."
Distinctly Catholic: Not since the battle over Americanism has there been a real fear that part of the U.S. Church could slip into schism. Regrettably, the bishops who came out in support of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò are all only too comfortable with the EWTN agenda.
During a recent appearance on the PBS NewsHour, correspondent William Brangham quizzed me about the accusations in a letter Archbishop Carlo Viganò had released a couple days earlier. "Do you see this as a demonstration of a schism within the Catholic Church right now?" he asked.
Accusations of sexual abuse and misconduct by former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick and within several U.S. seminaries have rematerialized past charges placing gay priests and homosexuality at the root of the church's escalating crisis.
Michael Sean Winters rounds up political news and commentary: Why remain Catholic? 'America' calls to disclose abusers' names; Giuliani speaks about 'truth'; Democrats battle for Pennsylvania
A Wisconsin pastor was arrested Aug. 6 for trespassing at an air force base outside Omaha, Nebraska, as part of a protest timed to mark the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima.
The Field Hospital: Parishes under the Society of Jesus Christ the Priest are the diocese's traditionalist centerpieces, as some wonder if Francis' optimism will ever reach southwest Wisconsin.
Regarding Catholic funeral rites for a deceased person in a same-sex marriage, public scandal is more likely to be caused by bishops' restrictive behavior than by permitting a funeral for a gay spouse.
