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[Catholic Caucus] German Catholic bishops’ new document on ‘sexual diversity’ in schools signals deep spiritual crisisAccording to Catholic sociologist Gabriele Kuby, the school document is only the latest manifestation of the 2019–2023 German Synodal PathIn a hard-hitting interview with Dr. Thomas Ward, President of the John Paul II Academy for Human Life and the Family (JAHLF), renowned German Catholic sociologist and author Gabriele Kuby denounced the German bishops’ conference’s recent document endorsing the “diversity of sexual identities” in Catholic schools. In the interview, published in the latest issue of The Academy Review, Kuby called the document the latest and most...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Religion Forum Threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind.

Rome’s Failure to Correct Germany’s Bishops has Emboldened Their Pro-LGBT AgendaAs the country’s bishops issue a new document encouraging diversity of sexual identities in Catholic schools, German Catholic sociologist Gabriele Kuby explains the full extent of the crisis.A recently published document from the German bishops encouraging Catholic school pupils to self-identify according to their “sexual identity” is the latest significant departure of the bishops’ conference from the Church’s teaching, re-igniting talk of a possible new, German-born schism.The “orientation aid,” published on Oct. 30, states that Catholic schools should consider “diversity of sexual identities is a fact,” effectively normalizing any pupil...

Nothing less than a clear and firm correction of the priests who conspired to abuse the sacraments and confuse the Catholic Church’s unambiguous teaching on homosexuality will suffice.Gio Benitez, an openly gay-identified ABC News anchor, was recently confirmed into the Catholic Church, accompanied by his “husband” — who served as his “sponsor.”The confirmation Mass took place last month at the brazenly pro-LGBT Church of St. Paul the Apostle in Manhattan. The historic landmark is the mother church of the Paulist Fathers – a, as writer Glenn Stanton noted, “rapidly dying” liberal order of priests. There were 98 active Paulist priests...

The simple effort of religious sisters sending postcards and Christmas cards can be a lifeline to workers feeling trapped and searching for a way out of the abortion industry. A beautiful, behind-the-scenes project has been taking place during the Christmas season for the past five years. Religious sisters from convents across the country have been sending Christmas cards to abortion centers, letting the staff there know they are prayed for, and that help is available if they’re interested in finding other work. Sr. Christina Nazareth, a Capuchin Sister who lives in a Williamsport, Pennsylvania convent, received a letter from And...

The Christmas tree tradition emerged from the “sacred trees” of Northern European mythology such as Yggdrasil, the giant ash tree at the center of the Norse cosmos that holds all the worlds in its roots and branches. It is said that St. Boniface came upon one such sacred tree during his mission to the Germanic tribes in 723. Upon finding devotees preparing to sacrifice a child to Thor at the “Thunder Oak,” Boniface intervened and miraculously chopped down the tree with one swift swing. He used its wood to build a Christian chapel, and in the spot where the oak...

In a pro-life win for children and families, Prince Albert II has rejected a proposed bill that would have legalized ending a pre-born child’s life on demand up to 12 weeks while expanding existing exceptions. The decision, delivered ahead of Monaco’s National Day, halts the bill because the prince holds final constitutional authority over legislation, according to the Monaco Tribune. Under the current law, updated in 2019, abortion in Monaco remains illegal in nearly all circumstances. Exceptions are cases posing a serious risk to the mother’s life or health, fetal conditions deemed “incompatible with life,” or pregnancies resulting from rape...

[Catholic Caucus] Abuse Commission Presses Vatican for OpennessThe Vatican’s safeguarding commission today urged the Holy See to be more transparent regarding the resignation of clerics, when related to issues of abuse.Publishing its second annual report today, the Vatican’s Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors (PCPM) continued its appraisal of the Catholic Church’s response to the much-reported abuse crisis.The document presents the practices and policies of bishops’ conferences who have made ad limina visits to the Vatican during its reporting year, along with one of the Roman Curial departments. Examining the calendar year of 2024, PCPM examined – among others...

[Catholic Caucus] LEO IS FOLLOWING FRANCIS’ ABUSE COVER-UP PLAYBOOKDiarmuid Martin, after completing his studies for the priesthood in Ireland in 1969, worked in a Dublin parish before being sent to Rome for further studies in moral theology. Even though we were both pursuing licentiate degrees at the Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas (Angelicum), we didn’t meet in class. Rather, we met through a common friend, Swiss Guard Wachtmeister Hans Roggen. After attending my diaconate ordination at the North American College in 1973, Diarmuid returned to Ireland only to come back to Rome in 1976 to spend most of his...

According to recent estimates, there are over 21 million people living in the United States illegally…From a biblical and practical perspective, how should pastors and church leaders respond to this issue? As those who minister in Los Angeles, this question is not hypothetical for us… - If a believer is illegally residing in the United States, he should take active steps to rectify that situation. This may involve seeking legal residence through whatever means are available to him (for which we would recommend consultation with an immigration lawyer), or it may necessitate leaving the United States until such a time...

Will the European Court Decide Whether to Recognize Polygamy as a Right?The European Union, in words, boasts of being a bulwark of Western civilization, a guarantor of international peace, a guardian of free enterprise, democracy, stability, and peace among peoples, having created the largest single market in the world and promoting “rights, freedoms, and cooperation.” In reality, as repeated in other analyses, the European Union is undergoing a drastic Sinicization, with all that this entails.Moreover, to confront the steep demographic decline and the growing Islamization of the continent, bureaucrats—especially the more progressive ones, though not only them—must reckon with internal...

[Catholic / Anglican Caucus] Cardinal Zen warns against synodality: ‘Isn’t this the Catholic Church committing suicide?’The retired 93-year-old cardinal has issued yet another sharp critique of the Synod on Synodality and the late Pope Francis.In a blog post published on his personal website this week, 93-year-old retired Chinese Cardinal Joseph Zen has issued yet another sharp critique of the Synod on Synodality and the late Pope Francis.Francis left behind “chaos and division,” His Eminence said. “Our greatest hope is that Pope Leo will unite the Church on the foundation of truth, rallying us all to the mission of evangelization. We...

The past week has been buzzing with rumors to the effect that Leo XIV has instructed the Dicastery for Divine Worship to issue “extensions” on the TLM whenever bishops ask for them. In this way, as Kevin Tierney explains, he has begun the practical repeal of Traditionis Custodes, however long its actual replacement with a better policy will take. And yet… even if the rumor is true (the nuncio to Great Britain has affirmed it with a classic non-denial), it still means that the fate of the TLM is left entirely to the local bishop; legally the situation remains worse...

Viral footage purports to show a pregnant young child visiting a Pakistani market with her elderly husband, sparking outrage over the Muslim child-bride practice. “This is one of the most viral videos I’ve seen, it has 2.6 million likes,” wrote popular X user @WallStreetApes on Wednesday, cross-posting a video from TikTok which was captioned, “This is a clip of a muslim child in pakistan a pregnant girl going to the market with her husband.” This is one of the most viral videos I’ve seen, it has 2.6 million likes“Thisis a clip of a muslim child in pakistan a pregnant girl...

[Catholic / Orthodox Caucus] Pope Leo XIV can work towards attaining “Church unity” by first removing Cardinal (“Tucho”) Fernández from the DDFThey say that a quickfire way to start a schoolyard brawl is to start downplaying or insulting someone’s mother.On November 4, the Vatican’s doctrinal office, the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), led by prefect Cardinal Víctor Manuel (“Tucho”) Fernández, did just that in the Catholic world when it published the document “Mater Populi Fidelis”( “The Mother of the Faithful People of God”). Strikingly and disturbingly, the document claimed that the title of “Co-Redemptrix” was not an...

[Catholic Caucus] The Strange Path of Fr. JoeFr. Joe became a priest at the perfect American moment. In the summer of ’85, America’s dads and moms gathered with their children in family rooms, laughing together at the wholesome storylines of The Cosby Show and Family Ties. Springsteen’s Born in the U.S.A. seemed to pour from every car radio, each track reflecting the energy of the times. The country pulsed with optimism: jobs were plentiful, interest rates were easing, and the untroubled rhythm of pre-technology suburban life was in full swing. Even the wider world felt hopeful; Ronald Reagan, Pope John...

President Donald Trump is comfortable telling you what is on his mind. For good or bad, that means there is a long history of recorded statements from Trump, giving his frank and unfiltered thoughts on a variety of topics. For the last ten years, I have been particularly interested in noting whenever he has spoken about his personal views on spirituality, salvation, and his own eternal destiny. It reveals a decade-long spiritual journey in relationship to the gospel of grace that is both fascinating and, at times, tragic. …In his earlier celebrity years, 1990 profile for Playboy magazine, he said:...

[Catholic Caucus] Curia cardinal hits back over Vatican seating ‘snub’ for transgender activistsCardinal Konrad Krajewski has responded to claims that transgender activists were intentionally excluded from Pope Leo XIV’s top table at the Vatican’s Jubilee Lunch for the Poor. A group of 48 individuals who identify as “transgender women” attended the annual “Lunch for the Poor” at the Vatican on Sunday alongside Pope Leo XIV, with none being seated at the Pope’s main table. In 2023 and 2024, two individuals identifying as “transgender women” were selected to dine at the head table. The arrangement this year prompted some secular newspapers...

The Editorial Board of The New York Times stated, “By apparently committing suicide in his Manhattan jail cell on Saturday morning, Jeffrey Epstein spared himself a lengthy trial that could have sent him to prison for the rest of his life on federal sex trafficking charges… While Mr. Epstein will never face a legal reckoning, the investigations into his crimes and those of others connected to him must continue. His premature death shouldn’t stop law enforcement authorities from finishing the job that they finally took up seriously years after they should have.” Then, “The evidence against Mr. Epstein was overwhelming...

[Catholic Caucus] A Vatican II & Francis Moment: Homosexual TV Presenter is Confirmed in NYC Church in the presence of his "husband""Gio" Benitez, an openly homosexual television presenter with ABC News, was confirmed yesterday at the problematic Saint Paul the Apostle parish church in Manhattan -- there was a mass of Paul VI celebrated by homosexual-adjacent homosexuality-promoting Jesuit James Martin, and in the presence of the "husband" of Mr. Benitez, as it can be seen in the video below. These are the fruits of the general looseness of spirits promoted by Vatican II and especially of Francis-approved document on blessings,...