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Safe to say, traditional Catholics repelled by the liberal views of the late Pope Francis are not finding much relief under its new pontiff. In October, Pope Leo took yet another sharp-tongued and sarcastic aim at President Donald Trump for ejecting illegal immigrants from America, likening it to abortion and implying he is a hypocrite. "Someone who says I am against abortion but in agreement with the inhuman treatment of immigrants in the United States, I don't know if that's pro life," the Bishop of Rome pondered out loud to media from his luxe Castel Gandolfo digs in Italy. Castel...

[Catholic Caucus] Vatican says 4 papal documents issued under Leo XIV are part of the ‘mandate’ of Pope FrancisWith two new documents in addition to the notes on marriage and Marian titles, 'the mandate Pope Francis had given us two years ago comes to an end,’ declared Fr. Armando Matteo.During the presentation of the doctrinal note on marriage, Una Caro, in the Holy See Press Office on November 25, Father Armando Matteo, secretary of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, stated that the two documents published this month – along with two soon to be released – are...

[Catholic Caucus] Leo XIV Backs Paris Agreement, Aligns with UN’s Agenda 2030 FrameworkOn 17 November, Pope Leo XIV delivered a UN propaganda video message addressed to a gathering at the Amazonian Museum in Belém, Brazil. It was an event held alongside the COP30 climate summit that is part of the broader Agenda 2030 of the United Nations.Leo XIV described creation as "crying out in floods, droughts, storms and relentless heat".He strongly endorsed international climate efforts, stating that the Paris Agreement "remains our strongest tool for protecting people and the planet". He insisted that the agreement itself is not the problem,...

[Catholic Caucus] Synod document suggests women’s leadership, female deacons will be addressed in final reportCardinal Mario Grech, a top Synod on Synodality official, has already expressed support for women deacons, as have other Synod participants.The Synod on Synodality released a teaser interim report on women’s role in Church leadership, anticipating that the “question” of the women’s diaconate will be addressed in the final report.The Synod on Monday published the interim report, in which it announced the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), headed by the heterodox Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, is currently drafting the final report on “the...

The Pope or Xi Jinping? The Secret Agreements increasingly humiliate the Vatican This week, Ignatius Wu Jianlin was ordained auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Shanghai. The appointment took place with the approval of the Chinese Patriotic Association. This is yet another illicit appointment carried out by the post-Maoist regime, confirming that the Secret Agreements between Beijing and the Vatican do not serve to mend a fractured Church like the one in China.On October 15th, Ignatius Wu Jianlin was ordained auxiliary bishop of the Diocese of Shanghai. The diocese itself made the formal announcement, specifying that the appointment took place...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland on the Cupich promotion: "This is not renewal, it is revolt!"Pope Leo XIV has appointed Cardinal Blasé Cupich of Chicago to the governing council of Vatican City. This is not a small administrative act; it is a declaration of direction. Cardinal Cupich has publicly opposed the Traditional Latin Mass, has tolerated and even celebrated politicians who advance abortion, and has consistently undermined those who defend the sanctity of life and the fullness of Catholic doctrine.My dear brothers and sisters, Today, with deep sorrow for the state of our beloved Church, I must speak. Pope Leo XIV...

[Catholic Caucus] Top Catholic scholar: Pope Leo is following Francis’ ambiguity on abortionProfessor John Rist is denouncing Pope Leo's 'shameful' refusal to criticize Cardinal Cupich's award for pro-abortion Sen. Dick Durbin.Renowned Catholic professor John Rist shows that Pope Leo XIV, in his recent interview comments regarding the Durbin case, is “following in Bergoglio’s footsteps.” He even calls Pope Leo’s comments “shameful.”The American Pope, in September 30 comments to journalists, declined to criticize the fact that Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago had the intention of awarding Senator Dick Durbin even though this politician is a strong supporter of abortion. On the...

Pope Leo XIV raises pro-LGBT UK archbishop to key Vatican rolesAbp. Bernard Longley, tied to the controversial Soho 'LGBT Masses' and synodal LGBT 'outreach,' has been granted a third Vatican role under the new Pope’s agenda.Pope Leo XIV has promoted a bishop who has supported LGBT-themed liturgies to a consulting position within the Commission for Religious Relations with the Jews, part of the Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity under Cardinal Kurt Koch.Archbishop Bernard Longley of Birmingham, England, has received three Vatican appointments since June, despite his long record of support for initiatives in the Church that stand in contradiction to...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo XIV Wades Into Durbin DebatePope Leo XIV responded to controversy over the Chicago cardinal’s plans to honor a Catholic U.S. senator who supports legalized abortion, saying that the senator’s record should be considered in its totality and that Americans should search together for the truth on ethical issues.Several U.S. bishops condemned Chicago Cardinal Blase Cupich’s plans to honor U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Illinois, with a “lifetime achievement award” for his work surrounding immigration policy despite his pro-abortion voting record. “I am not terribly familiar with the particular case. I think it’s important to look at the...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo again champions ‘synodality’ despite controversy, says it’s about ‘openness’‘Synodality is an attitude, an openness, a willingness to understand,’ Pope Leo said, presenting the concept as the hallmark of his papacy though without emphasizing doctrinal clarity.Pope Leo XIV has placed the controversial concept “synodality” at the center of his vision for the Church, describing it as an attitude of “dialogue” meant to bring together clergy and laity.His comments, released on September 18 in León XIV: ciudadano del mundo, misionero del siglo XXI, a new biography by Crux reporter Elise Ann Allen, were accompanied by a video excerpt...

Fr. James Martin applauds Pope Leo’s remark that ‘attitudes’ must change before doctrineThe Jesuit adviser says Leo XIV is right that doctrine could shift once Catholic ‘attitudes’ change.In a public commentary on Thursday, Father James Martin, S.J., said that Pope Leo XIV’s recent remarks on homosexuality mean that Catholic doctrine on sexual morality could be changed.Martin, writing in response to Leo’s interview with Crux Now correspondent Elise Ann Allen, said the new Pontiff was “100% correct” that it was “a matter of changing ‘attitudes.’”“No amount of argumentation or debate, no matter how well reasoned or informed, can substitute for what...

[Catholic Caucus] Leo publicly doubts Catholic teaching on sexual morality and the immutability of dogmaLeo's idea that 'attitudes' must be changed before doctrine can sheds new light on the recent events in the Vatican. In his first extended interview, Leo XIV fell short of affirming the immutability of the Church’s teaching on sexual morality, and strongly implied that changes could be possible in the future.Although more muted, he also implied that he could “change the Church’s teaching” on women’s ordination.When discussing his approach to “LGBTQ+” issues with Elise Ann Allen of Crux Now, Leo XIV struck an uncertain note, suggesting...

[Catholic Caucus] In Crux interview, Pope stresses welcome of LGBTQ Catholics, won’t change teachingROME – In a wide-ranging interview given for a new biography on him, Pope Leo XIV has said that his approach to LGBTQ Catholics will be similar to that of his predecessor: an attitude of welcome without changing church teaching.“What I’m trying to say is what Francis said very clearly when he would say, “todos, todos, todos.” Everyone’s invited in, but I don’t invite a person in because they are or are not of any specific identity. I invite a person in because they are a son...

[Catholic Caucus] Does St. Peter’s Need Porters?Recently an egregious display of sexual perversion was allowed to desecrate St. Peter's, which could not have been possible before Paul VI's abolished the minor orders.Before 1972, preparation for the priesthood involved passing through various “minor orders.” They included porter, lector, acolyte, exorcist, and subdeacon, followed by the major orders of deacon and priest. That year, Pope Paul VI issued the apostolic letter Ministeria Quaedam, abolishing the minor orders. Lector and acolyte were reconstituted as “lay ministries.” Exorcist was recognized as a specialized ministry of certain priests. Porter was eliminated, deemed unnecessary in the...

[Catholic Caucus] The Death of Europe | Will Leo XIV visit Lampedusa? A Grave Mistake -- and the Lampedusans themselves would not be happyery few things made European Catholics more unhappy with Francis than his tone-deaf approach to the criminal enterprise bringing millions of illegal migrants to Europe, and deeply changing the demographics, religion, and criminality of vast areas of the Continent.And the main early symbol of that attitude was Francis' visit to one of the most popular destinations used by the people-smuggling gangs: the small island of Lampedusa, in Sicily. Lampedusa was, for instance, the first spot in Europe...