The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was in the past called La Suprema – “The Supreme [Congregation]” — and the pope himself was its prefect. Over time, the Secretariat of State surpassed and eclipsed the CDF. Paul VI made the Secretariat of State the coordination center of the entire Roman Curia.

Then [...]

Over the last week, Pope Francis has enacted three more reform laws, each by papal fiat. In the technical jargon of Church government, these acts are called litterae apostolicae motu proprio datae – Apostolic Letters given of [the Legislator’s] own accord – or motu proprio for short. They add to the collection of over [...]

Argentina’s Juan Domingo Peron thought the people were like the Parliament. In his view, a leader who desired to maintain power had to “adjust” with the people. Peron would float legislative ideas, observe the reactions, and adjust everything accordingly.

It has often been said that Pope Francis is a Peronist.

In any case, Pope [...]

Confusion follows confusion. The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith sent a press release on January 4 to explain Fiducia Supplicans  – the declaration from the curial outfit that used to be the papacy’s stable doctrinal oversight department – which came as an early Christmas surprise and appeared not only to allow [...]

The bang at the end of calendar year 2023 is still reverberating, and will continue to cause commotion well into 2024. I’m talking about the “early Christmas present” from Pope Francis through his chief teaching department and its new-ish prefect, Cardinal Victor Manuel “Tucho” Fernandez.

The Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faiths’ declaration [...]