Father Antonio Spadaro Archives

Not being afraid of controversy is part of Civilta Cattolica’s mission
- Catholic News Service, Vatican
- July 24, 2017
La Civilta Cattolica at times has courted controversy, because it tries to engage culture, which by itself can lead to unpopular opinions. According to the journal’s website, part of its mission is to “read and interpret” current events and trends in culture, history, science, art and politics “in the light of the Christian faith offered by the magisterium of the church.”
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Two (strong) views on blockbuster essay about U.S. religion, politics
- Interviews
- July 20, 2017
On Monday, Crux’s weekly radio show on the Catholic Channel, “Crux of the Matter,” featured a conversation between Austen Ivereigh and Thomas Williams about a recent article by two close friends of Pope Francis asserting there’s an “ecumenism of hate” in the United States in ties between Evangelical Fundamentalists and “Catholic Integralists.” This is a transcript of their exchange.
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Agree or not, it’s good to know what Vatican insiders think of America
- Analysis
- July 16, 2017
An article by two friends of Pope Francis arguing that a ‘Manichean vision’ underlies ‘a surprising ecumenism … between Evangelical fundamentalists and Catholic Integralists’ in the United States may be debatable, but it illustrates a time-honored Vatican take on America that neither this pope nor his advisers invented. (As a footnote, we might want to slow down before blaming the US bishops.)
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Francis warns of ‘rigid’ liturgy, confesses soft spot for old ladies

November 11, 2016

In an interview at the start of a newly published collection of his homilies while archbishop of Buenos Aires, Pope Francis has warned of rigidity in those seeking to roll back liturgical reform. He also shares thoughts on preaching, politics and Pentecostals — and his soft spot for ladies of a certain age.

Spadaro: ‘Francis is a Jesuit because he holds the frontier in his heart’

The Jesuit ‘General Congregation’ — the governing body of the Society of Jesus worldwide — began yesterday in Rome, the 36th since the order was founded in the sixteenth century. What difference does it make to have a pope steeped in the Jesuit DNA? Crux asked one of the Jesuits closest to Francis.