Doug Chaplin

Peers last night backed removing women from criminal abortion law, so they would no longer face charges or prison for ending a pregnancy. Anglican clerics turned out in force to oppose this (eleven). This level of religious intervention in modern lawmaking is not normal.

“What seems to me most striking about Paul is that he found himself faced with the same problem in dealing with Peter that many people, in all ages, have found themselves faced with in dealing with [the Church]. Paul was more radical than Peter. He lectured Peter, and often strongly disapproved of him. But, in the end, Paul always gave in to him because he knew that Christ had wanted Peter to speak for him. Paul went right to the heart of the matter in everything, and he recognized the authority of tradition — a tradition that had only been in existence for a quarter-century! And it is because he was perfectly aware of what was at stake that he acted as he did. If he hadn't, Christianity would never have survived; it would have fallen apart at once. To understand Christianity and orthodoxy, one must think of Paul. Paul was indeed stronger than Peter, better educated, more cosmopolitan, but he always yielded to Peter's primacy.” — René Girard

People who blame stuff like this on Vatican 2 miss the fact that Orthodox (no Vatican 2) and Protestants (no Vatican 2) also saw incredible secularization, loss of membership, and reductions in religious vocation during the same period.

'GOD IS NONBINARY?': State Rep. James Talarico is under fire after old posts resurfaced showing him pushing for "six genders" and labeling white men the "greatest domestic terrorist threat." He also compared our national security to a "front porch" with a "welcome mat" for all.