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[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...

[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....

[Catholic Caucus] Synod document suggests women’s leadership, female deacons will be addressed in final reportCardinal Mario Grech, a top Synod on Synodality official, has already expressed support for women deacons, as have other Synod participants.The Synod on Synodality released a teaser interim report on women’s role in Church leadership, anticipating that the “question” of the women’s diaconate will be addressed in the final report.The Synod on Monday published the interim report, in which it announced the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF), headed by the heterodox Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernández, is currently drafting the final report on “the...

[Catholic Caucus] US Nuncio declares path of Francis, Vatican II the way forward for the ChurchCardinal Christophe Pierre implied at the USCCB meetings that anyone who pursues a path that 'diverges' from Francis’ vision is wrong to do so.Cardinal Christophe Pierre gave what was likely his last address to the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops this week.Pierre, 79, turns 80 at the end of January and will be forced to tender his resignation as nuncio to the United States. It is doubtful he will return next spring when the bishops convene again.Like any good disciple, Pierre, who was appointed in...

[Catholic Caucus] Why the New Document From the Italian Bishops Is a Warning SignThe new synodal document of the Italian Church confirms a pastoral approach fully aligned with progressive ideology, paving the way for the abandonment of the natural family.The participants in the last Italian synodal assembly have overwhelmingly approved a document that explicitly encourages support in civil LGBT events, such as the Gay Pride marches. The text also alludes to the possibility of female access to the diaconate and signals a broader openness to progressive social causes.Though presented as a pastoral initiative, this move reflects a deeper realignment within...

[Catholic Caucus] BREAKING: Traditionalist Redemptorists issue open letter to ‘repudiate the Synodal Church’The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer accused the modern hierarchy of betraying the Faith, invoking anathema and pledging to offer the Traditional Mass and spiritual help ‘so long as there is but one soul that asks.’The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, a traditionalist Catholic congregation based on Papa Stronsay in Scotland, have issued an open letter “to the Catholic Bishops, Priests, Religious and Faithful” following their General Chapter.The community – often called the “Transalpine Redemptorists” – was founded by Fr. Michael Mary Sim in 1987 under...

Bishop Schneider on the LGBTQ+ "Pilgrimage" to St. Peter's Basilica“My reaction was a silent cry of horror, indignation, and sorrow. All true believers in the Church—both faithful and clergy—who still uphold the validity of God’s commandments and take Him seriously, should experience this provocation as a brazen slap in the face. I believe that many faithful Catholics and members of the clergy remain stunned by such a massive blow and require time to recover. An unprecedented act has taken place in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, one that may fittingly be described, in the words of Our Lord, as an...

[Catholic Caucus] Swiss priest: Here’s the fatal flaw of ‘synodality’ in the Catholic ChurchSynodal events at the global, national, diocesan, and parish levels are the catwalk for self-promoters, careerists, and ideologues within the Catholic Church.The political theorist Thomas Hobbes (1588‒1679) was a realist. In Christian terms, one might say that he took into account the nature of human beings, which is weakened by the consequences of original sin. That is why he not only popularized the ancient saying “Homo homini lupus” (man is a wolf to man). In his work Leviathan, he also shows why a state is necessary: without...

Vatican pushes ‘new way of being Church’ in 3-year Synod rollout planThe document is intended to be read alongside, and indeed formed by, the final document from the Synod on Synodality's October 2024 session in Rome.The Vatican’s synod office has issued guidelines for how to implement the three-year implementation phase of the multi-year Synod on Synodality, emphasizing that it is a manner of “growing in a new way of being Church.”As announced last week, on July 7 the General Secretariat of the Synod published a 14-page document on how the Catholic Church at the local level ought to continue with...

[Catholic Caucus] An Apostolic Church or a "Synodality" Church?Caminante WandererArgentina, May 29. 2025Saint Charles Borromeo and one of the Diocesan Synods he presided in MilanOne of the most pressing and certainly most complex issues that Pope Leo will have to resolve is that of the famous synodality. He is a canonist and a man of government and he knows, therefore, that continuing along the path of a synodal church that Francis had irresponsibly opened would lead to a catastrophe. For those of us who are laymen in theology and canon law, I recommend this article ["The Pope and the Prefectress"]...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland: ‘The Church is not called to create truth, but to receive it’Cardinal William Goh of Singapore voiced concerns that the ambiguity in papal teaching has led to confusion among bishops and disunity among the laity,' observes Bishop Strickland.I repeat these words from the prophet Amos because they are critical for our time. There has been much bending away from the plumb line of truth. It should be our only measure.“And the Lord said: Behold, I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people …” (Amos 7:8).In recent remarks, Cardinal William Goh of Sigapore...

This recent Pew survey shows why the Catholic Church cannot be ‘synodal’A recent Pew survey showing that most self-identified US Catholics reject fundamental Church teaching shows plainly the danger of the Synod's redefinition of 'sensus fidei.'In his pre-conclave address to the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Joseph Zen spoke in dramatic terms about the Synod on Synodality:The electors of the next pope must be aware that he will bear the responsibility of either continuing this synodal process or decisively halting it. This is a matter of life or death for the Church founded by Jesus.Like Cardinals Burke, Sarah, and Müller, Cardinal...

[Catholic Caucus] CONCLAVE: Restoring Unity to the ChurchFr. Claude BartheRes NovaeMay 3, 2025Even prior to the opening of the pre-conclave General Congregations, the Eternal City has entered into a state of effervescence. The question has arisen as to whether the 135 cardinal electors, nearly 80% of whom were appointed by Francis, will bring to the pontificate a man whose governance will be in the same vein, or, on the contrary, a cardinal with a will to compromise, who will take into account the grievances of the conservatives, to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the state of the forces...

[Catholic Caucus] “Blessing Gives Strength to Love”: German Bishops’ Conference Releases Authorized Pastoral Guidelines on Imparting Blessings to Homosexual CouplesIt’s as if they were just waiting for the perfect moment—the moment when the last obstacle to their plan would be removed, and no one could stop them. The German original may be found here. -PAK“Blessing Gives Strength to Love”:Blessings for couples who love each otherHandout for pastorsResolution of the Whole Conference [of German Bishops], April 4, 2025 [released April 23]“The Church wishes to proclaim in word and deed the message of the God-given dignity of every person. This message guides...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Strickland: Courage as a bishop ‘is a requirement’Bp. Strickland renewed his criticism of trends within the Catholic Church, especially the Synod on Synodality, warning that 'many souls are being led astray.’Bishop Joseph Strickland has warned of a “deliberate effort to undermine the unchanging truths of the Catholic faith from within the Church herself.”“The silence of the shepherds in the face of injustice and the erosion of truth is serious,” said Strickland in a new interview published by Spanish outlet InfoVaticana.Since being removed by the Pope as bishop of the Diocese of Tyler, Texas, in November 2023, Strickland...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Schneider: Next pope must ‘abrogate and condemn’ Francis’ errorsSpeaking to popular Catholic podcaster Dr. Taylor Marshall, Bishop Schneider affirmed the need for the next pope to condemn the errors of Francis' various documents and expressions.Auxiliary Bishop of Astana in Kazakhstan, Athanasius Schneider, told Catholic podcaster Dr. Taylor Marshall that the “next pope” must abrogate and condemn the errors promulgated by Francis.Speaking to popular Catholic podcaster Dr. Taylor Marshall on Tuesday, Schneider insisted that “the next pope must,” as his “first task,” issue a decree that “abrogates and condemns” Francis’ “documents and expressions” that contradict Catholic teaching. Schneider...

[Catholic Caucus] WHO'S RUNNING THE CHURCH? While Pope Francis remains an enigma, European bishops tip their hats to BrusselsAfter being discharged from the hospital, the Vatican announced that Pope Francis had developed very serious communication difficulties, to the point that he would need to 'learn to speak again.' Cardinal Parolin says that "perhaps not as before, but the Pope will return to govern." ...So, who has been governing until now? These days we have witnessed a true strengthening of the power of the Vatican Secretariat of State.On February 14th, Pope Francis was admitted to the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome for...

Spanish bishop laments widespread loss of Catholic faith in his countrySpain has seen a dramatic fall in numbers of people identifying as Catholic as part of a wider stagnation of the Catholic faith across Europe.Spain is no longer a de facto Catholic country, the nation’s leading Catholic prelate has stated, with numbers of Catholics falling and the hierarchy also mired in a controversy to sell off Church assets.“The time has passed, settled for centuries, when we said: I’m Catholic because I was born in Spain,” said Archbishop Luis Argüello last week. The Archbishop of Valladolid was speaking at the recent...

Does the Synod’s ‘Ecclesial Assembly’ Mirror Anglicanism’s Model and Undermine Episcopal Authority?As the Vatican begins a three-year implementation phase of the Synod on Synodality, is the process — already criticized for flirting with Protestant ecclesiology — moving ever more toward a model of governance alien to the Catholic Church? On March 15, Cardinal Mario Grech, secretary-general of the General Secretariat of the Synod, announced that the “Accompaniment Process of the Implementation Phase of the Synod on Synodality” will culminate in October 2028, not in a synod of bishops but in something novel in Catholic Church governance: an “ecclesial assembly” where...

[Catholic Caucus] Irony Alert: Postconciliar Iconoclasts Arrive at the Feast of St John Damascene and Smash ItSo much to observe about today's confluence in the Roman Rite, on this Thursday of the third week of Lent, with a commemoration of St. John Damascene.First, the ancient Roman liturgy keeps a station today at a church in honor of the physician brothers and martyrs Cosmas and Damian. Obviously the Gospel about the healing of Peter's mother-in-law fits right in; the propers also mention "salus," whose basic meaning is "health" although it takes on the supernatural meaning of "salvation."The TLM, by remembering Cosmas...