Catholic Renaissance II

Yesterday, we ran a blurb about the alleged great increase in Catholic converts. We whimsically called the piece “Catholic Renaissance?” Our unserious title shouldn't be taken seriously, of course. If you need evidence, we recommend a Patrick Buchanan piece that summarizes the grave condition of the Catholic Church today. Link. Buchanan's conclusion:

What happened to Catholicism is what happened to America. Both passed through a moral, social and cultural revolution that has altered the most basic beliefs of men and women. There has been a "transvaluation of all values." What was considered scandalous or immoral not long ago ”“ promiscuity, abortion, homosexuality ”“ is now considered progressive. It says everything about our age that, were a judicial nominee in America to echo the views of John Paul II on human life, the Democratic Senate would unanimously filibuster his nomination to death and denounce him as an extremist.

With much of the church having succumbed to the heresy of modernism, it needs an Athanasius. As good a man as the pope was, as great as were his achievements, as noble as was his witness for life, the Catholic Church still awaits that bishop.

Incidentally, if you want a great look at Athanasius, we recommend Robert Payne's Holy Fire. It's a splendily-written book that provides fiery biographies of ten church fathers. Because we usually find books devoted entirely to one saint difficult to get through, we prefer books that provide a series of biographical essays. Payne's book is one of the best.