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As the ecclesiastical crisis continues to deepen in 2017, I have found myself facing a certain exhaustion; a feeling that, while knowing the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church, that Christ will have the final victory, there is no respite from the near-constant series of assaults from the enemies of God’s truth. I know that many of you feel the same way. While we here at OnePeterFive believe we have an obligation to continue to cover the news of what is happening within our beloved Church, however unpleasant, there is also need for reassurance, a rediscovery...

The Extraordinary Synod of Bishops opened this afternoon with a Mass by Pope Francis and the editorials, articles and interviews are flying so thick in the air it's hard to see the sun. The signs and signals are coming so fast and so clearly now that there can be little doubt that the pope intends to adopt some form of Cardinal Kasper’s proposal. Let’s just pass on from all the debate on what Francis intends and face up to this, and ask some questions about what the concrete effects this change will have on the Church. I am not a...

Today in the Italian Il Foglio there is an interview with His Eminence Carlo Card. Caffara, one of the Four Cardinals who submitted the Five Dubia to His Holiness the Pope about Amoris laetitia. Il Foglio seems to have a paywall, but you can find the Italian text at Il Sismografo.Caffarra, who founded the John Paul II Institute for the Family is probably the author of the Five Dubia.This interview is undoubtedly a response to Card. Müller’s statements on Italian television the other day – which on the surface seemed to thrown the Dubia and the Four under the #64 Bus – that provoked...

For anyone familiar with the Vatican over a long stretch of time, there are a couple of truly juicy ironies involved in its current probe of the Knights of Malta, and understanding those ironies may help explain both the defiant reaction the Knights have displayed publicly and the vertigo they may be feeling privately. ROME – Just to be clear from the beginning, I have no insider information regarding the news now making the rounds about the Knights of Malta, either in terms of the factors that led to the ouster of Albrecht von Boeselager, the group’s chancellor, or Pope...

January 14, 2017 Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Heb 4:12-16The word of God is living and effective,sharper than any two-edged sword,penetrating even between soul and spirit,joints and marrow,and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart.No creature is concealed from him,but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of himto whom we must render an account. Since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God,let us hold fast to our confession.For we do not have a high priestwho is unable to sympathize with...

Vain Sayings? Q. Is saying “Oh, my God!” when reacting to a situation or story taking the name of the Lord in vain?Janet, Wakefield, Kan. A. While the phrase “Oh, my God” could be a prayer, it is not usually meant in this way. More commonly it uses the Divine name as a mere expression of surprise or exasperation. This is not a reverent or prayerful use of God’s name in most circumstances. The word “vain” means empty. And, therefore, the context you cite would usually seem to qualify as using God’s name in vain. However, in assigning culpability (blameworthiness),...

Monsignor Carlo Liberati, Archbishop Emeritus of Pompeii, said that Islam will soon become Europe’s main religion thanks to the huge number of Muslim migrants alongside the increasing secularism of native Europeans.Speaking to Italian Catholic journal La Fede Quotidiana, the archbishop said: “In 10 years we will all be Muslims because of our stupidity. Italy and Europe live in a pagan and atheist way, they make laws that go against God and they have traditions that are proper of paganism.“All of this moral and religious decadence favours Islam.” “We have a weak Christian faith,” he added. “The Church nowadays does not...

Full Title: Maltese Bishops Go To The Amoris Laetitia Zoo:Disaster…Inexcusable Nonsense…Green-lighting Sacrilege (Catholic Caucus) ----------------------------------------------------------------- Earlier today I had a great misfortune to read a statement from the Bishops of Malta which is a complete disaster.  I was going to post about it tomorrow, but canonist Ed Peters beat me to it and… he nails it with his usual amazing skill.He doesn’t have a combox, but I do… and the moderation queue is ON. The Maltese DisasterThe bishops of Malta, in a document that can only be called disastrous, repeatedly invoking Pope Francis’ Amoris laetitia,have directly approved divorced and remarried Catholics taking...

In a letter to young people Pope Francis said their responses will form the basis for next year's summitPope Francis has asked young people to tell him, their bishops and pastors about their hopes and struggles and even their criticisms. As the Catholic Church prepares for a meeting of the Synod of Bishops focused on youth, the Pope wrote a letter to young people saying the Church wants “to listen to your voice, your sensitivities and your faith, even your doubts and your criticism. Make your voice heard, let it resonate in communities and let it be heard by your...

VATICAN CITY, January 12, 2017 (LifeSiteNews) — The Vatican has invited the undisputed father of the modern, pro-abortion population control movement to present a paper at an upcoming Vatican-run conference. Dr. Paul Ehrlich, author of the 1968 bestseller The Population Bomb is scheduled to speak in Vatican City during the February 27-March 1 conference that will discuss “how to save the natural world.” The Stanford biologist champions sex-selective abortion as well as mass forced sterilization as legitimate methods to curb population growth. In his 1968 book, Ehrlich went so far as to defend forced abortion, writing: “Indeed, it has been concluded that...

The Vatican is making clear Pope Francis supports letting divorced and civilly remarried Catholics receive Communion in certain cases by publishing a set of new guidelines in the pope's own newspaper that go beyond even what he has saidVATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican is making clear Pope Francis supports letting divorced and civilly remarried Catholics receive Communion under certain conditions by publishing a set of new guidelines in the pope's own newspaper that go beyond even what he has said. The Catholic Church in Malta issued the guidelines Friday on applying the divisive Chapter VIII of Francis' document on...

A PROMINENT figure in the Catholic church has controversially suggested that everyone will “soon be Muslim” because Italy lives in an increasingly secular society amid rapidly growing migration figures. Monsignor Carlo Liberati, an Italian Archbishop, gave the warning after observing the growing number of detention centres opening up in Europe, suggesting it was a sure fire way to have the Islamic faith become mainstream. He said: “In 10 years we will all be Muslims because of our stupidity. Italy and Europe live in a pagan and atheist way, they make laws that go against God and they have traditions that...

The Archdiocese of Malta and the Diocese of Gozo have told divorced and civilly "remarried" Catholics, with valid first marriages, that if they are sexually active they can decide for themselves to receive the sacrament of reconciliation and Holy Communion, if "he or she are at peace with God". The Maltese bishops' document, Criteria for the Application of Chapter VIII of Amoris Laetitia, states the following: 9. Throughout the discernment process, we should also examine the possibility of conjugal continence. Despite the fact that this ideal is not at all easy, there may be couples who, with the help of...

On the afternoon of Sunday, January 15 Pope Francis, in full exercise of his role as bishop of Rome, will visit the parish of Santa Maria a Setteville. Of the more than 300 parishes in the diocese of Rome, this is the twelfth that will welcome the pope. So he has not visited very many of them yet, in part because for the duration of the Jubilee he suspended the visits. But there is one curious element that makes this visit special. The parish of Santa Maria a Setteville does not fall within the territory of the municipality of Rome,...

Sins Against Hope Msgr. Charles Pope • January 13, 2017 • In yesterday’s post, we discussed the theological virtue of hope. This is the supernatural virtue whereby we confidently expect God’s help in attaining eternal life. The object of hope is not earthly things (e.g., better health, a higher-paying job), but rather God and the things awaiting us in Heaven. Hope pertains to things that are difficult but not impossible; we do not really need to hope for things that are at hand or easily obtained.Today, let’s ponder briefly some sins against hope. Expectation of God’s help must be...

Benedictines, from time immemorial, have been marked by a profound piety toward the Apostolic See of Rome and the successor of St Peter. The original form of this litany was composed by Dom Benedict Maria Andersen for the time leading up to the papal conclave of 2013. It includes invocations of the blessed Apostles Peter & Paul (founders of the Church of Rome), as well as invocations of all canonised or beatified Popes. Father Benedict has adapted it into a litany of intercession for His Holiness, Pope Francis, and encourages all Catholics to pray it for the Holy Father in...

Faced with opposition, leaders can try to find common ground with their foes, “reaching across the aisle,” or they can forge ahead, determined not to be slowed down. The holidays this year seemed to confirm that Pope Francis has chosen door number two. ------------------------------------------------------ ROME – Faced with opposition, leaders generally have two broad choices. Either they can try to find common ground with their foes, “reaching across the aisle,” or they can forge ahead, determined not to be slowed down.You can try a little of both, but in general the one tends to undercut the other, so mixing them...

January 13, 2017 Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Heb 4:1-5, 11Let us be on our guardwhile the promise of entering into his rest remains,that none of you seem to have failed.For in fact we have received the Good News just as our ancestors did.But the word that they heard did not profit them,for they were not united in faith with those who listened.For we who believed enter into that rest,just as he has said: As I swore in my wrath, "They shall not enter into my rest," and yet his works were accomplishedat the...

Italian police have uncovered a major international computer-hacking operation that compromised private communications at the Vatican. Police in Rome announced the arrest of two engineers who are suspected of illicitly obtaining “information relative to state security.” The hackers, who were not identified, were described as London residents in their 40s. They had reportedly gained access to computer servers operated by Italian government leaders and European banking officials. The operation also penetrated the Vatican, police reported. Hackers gained access to computers used by Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, at the Pontifical Council for Culture. They also hacked into computers at a Vatican guest...

The Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities recently celebrated the fact that 56 members of the new 115th U.S. Congress (a full 10 percent) attended a Jesuit college or university. AJCU President Father Michael Sheeran, S.J., said, “A hallmark of Jesuit education is service to others, and we are proud to see that commitment represented by the alumni of Jesuit institutions who serve in the House and Senate. We appreciate their leadership and look forward to working with them during the 115th Congress.” As boastful as the AJCU seems about this (it’s on the banner of their home page), I’m...