Hugh Somerville-Knapman OSB, Author at Catholic Herald

Hugh Somerville-Knapman OSB

June 02, 2023

Pope Francis’s recognition of the 21 killed by Daesh as martyrs is a welcome theological and ecumenical development says Hugh Somerville Knapman OSB. Occasionally in one’s life an idea comes to mind that perhaps is a little sounder than the usual humdrummeries that crave cranial residence. Less frequently one finds the courage, and encouragement, not

An Easter Anthology, by Arthur Howells

April 03, 2023

An Easter Anthology Arthur Howells Hodder & Stoughton, £16.99, 288 pages When thinking of anthologies, two types come immediately to mind: those that gather material from the one author, and those that gather material from multiple authors. Of these, the latter is the more fraught with peril, as the editor’s preference and taste has far

Father Brown and the Mystery of Chesterton

January 02, 2023

Hugh Somerville Knapman on a new volume that delivers a daily dose of detective drama

The Pontifical Academy for Life—A Sequel

December 19, 2022

Photo: Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia watches as Pope Francis addresses the General Assembly of the Pontifical Academy for Life on 5 October 2017. ALBERTO PIZZOLI/AFP via Getty Images In a recent comment piece commissioned by the Catholic Herald I addressed the clamour of concern raised in the Catholic media at some of the recent appointments to

All is not well at the Pontifical Academy for Life

October 31, 2022

The academy set up to promote Catholic doctrine on human life and personal dignity has lost its way entirely, writes Hugh Somerville Knapman OSB There are two ways to demolish a building. If you’re in a hurry and don’t mind attracting attention, you can either blow it up or employ a wrecking ball. If you have

Beware the Church of ‘perpetual initiatives, built on shifting sands’

October 21, 2022

Hugh Somerville Knapman OSB takes the long view of Vatican II As surely we all know by now, 11 October was the 60th anniversary of the opening of theSecond Vatican Council. In the context of the current synodal process through which theChurch is going, the anniversary has sparked renewed reflection and debate on thesignificance of

The Synod will continue until Synodality improves

October 19, 2022

Are Catholics going to be asked the same questions until they produce the right answers, wonders Hugh Somerville Knapman OSB On 16 October, at his Angelus address, Pope Francis announced the decision to extend the process for the Synod of Bishops on synodality by another year, to October 2024, and to split the bishops’ deliberations

The Emperor’s New-Rite Clothes

September 07, 2022

The Vatican risks backing itself into a corner, says Hugh Somerville Knapman

Another day, another letter

July 25, 2022

Good ecclesiastical governance takes time, writes Hugh Somerville Knapman OSB FOUR APOSTOLIC LETTERS have already appeared this year; in 2021 there were eight, in 2020 five, and in 2019 another eight. In a pontificate now into its tenth year, Pope Francis has issued a total of 49; Benedict XVI issued 13 in eight years, and

The unintended consequences of Desiderio desideravi

June 30, 2022

Are the modern rites really what Vatican II intended, asks Hugh Somerville Knapman OSB

Granny’s lace – why is Pope Francis so unsupportive of ordinary clergy?

June 13, 2022

If faith, as the nuns said, was the substance of things hoped for, then lace was the outline—the suggestion—of things not seen. —Iris Anthony, The Ruins of Lace (2012) From time to time it seems as though Pope Francis can’t resist the urge to tell priests off in his speeches; he’s not afraid to employ mockery and sarcasm,

Now is the Acceptable Time

February 19, 2021

Our liturgical recognition of the Coptic Martyrs," argues Fr Hugh Somerville Knapman OSB, "would offer an icon to the world of the heavenly communion that all who have died for Christ now share in Him."

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