Read &amp; Reflect

Baseball and the ‘burden of peace’

“Baseball is like church; many attend, few understand.” Most often this quote is attributed to Leo Durocher, a long-time major league player and manager. The suggestion is that most people who go to a ball game do not really know much about the rules or strategy, just as few comprehend much theology...

Aug 22, 2026 39 views

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Why is the pope heading to San Marino?

Not many countries have played host to several popes over the years. Fewer nations still can say they were founded by a saint. And only one such country can boast of all that, with a population of only 35,000 people.But that’s San Marino — a tiny nation, with an unusually significant role in the his...

Aug 22, 2026 37

Pius laws, works of art, and money for nothing

Pillar paid subscribers can listen to Ed read this Pillar Post here: The Pillar TL;DRHappy Friday friends,And a very happy feast of St. Pius X to all who celebrate. Well, to all of you who celebrate who aren’t in schism — those of you who are should repent and submit to the pope.It is interesting th...

Aug 22, 2026 37

Expert says red flags missed in Pennsylvania priest theft case

An expert in parish financial misconduct told The Pillar that the recent arrest of a Ukrainian Greek Catholic priest represents possibly the worst case he has encountered, and that numerous red flags were missed, which might have curtailed the priest’s alleged criminal activity well before he was ca...

Aug 22, 2026 15

Hong Kong crackdown continues with new convictions, increased harassment

Two civil rights advocates were convicted Friday of national security crimes by a special court in Hong Kong, and now face up to a decade in prison. The convictions come as local clergy warn of increased harassment of Church officials in the territory.Image credit: Hong Kong government.Chow Hang-tun...

Aug 22, 2026 15

The Friday Pillar Post - August 21, 2026

Written by Ed Condon and published August 21, 2026.ShareAre you a paying subscriber?Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phoneCheck the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar TL;DRHaving issues? Email our produce...

Aug 22, 2026 19

NSW Catholic schools chief fired amid corruption inquiry

An organization overseeing almost 600 Catholic schools in the Australian state of New South Wales announced Friday that it had fired its chief executive, days after he appeared before a state corruption watchdog inquiry, and erased his phone and iPhone hard drives amid the corruption probe.Dallas Mc...

Aug 22, 2026 13

Pope Leo XIV: Violence against Palestinians in West Bank must stop

In his Sunday Angelus address on Aug. 16, Pope Leo XIV renewed his appeal for peace in the Israel-Palestine conflict, calling for a two-state solution and an end to violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.“I renew my appeal for an end to the ongoing violence against the Palestinian civilian p...

Aug 22, 2026 18

Pope Leo XIV expresses closeness to victims of earthquake in Indonesia

Pope Leo XIV has sent a message expressing his closeness to the Indonesian people following a 7.7-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Aug. 15.In a telegram dated Aug. 17 and signed by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pope expressed his sadness on learning of the earthquake...

Aug 22, 2026 18

Pope Leo XIV offers condolences to victims of ferry accident in Zimbabwe

Pope Leo XIV has offered prayers and condolences to the victims of a recent ferry accident on Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe on Aug. 11.In a telegram dated Aug. 18 and signed by Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the pope expressed sadness upon learning that a ferry had sunk in Lake Kariba. Accord...

Aug 22, 2026 22

Pope names 2 Notre Dame professors as consultors to Vatican human development dicastery

Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday appointed 12 new consultors to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development — reflecting a diverse group of theologians, experts, and professors, including two from the University of Notre Dame.Pope Francis established the Dicastery for Promoting Integral...

Aug 22, 2026 17

Pope Leo XIV: The musical heritage of the Church must be preserved

VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV has highlighted the importance of sacred music in the liturgy, calling for the Church’s musical heritage to be preserved while fostering healthy inculturation of local traditions.“For this reason, the composer of sacred music is called to know and preserve the musical her...

Aug 22, 2026 15