Free Republic

[Catholic Caucus] First Woman to Lead the Vatican’s Arts Academy Wants the Church to Embrace Contemporary ArtContemporary art is powerful vehicle for communicating values, challenging reality, and understanding the times we live in, says Cristiana Perrella.An expert in contemporary art, Cristiana Perrella was inducted into the Vatican’s 500-year-old fine arts academy in a narrow Baroque chapel under the attic of the Pantheon in 2022. Three years later, Pope Leo XIV appointed her the first woman president in the academy’s history.In three decades as an independent curator and director of art museums, Perella has had little experience with Church institutions and...

[Catholic Caucus] Vatican opens ‘listening space’ in St. Peter’s Basilica for ‘encounter’ with visitorsThe Vatican has installed a non-sacramental ‘listening space’ in St. Peter’s Basilica for dialogue between visitors and priests, nuns, or laypeople. The Vatican is opening up “listening spaces” in St. Peter’s Basilica, despite the presence of dozens of confessionals.According to the Agencia Informativa Católica Argentina (AICA) news agency, the Vatican is establishing a Spazio d’Ascolto, translated to “Listening Space,” in St. Peter’s Basilica to allow visitors dialogue with priests, nuns, or lay people.“The Holy Door, opened at the time, inspired us to open ‘another door’ in St....

Mormons -Mormons - Same-Sex Marriage, Family, Abortion and the Secular Churchand the Secular Church (5 min video) Elder Neal A. Maxwell discusses the fundamental beliefs of Mormons and religion and contrasts it with the aspiring state religion: The Secular Church. "Since the people of California voted to reaffirm the sanctity of traditional marriage between a man and a woman on November 4, 2008, places of worship have been targeted by opponents of Proposition 8 with demonstrations and, in some cases, vandalism. People of faith have been intimidated for simply exercising their democratic rights. These are not actions that are worthy...