Welcome to the website of Catholic author Mark Shea! Read his recent musings on the blog, or purchase his books from the store.
The reason it is important to distinguish team-building propaganda from admonishment is simply this: One is often tempted to excuse one’s own evil by comparing
Of all the works of mercy, probably the most thankless and despised is admonishing the sinner. Nobody wants to do it (except human toothaches), and
Doubts can be located in the emotions, intellect, or will. Emotional doubts can be potent, but very often, when you interrogate them, there’s no There
One common complaint among many Evangelicals or Fundamentalists is that Catholics honor Mary “too much.” It’s a highly specialized complaint, much like the complaint about Catholic “graven images” that completely overlooks the Evangelical’s own bowling trophies. After all, (and I speak from experience here), Evangelicals have no problem honoring Paul.
Many people have the idea that the Church functions according to the principle: “That which is not forbidden is compulsory.” But this is not the case. The Church has relatively few dogmatic teachings, particularly when it comes to the interpretation of a biblical text. Almost never will the Church say
A reader writes: I am curious about your theological opinion, if you’re willing, on whether or not this was right, or would be condemned by the Church. And I pray to God this never happens to me. (If you’d rather not respond, you don’t have to, but I’m just confused
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Greetings! I’m Mark P. Shea, a Catholic author and blogger who’s also done a spot of podcasting and even acting here and there, as well as radio and TV work. My latest book, The Church’s Best-Kept Secret: A Primer on Catholic Social Teaching was published in September 2020 by New City Press. Other works include By What Authority?: An Evangelical Discovers Catholic Tradition (Ignatius), Mary, Mother of the Son, This is My Body: An Evangelical Discovers the Real Presence (Christendom), and Making Senses Out of Scripture: Reading the Bible as the First Christians Did (Basilica), Salt and Light: The Commandments, the Beatitudes, and a Joyful Life (Servant), The Heart of Catholic Prayer: Rediscovering the Our Father and the Hail Mary (Our Sunday Visitor) and The Work of Mercy: Being the Hands and Heart of Christ (Servant).
I can also be found on Facebook (here and here) and Twitter. If you like my work and want to see more of it, please become one of my supporters on Patreon…..
