De Omnibus Dubitandum Est.

My article ;  Roche, Fernández and the Collapse of Competence , has received a lot of oxygen! It is not a personal attack on these two Vatican officials. It is an attempt to name something most serious Catholics instinctively sense but find difficult to articulate: a growing collapse of competence at the heart of Church governance. The focus is not on personalities for their own sake, but on what their elevation reveals about a deeper institutional problem. Authority is increasingly detached from theological depth, historical literacy, and intellectual seriousness. The result is a widening gap between power and credibility, and Catholics feel it. One of the central arguments I make is that liturgy is now being treated less as a received inheritance and more as a variable to be managed. This shift matters. When tradition is approached as something to be controlled rather than handed on, continuity gives way to bureaucratic improvisation. This mentality underpins the reasoning arou...

In a world awash with shifting opinions, relativism, and ever-changing cultural narratives, the timeless clarity of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen shines like a beacon. In my latest Catholic Unscripted post, “Fulton Sheen Shows Us That Truth Can Never Be Outdated,” I explore why Sheen’s fearless proclamation of the Gospel isn’t just history — it’s a blueprint for today’s Church and culture. Sheen wasn’t just a brilliant philosopher, preacher, and televangelist. He was a pastor who drew millions to Christ because he wasn’t afraid to speak truth — even the hard truths — with intellectual depth, personal warmth, and humor. His preaching reached Catholics and non-Catholics alike, and his influence continues to echo across generations. One of the most striking aspects of Sheen’s teaching was his insistence that truth is objective and enduring — not malleable to fit the latest trends or cultural preferences. As Sheen himself emphasized in his talks and writings, “Tolerance … restrains us...

  Many Catholics were deeply disturbed to see Cardinal Mahony being welcomed in the Vatican by Pope Leo XIV. This follows a rehabilitation of the disgraced Cardinal under Pope Francis. Does this, combined with Pope Leo's support of Cardinal Cupich reveal a deeply worrying direction under this papacy? More details in the write up here .

What Autistic Barbie Really Reveals About Our Broken Culture Is a toy just a toy? Or is it a mirror held up to a society that has lost its sense of the human person? In When Every Difference Demands Its Own Doll , writer Katherine Bennett dives into the deeper implications of Mattel’s latest release: Autistic Barbie . On the surface this might seem like a wholesome step toward representation — but what does it say about the way we think about identity, community, and belonging? This article isn’t just a critique of marketing trends — it’s a cultural diagnosis . Through sharp, witty, and deeply Catholic eyes, Katherine asks: Why do we feel compelled to create a different version of everything ? Has our insistence on categorizing every nuance of human life become part of the problem? What does this tell us about the way we view dignity, difference, and human flourishing? 👉 With insight, compassion, and a dose of cultural clarity rarely found in mainstream discourse, th...

Something unusual happened at Pope Leo XIV’s first consistory — a written note attributed to Cardinal Arthur Roche on the Traditional Latin Mass was handed out, but no one is allowed to see it. Liturgy was on the agenda but never discussed, and many faithful Catholics are asking tough questions about Traditionis Custodes, unity, and transparency. Why was this document kept from public view? What does it signal about the Church’s direction? READ IN FULL HERE

In this episode of Catholic Unscripted, Katherine Bennett and Mark Lambert sit down with "radical firebrand" Fr James Altman to hear the remarkable story of his vocation, a journey that led him from a successful life as a lawyer (and MBA) to the seminary, and ultimately to the priesthood. Fr Altman shares how God’s hand was at work long before he ever imagined a collar: childhood loneliness that became spiritual strength, the quiet grace of holy religious sisters, early devotion to the martyrs, years of serving in the Church while feeling “different,” and then a single, overwhelming moment at an ordination that changed everything. This conversation is honest, intense, funny in places, and deeply encouraging for anyone who’s ever wondered: “Is God calling me… and what do I do if He is?” We live in an age that glorifies self-creation, self-expression and self-sovereignty. But Christianity is built on something utterly different: obedience, surrender, and being sent. A priest...

Pope Leo XIV’s first extraordinary consistory was meant to be a moment of reassurance. Instead, it has exposed the deepest fault lines in the Church today. In this episode of Catholic Unscripted, I take you inside what has really unfolded during this decisive week in Rome — beyond the official communiqués and carefully managed language — to examine why so many faithful Catholics are uneasy, and why this moment matters far more than it may first appear. We look closely at the renewed invocation of Vatican II and synodality, and ask whether these terms are being used as instruments of continuity or as placeholders for perpetual uncertainty. Drawing on the long-standing theological divide between Concilium and Communio, I explore how this unresolved post-conciliar tension is now shaping the direction of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. I also examine the significance of Cardinal Timothy Radcliffe’s prominent role at the opening of the consistory, why his elevation has raised serious concer...

Over the past week, many Catholics have been anticipating Pope Leo XIV’s first extraordinary consistory with a mixture of hope, relief, and unease. On the surface, the signals look familiar: synodality, Vatican II, liturgical reform, participation. For some, that familiarity is reassuring. For others, it raises an immediate and troubling question: are we simply returning to the same categories, the same debates, and the same unresolved tensions that have defined the post-conciliar Church for decades? In a new, long-form analysis now published on Catholic Unscripted on Substack, I take a close look at what has actually happened so far during this consistory, what has been said publicly by Pope Leo, cardinals, and bishops, and what these signals may mean beneath the surface. One of the most important moments came not in a formal decree, but in Pope Leo’s general audience catechesis on Vatican II. His emphasis on liturgical reform and active participation has been widely reported, bu...

“Is there more to life than money?” That’s not just a rhetorical question, it’s the gateway to a deeper question: Is there more to life than material reality itself? In a culture obsessed with success, power, and profit, what does it mean to truly invite Christ into the way we think about the world and ourselves? In Katherine’s latest article “Between Flesh and Spirit: Lily Phillips and What It Means to Invite Christ In,” She unpacks this very tension: how a purely material worldview shapes the choices we make, the values we embrace, and ultimately how we understand sin, redemption, and the person of Jesus. In an age where commodification extends even to intimacy and identity, what does it look like to see the material world through the lens of Christ? 👉 Katherine explores how Machiavellian metaphysics, the idea that reality is only material facts and there are no ideals, drives decisions that sacrifice human dignity for gain. And she offers a vision shaped by Catholic truth: that ...

This week, Pope Leo XIV has summoned the entire College of Cardinals to Rome for an Extraordinary Consistory — his first since ascending to the Chair of Peter. On the surface, the official agenda looks familiar: synodality, evangelisation, Curial reform, a renewed reading of Evangelii Gaudium and Praedicate Evangelium. The language would not have been out of place a decade ago. But appearances can be deceiving. What matters just as much as what is being discussed is how it is being discussed. For the first time in years, all cardinals are being asked to participate in sustained, structured consultation rather than observing from the sidelines while decisions emerge elsewhere. It is quite extraordinary to think that the last real extraordinary consistory (with the exception of a meeting in August 2022) dates back to February 2014. Interesting fact: Prevost, in the Sacred College since 2023, will be among the "first-timers" at this consistory he has called! That fact alone ...

We enjoyed our live broadcast this evening where we got a chance to interact with you all, discuss topics and answer questions. You can catch up with the discussion on YouTube:

We live in a culture that cannot tolerate suffering. Katherine's latest must read essay: Anything that asks us to endure, repent, or carry a cross is dismissed as cruel, outdated, or “unhealthy.” But Scripture warns us that the Anti-Christ will not appear as a monster. He will sound compassionate. Reasonable. Therapeutic. He will tell us exactly what we want to hear. This essay explores why the rejection of suffering is not progress but a spiritual danger — and why Christianity without the Cross becomes something else entirely. Read here: 👉 https://www.catholicunscripted.com/p/we-dont-want-to-suffer-and-the-anti If the faith you’re offered never asks you to suffer, it may not be the faith Christ taught. #Catholic #Christianity #Suffering #TheCross #Antichrist #Faith #Truth

In an age of empty confessionals and casual Communion, many Catholics quietly wonder what difference the faith really makes. This article returns to St Paul’s sobering words in 1 Corinthians 11:27 to rediscover why the Eucharist is not a symbol, but Christ Himself, and why how we receive Him matters. By recovering reverence, confession, and a living faith in the Real Presence, we begin to see the extraordinary power of the Eucharist to heal, transform, and renew our lives and families. Read my latest article now: CLICK HERE!

🛡️ What powerful weapon are Catholics overlooking? In our newest article “The Hidden Arsenal Catholics Forget They Carry,” we’re reminded of a timeless spiritual truth: the supernatural power of the Holy Name of Jesus isn’t just a devotional phrase — it’s a living weapon in the battle for holiness. 💥 📖 Drawing on a stirring sermon from Father John A. Perricone for the Feast of the Most Holy Name of Jesus, we share how short, fervent aspirations throughout the day can: ✨ summon Heaven’s help ✨ strengthen us against temptation ✨ carry us through every trial Too often we forget this hidden arsenal — yet it’s at our disposal every moment. 🔥 If you’re longing for deeper spiritual resilience and a more powerful prayer life, this is the reflection you’ve been waiting for. 🙏 👉 Tap the link in bio to read the full article and reclaim the strength Catholics have carried for centuries. #Catholic #CatholicFaith #SpiritualWarrior #HolyNameOfJesus #PrayerLife #CatholicUnscripted

The capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces has sent shockwaves through international politics. World leaders are divided, international bodies are alarmed, and even within the United States the debate is fierce. Was this a long-overdue act of justice against a brutal tyrant, or a dangerous breach of international law? In the middle of that storm stands Pope Leo XIV. Some Catholics are frustrated by his response. Others see it as prudent. Many are unsure what to make of it at all. In a new long-form article on Catholic Unscripted, I take a careful, unsentimental look at what Pope Leo actually said, what he deliberately did not say, and how his words compare with the reactions of governments, the United Nations, and major global powers. The piece also examines a largely overlooked tension in the American debate: how can leaders now claim Maduro’s capture was unlawful when previous U.S. administrations publicly offered tens of millions of dollars for information leading to his arrest...

Most Christians have been taught that the goal of faith is to “go to Heaven when you die.” But that isn’t actually the Christian hope. In a recent piece, I engage with N.T. Wright’s critique of Western Christianity and his insistence that the New Testament points not to escape from the world, but to resurrection, new creation, and God coming to dwell with humanity. Along the way, I look at why rapture theology and End Times speculation miss the heart of the Gospel, how Greek ideas about the soul distorted popular belief, and why the Catholic vision of resurrection still makes better sense of Scripture than the evangelical escape story ever did. This isn’t about scoring points against other Christians. It’s about recovering the hope the Church has always proclaimed, even when we’ve failed to explain it well. If you’ve ever felt that something was off with “fly away to Heaven” Christianity, this piece is for you. 👉 Read the article HERE

In his latest reflection , Fr Sean Sheehy challenges us to begin 2026 with true wisdom — not the world’s “cleverness,” but God’s wisdom that often looks like foolishness to the world. As Fr Sean reminds us, the real tragedy isn’t being foolish… it’s not knowing it. Start the year by re-orienting your mind and heart to the wisdom of Christ. 👉 Read “A New Start: Don’t Be a Fool Anymore! ” over on Catholic Unscripted and discover how to live with clarity, courage, and truth in a time of confusion.