Category: The Pope, Divorce and The Family

Amoris Laetitia: On the Necessity of Resolving Seeming or Actual Papal Contradictions

September 20, 2026

September 20, 2026 (Steven O’Reilly) – This October 2026, Pope Leo XIV is convening a conference of bishops to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Amore Laetitia (see HERE). The meeting is not technically a “synodal” meeting, though its business will be conducted, apparently, in the synodal style. The participants will be the presidents of Bishops’ … More Amoris Laetitia: On the Necessity of Resolving Seeming or Actual Papal Contradictions

On a Correct Understanding of Amoris Laetitia: Which is it? (Part I)

February 4, 2021

February 3, 2021 (Steven O’Reilly) – Perhaps it should go without saying that when defending the Catholic Faith, Catholics should first and foremost be defenders of orthodoxy. Though it seems to some, being defenders of orthodoxy does not always entail being first and foremost a defender of the pope, any particular bishop, or any one … More On a Correct Understanding of Amoris Laetitia: Which is it? (Part I)

On a Correct Understanding of Amoris Laetitia: Which is it? (Part II)

February 4, 2021

February 3, 2021 (Steven O’Reilly) – This is the second and final part of a series “On the Correct Understanding of Amoris Laetitia: Which is it?”  In part one, we looked at the Church’s “constant and universal” tradition and practice on the question of whether Holy Communion can be given to the divorce and remarried … More On a Correct Understanding of Amoris Laetitia: Which is it? (Part II)

Time for an imperfect council to consider the case of an imperfect pope

October 17, 2019

October 17, 2019 (Steven O’Reilly) – The month of October wears on, as does the Amazon Synod in Rome. While I have been following the goings on in Rome, I have not had time to put fingers to keyboard until now. Events have dictated otherwise. My wife’s mother passed away on September 30 (God rest … More Time for an imperfect council to consider the case of an imperfect pope

Alt right vs. Alt wrong…which Alt is Alt?

August 25, 2019

August 25, 2019 (Steven O’Reilly) – Scott Eric Alt recently published an article on his Patheos blog re what he calls the Francis Derangment Syndrome, apparently this article is part 24 or something of a series. Mr. Alt was set off in this most recent installment by Patrick Coffin’s interview with Cardinal Burke which touched upon … More Alt right vs. Alt wrong…which Alt is Alt?

On the Doctrine of Mitigating Circumstances

August 13, 2019

August 13, 2019 (Steven O’Reilly) – [Updated 8/21/2019] Over at Where Peter Is they recently published an article by Pedro Gabriel on the doctrine of mitigating circumstances.  This article attempts to find ways by which it can be said that acts of adultery might under certain circumstances be considered venial. And, here, of course, Where … More On the Doctrine of Mitigating Circumstances

Amoris Laetitia: A history of doctrinal development or of doctrinal dissent?

August 6, 2019

August 6, 2019 (Steven O’Reilly) – A few weeks back, the “Where Peter Is” website posted an article by Stephen Walford, who is well known to regular readers of Roma Locuta Est which has responded to his many articles and his book in the Summa Contra Stephen Walford. I commented recently on his most recent article (see The … More Amoris Laetitia: A history of doctrinal development or of doctrinal dissent?