A Strong Shield against Bosphorescence; plus a Copious Roundup

The news that Michael Warren Davis — a former contributing editor of Crisis Magazine, a U.S. editor at the Catholic Herald, a copy-editor at Sophia Institute Press, and an author of two Catholic books — has recently converted to Eastern Orthodoxy reminds us of just how many Catholics are tempted to go in this direction. We can well understand why. As Stuart Chessman comments:

Undoubtedly,  many more Catholics are considering the step Michael Warren Davis has now taken. The “fault” for this, however, resides squarely with the pope, the Catholic hierarchy and the clergy. It is their outrageous and scandalous conduct that motivates some faithful to seek in Orthodoxy respect for Christian tradition, a reverent and beautiful liturgy and, above all, a focus on the spiritual, on the union of the individual and the community with God. The Eastern Orthodox Church, which Davis has joined, is not necessarily the answer — much more should be said on this subject, pro and con. Orthodoxy will always remain an attraction for a minority. Yet, at some point, on some issue and in some way we all may be forced to decide between loyalty to the clerical establishment or to the truth. And it is the leadership of Roman Catholic Church which has created such a situation — making distinctly possible for everyone a previously unimaginable choice.

Actually, all of us who are “traditionalists” have chosen, in many ways, to adhere to the Catholic truth instead of what the clerical establishment has tried to substitute for it. But that is no reason to cease to be (or to cease desiring to be) a Catholic in communion with Rome, whether of the Latin rite or of an Eastern rite. Still, it is impossible to disagree with Chessman that the hierarchy is responsible for this situation — and, as a result, must answer for it, and must resolve it.

I have written in a number of places, sympathetically but also critically, about the challenges presented by Orthodox claims.