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10 Critical Issues Facing the Next Pope Pope Francis, who famously advocated “making a mess,” applied that maxim to his pontificate, making it highly disruptive, divisive and tumultuous. The mess generated much understandable unease, consternation and, at times, disgust, especially as such a deliberate approach to governance has never been consistent with the Catholic faith, the common good, Divine Revelation, and the natural law. However, the flipside was that, like stirring a pot, it brought plenty of what had lain hidden in the darkness to the surface.And in so doing, it has the potential to equip the next pope with...

[Catholic Caucus] ‘Transgender’ individuals to welcome Pope Francis’ coffin at burial siteAs announced by Vatican News, some self-described transgender individuals be included in a welcoming party for Pope Francis’ remains at the Basilica of St. Mary Major.Pope Francis meets with transgender activist group at weekly audienceA party of self-described transgender individuals will form part of a small group welcoming Pope Francis’ body to the Roman basilica where he will be buried on Saturday.As announced by Vatican News – the in-house news outlet for the Vatican – some gender-confused individuals will be included in a welcoming party for Pope Francis’ remains...

[Catholic Caucus] “Blessing Gives Strength to Love”: German Bishops’ Conference Releases Authorized Pastoral Guidelines on Imparting Blessings to Homosexual CouplesIt’s as if they were just waiting for the perfect moment—the moment when the last obstacle to their plan would be removed, and no one could stop them. The German original may be found here. -PAK“Blessing Gives Strength to Love”:Blessings for couples who love each otherHandout for pastorsResolution of the Whole Conference [of German Bishops], April 4, 2025 [released April 23]“The Church wishes to proclaim in word and deed the message of the God-given dignity of every person. This message guides...

The Death of Pope Francis: The End of An Era? - by Roberto de Mattei At 7:35 a.m., on April 21, 2025, Easter Monday, Jorge Mario Bergoglio's soul separated from his mortal body to present itself to the Divine Judgment. Only on the day of the Last Judgment will we know what the sentence of the supreme tribunal to which each of us must one day present ourselves was for Pope Francis. Let us pray today for the suffrage of his soul, as the Church publicly prays in its novendials, and, precisely because the Church is a public society, let...

LGBT group praises cardinal for inclusion in Holy Thursday liturgy: ‘Historic The new cardinal of Naples will wash the feet of a prominent LGBT activist during Maundy Thursday liturgy this year, in a move hailed as support for the LGBT lifestyle by activists.The new cardinal of Naples will wash the feet of a prominent LGBT activist during Maundy Thursday liturgy this year, in a move hailed as support for the LGBT lifestyle by activists.As highlighted by Messa in Latino, the newly minted cardinal of Naples, Cardinal Domenico Battaglia, will include a prominent LGBT activist in the Maundy Thursday Mandatum ceremony...

[Catholic Caucus] Chapel in Apostolic Palace: "Rupnik Lied to Replace Mosaics with His Own"The apparently sex-mad Father Marko Rupnik built his career on destroying and replacing the work of the Russian mosaicist Alexander Kornoukhov, the latter told LaNuovaBq.it (April 15).Kornoukhov was commissioned in 1996 to decorate the Redemptoris Mater Chapel in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace. It was a gift to John Paul II for his 50th anniversary as a priest.The mosaics on walls and ceilings included motifs such as the Annunciation, Jacob's Dream, and some figures of saints (pictures of these destroyed works below).The picture at the top of this...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope in a poncho, symbol of Bergolio’s pontificatePope Francis’ recent appearance in St Peter's, which stunned the world, is the latest and most striking demonstration of how, in complete contrast to his predecessor, he has lived his pontificate at the service of his own ideas. A systematic deconstruction of the papacy.The image of Jorge Mario Bergoglio in a wheelchair, wearing a white long-sleeved vest half covered by a striped poncho, his hair dishevelled and black trousers, is perhaps the most eloquent expression of how he - and his entourage - have understood the papacy, and the umpteenth, perhaps...

[Catholic Caucus] Latin Mass ending in all regular parishes in DetroitThe Archdiocese of Detroit is blessed to have settings exclusively dedicated to the Traditional Latin Mass -- the most famous being the Saint Joseph Shrine. Thankfully, this one is safe.However, the several other Traditional Masses celebrated in regular parishes, pursuant to the generous implementation of Summorum Pontificum, and kept by the generosity of Abp. Vigneron, are about to be abolished by the newly appointed Archbishop, Edward Weisenburger.The news comes from the Facebook page of one of those parishes, Our Lady of the Scapular, in Wyandotte:Pursuant to the order of "Traditionis...

[Catholic Caucus] Archbishop Aguer: Pope Francis seeks the ‘peace of the world’ over the ‘peace of Christ’The main purpose of the Church's existence is fulfilled when and because she speaks of God and leads men towards heaven. But Pope Francis seems to seek a worldly peace and kingdom instead.The value of the concept of mystery differs in literature and theology. In the world of literature it means something hidden (“mysterious”) which must be revealed at some point, at least at the end of the plot. In theology, however, Mystérion designates God and divine things: the Mystery of Christ, true God...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Francis replaces faithful bishop as Argentine prelate expresses concern for his salvationOn this episode of Faith and Reason, John-Henry Westen, Father Charles Murr, and Frank Wright discuss Pope Francis, Archbishop Naumann, and proposed anti-Christian legislation in Australia.On this episode of Faith and Reason, John-Henry Westen, Father Charles Murr, and Frank Wright discuss Pope Francis replacing Archbishop Naumann of Kansas City with a much more progressive bishop, Bishop Athanasius Schneider saying that the next pope must “abrogate and condemn” Francis’ errors, Archbishop Héctor Aguer writing that the health of the Holy Father’s soul is at risk, proposed Australian...

[Catholic Caucus] Questions Linger on Cardinal Fernandez’s ‘Sex Change’ RemarksThe prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has not addressed concerns that his recent remarks may contradict the Church’s moral teaching on bodily integrity.The prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, who recently appeared to some observers to support “sex change” surgery in especially difficult cases, has not responded to questions aimed at clarifying his comments. ... Some observers took his comments to be a contradiction of the DDF’s 2024 declaration Dignitas Infinita (Infinite Dignity). That document, which underlined the inherent and inalienable dignity...

[Catholic Caucus] Pro-LGBT Nun to Lead Holy Week Address in SpainAngel Javier Pérez Pueyo, Bishop of Barbastro, Spain, has announced that Sister María Luisa Berzosa González, a homosexual activist, will deliver the Pregón de la Semana Santa of Barbastro during Holy Week 2025.The Pregón de la Semana Santa is a public speech in many Spanish-speaking regions that officially opens the Holy Week celebrations.Angel Javier Pérez Pueyo became famous for starting a pointless fight over the Opus Dei sanctuary of Torreciudad, located in his diocese.Berzosa González is a nun from the Congregation of the Daughters of Jesus, who hides in lay...

On Feb. 10, Francis addressed a letter to all American Catholic bishops on immigration. His communique was titled “Letter of the Holy Father Francis to the Bishops of the United States.” Here is an excerpt of what he said. “Dear Brothers in the Episcopate, the book of Exodus, invites us to look at the reality of our time, so clearly marked by the phenomenon of migration, as a decisive moment in history to reaffirm … the infinite and transcendent dignity of every human person.“Even a cursory examination of the church’s social doctrine emphatically shows that Jesus Christ … did not...

[Catholic Caucus] The Scapegoat in the Pit: A Girardian Reflection on the Suppression of the Latin MassAbove: Joseph’s Bloody Coat Brought to Jacob by Diego Velázquez, 1630I Am the ProblemWe are familiar with the famous story of G.K. Chesterton, who was once asked to write an essay answering the question, “What’s wrong with the world?” His ‘essay’ reply for publication was disarmingly simple. Two words: “I am.” These two words, juxtaposed with God’s eternal “I AM,” underscore the paradox of our existence. Where God’s “I AM” is the fullness of truth and life, our own “I am” is often the...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinals tout book on vocations and sexual orientation; Pope Francis writes prefacePope Francis has written the preface to Vocazioni felici: Integrare orientamento sessuale, affetti e relazioni [Happy Vocations: Integrating Sexual Orientation, Affections and Relationships], a new book by Chiara D’Urbano, a psychologist and consultor to the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Clergy.Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, and Bishop Michele Di Tolve spoke at the April 9 presentation of the book, according to a statement from the Dicastery for the Clergy. Cardinal Reina is vicar general of His Holiness for Rome and archpriest of the Lateran Basilica; Cardinal...

You might not have read the Book of Maccabees. (Catholics and Orthodox regard it as canonical while Protestants and Jews mostly consider it simply an inspiring, accurate history of God’s people enduring corruption and persecution.) But the Lutheran George Frederick Handel thought the story important enough to compose a beautiful oratorio retelling it, Judas Maccabeus. The Jewish holiday of Channukah has its origins in the events recounted in Maccabees — commemorating the rededication of the Temple after pagans had profaned it.Maccabees is certainly worth a read for Christians today trying to navigate a path between an overbearing, increasingly intolerant secular...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland: Courage as a bishop ‘is a requirement’Bp. Strickland renewed his criticism of trends within the Catholic Church, especially the Synod on Synodality, warning that 'many souls are being led astray.’Bishop Joseph Strickland has warned of a “deliberate effort to undermine the unchanging truths of the Catholic faith from within the Church herself.”“The silence of the shepherds in the face of injustice and the erosion of truth is serious,” said Strickland in a new interview published by Spanish outlet InfoVaticana.Since being removed by the Pope as bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, in November 2023, Strickland...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Schneider: Next pope must ‘abrogate and condemn’ Francis’ errorsSpeaking to popular Catholic podcaster Dr. Taylor Marshall, Bishop Schneider affirmed the need for the next pope to condemn the errors of Francis' various documents and expressions.Auxiliary Bishop of Astana in Kazakhstan, Athanasius Schneider, told Catholic podcaster Dr. Taylor Marshall that the “next pope” must abrogate and condemn the errors promulgated by Francis.Speaking to popular Catholic podcaster Dr. Taylor Marshall on Tuesday, Schneider insisted that “the next pope must,” as his “first task,” issue a decree that “abrogates and condemns” Francis’ “documents and expressions” that contradict Catholic teaching. Schneider...

[Catholic Caucus] Priest to join teachers in opposing motion to ban ‘pride’ flags in Ontario Catholic school districtFather Toby Collins, a Kitchener priest known for suppressing the Latin Mass, will be delegating to keep 'pride' flags in Catholic classrooms at an upcoming Waterloo Catholic District School Board meeting.Kitchner area priest Father Toby Collins is scheduled to delegate to the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) in an attempt to stop a ban on “pride” flags.According to information shared with LifeSiteNews, the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) recruited Father Collins, the pastor at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Kitchener, to...

[Catholic Caucus] MCELROY, SIPE, AND MCCARRICK’S CLONESWill McElroy dismiss these allegations like he did those from Richard Sipe?While living in Coronado, CA from 2009 to 2023, I had the pleasure of befriending and collaborating with the late psychotherapist and researcher, Richard Sipe, of nearby La Jolla. His letter of July 28, 2016, intended for Pope Francis, who alone has the authority to discipline bishops like those mentioned in his letter, was never acted upon by the Pope, the Apostolic Nuncio to the U.S., or then-Bishop Robert McElroy to whom the letter was legally served.Armed today with similar allegations of abuse...