When Pope Francis called for a worldwide consultation of lay Catholics about their concerns as part of the Synod on Synodality, U.S. bishops responded less than enthusiastically. Instead, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops put its time, effort and money into a national programme called the Eucharistic Revival. It was not impossible to do both Read more
Recently, United States cultural celebrities addressed an open letter to Pope Francis, opposing further restrictions on the pre-conciliar liturgy. The letter, written by poet Dana Gioia, emphasised the aesthetic value and cultural significance of the liturgy according to the 1962 rite: “It would be short-sighted to deprive the next generation of artists of this source Read more
Kamala Harris made history in 2020 as the first Black woman elected as vice president of the United States, shattering barriers that have kept men—almost all of them white—entrenched at the highest levels of American politics for more than two centuries. Making history Today, she is one step closer to making history again. On Sunday, Read more
On July 15, less than a week before Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, Donald Trump chose J.D. Vance, the 39-year-old senator from Ohio (elected in November 2022) as his running mate. If elected with Trump on November 5, Vance would be the second Catholic vice president in U.S. history after Biden. However, Read more
The U.S. bishops hope to revive the significance of the Eucharist in the life of the Catholic Church. There is a deep concern that many of the faithful lack a proper understanding of the sacrament. Some recent polls point out this lack of understanding. For example, a 2019 poll conducted by the Pew Research Center Read more
In the same month of July, in the two countries I spend most of my time and I know best, the United States and Italy, Catholics held important national gatherings. Looking at them from a distance, not as an active participant, but knowing personally or professionally many of the speakers, has been an instructive experience Read more
This week the Church celebrates the feast of Mary Magdalene, at a time when Catholicism finds itself in a definitive moment concerning the roles of women. Women’s leadership in the Church In May, the first-ever deaconess was ordained in the Eastern Orthodox Church. Less than two weeks ago, the Vatican held a press conference announcing Read more
Recently rumors have been flying that Pope Francis is preparing to impose stringent restrictions on the Traditional Latin Mass. Of course, unfounded rumors out of the Vatican are not new, and some journalists have not been able to identify anybody who has actually seen the document in question. Still, even if it ends up being Read more
Concerned members of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer faithful have grave concerns regarding the calculated mischaracterisation of our Christchurch community and have prepared the following statement: The Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer and its congregation have been targeted by a deliberate and coordinated misinformation campaign. This campaign along with the outrageous, false, Read more
Bishop Michael Gielen’s decision to remove the faculties of the clerical members of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer and to ask them to leave the diocese is a courageous act. The scandal-plagued group came to prominence through their illicit use of the rites of exorcism and have been investigated by both the local Read more