The pandemic’s mass: an Anglo-Catholic essay on certain Eucharistic issues raised by COVID-19

This article explores a number of issues related to the challenges introduced by the COVID-19 pandemic as it concerns the celebration of the Eucharist and attempts to do so from an Anglo-Catholic perspective. The article considers the overarching question of the extent to which the Church is willing to be open to practices that do not fully express the ideal or the fullest expression of the liturgy in light of serious mitigating circumstances. The following constellation of issues related to the Eucharist and the pandemic are examined: the prohibition against celebration of the Eucharist in light of the historical realities about the frequency of communion reception; the basis in the prayer book for the practice of spiritual communion and reception of communion in one kind; the theological challenges of so-called “drive-by Communion”; and the thorny question of a priest celebrating the Eucharist with no other persons in the church building ( sine populo).

Keeping Distance from Practical Politics: A Critical Analysis of the Muhammadiyah Political Movement from the Catholic Perspective

The Muhammadiyah's stance that tends to keep distance from practical politics in line with the ideals of the founder are dynamic and crucial. The tense was very strong between those willing to be faithful to the mission and those wishing to indulge into practical politics. During this period, the elites maneuvered the political moves numerous times until its centennial years. These experiences act as lessons learned from other organizations in Indonesia. The research aims to determine the critical reflection on the political moves of Muhammadiyah from the Catholic perspective. It uses the Catholic Social Teachings as a reflective tool to determine alternative insights on Muhammadiyah.

Reilly and the Republic in 2020

Robert Reilly’s America on Trial presents a lengthy defense of the principles of the American Founding against recent critiques, especially focusing on those written from a Catholic perspective. His book finds a place in a larger discussion of American Catholic political thought that has been going on for more than a century. I first situate Reilly’s book within that debate, and then argue that Reilly’s account is correct on most counts. Some loose ends remain, but they can be dealt with by expanding some of the points that Reilly has already made. I think, though, that other points not even raised by Reilly’s critics will require further reflection by future American Catholic political thinkers. In 2020, the sensus communis in America has ceased to be “cool and deliberate,” a desideratum for the regime mentioned in Federalist 63; we need to figure out ways to make it cool again.

Assessing Trump’s Legacy for Catholics

Donald Trump’s one-term presidency was significant for Catholics. Trump pursued policies that promoted the pro-life cause and helped to protect traditional marriage, human nature, and religious freedom. Trump’s judicial appointments were also important to supporting Catholic interests. At the same time, there were drawbacks to Trump’s presidency and his conduct of it. This article provides a preliminary assessment of Donald Trump’s presidency from a Catholic perspective.

Ökumenische Performance

This paper aims to explore both the textual performance and the cultural transfer of the Word of God from a Protestant (Christian Hild) and Catholic perspective (Juan Rego). Building on Pope Benedict XVI’s post-synodal apostolical exhortation Verbum Domini (§ 53), the variety of ritual performances of the Word will be analysed in terms of an “ecumenical performance” in order to explore the common theological foundation of both confessions