In my work (especially over the past decade), I have devoted a great deal of attention to the nature and role of the papacy, looking to understand both the office in itself, from historical, theological, canonical, and liturgical points of view, and the South American Jesuit neo-modernist who currently occupies it.
As the fruition and culmination of that work, I have just published a two-volume set with Arouca Press: The Road from Hyperpapalism to Catholicism: Rethinking the Papacy in a Time of Ecclesial Distintegration.
Volume 1, Theological Reflections on the Rock of the Church, takes up broader theological and spiritual themes, presenting a realistic ecclesiology in which the papacy is indeed a capital part of the Mystical Body of Christ on earth, but still only a part, with definite duties and responsibilities toward the whole; moreover, a pope’s fidelity in meeting these can be assessed by objective, knowable standards.
Volume 2, Chronological Responses to an Unfolding Pontificate, analyzes the major moments of Francis’s pontificate, illustrating and corroborating the points laid out in volume 1. Includes extensive discussions of Amoris Laetitia, the Catechism death penalty change, the Abu Dhabi declaration, the Pachamama debacle, and various synods, especially the ones on marriage and family, on youth, and on the Amazon, concluding with the dismissal of Bishop Daniel Fernández Torres, the reconfiguration of the Roman Curia under Praedicate Evangelium, and an overview of Modernism from Pius X to Francis.
Although it’s a matching set and obviously the topics interrelate, the individual volumes are designed to be self-contained and to stand alone; either one can be taken up first. In both, readers will find searching investigations into major issues facing Catholics at this time in the history of the Church and of the West.
Key issues discussed in these books
• Why did Our Lord call Peter first a “rock”—and then a “stumbling block”?
• Does the papal office have any limits to its power? If so, what are they and how do we know?
• Can John Henry Newman help us to put the First Vatican Council in perspective?
• If a pope goes astray in teaching, have the “gates of hell” prevailed?
• What are we supposed to learn from alternating dark and bright periods of papal history?
• How is a pope’s freedom of action and teaching limited by tradition and by the actions and teachings of his predecessors?
• Why are appeals to “living tradition” and “living magisterium” equivocal and misleading?
• Aren’t traditional Catholics guilty of “Protestant private judgment”?
• Why are Sedevacantism and Orthodoxy dead ends rather than ways out of the crisis?
• Is there a common thread connecting the many deviations of the Bergoglio papacy?
• What are the characteristics of the black modernism of 120 years ago, the scarlet modernism of 60 years ago, and the lavender modernism of today, and how can traces of each be found in Francis?
• Why are defenses of Pope Francis so counterintuitive and unconvincing?
• How can we maintain spiritual tranquility in the midst of an ecclesiastical meltdown?
Although it’s a matching set and obviously the topics interrelate, the individual volumes are designed to be self-contained and to stand alone; either one can be taken up first. In both, readers will find searching investigations into major issues facing Catholics at this time in the history of the Church and of the West.
Key issues discussed in these books
• Why did Our Lord call Peter first a “rock”—and then a “stumbling block”?
• Does the papal office have any limits to its power? If so, what are they and how do we know?
• Can John Henry Newman help us to put the First Vatican Council in perspective?
• If a pope goes astray in teaching, have the “gates of hell” prevailed?
• What are we supposed to learn from alternating dark and bright periods of papal history?
• How is a pope’s freedom of action and teaching limited by tradition and by the actions and teachings of his predecessors?
• Why are appeals to “living tradition” and “living magisterium” equivocal and misleading?
• Aren’t traditional Catholics guilty of “Protestant private judgment”?
• Why are Sedevacantism and Orthodoxy dead ends rather than ways out of the crisis?
• Is there a common thread connecting the many deviations of the Bergoglio papacy?
• What are the characteristics of the black modernism of 120 years ago, the scarlet modernism of 60 years ago, and the lavender modernism of today, and how can traces of each be found in Francis?
• Why are defenses of Pope Francis so counterintuitive and unconvincing?
• How can we maintain spiritual tranquility in the midst of an ecclesiastical meltdown?
What some prominent readers are saying
“Guides us with a sure and sane hand to an accurate understanding”—Charles Coulombe, author of Vicars of Christ: A History of the Popes
“Brings sorely needed balance to contemporary discussions about the role of the papacy in the Church”—Phillip Campbell, author of the Story of Civilization series
“Navigates the safe ground of history and Catholic tradition to build a framework in which we can attempt to live with the mystery of evil”—Brian M. McCall, editor of Catholic Family News
“Gets to grips with the scandal facing us today”—Henry Sire, author of The Dictator Pope
“With any hot issue facing Catholics it’s highly advisable to check with Peter Kwasniewski before rushing to your own conclusion”—Roger McCaffrey, editor of The Traditionalist
“Helps the reader to leave behind a widespread and unhealthy hyperpapalism and move on to a Catholic perception”—Monika Rheinschmitt, President of Pro Missa Tridentina
Volume 1, Theological Reflections on the Rock of the Church
(200 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-990685-10-1 | $18.95 USD | paperback
ISBN: 978-1-990685-11-8 | $25.95 USD | hardcover
Volume 2, Chronological Responses to an Unfolding Pontificate
(336 pages)
ISBN: 978-1-990685-12-5 | $21.95 USD | paperback
ISBN: 978-1-990685-13-2 | $28.95 USD | hardcover
