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[Catholic Caucus] Coadjutor: Francis De Facto Sacks Providence BishopIn a surprise move, Francis appointed Rockville Centre Auxiliary Bishop Richard Henning, 58, as Coadjutor Bishop to Bishop Thomas Tobin, 74, of Providence, Rhode Island.A coadjutor automatically succeeds once the resignation of the diocesan bishop is accepted, therefore appointing a coadjutor turns a diocesan bishop into a lame duck. Tobin will turn 75 in April. He is one of the best bishops in the US.In August he challenged the rigidity of Francis' Traditionis Custodes. In December 2020, he questioned the Vatican's decision to "allow" bishops to prohibit the reception of Holy Communion...

[Catholic Caucus] Traditional Latin Mass saves U.S. parish from closure PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island, April 3, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) – A historic U.S. Catholic Church has escaped closure thanks to the return of the traditional Latin Mass.   St. Mary’s Church on Broadway in Providence, Rhode Island was the focus of a WPRI news spot this past Sunday because the ancient liturgy now being celebrated there has increased the congregation, leading to a fuller collection basket and thus a future for the 150-year-old church. St. Mary’s “is going back in time in order to move forward,” said WPRI News reporter Julianne Lima...

When Rhode Island Bishop Thomas Tobin tweeted a simple warning to his diocese cautioning against participation in LGBT “Pride” events during so-called “Pride Month,” an international backlash quickly erupted. LGBT and progressive activists moved swiftly to squash the Catholic shepherd’s advisory to his flock to remain faithful to “Catholic faith and morals,” demonstrating the resolve of anti-Catholic forces to silence Church teaching. Early on June 1, the first day of what LGBT activists insist is a month for celebrating their lifestyles, Bishop Tobin (not to be confused with left-wing Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey) tweeted: “A reminder that...

Rhode Island’s Roman Catholic bishop said he wants to smell holy incense, not cannabis, in Providence’s cathedral and warned state lawmakers against transporting young people to “the land of oblivion” by legalizing marijuana. Bishop Thomas Tobin shared his opinions in an essay titled “Nope to Dope.” The essay was published on a diocesan website Tuesday, just hours before a hearing on a bill to legalize pot. Tobin said he’s heard about “zombie-like” people who are “completely stoned” filling public places in Colorado, where marijuana is legal. He said young people already addicted to electronic devices and “attached to their virtual...

Gay marriage could soon become the law of the land across New England — except in the heavily Roman Catholic state of Rhode Island. A string of sudden successes for gay marriage advocates has left Rhode Island a political outlier. Maine became the fourth state in New England to legalize same-sex unions on Wednesday, while New Hampshire Gov. John Lynch is now deciding whether to sign similar legislation.... Yet the movement has stalled in Rhode Island, perhaps even lost ground, after a stalemate at the Statehouse, a loss in the state's top court and continued opposition from religious leaders. "I...