Welcome to the Weekend Roundup! – News & Views – 4/27/19

• Notre Dame fire may finally awaken France’s ‘Zombie Catholics’

Catholic spokespersons are hoping the Notre Dame fire will rekindle an interest in their religion for many of France’s highly-secularized Catholics. However, whether a Catholic is on the church’s legalistic religious treadmill or spending Sunday mornings in bed, the results are the same. Les résultats sont les mêmes.

• Notre Dame Cathedral Fire Reignites Remembrance of Massacres Carried Out By French Catholic Crusaders

Interesting article. The Catholic majority massacred the Protestant Huguenot minority beneath the towers of Notre Dame on St. Bartholomew’s Day in 1572. Pope Gregory XIII had a special medal struck to commemorate the slaughter of the Protestant “heretics.” See here for more information.

• More Americans than ever are leaving the Catholic Church after the sex abuse scandal. Here’s why.

Many American Catholics are finding it impossible to remain in the Catholic church in light of the current scandal tsunami. Are evangelical churches reaching out to their disaffected Catholic neighbors with the Gospel of grace?

• Radio Maryja and the media empire of Poland’s polarizing priest
• Poland’s Catholic Church condemns Jewish effigy ritual

Because of its unique history, Poland is one of the few remaining (if not the only) “Catholic countries” in Europe where the militant, pre-conciliar brand of Catholicism still flourishes.

• I didn’t need a degree in theology to convert. Being Catholic just felt right.

The vast majority of American Catholics have only a very shallow understanding of their church’s theology, and their knowledge of Scripture is even less. For them, being Catholic boils down to upbringing and allegiance to family tradition. In the cases of those who are drawn to Catholicism’s liturgical ritualism or who remain despite the scandals, it often boils down to a subjective, “it just feels right,” similar to Mormons’ alleged validation of their religion through a “burning in the bosom.”

• Bannon’s emerging anti-Francis movement threatens church unity

Conservative Catholics are appalled by pope Francis’ progressive reforms (i.e., the lifting of the ban on communion for remarried divorcees, the advancement of shared communion with Protestants, the absolute ban on capital punishment, etc.), but their strong belief in papal authority has precluded outright rebellion and schism to this point. Will conservative Catholic gadfly, Steve Bannon, succeed in unifying and mobilizing opposition to Francis?

• Should Protestants share a stage with Catholics at worship events?

In this excellent short article, a pastor states some vital truths that are being swept under the rug in the push for ecumenical false “unity.”

• New Device For Stoic Baptists Lifts Your Arms During Worship For You (Satire)

I’ve already ordered mine.