Free Republic

An Insider Tell-All Is About to Rip Pope Francis a New OnePope Emeritus Benedict XVI is dead. His right-hand man is about to come out swinging.Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI had been dead for just two days when it was revealed that his personal secretary, a striking and influential cleric nicknamed “Gorgeous Georg” by the international press, was publishing a tell-all book that promised to avenge his former boss—and lambast the current pope.The news came as a shock in the world of Vatican observers. In part, that was because it arrived as the faithful were still, literally, mourning the pontiff at...

At Sacred Heart University conference, theologians reengage with Vatican IILast week, Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut, marked the 60th anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council by hosting a wonderful conference, "Vatican II and Catholic Higher Education: Leading Forward." The school, which is celebrating its 60th anniversary next year, was a fruit of the council, the first Catholic university under lay leadership in the country. The event was part of a growing body of evidence that a significant minority of U.S. Catholic theologians are reengaging with Vatican II, and ecclesiology more generally, in important ways.Massimo Faggioli of...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinals, theologians gather to plan how US church can support Pope FrancisCardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago celebrates Mass March 25 in Chicago. Cupich was among about 70 cardinals, bishops and theologians gathered privately March 25-26 for conversations focused on how the U.S. church can better support Pope Francis. (NCR screengrab)Chicago — A group of about 70 cardinals, bishops and theologians gathered privately for two days here from March 25-26 for conversations focused on how the U.S. Catholic Church can better support the agenda of Pope Francis.Through a series of keynote presentations and panel discussions centered on tracing the...

Australia’s senior cleric lauds report calling for Church governance by lay womenAustralia's bishops commissioned a task force, which included liberal theologian Massimo Faggioli among its international advisors, and the group produced a report called, 'The Light from the Southern Cross.' Faggioli believes the report should form the basis of a worldwide reform of the Church.AUSTRALIA, 4 March, 20201 (Famlily Life International) – An Australian document designed to undermine orthodox Catholicism may soon become the model for governance of the universal Church. The document is being hailed by head of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference, Mark Coleridge, and is being promulgated...

[Barf Alert] ‘Neonunzism’: Left-wing Catholic pundits attack nun at RNC who gave powerful pro-life speech The army doctor who became a nun described Biden-Harris as the ‘most anti-life presidential ticket ever’ because together they support even ‘late-term abortion and infanticide’ VILLANOVA, PA, August 26, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― Left-wing Catholic media pundits have attacked a powerful pro-life speech by the army surgeon-turned-mother superior who spoke at the Republican Party’s National Convention last night. Massimo Faggioli, a professor of Catholic theology at Villanova University took to social media to protest the appearance of Sister Deirdre “Dede” Byrne, POSC. He posted several messages...

[Barf Alert] Australian bishops’ commissioned report calls for Church governance by lay women The review recommends that 'the appointment of lay women and men to senior decision-making bodies and agencies be accelerated' among other radical proposals. AUSTRALIA, June 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A report commissioned jointly by the Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (ACBC) and Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) has called for radical changes in the Church’s governance. The report recommends significant increases in the influence of laity, especially women, while criticizing the Church’s male-only priesthood. “The Light from the Southern Cross,” a 208-page review of the governance of the Church...

[Catholic Caucus] Villanova historian says Chaput, Cordileone, and Strickland are ‘devout schismatics’ A Church historian at Philadelphia’s Villanova University has said three U.S. bishops are “devout schismatics” who try to diminish the authority of Pope Francis.“They are devout in the sense that they publicly display their preference for a traditionalist Church and its devotions, such as the rosary. They are schismatics because they openly promote the undermining of the bishop of Rome among the Catholic faithful,” Massimo Faggioli wrote in a July 16 essay for La Croix magazine.Faggioli made specific mention of three U.S. bishops among those he called “devout...