Free Republic

The International Theological Commission’s “Caring for Our Common Home” goes beyond Laudato Si’ by naming environmental destruction a direct offense against the Creator On September 2, the International Theological Commission published a major new text (so far only in Italian) on the theology of creation, ecology, and human responsibility. Titled Caring for Our Common Home: A Responsible and Fraternal Response to the Triune God, the more than 29,000-word document was approved by a majority vote of the Commission in July, presented to Pope Leo XIV, and authorized for release by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, Prefect of the Dicastery for the...

[Catholic Caucus] Chinese Underground Church Consecrated 10 Bishops without Papal Mandate After the 2018 Sino-Vatican agreement “terrible things happen to Catholics” in the Fujian province, an anonymous Chinese bishop who is unaffiliated with the Chinese state church ‘Patriotic Association’, told Anthony Clark for CatholicWorldReport.com on August 23.The bishop speaks of a “state of emergency”.As government influence over the bishops increases, “the integrity of the Catholic faith will suffer.” To “assure the survival of China’s Church,” new bishops have been “secretly consecrated.”The bishop says the faithful question Rome’s genuine concern for their “spiritual well-being” when the Holy See approves government-selected bishops...

[Catholic Caucus] Cardinal Sarah condemns Latin Mass restrictions: ‘Destructive to the Church’ Cardinal Sarah said that the Church ‘cannot wage war’ on Catholics who prefer the Latin Mass, calling it ‘a short-sighted and entirely ideological attitude, therefore not pastoral and not Christian.’ Cardinal Robert Sarah said that restricting the Traditional Latin Mass was “neither wise nor respectful” and that war against traditional Catholics is “destructive to the Church.”In a recent interview with Italian newspaper Il Giornale, Cardinal Sarah addressed Pope Francis’ restrictions on the Latin Mass through his motu proprio Traditiones Custodes and the “war” on traditional Catholics.He was asked...

[Catholic Caucus] Unspeakable horror: lay Eucharistic Ministers and Communion in the handIf you are presently receiving Communion in the hand or serving as a Eucharistic Minister, then please prayerfully stop. Here's why...Not a great photo but if you look carefully, you’ll see the angels catching Our Lord’s Precious Blood with chalices. There’s a reason for that so please read on…Among the many moving scenes in Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ film is the scourging at the pillar. Often sugar-coated in fine art over the centuries, Gibson depicted it as it was all those centuries ago in pagan-occupied Palestine: sheer,...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo calls on priests to ‘respect’ the post-Vatican II liturgies in new letter In a recent letter publicly released today, Pope Leo XIV said that anyone involved in preparing liturgies, especially priests, must show “respect” for the liturgical rites of the Second Vatican Council.The letter, addressed to Cardinal Arthur Roche, the head of the Vatican’s liturgy office and dated June 29, is the latest in a series of strong signals Pope Leo has sent indicating he does not plan to reverse Pope Francis’ restrictions on the pre-Vatican II Latin Mass.“In order to promote the dignified celebration of...

[Catholic Caucus] Leo XIV Backs Liturgical Program after 'Traditionis Custodes' Leo XIV has sent a message to Cardinal Arthur Roche, Prefect of the Dicastery for Divine Worship. The occasion is a meeting at Mount Angel Abbey in Oregon devoted to liturgical formation. Dated June 29, the brief message was published today in the Vatican bulletin. The text appears to reinforce Cardinal Roche’s recent statement that Leo XIV does not intend to abolish Traditionis Custodes. Leo XIV calls for respect for “the rites promulgated by Pope Saint Paul VI and Pope Saint John Paul II.” He adds that this respect must...

[Catholic Caucus] Beware Of The Tales About Padre Pio And Archbishop LefebvreMy favourite Saint kissing the ring of my favourite ArchbishopI did not know that there were people evil enough to try to falsely use the dead Padre Pio to slander the great Archbishop Lefebvre. However, because I now know, I think it useful to post this in order to help preventing the spreading of lies. Two words more in general: everybody who knows two things of Padre Pio knows that 1) he hates the “aggiornamento”, and 2) he hoped to die before having to celebrate the Mass of Paul...