Scott Smith
@hf222222.bsky.social
I am not a Theologian, nor do I play one on the Internet. reducedculpability.wordpress.com https://www.ncregister.com/author/scott-smith
https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/scott-smith
https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/scott-smith
I fear Synodality is being hampered by a vague hope, that if we just dialogue the right way, the Holy Spirit will grant us an almost supernatural gift of harmony & consensus which reconciles tensions.
But history is very clear the Holy Spirit doesn't work like that.
But history is very clear the Holy Spirit doesn't work like that.
October 26, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I fear Synodality is being hampered by a vague hope, that if we just dialogue the right way, the Holy Spirit will grant us an almost supernatural gift of harmony & consensus which reconciles tensions.
But history is very clear the Holy Spirit doesn't work like that.
But history is very clear the Holy Spirit doesn't work like that.
I'm not a Chesterton guy these days, since racism, but its useful to remember conservative Catholics have historically been far, far more economically radical than anything from recent Popes.
None of this is doctrinally problematic.
www.plough.com/en/topics/ju...
None of this is doctrinally problematic.
www.plough.com/en/topics/ju...
I Begin with a Little Girl’s Hair
With the red hair of one she-urchin in the gutter I will set fire to all modern civilization.
www.plough.com
October 9, 2025 at 11:44 PM
I'm not a Chesterton guy these days, since racism, but its useful to remember conservative Catholics have historically been far, far more economically radical than anything from recent Popes.
None of this is doctrinally problematic.
www.plough.com/en/topics/ju...
None of this is doctrinally problematic.
www.plough.com/en/topics/ju...
Reposted by Scott Smith
The political outrage machine, is really running on fumes under Leo, to be angry about this lol.
Oh noes, a Catholic priest blessed some water, totally not a thing every one of them does weekly.
Oh noes, a Catholic priest blessed some water, totally not a thing every one of them does weekly.
October 2, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The political outrage machine, is really running on fumes under Leo, to be angry about this lol.
Oh noes, a Catholic priest blessed some water, totally not a thing every one of them does weekly.
Oh noes, a Catholic priest blessed some water, totally not a thing every one of them does weekly.
The political outrage machine, is really running on fumes under Leo, to be angry about this lol.
Oh noes, a Catholic priest blessed some water, totally not a thing every one of them does weekly.
Oh noes, a Catholic priest blessed some water, totally not a thing every one of them does weekly.
October 2, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The political outrage machine, is really running on fumes under Leo, to be angry about this lol.
Oh noes, a Catholic priest blessed some water, totally not a thing every one of them does weekly.
Oh noes, a Catholic priest blessed some water, totally not a thing every one of them does weekly.
After being hung out to dry by Pope Leo in respect of his inconsistency, Cupich has beat an embarrassing retreat, but its worth noting his whining here would suggest Bishop Barron could justly give JD Vance an award for fighting against gender ideology.
www.archchicago.org/en/statement...
www.archchicago.org/en/statement...
October 1, 2025 at 1:22 AM
After being hung out to dry by Pope Leo in respect of his inconsistency, Cupich has beat an embarrassing retreat, but its worth noting his whining here would suggest Bishop Barron could justly give JD Vance an award for fighting against gender ideology.
www.archchicago.org/en/statement...
www.archchicago.org/en/statement...
Just a reminder, that in the spirit of spirit of Voltaire, it must be said Steven P. Millies' @stevenpmillies.com version of the "consistent ethic of life" is in no way consistent, nor an ethic, nor of life.
www.ncronline.org/opinion/we-c...
www.ncronline.org/opinion/we-c...
We can't limit politicians' worth — or the consistent life ethic — to abortion alone
The bishops attacking Cardinal Blase Cupich for honoring Durbin need to be as consistently Catholic as the politicians they criticize.
www.ncronline.org
September 27, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Just a reminder, that in the spirit of spirit of Voltaire, it must be said Steven P. Millies' @stevenpmillies.com version of the "consistent ethic of life" is in no way consistent, nor an ethic, nor of life.
www.ncronline.org/opinion/we-c...
www.ncronline.org/opinion/we-c...
I mean, we do say that, it was almost conventional to say in relation to e.g. Japanese kamikaze pilots.
CS Lewis also made this point in the Screwtape Letters.
CS Lewis also made this point in the Screwtape Letters.
September 12, 2025 at 2:06 AM
I mean, we do say that, it was almost conventional to say in relation to e.g. Japanese kamikaze pilots.
CS Lewis also made this point in the Screwtape Letters.
CS Lewis also made this point in the Screwtape Letters.
I'm not a schmuck, so we are going to have the highest inflation.
I mean, look, I'm for it - the best inflation. By the way, let's get those numbers up, make inflation great again.🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
I mean, look, I'm for it - the best inflation. By the way, let's get those numbers up, make inflation great again.🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Vance on undermining the Federal Reserve: "I don't think we allow bureaucrats to make decisions about monetary policy and interest rates without any input from the people that were elected to serve the American people...POTUS is much better able to make these determinations."
August 29, 2025 at 5:29 AM
I'm not a schmuck, so we are going to have the highest inflation.
I mean, look, I'm for it - the best inflation. By the way, let's get those numbers up, make inflation great again.🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
I mean, look, I'm for it - the best inflation. By the way, let's get those numbers up, make inflation great again.🤦♂️🤦♂️🤦♂️
Martyrs of Minneapolis, who won the Crown while worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ, pray for us.
August 28, 2025 at 6:29 AM
Martyrs of Minneapolis, who won the Crown while worshipping our Lord Jesus Christ, pray for us.
The right concept here is probably "state capitalism", but that is hardly incompatible with socialism as popularly understood, so its perfectly fine for a journalist to explain it that way.
Their audience aren't exclusively Marxist theorists.
Their audience aren't exclusively Marxist theorists.
There's a goofy article in @theatlantic.com about right-wing socialism.
In the 8th grade I learned the differences between socialism, communism, Communism, fascism, & totalitarianism.
Does The Atlantic staff need a refresher on 8th grade social studies?
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
In the 8th grade I learned the differences between socialism, communism, Communism, fascism, & totalitarianism.
Does The Atlantic staff need a refresher on 8th grade social studies?
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
Trump’s Right-Wing Socialism
The president is embodying the type of big government that right-wing politicians and thinkers have been warning about for a century.
www.theatlantic.com
August 27, 2025 at 8:06 AM
The right concept here is probably "state capitalism", but that is hardly incompatible with socialism as popularly understood, so its perfectly fine for a journalist to explain it that way.
Their audience aren't exclusively Marxist theorists.
Their audience aren't exclusively Marxist theorists.
I've long known Teilhard de Chardin was a disgusting racist, but learning he thought this about my wife and daughters (proud Indigenous Australian women all), robs me of any remaining patience for his supporters today.
August 23, 2025 at 1:31 PM
I've long known Teilhard de Chardin was a disgusting racist, but learning he thought this about my wife and daughters (proud Indigenous Australian women all), robs me of any remaining patience for his supporters today.
The most horrific thing about the nuclear bombs we dropped on Japan, isn't even the things themselves, its the resolve they represented.
If Japan really was willing to fight to the last man, if genocide was required to win, ... we'd oblige them.
If Japan really was willing to fight to the last man, if genocide was required to win, ... we'd oblige them.
August 11, 2025 at 1:37 AM
The most horrific thing about the nuclear bombs we dropped on Japan, isn't even the things themselves, its the resolve they represented.
If Japan really was willing to fight to the last man, if genocide was required to win, ... we'd oblige them.
If Japan really was willing to fight to the last man, if genocide was required to win, ... we'd oblige them.
The bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman had a quote which I think applies to almost every wannbe Church reformer - “Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but nobody wants to lift no heavy-ass weights.”
Go do the hard theological work to create something plausible, then we will talk.
Go do the hard theological work to create something plausible, then we will talk.
July 23, 2025 at 4:29 AM
The bodybuilder Ronnie Coleman had a quote which I think applies to almost every wannbe Church reformer - “Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but nobody wants to lift no heavy-ass weights.”
Go do the hard theological work to create something plausible, then we will talk.
Go do the hard theological work to create something plausible, then we will talk.
It might be a hot take, but for all the effort spent on homilies, I’m pretty close to convinced just substituting them all for the relevant Second Reading from Matins would on average be more beneficial for congregations.
July 14, 2025 at 6:29 AM
It might be a hot take, but for all the effort spent on homilies, I’m pretty close to convinced just substituting them all for the relevant Second Reading from Matins would on average be more beneficial for congregations.
Suggestions from Father Alejandro Moral Antón, O.S.A., Prior General of the Augustinians, that Pope Leo might be replacing many / most of his Curia Prefects after the Summer break.
www.ilmessaggero.it/en/a_glimpse...
www.ilmessaggero.it/en/a_glimpse...
July 7, 2025 at 7:02 AM
Suggestions from Father Alejandro Moral Antón, O.S.A., Prior General of the Augustinians, that Pope Leo might be replacing many / most of his Curia Prefects after the Summer break.
www.ilmessaggero.it/en/a_glimpse...
www.ilmessaggero.it/en/a_glimpse...
If you can afford to, please consider giving more to your Parish.
I almost guarantee they are financially struggling to provide even the most basic things you expect from them.
I almost guarantee they are financially struggling to provide even the most basic things you expect from them.
June 27, 2025 at 6:58 AM
If you can afford to, please consider giving more to your Parish.
I almost guarantee they are financially struggling to provide even the most basic things you expect from them.
I almost guarantee they are financially struggling to provide even the most basic things you expect from them.
Reposted by Scott Smith
I'm loving just how much everything Pope Leo does radiates how deeply he believes.
It presents a holiness I find very appealing.
It presents a holiness I find very appealing.
June 24, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I'm loving just how much everything Pope Leo does radiates how deeply he believes.
It presents a holiness I find very appealing.
It presents a holiness I find very appealing.
I'm loving just how much everything Pope Leo does radiates how deeply he believes.
It presents a holiness I find very appealing.
It presents a holiness I find very appealing.
June 24, 2025 at 10:55 PM
I'm loving just how much everything Pope Leo does radiates how deeply he believes.
It presents a holiness I find very appealing.
It presents a holiness I find very appealing.
There is an old professors trick, where they say something designed to sound shocking in order to get better engagement, but its really just equivocation.
Which is sorta OK when you have a captive audience to take to the end, but terrible for stuff aimed at the general public.
Which is sorta OK when you have a captive audience to take to the end, but terrible for stuff aimed at the general public.
June 24, 2025 at 8:23 AM
There is an old professors trick, where they say something designed to sound shocking in order to get better engagement, but its really just equivocation.
Which is sorta OK when you have a captive audience to take to the end, but terrible for stuff aimed at the general public.
Which is sorta OK when you have a captive audience to take to the end, but terrible for stuff aimed at the general public.
Well here is a discontinuity worth praising God for - Leo made the Rupnik cultists at the Dicastery of Communication get rid of their Rupnik art pieces.
Las ilustraciones de Rupnik van desapareciendo de la web del Vaticano
Algunos autores señalan al Dicasterio de Comunicación
Algunos autores señalan al Dicasterio de Comunicación
Las ilustraciones de Rupnik van desapareciendo de la web del Vaticano
Algunos autores señalan al Dicasterio de Comunicación
www.infocatolica.com
June 8, 2025 at 1:44 PM
Well here is a discontinuity worth praising God for - Leo made the Rupnik cultists at the Dicastery of Communication get rid of their Rupnik art pieces.
I was trying to figure out why Pope Leo didn't join the dots to immigration, with the nationalism stuff, but what should have been obvious just struck me.
He is talking about Israel / Palestine. The nationalism, the security zones, they are references to Gaza.
He is talking about Israel / Palestine. The nationalism, the security zones, they are references to Gaza.
Leo, the first US pope, criticises nationalist politics at Sunday Mass reut.rs/4kUOKSi
Leo, the first US pope, criticises nationalist politics at Sunday Mass
Pope Leo criticized the emergence of nationalist political movements on Sunday, calling them unfortunate, without naming a specific country or national leader.
reut.rs
June 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
I was trying to figure out why Pope Leo didn't join the dots to immigration, with the nationalism stuff, but what should have been obvious just struck me.
He is talking about Israel / Palestine. The nationalism, the security zones, they are references to Gaza.
He is talking about Israel / Palestine. The nationalism, the security zones, they are references to Gaza.
Reposted by Scott Smith
I think maybe dunking on others all day is not good for people’s mental health.
June 2, 2025 at 8:09 PM
I think maybe dunking on others all day is not good for people’s mental health.
Reposted by Scott Smith
An article in Theological Studies on universalism & human freedom everyone should read, because I'm mentioned in the footnotes.
Well actually because its written by the always insightful @catholickungfu.bsky.social, but the other thing doesn't hurt.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Well actually because its written by the always insightful @catholickungfu.bsky.social, but the other thing doesn't hurt.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
May 30, 2025 at 1:14 PM
An article in Theological Studies on universalism & human freedom everyone should read, because I'm mentioned in the footnotes.
Well actually because its written by the always insightful @catholickungfu.bsky.social, but the other thing doesn't hurt.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Well actually because its written by the always insightful @catholickungfu.bsky.social, but the other thing doesn't hurt.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
An article in Theological Studies on universalism & human freedom everyone should read, because I'm mentioned in the footnotes.
Well actually because its written by the always insightful @catholickungfu.bsky.social, but the other thing doesn't hurt.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Well actually because its written by the always insightful @catholickungfu.bsky.social, but the other thing doesn't hurt.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Sage Journals: Discover world-class research
Subscription and open access journals from Sage, the world's leading independent academic publisher.
journals.sagepub.com
May 30, 2025 at 1:14 PM
An article in Theological Studies on universalism & human freedom everyone should read, because I'm mentioned in the footnotes.
Well actually because its written by the always insightful @catholickungfu.bsky.social, but the other thing doesn't hurt.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
Well actually because its written by the always insightful @catholickungfu.bsky.social, but the other thing doesn't hurt.
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
That the Roman Missal does not provide a ton of rubrics for the laity, is wisdom to which we should attend, not a lacuna to be filled.
May 30, 2025 at 11:55 AM
That the Roman Missal does not provide a ton of rubrics for the laity, is wisdom to which we should attend, not a lacuna to be filled.