Clive O'Connell

“Put me back on my bike”

[James Martin, SJ @JamesMartinSJ]

Yes, he really said that.

Yesterday Vice President JD Vance criticized Pope Leo XIV for not knowing enough theology: "I think it's very, very important for the pope to be careful when he talks about matters of theology ... If you’re going to opine on matters of theology, you’ve got to be careful, you’ve got to make sure it’s anchored in the truth," he said, at a Turning Point conference.

One of the many, many, ironies about that statement is that it came in response to Pope Leo's comments about war and peace and, specifically, the concept of "just war," which originated with St. Augustine. As many have already noted, when the Vice President was making his comments, Pope Leo XIV, a member of the Augustinian Order, and twice Prior General of the Augustinians before his election as Pope, was visiting the hometown of St. Augustine, then called "Hippo," now in Annaba, a town in modern-day Algeria. For good measure, Pope Leo XIV, the man critiqued for insufficient theological education, earned not only a master's degree in divinity, but also licentiate and a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.

JD Vance's recent conversion to Catholicism is beside the point, because many converts are of course not only highly intelligent (and learned in theology) but faithful and energetic Catholics. We rejoice over everyone entering the church.

What most of us do not rejoice over, however, is a deadly combination of inaccuracy and hubris. Pace, Vice President Vance, but the current war in Iran is not a just war under Catholic doctrine. You can hear that from church leaders from across the theological spectrum, from Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the head of the military vicariate and former head of the @USCCB, to Cardinal Robert McElroy, Archbishop of Washington who holds doctorates in both theology and political science. You can look all that up online. Suffice to say, the Vice President doesn't seem to understand the tenets of just war.

Nor does he seem to understand the fundamental position of the church, which is for peace. "War is always a defeat for humanity," as St. John Paul II said. If that authority isn't enough, then turn to Jesus who said, "Blessed are the peacemakers," not "Blessed are the warmongers." And after the Resurrection, the Risen Christ says to the frightened disciples not "Vengeance is mine" but "Peace be with you."

Incidentally, the day before, the Vice President said that the Pope (and the Vatican) should stick to teaching about morality, also seeming to forget that war and peace are profoundly moral issues.

For his part, Pope Leo was focused yesterday on his spiritual father, St. Augustine. After what seemed like an emotional visit to Hippo, he celebrated Mass at the Basilica of St. Augustine in Annaba. During his homily he said, "The primary task of pastors as ministers of the Gospel is therefore to bear witness to God before the world with one heart and one soul, not permitting our concerns to lead us astray through fear, nor trends to undermine us through compromise."

Amen. Let's all continue to pray for the Holy Father as he works for peace.

(Image: Pope Leo XIV prays at the archeological ruins of Hippo, home of St. Augustine, in current-day Algeria. CNS photo).

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@EuropeanBob7 They weren’t anywhere near the Premier League when the offences took place.

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@EuropeanBob7 To be fair, he was one of the faces of the government that destroyed our country. He should be used to people’s anger.

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@MartinKnight_ Congratulations.

[Trades Union Congress @The_TUC]

Nigel Farage has:

- Voted against stronger worker's rights.
- Threatened to cut the minimum wage.
- And now attacks work/life balance.

This steelworker asks: what does Farage have against workers?

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@DonnachadhMc Vote Green: Get Reform.

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@NiceGuyKenny @ChelseaFC @CalumMcFarlane Even by your high standards, that is excellent. Well played

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@neal_sousbois It only took me half an hour. Any faster and I would have put less effort into the match than Meresca.

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@ChelseatheLab @CFCJacob90 Cobham, Cambridge, Canterbury, Camberly?

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@poperespecter1 @JCRyle He was handed over to the secular authorities who sentenced him to death and executed him.

[Peter T ⭐️⭐️ @Camberleycfc]

For those who haven’t received their voting email, check in junk mail (and we have heard ‘unused folders!’)
See the spelling mistake (footbal) - It’s no wonder so many have gone ‘missing’
Thanks to those who have voted so far, to whoever your choices were.
Peter
@ChelseaFC

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@Camberleycfc Voted!

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@DonnachadhMc @Councillorsuzie They got rid of the LCC as Tories weren’t electable and replaced it with the GLC. When that failed they sold off the GLC HQ for a pittance and abolished the GLC.

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@DonnachadhMc @Councillorsuzie She may recall that the Conservative government postponed the London Mayoral election for a year in 2021.

[The Catholic Union of Great Britain @CatholicUnionGB]

Catholic organisations welcome Archbishop-elect Richard Moth https://t.co/8eRBrbc9QB via @icn_uk

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

Do you play the 'all fines go into free parking' rule in Monopoly. If so that's inflationary, puts too much money in circulation and will massively extend how long the game takes. If you want quicker games avoid this.

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@MartinKnight_ He was my father’s favourite comedian.

[Gareth Gore @gareth_gore]

How I accidentally stumbled upon one of the Catholic Church's darkest secrets

The collapse of a Spanish bank in 2017 opened a window into a hidden world

https://t.co/Jl8O8Zpcn8

[Clive O'Connell @cliveoconnell]

@MartinKnight_ 🤣😂