Free Republic

Paprocki ‘shocked’ by Durbin’s Chicago award“This decision risks causing grave scandal,” Bishop Thomas Paprocki said.An Illinois bishop said Friday that he is “shocked” by plans in the Archdiocese of Chicago to honor Senator Dick Durbin, a longtime supporter of legal protection for abortion.Durbin, who is prohibited from receiving the Eucharist in his home Diocese of Springfield, will be feted in November with a lifetime achievement award by the Archdiocese of Chicago’s office of human dignity and solidarity.While the award will be presented at a benefit presided over by Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich, Durbin’s own diocesan bishop — Bishop Thomas Paprocki...

[Catholic Caucus] German Bishop Opposes Using the Bible to Condemn HomosexualityThe Bishop of Mainz, Germany, has spoken out against using Biblical passages as a reason to oppose homosexuality.Bishop Peter Kohlgraf made his statements during an interview on the television show “SWR Democracy Forum in Hambach Castle,” broadcast by Südwestrundfunk (SWR), a TV channel in western Germany, reported Katholisch.de. Bishop Peter KohlgrafKohlgraf said that one “cannot simply derive timelessly valid, eternal truths” in Biblical passages about homosexuality. The topic of the show was “Taboos in our society – between morality, power, and the media.”“I don’t take a single sentence from the...

[Catholic Caucus] Pro-LGBT Cardinal Hollerich suggests Church should not define sexual morality so ‘narrowly’The Luxembourg cardinal advocated for expanding the Catholic Church's view of sexual morality despite the Catechism defining homosexual acts as 'intrinsically disordered.'A cardinal from Luxembourg suggested that he would change the Catholic Church’s doctrine on sexuality.In a September 6 interview with Austrian outlet Die Furche, Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich, S.J. advocated for the Catholic Church to expand their view of sexual morality while also promoting synodality.Hollerich revealed that he “would not define morality — especially sexual morality — as narrowly as the Church does today.”Hollerich alleged that...

[Catholic Caucus] WATCH: Mass celebrated in Rome for Fr. James Martin’s Outreach group, other ‘LGBT pilgrims’ Heterodox Jesuit Father James Martin posted a video on the social media platform X on Thursday showing part of a Mass celebrated for his dissident Outreach organization and other “LGBT Catholic pilgrims” at the Oratory of St. Francis Xavier in Rome on the eve of the Vatican’s official LGBT jubilee pilgrimage.The Mass, which was celebrated by Father Sam Sawyer, S.J., the editor-in-chief of the Jesuit-run America Magazine, at the historic oratory proceeded the Vatican’s ongoing LGBT jubilee pilgrimage, organized by “La Tenda di Gionata”...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Bätzing says Pope Leo is ‘accompanying the Church in Germany with trust’ after meetingGerman Bp. Georg Bätzing, known for pushing female ordination and same-sex ‘blessings,’ commented that the Pope has ‘trust’ in the German church following talks.Bishop Georg Bätzing has said that Pope Leo XIV “accompanies the Church in Germany with trust” after his first private audience with the Roman Pontiff.On September 4, Leo received Bätzing, the head of the German bishops’ conference, in a private audience for the first time since becoming Pope.The Holy See did not comment on the meeting, but Bätzing released the following...

[Catholic Caucus] Italian Bishop: Every Homosexual Has Right To Receive EucharistBishop Francesco Savino of Cassano all’Jonio, the vice president of the Italian Bishops' Conference, will preside over the Eucharist in the Jesuits’ church Il Gesù in Rome for the homosexual pilgrimage to St Peter’s basilica on September 6.Saint Ignatius of Loyola is buried in this church. When asked about this event, Savino told Gionata.org on August 15 that no one is excluded from the Eucharist: "The bread broken on the altar knows no barriers of birth, language, social condition, or life path."And: "The Eucharist is a welcoming womb, not a...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal of Madrid tells heterodox LGBT conference the Church must promote ‘inclusion’ of homosexualsCardinal José Cobo addressed a letter to a conference of the ‘Global Network of Rainbow Catholics,’ which is led by two homosexuals, and reportedly organized their next ‘world assembly.’MADRID (LifeSiteNews) — Cardinal José Cobo called for greater “inclusion” of Catholics who adopt homosexual and transgender lifestyles at a conference for a heterodox LGBT group.Cobo, who is the current archbishop of Madrid, wrote a letter that was read at the conference in the Spanish capital.“In addition to welcoming others, we must promote a culture of dialogue,...

[Catholic Caucus] Heterodox priests condone immoral sexual behavior at annual retreat: leaked audio'The ideas and teachings floated in this conference are sure to lead souls to Hell,' remarked Michael Hichborn of the Lepanto Institute.A leaked audio recording of a heretical clergy group’s annual meeting reveals that its retreat leader, a theology professor, downplayed or heretically denied the gravity of an array of serious sins, including masturbation, fornication, and receiving Holy Communion while in grave sin.The Lepanto Institute recently shared audio clips from the 2025 annual meeting of the Association of U.S. Catholic Priests (AUSCP), a dissident group that was refused...

[Catholic Caucus] Synod-Preacher Radcliffe pays tribute to homosexual relationsThe Dominican priest and spiritual assistant to the Synod of the World, Timothy Radcliffe, has acknowledged homosexual Catholics in permanent relationships. In a contribution to the Vatican newspaper "L'Osservatore Romano", the 79-year-old religious wrote last week that he is on a "synodal path with homosexual Catholics". He stressed that the challenge for homosexuals, as for everyone else, is to learn to express love appropriately, while respecting the dignity of others. "I am convinced of the fundamental wisdom of ecclesiastical doctrine, but I do not yet fully understand how it can be lived...

[Catholic Caucus] Archbishop of Detroit appoints priest linked to heretical, pro-LGBT clergy group to prominent postArchbishop Weisenburger named Fr. David Buersmeyer the priest-chancery ‘ombudsman’ for the archdiocese, even though Buersmeyer suggested the Church could ‘support gay marriage’ and publicly defended a priest excommunicated for his role in the ‘ordination’ of a woman.DETROIT (Lepanto Institute) — Following the swift crackdown on the Traditional Latin Mass and the firing of three faithful theology professors, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger of Detroit appointed a new “ombudsman” who was once indicated as a member of the heretical Association of US Catholic Priests (AUSCP).Abp. Weisenburger entered his...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Gregory - Destroyer of Holy Masses - wanted Homosex Liturgy "without Hesitation"On 27 July, Rev Peter Daly, a retired priest of the Archdiocese of Washington, recalled on NcrOnline.org how Cardinal Wilton Gregory of Washington came to celebrate a homosexual Eucharist on 22 January. The cardinal retired on 6 January.In September 2024, Cardinal Gregory received three homosexual activists: Sister Jeannine Gramick, Frank DeBernardo, and Rev. Daly.Father Daly asked Cardinal Gregory if he would be willing to preside over a "liturgy of reconciliation between the archdiocese and the LGBTQ+ community": "He said yes without hesitation."According to Fr Daly, the...

[Catholic Caucus] German bishops looking to promote gender ideology in schoolsA 20-page document says Germany's Catholic schools should respect and make more visible students who are 'non-binary' and 'non-heterosexual.' The heretical German bishops are planning to introduce guidelines for Catholic schools promoting radical gender ideology without questioning its horrendous consequences for children.The German Catholic News Agency (KNA) reports that the Catholic bishops, or more precisely, their school commission headed by Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers, are preparing a 20-page document on “sexual diversity” for Catholic schools.The paper says schools should respect and make more visible students who are “non-binary” and “non-heterosexual.” It...

[Catholic Caucus] Detroit archbishop fires renowned conservative professors from Sacred Heart Seminary'The firing of Ralph Martin and Eduardo Echeverria from Sacred Heart Seminary … is an act of a thin-skinned, petty tyrant,' said Eric Sammons, editor-in-chief of Crisis Magazine.Current and former colleagues and students of conservative Professors Ralph Martin and Eduardo Echeverria were shocked and dismayed to learn on Thursday of their firing from Sacred Heart Seminary (SHS) by Detroit’s progressive new prelate, Archbishop Edward Weisenburger.Last month, Weisenburger came under fire for eliminating nearly all public celebrations of the Traditional Latin Mass (TLM) and prohibiting ad orientem in the Novus...

[Catholic Caucus] Madrid’s cardinal welcomes dissident LGBT group prior to annual gatheringFrom August 21 through 25, the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics will hold its fifth annual meeting to discuss 'the future of LGBTQ+ Catholics.' An international group of dissident “LGBT Catholics” preparing for an annual gathering of similar organizations was received warmly by the cardinal of Madrid this week, although the group advocates against Catholic teaching.From August 21 through 25, the Global Network of Rainbow Catholics (GNRC) will hold its fifth annual meeting. Taking place in Madrid, the event will see groups and individuals gather to discuss “the future...

[Catholic Caucus] San Diego bishop celebrates LGBT ‘All are Welcome’ Mass, allows ‘drag queen’ activist to speakSAN DIEGO (LifeSiteNews) — Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano recently celebrated St. John the Evangelist Church’s annual “All are Welcome” LGBT “Pride” Mass and allowed “Nicole” Murray-Ramirez, an LGBT “drag queen” activist and longtime San Diego City Commissioner, to speak during the Mass. Bejarano was the celebrant of the July 13 Sunday Mass, which was organized by St. John’s “LGBTQ Ministry” and had the full backing of the Diocese of San Diego under Bishop Michael Pham, one of Pope Leo XIV’s first bishop’s appointments. During...

[Catholic Caucus] German bishop suggests guidelines for blessing same-sex ‘couples,’ divorced and ‘remarried’Bishop Georg Bätzing recommended implementing heretical 'blessings' for 'divorced and remarried couples, couples of all gender identities and sexual orientations.'Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg, president of the German Bishops’ Conference (DBK), recommended implementing the conference’s official guidelines for the “blessings” of same-sex “couples,” the divorced and civilly “remarried,” and other irregular unions in his diocese this week.The Diocese of Limburg published Bätzing’s recommendation to implement the heterodox “blessings” in its official diocesan journal on July 9. The bishop’s recommendation follows April announcement from the German Bishops’ Conference and...

[Catholic Caucus] California priest says God is ‘proud’ of ‘LGBT Catholics’ during homily at ‘Family Pride Mass’Father David Andel defended the 'Pride' Mass, saying, 'We wanted LGBTQ Catholics and their families to have a spiritual alternative.'HIGHLAND, California (LifeSiteNews) — Father David Andel told “LGBT Catholics” during a sermon for the Diocese of San Bernardino’s first-ever “Family Pride Mass” last month that God is “proud” of LGBT Catholics and their families.Andel, a priest in the diocese, emphasized during his homily that God loves and is proud of Catholics who identify as LGBT as well as their families for persevering in their...

[Catholic Caucus] Catholic ‘LGBT ministry’ supported by British cardinal marches in London ‘pride’ paradeLGBT+ Catholics Westminster is the official LGBT ministry of the Archdiocese of Westminster, which is led by Cardinal Vincent Nichols.A ministry of “LGBT Catholics” backed by Cardinal Vincent Nichols, the archbishop of Westminster, participated in London’s annual “gay pride” parade over the weekend.The LGBT+ Catholics Westminster, the official LGBT ministry of the Archdiocese of Westminster, the country’s largest diocese, marched in the 2025 Pride in London Parade on July 5. The group promotes LGBT ideology regularly hosts “LGBT Masses,” and has participated in previous London “pride” parades.Per...

[Catholic Caucus] British MP says bishop opposes priest’s decision to deny him Communion over assisted suicide voteChris Coghlan claims Bishop Richard Moth disavowed Fr. Ian Vane's decision to bar him from Holy Communion after he voted for the 'Terminally Ill Adults' Bill to legalize assisted suicide.A British MP who was denied Holy Communion for voting to legalize assisted suicide says his bishop does not support the decision, and has suggested the priest acted without his backing.Liberal Democrat Chris Coghlan, who represents Dorking and Horley, told The Pillar that Bishop Richard Moth of Arundel and Brighton informed him “it is not...

[Catholic Caucus] 90% of German Bishops Deny Catholic Sexual Moral TeachingOn 1 July, German Catholic author Gabriele Kuby told Edward Pentin's Substack.com-account that almost 90% of German bishops support a distorted sexual education that involves teaching children that homosexual acts and gender ideology are normal and acceptable.Two German bishops have recently indicated their support for such indoctrination in Catholic schools.On 20 June, Bishop Peter Kohlgraf of Mainz said that biblical statements about homosexuality should not be read as timeless truths, although morality is timeless.Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers of Dresden-Meissen recently called for a "new" way of thinking concerning the sexual morality...