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November 20, 2018 Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Rv 3:1-6, 14-22 I, John, heard the Lord saying to me:"To the angel of the Church in Sardis, write this: "'The one who has the seven spirits of Godand the seven stars says this: "I know your works,that you have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead.Be watchful and strengthen what is left, which is going to die,for I have not found your works complete in the sight of my God.Remember then how you accepted and heard; keep it, and repent.If you are not...

It’s finally happened. Now that the US Bishops Conference is over, and absolutely nothing was done to combat the crisis of homosexual abuse and cover up within the US Catholic Church, I can finally say I’ve lost faith. No, I haven’t lost faith in Jesus Christ. No, I haven’t lost faith in the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. No, I haven’t lost faith in the Creed, or the sacraments, or the teachings of the Church. No, I haven’t even lost faith in the Catholic Church herself. What I have lost faith in is the hierarchy of bishops, and their...

Wuerl was mastermind behind enormous grant that led to foundation's internal civil warPHILADELPHIA (ChurchMilitant.com) - After Cdl. Donald Wuerl spearheaded a $25 million grant to the Vatican earlier this year through the Papal Foundation, sources confirm the money remains unaccounted for, the Rome hospital designated as beneficiary apparently never having received the grant. Sources also confirm Wuerl was behind the pope's cancellation of a meeting with foundation members in March, and continues to pull the strings behind the scenes. A Controversial Loan-Turned-GrantControversy engulfed the Papal Foundation, a charity partially founded by Abp. Theodore McCarrick in 1988 with assets worth $206...

“Do you not know,” says Saint Paul to the lax and factious Corinthians, “that we shall judge angels?” They had ceded to the unbelievers around them the authority to judge a controversy between Christian brothers. But Jesus says, “Judge not, lest you be judged,” because the criterion by which we measure others will be our measure too, and we are not likely to pass that test. Does Paul contradict Jesus? Not at all.  Consider the Pharisees, who liked to pray and fast conspicuously, pulling long faces so that everyone would know they were in the grip of holiness. Jesus...

In this present crisis in the Church, with more and more revelations of a “sodomitic filth that insinuates itself like a cancer in the ecclesiastical order” (St. Peter Damian), and the subsequent cover-ups and payoffs, the Body of Christ is pierced again with new thorns and nails, and the Mother of God is pierced again in seeing her Son’s sufferings. In bringing some good out of all the depravity, the thoughts of the hearts of many are being revealed (Lk. 2:35).The apostle Paul certainly saw the redemptive side of scandal and division: “For there must be factions among you in...

Franciscan Media Image: Saint Agnes of Assisi | France | gift of E. Royall Tyler Saint Agnes of Assisi Saint of the Day for November 19 (c. 1197 – November 16, 1253)  Saint Agnes of Assisi’s Story Born Caterina Offreducia, Agnes was the younger sister of Saint Clare, and her first follower. When Caterina left home two weeks after Clare’s departure, their family attempted to bring her back by force. They tried to drag her out of the monastery, but her body suddenly became so heavy that several knights could not budge it. Her uncle Monaldo tried to strike...

It was with the proverbial whimper that the recent USCCB meeting in Baltimore went out. The hoped-for and indeed expected bang was thwarted by forces without and within. The Vatican commanded a halt to the United States bishops taking steps about the clerical abuse crisis and its episcopal component. In a particularly obnoxious example of the Peronist “style” of this papacy, the intervention—apparently known only to Cardinal Cupich, papal confidante and de facto head of the USCCB—canceled out subsidiarity, interfered with the legitimate jurisdiction of bishops, and cynically stepped on the very synodality that bishops were forced to vote for...

Pope Francis's 3 Top Oppressors of the Poor Whom he Supports Yahoo News, on November 18, reported Pope Francis saying: "The cry of the poor daily becomes stronger but heard less." Sadly, the Pope needs to point his finger at himself. Why does Francis supports these 3 oppressors of the poor? 1. Francis supports the Chinese Communist regime against the poor Chinese underground Catholics by his forcing these powerless Catholics to be ruled and oppressed by totalitarian Marxist controlled bishops. 2. Francis supports the Venezuelan Dictator by meeting him and refusing to condemned the dictatorship while it starves the...

‘Dictator Pope’ author expelled from Order of Malta Henry Sire has been expelled for his strong criticisms of Pope Francis, but plans to appeal The historian Henry Sire has been expelled from the Order of Malta after writing a book which heavily criticised Pope Francis.Sire was suspended in March, when the Order set up a disciplinary commission. His book, entitled The Dictator Pope, criticised Francis’s interventions in religious orders, and said the Pope had introduced doctrinal ambiguity, following the programme of the “St Gallen mafia” who brought about his election. Sire also claimed the Vatican was increasingly dominated by corrupt...

Pulling Back the Veil - An Overview of the Book of Revelation Msgr. Charles Pope • November 18, 2018 • In daily Mass we are currently reading selections from the Book of Revelation—not a bad choice as the end of the liturgical year swiftly approaches.While many suppose that the Book of Revelation is merely about the end of the world, it is about far more; it is also about what is happening right now. It was not written only for the end of the ages but for all ages. It is a book of glory that discloses the victory...

How long can they deny the obvious? As I walked outside the hotel in Baltimore where the bishops gathered last week for their semiannual conference, I noticed a couple of bishops taking a smoke break. One was puffing a cigar, the other a cigarette. I overheard one say to the other: “What do you think of the conference so far?” The other responded: “Long and tiresome.” Inside, the opinion wasn’t much better. As I sat at the café near the lobby, I overheard an adviser to one of the bishops fume: “There is nothing to show for this conference!” He was...

Evolution of Deceit and the Vengeance of the God of Genesis As told by Moses in Chapter one of the book of Genesis, the account of the creation of the world is exciting, glorious, magnificent; a mystery to man, who cannot fathom the power and greatness of God; a comfort to all those who have believed throughout the ages. Consider this summary of the text and the gift of faith which allows Christians even today to recognize these verses as absolute truth:  In the beginning, God made heaven and earth.  The earth was void and empty, darkness was on the...

November 19, 2018 Monday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 Rv 1:1-4; 2:1-5 The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave to him,to show his servants what must happen soon.He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,who gives witness to the word of Godand to the testimony of Jesus Christ by reporting what he saw.Blessed is the one who reads aloudand blessed are those who listen to this prophetic messageand heed what is written in it, for the appointed time is near. John, to the seven churches in Asia: grace to you...

For the Record: Msgr. Bux questions Ratzinger's resignation, Bergoglio's legitimacy For the Record: Msgr. Bux questions Ratzinger's resignation, Bergoglio's legitimacy We post this now as an important part of the record during the reign of Bergoglio. While we discussed this on Twitter a few days ago, we are just now able to post this on the blog. Long-time readers know we have followed the "Good Bux" for many years (click the tags at the bottom of the post to read more).  What the Msgr. is speaking to, the validity of Benedict's abdication, and naturally following the legitimacy of Bergoglio's election,...

Cupich and Wuerl collaborated on alternative sex abuse proposal Washington D.C., Nov 16, 2018 / 06:56 pm (CNA).- Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago and Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington collaborated extensively on a recently proposed policy for handling abuse allegations against bishops, CNA has learned.Cupich submitted the plan Tuesday to leaders of the U.S. bishops’ conference, proffering it as an alternative to a proposal that had been devised by conference officials and staffers.The conference’s proposed plan would have established an independent lay-led commission to investigate allegations against bishops. The Cupich-Wuerl plan would instead send allegations against bishops to be investigated...

Announcement comes after disappointing bishops' meeting in BaltimoreANN ARBOR, Mich. (ChurchMilitant.com) - Just after the close of the U.S. bishops' meeting in Baltimore, Legatus, a national group of Catholic businessmen, announced it would be temporarily revoking its annual tithe to the Holy See. Members who have already paid dues will get refunds, and members who have not yet donated will get revised invoices minus the tithe. On Friday, Chairman Thomas Monaghan issued a letter to members making clear it was not yet "prudent" to send money to the Vatican in light of "the current crisis in the Church." "Since our...

The Pope Owns This The annual Fall Meeting of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), which took place in Baltimore earlier this week, was a disappointment on many levels. Yet there were also moments of light and strength coming from a good number of bishops. They spoke with clarity, acknowledging the seriousness of the crisis both in terms of the need to bring some semblance of justice to the victims and of the faltering credibility of the Church. Some even made the forbidden connection of the crisis to active homosexuals in the priesthood. Still others lamented the collective...

Franciscan Media Image: The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican | photo by Fczarnowski / Image: Statue of Saint Paul in front of the facade of the Basilica of Saint Paul outside the Wall, Rome | photo by Berthold Werner Dedication of Churches of Saints Peter and Paul Saint of the Day for November 18  The Story of the Dedication of the Churches of Saints Peter and Paul St. Peter’s is probably the most famous church in Christendom. Massive in scale and a veritable museum of art and architecture, it began on a much humbler scale. Vatican...

The Word of the Lord Remains Forever! A Homily for the 33rd Sunday of the Year Msgr. Charles Pope • November 17, 2018 • Jerusalem and the Temple, J. Tissot (1894)As winter approaches and the end of the liturgical year draws near, we ponder the passing quality of this world and the fading of its glories. Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel reading must surely have shocked, even horrified, His apostles. Let’s look at His stunning words and seek to apply them in our own life. The Place of this Gospel – Jesus is standing just outside of Jerusalem. In...

Just apply the regulations we already have, against the barbarians now in control of the Vatican. I'm addressing you-all, Al Kresta, Prof Janet Smith & Dr Greg Popcak, as a group because you three, prominent Catholic figures are involved in the effort to recover from institutional sexual abuse; you are mentioned in Rod Dreher's American Conservative" article "Where To Now, Bishops? And Laity? wrapping up the recent US Catholic Bishops' conference; and you are at least peripherally involved in the No More Victims support group.This is to question, whether significant traction in the slippery, post-MacCarrick abuse situation can't be gained...