{"id":202407,"date":"2026-03-05T00:16:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T00:16:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/extra-extra-news-and-views-for-wednesday-march-4-2026-catholic-world-report\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T00:16:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T00:16:14","slug":"extra-extra-news-and-views-for-wednesday-march-4-2026-catholic-world-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/extra-extra-news-and-views-for-wednesday-march-4-2026-catholic-world-report\/","title":{"rendered":"Extra, extra! News and views for Wednesday, March 4, 2026 – Catholic World Report"},"content":{"rendered":"

Here are some articles, essays, and editorials that caught our attention this past week or so.*
<\/i>March 4, 2026<\/a><\/span> <\/i>CWR Staff<\/a><\/span> <\/i>The Dispatch<\/a><\/span> <\/i>12<\/a><\/span> <\/i>Print<\/a><\/span>
How to Write Well – and Why (The Catholic Thing<\/em>)<\/a><\/strong>: “Bad writing suggests confused and lazy thinking.\u00a0 We fix, or at least improve, our reasoning skills by\u00a0reading\u00a0<\/em>\u2013 books of substance, lots of them, varied and good.”
The Epstein files and the desecration of the sacred – what they reveal and how to read them (OSV News<\/em>)<\/strong><\/a>: “News of the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, followed by Feb. 24 arrest of Peter Mandelson, former British ambassador to the United States \u2014 made headlines around the world, given its unprecedented nature.”
Bishop Coll: young Catholics seek \u2018doctrinal solidity, not adaptability\u2019 (The Irish Catholic<\/em>)<\/strong><\/a>: “While Church debates continue about synodality and reform in preparation for an Irish Synod in October, Bishop Niall Coll of Raphoe has delivered a clear and sometimes firm message: the next generation of Catholics is not looking for endless discussion or progressive experimentation \u2014 they are looking for truth.”
On Rape, Prolifers should Show Humility and Heroics (The Human Life Review<\/em>)<\/a><\/strong>:”There is evidence that many people with pro-life and conservative values fall short in appreciating the gravity of rape.”
What I Saw at Notre Dame (Word on Fire<\/em>)<\/strong><\/a>:”The greatest risk in the modern world of distraction and uncertainty, missteps and misunderstanding is to forget who and what we are. “
The Christian Responsibility for the Poor in the Scriptures (Homiletic & Pastoral Review)<\/em><\/strong><\/a>: \u201cIf you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.\u201d
Death as a same-day service (Catholic Culture<\/em>)<\/strong><\/a>: “Here\u2019s a ghoulish statistic from Ontario\u2019s ‘Medical Assistance in Dying’ program: In 2023, more than 200 people who applied to the program were dead within 36 hours. For 65 people, the state program provided same-day service.”
No Snow Days From Daily Mass, (National Catholic Register)<\/em><\/strong><\/a>: “<\/em>Whatever the weather or the circumstances, the understanding at Corpus Christi Parish in Sandwich, Massachusetts, is that if the priest can make the walk from the rectory to the church, Mass goes on, even in blizzard conditions.”
In full: unpublished letter reveals Benedict XVI\u2019s final reflections on prayer and the future of faith (The Catholic Herald<\/em>)<\/strong><\/a>: “The unpublished letter by Benedict, dated Vatican City, 27 April 2021, is titled \u201cIntroduction: Thoughts on Christian Prayer\u201d and sets out a concise yet theologically dense meditation on the nature of prayer as the fundamental religious act.”
(*The posting of any particular news item or essay is not an endorsement of the content and perspective of said news item or essay.)
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Iraqi archbishop laments spread of Iranian conflict, communication barrier with Tehran archbishop
Redemptor Hominis<\/i>: more important than ever
Clery need to stick to the mission of the Church. That means that clergy need to stop inserting themselves into politics. That is the prerogative of the laity. If bishops want to engage in politics, they should resign their episcopal office and run for political office.
I heartily agree
The hyperlink for Benedict XVI’s final letter redirects to Lawler’s article on the reality of euthanasia in Canada.
Sorry about that. Here’s correct the link. https:\/\/thecatholicherald.com\/article\/unpublished-letter-reveals-benedict-xvis-final-reflections-on-prayer-and-the-future-of-faith<\/a>
The link to this article:
In full: unpublished letter reveals Benedict XVI\u2019s final reflections on prayer and the future of faith (The Catholic Herald): \u201cThe unpublished letter by Benedict, dated Vatican City, 27 April 2021, is titled \u201cIntroduction: Thoughts on Christian Prayer\u201d and sets out a concise yet theologically dense meditation on the nature of prayer as the fundamental religious act.\u201d
goes to the article on euthanasia in Ontario at Catholic Culture.
An interesting quote from another Catholic Herald article:
“The Desert Fathers warned that the devil first approaches us looking for dialogue.” [Attention synodalists!]
“The serpent in the garden did not begin by demanding Eve\u2019s allegiance, but by posing a question: \u2018Did God say, \u201cYou shall not eat of any tree of the garden\u201d?\u2019 To enter that conversation is to follow his logic, which begins in suspicion, hardens into accusation, and ends in division.
https:\/\/thecatholicherald.com\/article\/the-interior-life-in-an-age-of-outrage<\/a>
@How to Write Well \u2013 and Why (The Catholic Thing):
Author Francis X. Maier refers to Christopher Laschs’ book “Plain Style: A Guide to Written English”,and provides a link to the Amazon.com page for it. Amazon has both hardcover and paperback editions, but there is no Kindle version or other ebook. The publisher, the University of Pennsylvania Press, sells an eBook here:
https:\/\/www.pennpress.org\/9780812218145\/plain-style\/<\/a>
Buying and using this eBook requires creating a VitalSource account for the purchase, and using the Bookshelf app for the reading. Bookshelf is available for many platforms, and appears in Apple’s App Store.
Some academic research libraries provide online access to this title for their faculty, students, and staff through the De Gruyter University of Pennsylvania Press Complete eBook-Package.
It is encouraging to see more books from university presses being available as eBooks. “Plain Style” was published on May 3, 2002, while the eBook was published on May 13, 2025.
@ The Christian Responsibility for the Poor in the Scriptures
\u201cIf you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice.\u201d
These words are ‘attributed’ to Saint John Chrysostom. Like other catchy phrases it does have value. Universal? As in every instance as Leo XIV’s ‘The migrant is Christ knocking at the door’? Chrysostom would certainly reference the real needy beggar rather than the devious.
A ‘beggar’ among many once knocked on my rectory door with his female companion holding her cat in her arms, and asked for money to fix his carburetor. I directed him to the police station where we had a fund for the frequent needy travelers on I 40 on the way to CA. He seemed miffed. I offered sandwiches which they took, then whisked off tires screeching reaching 60 mph in seconds. I thought I would like to have that carburetor in my vehicle.
Otherwise give what you can even if there’s some doubt.
Yes. Chrysostom addresses the poor in Homily 50 but AI notes that no source ties the direct quote to Chrysostom. Homily 50 speaks to the poor and the parable of those on the left and right side of Jesus at Judgment at Matthew 25:42. Jesus speaks of HimSELF being hungry and thirsty and\/or HIS BRETHREN being so.
We can distinguish the good Catholic parishioners from the atheistic souls in need. Ratzinger’s “The Meaning of Christian Brotherhood” distinguishes even Protestants as our ‘sisters’ (not ‘brothers’) in Christ. Ratzinger distinguishes those of other religions and atheists as farther and farther away from accepting Christ in His Body (as the Eucharist). Those who do not accept the Eucharist are not In, With, Through Christ’s Body to the same extent as those who accept Him In The Eucharist.
We accept and are bound to care for our family more than we are bound to care for the hunger, poverty, or nakedness of strangers, criminals, or those of other religions.
These days with virtually every street drug contaminated with fentanyl giving cash to a panhandler or beggar can be their death sentence.
@ In full: unpublished letter reveals Benedict XVI\u2019s final reflections on prayer and the future of faith
The future, he says, ‘is no longer awaited with hope but with apprehension; it has even become a nightmare for many’ (Cardinal Parolin). Benedict’s focus on the Eucharist as our gift for strength, and prayer united with Christ present in the Eucharist.
Times are trying, despite evidence here and there of witness and growth in the faith overall, the Church is in decline while the world hurtles in unity with the Zeitgeist. He remains with us. And will to the end.
Would there be any cause for comfort? Comfort is not our pursuit, rather to suffer with the crucified Savior. Suffering is of course not very pleasant, although when offered in and with Christ, as said in the Eucharistic prayer, Per Ipsum, et cum ipso, et in ipso est tibi Deo Patri omnipotent, in unitate Spiritus Sancti. We offer ourselves with Him in His supreme act of love as an oblation to the Father sharing in his fragrant offer.
This supreme act of love, to which all disciples of Christ are called, is what both transcends and realizes our end, in this life in preparation of the next. It will not be great ideas, theological excellence of itself that will have fruition, rather the living of that theological excellence in our lives in imitation of Christ’s saving act.
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