Free Republic

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Schneider defends consecrations and rejects Vatican charge of schism Bishop Athanasius Schneider has offered one of his strongest defences of the SSPX following its episcopal consecrations. In a statement published by veteran Catholic journalist Diane Montagna, he argues that disobedience to the Pope does not necessarily constitute schism and calls on the Holy See to acknowledge “objective ambiguities” in Vatican II and the New MassBishop Athanasius Schneider has offered a forceful defence of the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) following its recent episcopal consecrations by arguing that disobedience to the Pope does not in itself constitute...

[Catholic Caucus] Vatican Held Secret Vote on Medjugorje Apparitions: Two-Thirds Rejected it For years, the Vatican’s investigation into Medjugorje remained shrouded in secrecy. Now, the verdict of the Ruini Commission has been disclosed: A two-thirds majority of the voters rejected the supernatural character of the apparitions, so why did the Church move toward pastoral acceptance rather than a definitive judgment? This is ultimately about discernment, obedience, Tradition... and the strange new logic of the Synodal Church.The Synodal Church and Međugorje: A History of an Eloquent RelationshipLast August 6, the Italian journalist David Murgia published an exclusive report concerning the secret...

Jesus is coming back soon! FULL SERMON: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0fzCpE1P-o&t=122s

Sky News host James Macpherson says an LGBTQ cruise to Turkey got a “lesson” about the intolerance for homosexuality in Islamic culture. Mr Macpherson said Turkish authorities refused permission for the ship to dock. “They seem to genuinely believe they're oppressed in the West and are genuinely surprised that Islamic nations don't want a floating Pride parade docking in their harbour.”

[Catholic Caucus] Leo XIV Backs Liturgical Program after 'Traditionis Custodes' Leo XIV has sent a message to Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship. The occasion is a meeting at Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon devoted to liturgical formation. Dated June 29, the brief message was published today in the Vatican bulletin. The text appears to reinforce Cardinal Roche’s recent statement that Leo XIV does not intend to abolish Traditionis Custodes. Leo XIV calls for respect for “the rites promulgated by Pope Saint Paul VI and Pope Saint John Paul II.” He adds that this respect must...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop calls the devil ‘imaginary’ in assault on St. Michael devotion One social media user advised that Bishop Ferreira ‘convert to Catholicism' after the prelate suggested the faithful should instead fight ‘homophobia,’ ‘femicide.’A Brazilian bishop has attacked consecration to St. Michael the Archangel while suggesting that the devil is “rather imaginary.”“Are there theological justifications for Consecration to Saint Michael? Consecration is to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” wrote Bishop Vicente Ferreira on X last week. “Isn’t the devil we fight against rather imaginary?” he added.“The greater exorcism should be: of homophobia, of femicide, of racism, of...

Open Letter to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV - by Bishop Robert MutsaertsWe have often published the great texts of Bishop Rob Mutsaerts (Auxiliary of s-Hertogenbosch /Bois-le-Duc), Netherlands. He has just published (in English and Dutch) an open letter to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV on the need for concern for the salvation of souls amidst the confusion of synodality and other trends.Holy Father,With reverence for the office entrusted to you as successor of Saint Peter, and in communion with the Church which Christ built upon the apostles, I address you with this open letter. I don't do so lightly....

In many parts of China, cash is almost gone. 😳 From street food to taxis, everything runs on QR codes using apps like WeChat and Alipay. Your phone isn’t just a device… it’s your wallet.

Sad Story of Ex-Carmelite: Francis Supported Her Transvestite "Apostolate" Mónica Astorga spent almost 40 years as a Discalced Carmelite nun in Argentina and became prioress of her convent in Neuquén.She became internationally known for her work with transvestites because of Pope Francis' encouragement.Astorga meanwhile left the convent and trained in hairdressing. The Vatican formally accepted her departure from the Discalced Carmelites in 2024. She “still” considers herself a believer – yet without attending a Eucharist regularly.Long Connection with BergoglioHer connection with Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the future Pope Francis, began much earlier.Astorga says she met him when he was a Jesuit...

[Catholic Caucus] Francis-appointed cardinal praises Japan’s new pro-LGBT campaignJapan remains one of a handful of countries in the developed world that have not legalized homosexual 'marriage.'The cardinal-archbishop of Tokyo welcomed the Japanese government’s recently announced plan to promote education about LGBT-identifying people.Cardinal Isao Kikuchi, archbishop of Tokyo, told UCA News that it was “meaningful that the Japanese government had clearly articulated a policy aimed at deepening understanding of sexual minorities.”The plan, which was greenlighted June 16, stems from the 2023 LGBT Understanding Promotion Act and reportedly “aims to establish core guidelines for governments, schools, and businesses.”Kikuchi seemed to distinguish between...

[Catholic Caucus] German Bishop: Laypeople Preach in My Diocese — and I Won’t Sanction Them The Vatican's reasoning for the ban on lay preaching is "not entirely consistent," Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz told Katholisch.de on August 11."The letter from the Prefect for Liturgy states that only the priest celebrating Mass may preach. But taken to its logical conclusion, that would mean a concelebrating priest or an assisting deacon shouldn't be allowed to preach either."Lay Preaching Is No ProblemIn the Diocese of Mainz, occasional lay preaching has become an established practice and Bishop Kohlgraf has no intention of changing that.In...

Pope Leo’s private secretary compares his role to St John the BaptistPope Leo XIV’s private secretary, Monsignor Edgard Rimaycuna, has compared his role alongside the pontiff to that of St John the BaptistThe private secretary to Pope Leo XIV, Monsignor Edgard Rimaycuna, has compared his role alongside the pontiff to that of St John the Baptist.Speaking at the parish of San José Obrero (St Joseph the Worker) in the Diocese of Chiclayo, Peru, the Peruvian priest said: “I like to think of the figure of St John the Baptist if I have to define a little what my mission is.”He...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Eleganti: Meetings with leftist celebrities are degrading the papacy Pope Leo XIV's 40-minute audience with the 'Godmother of Punk' reflects a troubling pattern of popes courting cultural elites while doctrinal clarity fades, Bishop Marian Eleganti warns.On July 31, 2026, Pope Leo XIV met with American rock musician, poet, and artist Patti Smith, known as the “Godmother of Punk,” during a 40-minute private audience at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican. Both are from Chicago. The meeting was attended by Father Antonio Spadaro. There are several official photos and a video of the encounter.This harmless encounter – I...

How to be a DhimmiIn late July, some 60,000 migrants surged into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta from Morocco. The migrants were mainly young males. And since 99 percent of Moroccans practice Islam, most were almost certainly Muslim. Ceuta is not a Spanish colony. It’s an “autonomous city” integral to the Spanish state, with Spanish sovereignty dating back to 1580. It’s thus a (hoped for) gateway to the European Union, and a priority target of “undocumented” immigration.Spanish police pushed most of the migrants back across the border. They left behind – as the Wall Street Journal noted –...

Pope Leo appoints pro-female ordination, pro-LGBT consultors to religious life dicasteryAmong the 15 new councilors are several figures who have publicly supported heterodox positions associated with the synodal reforms of Pope Francis. Pope Leo XIV has appointed new consultors to the Vatican’s religious life dicastery, including advocates of LGBT ideology and “women’s ordination,” greater liturgical experimentation, and structural changes to Church governance.On August 6, Pope Leo appointed 15 new consultors to the Dicastery for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life, headed by Prefect Sister Simona Brambilla. The appointments include two bishops, five priests, two religious brothers, and...

[Catholic Caucus] Texas Bishop Expands Latin MassBishop Michael Sis of San Angelo, West Texas, will expand access to the traditional Latin Mass with a new monthly celebration at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Midland, beginning August 30.Rev. Ryan Rojo, the diocese’s Vocations Director and Director of Seminarians, announced the development on X.com.The Mass will be celebrated on the last Sunday of each month at 3 p.m.Rev. Rojo promised that this is “just a beginning”: “The diocese discerns a path forward to provide for our people.”He added that other diocesan priests will learn to celebrate the Roman rite in the coming...

[Catholic Caucus] Leo XIV' New Consultors for Dicastery for Religious Life Are Liberal, Synodal "Reformers"On August 6, Pope Leo XIV appointed 15 new consultors to the Dicastery for Religious, headed by Prefect Sr Simona Brambilla. The new consultors comprise two bishops (Alfonso Vincenzo Amarante and Kevin Otieno Mwandha), five priests, including one abbot (Ignasi Fossas, Damián Astigueta, Maurizio Bevilacqua, Benjamin Earl and Flavien Mambueni), two religious brothers (Antoine Kazindu and Emili Turú), and six religious sisters (Chiara Lorenzato, Maria Nirmalini, María Rosaura González Casas, Mary Lembo, Patricia Murray and Maria do Disterro Rocha Santos).Leo XIV has again appointed liberal, synodal...

Indian Catholics remain jailed for defending parish from Hindu mob during MassA group of Catholics in India have been jailed for three months and were denied bail again this week after trying to stop Hindu activists from disrupting Holy Mass.Ten Catholics from the Bandaria parish in the Indian Diocese of Udaipur were denied bail again this week and remain incarcerated three months after being arrested and charged with wrongful restraint, illegal conversion, rioting, attempted murder, and breach of peace, after defending their Mass site from a group of Hindus who forced their way inside during Mass. Father Arvind Amliyar, the...

[Catholic Caucus] Letters from 22 women documenting Rupnik’s abuse add to allegationsOne former sister said the superior of the community had ‘forced’ the women to write letters to Fr. Marko Rupnik describing their relationship with him and what he had done to them as well as forgiving him.Previously undisclosed letters from 22 women alleging abuse by Father Marko Rupnik are part of the record of the ongoing canonical criminal trial of the disgraced priest.In the letters, “22 women described alleged spiritual, psychological and sexual abuse by Father Rupnik while he was their spiritual director,” OSV News reported Thursday. The letters...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop says Catholic Church must ‘offer refuge’ to ‘queer people in our congregations’The ‘Queer Commissioner of the German Bishops' Conference’ said parishes must become ‘safe places’ for ‘queer people,’ arguing the Church has fostered ‘prejudice, mistrust, and rejection.’ A German bishop has accused the Catholic Church of failing “queer people” by allowing “prejudice, mistrust,” and “rejection,” calling on the Church to “repent.”On August 2, Bishop Ludger Schepers, auxiliary bishop of Essen and the “Queer Commissioner of the German Bishops’ Conference,” made the criticism in a public statement published by German news outlet Kirche+Leben, one week after the attack...