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On a regular basis, we are hearing reports of high-profile Christian leaders renouncing their faith, most recently Dr. Paul Maxwell, an author, former Moody Bible Institute professor, and writer for Desiring God. Yet, for many of us, it was even more shocking to learn that Abraham Piper, son of the influential pastor John Piper, had become an internet sensation, best known for his videos mocking his former evangelical beliefs. As reported by Ruth Graham for the New York Times, “Abraham Piper became a sensation on TikTok nearly overnight. He posted his first video in November, and he now has more...

Regis High School, one of the most prominent Catholic schools in the country, said it planned to fire the Jesuit priest who serves as its president after an investigation found he had engaged in sexual misconduct involving several adults, including school employees. The Rev. Daniel Lahart, who has been president of Regis, a prestigious all-boys school in Manhattan, since 2016, has been on administrative leave since late February, the school said in a statement. His firing will be effective April 21, the school said. “The investigation is now coming to a close, and the board of trustees has determined, based...

Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not...

Hoeppner Case Highlights Pope’s Deeply Troubling Track Record on Clerical AbusePope Francis is perhaps most controversial for his theological positions or his populist progressive sentiments, but what is often overlooked in evaluations of this lightning rod of a papacy is his absolutely abysmal record on clerical sex abuse. He has talked tough at times about clerical abuse. He’s even published guidelines on how it should be handled. But I’ve been asking where the pope really stands on clerical sex abuse since 2015 — and with good reason.When I read the story today about the forced resignation Bishop Michael Hoeppner of...

Gay member of Vatican commission: I feel he'll repair thisSANTIAGO, Chile (ChurchMilitant.com) - Juan Carlos Cruz, a gay journalist and survivor of clerical sexual abuse, is claiming that Pope Francis is "hurt" by the Vatican's Feb. 22 declaration affirming Catholic teachings on marriage and human sexuality — despite having endorsed the declaration. "I spoke with the pope," Cruz told Chile's La Tercera newspaper in an April 10 article, adding, "I don't want to betray a confidence, but I know that the pope is a man who is very hurt by this, although ultimately he is responsible." It was Cruz who...

Blessing of Same-Sex Couples. That Time the Holy Office Washed Its Hands of ItIn this phase of growing, thunderous rejection - especially on Germanic ground - of the “Responsum” of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith against the blessing of homosexual couples, it is startling to know that in Rome “five centuries ago there were marriages between men in church”, As Settimo Cielo documented in a previous post.In effect, same-sex unions have always speckled the history of the Church, which has always condemned them. But that such unions should aspire to be recognized as good and legitimate by...

Papal pokes in priestly eyesThere is nothing wrong with a Pope presenting points for priestly reflection and improvement, but the interminable negative drumbeat is a major factor in low morale among the clergy and seminarians.“Men, not Angels, the Priests of the Gospel”. So did St. John Henry Cardinal Newman entitle one of his lectures in 1849,1 four years after his conversion. Newman was not scandalized by that realization; he was actually comforted by it because it meant he could thus count himself among the Lord’s especially chosen disciples.On this recent Holy Thursday, the preeminent day of the Holy Eucharist and...

“The sex change industry is an industry of deception,” His Eminence Metropolitan Hilarion of Volokolamsk told RIA-Novosti on Saturday, commenting on the Russian Orthodox Church’s decision to prepare a special document on the topic. The Russian Church cannot accept so-called “sex changes” under any circumstances, the Chairman of the Department of External Church Relations said, no matter what psychologists, surgeons, and other specialists may say. To develop the document, a separate working group “with the involvement of competent experts” will be created under the auspices of the Commission on Theology and Theological Education of the Inter-Council Presence of the Russian...

Why I Signed “To Awaken Conscience”The statement “To Awaken Conscience” on so-called “abortion tainted” vaccines was meant to propose an ideal, not give arguments. I signed it because I agree with that ideal. But a philosopher should have reasons too, and here I wish to give them. These reasons also explain why I reject the statement recently offered by some Catholics under the auspices of the Ethics & Public Policy Center (EPPC).In ethical questions, one has to follow the right method. Right method does not mean coming up with an argument that seems obvious to you, even if it implies...

Francis' Personal Homosex Activist Expects "Reparation" For Not Blessing SinFrancis is “very hurt” about his own document against homosex "blessings," Francis' personal homosex activist Juan Carlos Cruz told LaTercera.com (April 10) without laughing.Five days after the publication of the document, Francis called Cruz informing him that he was the first homosex activist appointed to the Roman Curia, i.e. to the alleged "Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors."Cruz told LaTercera.com that he doesn't want to "excuse" Francis who is "responsible" for the document, but believes that “very powerful” prefects had also their say in this. In reality, Francis has surrounded...

Bishop’s Anti-Life BillDoctor's choice trumps patient's lifeBp. Michael Olson: "The inherent dignity of human life requires that we not cling to this life."Texas bishops on Wednesday used the authority of the Catholic Church to justify robbing vital health decisions from patients or their families. Michael Olson, bishop of Fort Worth, testified at the Texas capitol in favor of placing treatment decisions [solely] into the hands of doctors and a so-called qualified third-party surrogate.During his testimony, Olson made a false comparison between choosing life and becoming transgender.Bp. Olson: "It's not unlike a patient that comes in and demands hormonal treatment at...

Book detailing Pope’s mishandling of sex abuse scandals now available in EnglishNEOVATICAN GALLERY: Modernism, Unmentionable Vices and Corruption in the Time of Bergoglio' is now available in English.April 9, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) – The following text is an introduction that I wrote for a little book by Marco Tosatti, in which he details Pope Francis’s mishandling of sex abuse scandals. His book, entitled NEOVATICAN GALLERY: Modernism, Unmentionable Vices and Corruption in the Time of Bergoglio was first published in Italian but is now also available in English.Introduction to Marco Tosatti’s book, by Dr. Maike HicksonIt is with great joy that I...

Contributors to a devotional book featuring a prayer that asks God for help to "hate white people" have come to the author's defense, saying people are missing the full context of the piece. Screenshots of the devotional book A Rhythm of Prayer: A Collection of Meditations for Renewal were posted online last week by users who objected to the inclusion of a prayer titled "Prayer of a Weary Black Woman" by Chanequa Walker-Barnes, a professor of practical theology at Mercer University. "Dear God, Please help me to hate White people. Or at least to want to hate them. At least,...

Bishop Paul Dempsey of Achonry called the ban a ‘hurtful response from the Church to people with same sex orientation.’ACHONRY, Ireland, April 9, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) — The youngest Catholic bishop in Ireland has become the latest to join a number of church leaders who have openly distanced themselves from the Vatican’s ban on blessing homosexual couples. Bishop Paul Dempsey of Achonry called the ban a “hurtful response from the Church to people with same sex orientation” in a March 26 reflection that appeared on the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference website. Dempsey, who was appointed Bishop of Achonry in January 2020...

Doctor's choice trumps patient's life Bp. Michael Olson: "The inherent dignity of human life requires that we not cling to this life." Texas bishops on Wednesday used the authority of the Catholic Church to justify robbing vital health decisions from patients or their families. Michael Olson, bishop of Fort Worth, testified at the Texas capitol in favor of placing treatment decisions [solely] into the hands of doctors and a so-called qualified third-party surrogate. During his testimony, Olson made a false comparison between choosing life and becoming transgender. Bp. Olson: "It's not unlike a patient that comes in and demands hormonal...

Two US bishops back pro-LGBT campaign calling for acceptance of men who claim to be femaleBishops Wester and Stowe joined the Human Rights Campaign in calling for 'transgender individuals' to be 'treated with dignity and respect'April 9, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) — A U.S. Catholic archbishop along with a bishop and several priests joined up with the pro-LGBT Human Rights Campaign in releasing an April 1 letter affirming “transgender individuals” — men who claim they are women and women who claim they are men — while calling for an end to the “epidemic of violence” that they say such individuals face.“We, Bishops,...

Pro-Lifers Parody State’s COVID Psycho-WarCampaign dignifying 'Johanna' exposes evil of abortion-tainted vaccines WORTHING, England (ChurchMilitant.com) - A pro-life organization is turning the British government's COVID-19 psychological-warfare campaign on its head by using Prime Minister Boris Johnson's fearmongering advertising to raise awareness of Britain's abortion genocide and abortion-contaminated vaccines. An image from the Don't Forget Johanna campaign The Centre for Bio-Ethical Reform U.K.'s graphic "Don't Forget Johanna" campaign uses six images of a baby in the womb at eight and nine weeks with the headline "Look her in the eyes" at the top of each poster.At the bottom of each poster,...

The White House on Tuesday said that President Joe Biden “has a difference of opinion” from Catholics concerned that the Equality Act would trample conscience rights. At Tuesday’s White House press briefing, Owen Jensen of EWTN News Nightly asked what Biden would say to Catholics concerned about conscience rights in health care. “What does the President, who we know is Catholic, say to Catholic doctors, Catholic institutions, who are fearful that if the Equality Act passes, it has the potential to trample on their conscience rights,” Jensen asked White House press secretary Jen Psaki. “What does the President say to...

Cardinal Burke says pro-choice politicians are ‘apostates’ROME – According to American Cardinal Raymond Burke, politicians who “publicly and obstinately” support abortion are “apostates” who cannot receive Communion.Although he mentions no one by name, most observers are looking at U.S. President Joe Biden, who is pro-choice and attends Mass weekly.In a statement published on his personal website, the prelate wrote that many people have asked him about those who, while “publicly and obstinately promote programs, policies and legislation in direct violation of the moral law,” receive Communion.Burke is the former Prefect of the Vatican’s Apostolic Signatura, the Church’s highest appellate court.“In...

Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on Holocaust Remembrance Day: Observing Holocaust Remembrance Day is special for Jews around the world, but it should also be recognized by those of us who are not Jewish. There are many things that we can learn from this monstrous event, among them being the seminal moral lessons that it bequeathed. At Nuremberg, the standard Nazi defense was to claim that they were only doing what they were instructed to do. It did not work. The London Charter of the International Military Tribunal determined that “following orders” did not exonerate them. Though the Tribunal...