Just Catholic

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

Left: President Donald Trump waves after voting in the 2020 presidential election at the Palm Beach County Library in West Palm Beach, Florida, Oct. 24 (CNS/Reuters/Tom Brenner); Right: Then-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick waves to fellow bishops as he attend

Adventures in clericalism with McCarrick and Trump

by Phyllis Zagano

Nov 23, 2020

Just Catholic: Whether about ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick or President Donald Trump, their complementary stories provide background noise to the worldwide pandemic and save us the trouble of reading medieval history.

A woman wearing a mask for protection from the coronavirus walks outside St. Peter's Square at the Vatican March 9. (CNS/Paul Haring)

Are women involved in a toxic relationship with the church?

by Phyllis Zagano

Oct 29, 2020

Just Catholic: Fratelli Tutti is written by a man who took the title from a man who was speaking to men, and now this document is addressed to men. Well, why not? It's not women who are ruining the world.

"St. Francis before the Pope" (1390-1400, detail) by Spinello Aretino (Art Institute of Chicago)

'Fratelli tutti' does not include women, and neither does 'fraternity'

by Phyllis Zagano

Sep 21, 2020

Just Catholic: Forget about women in church leadership. Could the Vatican maybe hire a few women editors? The latest embarrassment: "Fratelli tutti," title of the coming papal encyclical, is Italian for "all brothers."

Since the Amazon synod, what has happened to talk of synodality?

by Phyllis Zagano

Aug 24, 2020

Just Catholic: There was lots of talking together and walking together at the recent Synod of Bishops for the Pan-Amazon region. Some 230 men and 35 women met, but on the interrelated questions of married priests and women deacons, the talking and the walking fell short.

Columns ›

Adventures in clericalism with McCarrick and Trump

Are women involved in a toxic relationship with the church?

'Fratelli tutti' does not include women, and neither does 'fraternity'

Since the Amazon synod, what has happened to talk of synodality?

New cardinals? They'll be more of the same

The ties that bind: How the Catholic Church can respond to the cult of personality

While reopening rules get debated, the people of God starve for ministry

The end of clericalism

Two popes and a plague, just like the 14th century

It is time to ask, formally, for married priests and woman deacons

'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

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