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Two secular lawsuits, involving McCarrick and Becciu, raise deeply ecclesiastical conundra…
Rome – Within the last few days, two completely separate lawsuits have been filed in two different countries that somehow involve the Vatican. In the United States, four alleged sex abuse victims of ex-cardinal and ex-priest Theodore McCarrick are suing the Vatican, while in Italy Cardinal Angelo Becciu has filed a $12 million defamation of character claim against a news magazine. On the face of it, both actions are fairly straight-forward. The alleged victims want monetary compensation for their suffering, while Becciu wants to be paid for alleged injury to his reputation. Yet in reality, each lawsuit, filed in completely secular courts, raises a classic ecclesiastical conundrum: Is a Catholic bishop an “employee” of the Vatican? Technicalities aside, do you actually have to be a cardinal...
The 50 most underappreciated cars of all time…
Generational shifts almost always wreak havoc on accepted pop-culture wisdom. As one cohort ages out of a particular scene — be it music, movies, fashion or design — a new group rushes into to fill the gap, bringing with them their own ideas about what’s cool, what’s not and most importantly, where you should turn your attention next. The automotive world has always lagged behind when it comes to recognizing which of its past efforts are worthy of praise. Seen clinically, old cars are just that: consumer products that are past due, vehicles that have fulfilled their original purpose and now serve primarily as money pits or recycling fodder so that the next set of shiny paint jobs can move on down the assembly line and keep feeding the retail flames. From a cultural perspective, however, ve...
What pro-lifers can expect from a divided House and Senate…
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 21, 2020 / 04:37 pm MT (CNA).- With nearly all U.S. House and Senate races decided, Congress will be sharply divided the next two years—possibly undermining the viability of extreme pro-abortion policies. A Senate majority will hinge upon two Jan. 5 runoff elections in Georgia. Republicans would only need one of these seats to keep the Senate, but if Democrats sweep both races then they would effectively hold a majority in the chamber, with Vice President-elect Kamala Harris being a tiebreaker in a 50-50 vote scenario. The pro-life Susan B. Anthony List and its partner Women Speak Out PAC are “all-in” for the two Republicans Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, spending more than $4 million in the two races and aiming to reach 1 million voters before election day...
Pope changes diocesan celebration of World Youth Day from Palm Sunday to Christ the King Sunday…
At the end of Mass for Christ the King on November 22, 2020, Pope Francis had some important reflections on World Youth Day (WYD). First, he greeted youth from Panama and Portugal, present to transfer the symbols of WYD from the last venue to the next, Lisbon in 2023. Second, he announced a change in how WYD will be observed at the diocesan level. “And as we prepare for the next intercontinental edition of WYD, I would also like to renew its celebration in the local Churches,” the Holy Father said. “Thirty-five years after the establishment of WYD, after listening to various opinions and consulting the Dicastery for the Laity, the Family and Life, which is responsible for youth ministry, I have decided, beginning next year, to transfer the diocesan celebration of WYD from Palm Sunday to Ch...
Why you should celebrate your Name Day…
The feast day of the saint who shares your name is definitely a reason for festivities! Why do we celebrate our name days? First off, what is a name day? It is the feast day of the saint after whom you were named, or, if your parents didn’t name you with a particular saint in mind, we could say it is simply the feast day of the saint whose name you share. So, for example, Pope Francis, baptized Jorge Mario, celebrates his name day on the feast of St. Jorge (George) on April 23. If there are many saints with your name — Elizabeth of Hungary, Elizabeth of the Trinity, Elizabeth Ann Seton, for example — and your parents didn’t have a specific saint in mind, then get to know these saints and pick one as a special patroness. In many countries, your name day is more important than your bir...
Federal appeals court allows Tennessee abortion ban to go into effect…
CNA Staff, Nov 23, 2020 / 10:00 am MT (CNA).- A federal appeals court on Friday allowed a Tennessee ban on some abortions to go into effect. A three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 that a part of the state’s abortion law can go into effect, a “reason ban” that bars discrimination abortions. Tennessee in July enacted a law with several restrictions on abortion, including a “heartbeat ban” on abortions conducted as early as six weeks into pregnancy, and bans on abortions at other stages in pregnancy should the “heartbeat” ban be struck down by a court. The law also banned doctors from performing abortions if they knew the mother was seeking the abortion “because of” the sex, race, or Down syndrome diagnosis of her baby—a “reason ban,” in Section 217 of...
Vatican cancels public Advent and Christmas liturgies amid COVID surge…
VATICAN CITY — As happened during Holy Week this year, liturgical celebrations in St. Peter’s Basilica over Christmas, such as midnight Mass celebrated by Pope Francis, will be limited to a select group of faithful and live-streamed to the faithful amid concerns over a surge of COVID-19 cases. The Vatican quietly announced at the end of October that liturgical celebrations in St. Peter’s in the “coming months” would have “very limited participation of the faithful,” in compliance with “foreseen protective measures, barring changes due to health risks.” The announcement, given at the end of a short, emailed statement to journalists about arrangements for papal Masses for the dead in early November, coincided with a return to the Pope’s weekly audiences being livestreamed from the libr...
Why St. Cyprian says love of the world fuels the fear of death…
As November winds down and Advent still looms, the traditional meditation we make on the four last things (death, judgment, Heaven, and Hell) is still operative. A classic writing by St. Cyprian comes to mind. It is a meditation on the fundamental human struggle to be free of undue attachment to this world and to have God (and the things waiting for us in Heaven) as our highest priority. In this meditation, St. Cyprian has in mind the Book of James and the Epistle of St. John. Yes, surely these dramatic texts are present in his mind as he writes. Hence, before pondering St. Cyprian, it may be good to reference these forceful and uncompromising texts: You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend o...
It is our duty and salvation, always and everywhere, to give thanks to God…
In December we will mark the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims’ disembarking in Plymouth, Massachusetts. What they endured, and how the responded spiritually to it, are guides for us as we mark the national holiday of Thanksgiving and begin to formulate year-end reflections. When the Puritan pilgrims lowered the anchor in Plymouth Harbor on Dec. 16, 1620, and disembarked two days later, they were filled with hope. They had survived a perilous three-month journey on an inhospitable Atlantic with only one casualty. Their incessant prayers for a safe arrival had been heard. They had finally landed in the new world and were ready to begin a new life. Little did they know the year that would await them. Of the 103 who disembarked, 52 would die before winter was over. Gov. John Carver, the...
Pandemic conditions have increased Christian persecution globally, says report from Aid to the Church in Need…
Washington, D.C. Newsroom, Nov 25, 2020 / 04:00 pm MT (CNA).- The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated Christian persecution in some places, according to a new report from the group Aid to the Church in Need International (ACN). “The devastating and unprecedented impact of COVID-19 all over the world,” said the new ACN report, “had a direct bearing on trends concerning unjust detention.” Aid to the Church in Need International is a pontifical aid foundation with sectors in 23 countries. A new report, released Nov. 25, focuses on the plight of Christian prisoners around the world. Titled “Set Your Captors Free,” the report details the kidnapping and detention of Christians by state and non-state actors. “Around the world, militants, both those in sympathy with Daesh, and those wit...
Pope meets with NBA players’ union delegation at the Vatican…
ROME — A delegation representing the National Basketball Players Association, a union representing professional athletes from the NBA, met with Pope Francis and spoke with him about their work in promoting social justice. The players association said the group meeting the pope Nov. 23 included: Marco Belinelli, a shooting guard for the San Antonio Spurs; Sterling Brown and Kyle Korver, shooting guards for the Milwaukee Bucks; Jonathan Isaac, power forward for the Orlando Magic; and Anthony Tolliver, a 13-year power forward who is currently a free agent. The NBPA said the meeting “provided an opportunity for the players to discuss their individual and collective efforts addressing social and economic injustice and inequality occurring in their communities.” NBA players have been vocal on so...
This is as evil as anything I’ve seen in a long time…..
This is as evil as anything I’ve seen in a long time. What the hell. pic.twitter.com/wE6sR8x8TV — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) November 23, 2020 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened round his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6 And you can see a homosexualist Jesuit smiling at the window. This will be promoted by a Harris-Biden administration and Pelosi-Schumer congress. Please share this post! Join Our Telegram Group : Salvation & Prosperity
