Just Catholic

Just Catholic is a Catholic perspective on the news—especially when the church itself becomes the news—from Phyllis Zagano.

'The Two Popes' movie is better than the new 'three popes' book

by Phyllis Zagano

Jan 23, 2020

Just Catholic: "The Two Popes" is feel-good fiction about the disparate personalities of Pope Francis and his predecessor. Now, a "three pope" book tries to pit Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah against Francis.

An advertisement in Italian for the Netflix movie "The Two Popes" is seen on a building near the Vatican Dec. 16. (CNS/Cindy Wooden)

After 'The Two Popes,' will the next movie be called 'The Schismatics'?

by Phyllis Zagano

Dec 23, 2019

Just Catholic: Wannabe schismatics claim anyone who disagrees with them, beginning with Pope Francis, is a heretic. News flash: They are not "wannabe schismatics." They are already in schism.

After the Amazon synod, a circus-like sideshow

by Phyllis Zagano

Nov 22, 2019

Just Catholic: The Austrian who stole the statues of Our Lady of the Amazon and tossed them in the Tiber is on a U.S. speaking tour. There seems to be all-in-one packaging in the message of the thief and his gun-toting supporters: They deny climate change and decry married priests, women deacons, and the pope himself.

Newly ordained priests kneel to receive Communion, depicted in an illumination circa 1390-1402. (British Library)

Married priests and women deacons: It's about law, not doctrine

by Phyllis Zagano

Oct 22, 2019

Just Catholic: Laws on clerical marriage and the ordination of women arise from the same misogynistic swamp. And each is what canon lawyers call a "merely ecclesiastical law."

Columns ›

'The Two Popes' movie is better than the new 'three popes' book

After 'The Two Popes,' will the next movie be called 'The Schismatics'?

After the Amazon synod, a circus-like sideshow

Married priests and women deacons: It's about law, not doctrine

Women walking together, away from the church

People are suffering, dying; please stop the rhetoric!

Boundaries and borders serve 'us,' while all others suffer

The problem of clericalism makes transparency impossible

Women Deacons 101: Final Exam

Look up at the altar, where are the women?

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel

The catechism of Cardinal Gerhard Müller

It's not about women priests

The sky is falling and media help it fall

Why not have a woman run a diocese?

The synod: Who is listening to whom?

What can we say about the Synod of Bishops? The optics are not good

Will we ever know the truth?

#MeToo, Your Excellency

As US secures its borders from women and 8-year-olds, the Gospel gets blamed

Imagining Catholicism at the Metropolitan Museum of Art

On messages and messengers

Cloning animals, humans has scandalous implications

Dear Parkland students: This land is your land

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