For many people today, practical atheism is the normal rule of life...If this attitude becomes a general existential position, then freedom no longer has any standards, then everyting is possible and permissible.
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Site: Fr Hunwicke's Mutual EnrichmentS Paul loved his fellow Jews, his 'kinsmen' and believed "the gifts and call of God are irrevocable". He believed that at the End, those among them who had rejected Christ would be brought in to the chosen people. He believed that they were like olive branches which had been cut off so that the Gentiles, wild olive branches, could be grafted in. But, when the fulness of the Gentiles had entered Fr John Hunwickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17766211573399409633noreply@blogger.com3
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Site: Fr Hunwicke's Mutual EnrichmentLex orandi lex credendi. I have been examining the Two Covenant Dogma: the fashionable error that God's First Covenant, with the Jews, is still fully and salvifically valid, so that the call to saving faith in Christ Jesus is not made to them. The 'New' Covenant, it is claimed, is now only for Gentiles. I want to draw attention at this point to the witness of the post-Conciliar Magisterium of theFr John Hunwickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17766211573399409633noreply@blogger.com13
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Site: Fr Hunwicke's Mutual EnrichmentWe have seen that the Two Covenant Theory, the idea that Jewry alone is guaranteed Salvation without any need to convert to Christ, is repugnant to Scripture, to the Fathers, even to the post-Conciliar liturgy of the Catholic Church. It is also subversive of the basic grammar of the relationship between the Old and the New Testaments. Throughout two millennia, in Scripture, in Liturgy, in her Fr John Hunwickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17766211573399409633noreply@blogger.com7
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Site: Fr Hunwicke's Mutual EnrichmentThe sort of people who would violently reject the points I am making are the sort of people who would not be impressed by the the Council of Florence. So I am going to confine myself to the Magisterium from the time of Pius XII ... since it is increasingly coming to be realised that the continuum of processes which we associate with the Conciliar and post-Conciliar period was already in operationFr John Hunwickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17766211573399409633noreply@blogger.com0
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Site: Fr Hunwicke's Mutual EnrichmentIn 1980, addressing a Jewish gathering in Germany, B John Paul II said (I extract this from a long sentence): " ... dialogue; that is, the meeting between the people of the Old Covenant (never revoked by God, cf Romans 11:29) and that of the New Covenant, is at the same time ..." In 2013, Pope Francis, in the course of his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii gaudium, also referred to the Old Fr John Hunwickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17766211573399409633noreply@blogger.com10
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Site: Fr Hunwicke's Mutual EnrichmentSince the Council, an idea has been spreading that Judaism is not superseded by the New Covenant of Jesus Christ; that Jews still have available to them the Covenant of the old Law, by which they can be saved. It is therefore unnecessary for them to turn to Christ; unnecessary for anybody to convert them to faith in Christ. Indeed, attempting to do so is an act of aggression not dissimilar to theFr John Hunwickehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17766211573399409633noreply@blogger.com11
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Site: Mises InstituteThe first 100 days of the second Trump administration have made it clear that those who want the foreign policy status quo to continue are serious about doing what it takes to accomplish their goals, while those who want to change it are not.
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Site: Mises InstituteFreedom in One Lesson is an attempt to assemble an extensive collection of Leonard Read's best, most powerful sustained arguments on behalf of liberty. Leonard Read's goal was to plant the seeds of liberty, so society and individuals could blossom to their fullest potential.
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Site: LES FEMMES - THE TRUTH
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Site: Voice of the Family
On Easter Friday, the Catholic faithful gathered outside Parliament for a public recitation of the Rosary, in response to Voice of the Family’s appeal. The event marked the midpoint of a 54-day Rosary crusade against euthanasia, which threatens to be legalised by the UK Parliament by the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill. A […]
The post Public support for euthanasia: a matter of eternal life and death appeared first on Voice of the Family.
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Site: Voice of the Family
From the introduction of Thorold’s 1906 translation of The Dialogues of St Catherine of Siena. Midway between sky and earth hangs a City Beautiful: Siena, Vetus Civitas Virginis. The town seems to have descended as a bride from airy regions, and lightly settled on the summits of three hills which it crowns with domes and […]
The post The perfect manner and irresistible attractiveness of St Catherine of Siena appeared first on Voice of the Family.
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Site: Voice of the Family
“Wisdom rendered to the just the wages of their labours, and conducted them in a wonderful way; and she was to them for a covert by day, and for the light of stars by night.” These words form part of the introit of the Mass of this feast. They come from the Book of Wisdom, […]
The post Worth his wages: sermon on the feast of St Joseph the Worker appeared first on Voice of the Family.
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Site: LifeNews
Now that the Trump administration has shut down the Biden-era “reproductiverights.org,” Congress should go a step further and create a federal website compiling life-affirming resources for women in need, a recent op-ed argued.
Maggie McKneely wrote in an article for the Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee (CWALAC), “For every one Planned Parenthood clinic, there are dozens of pregnancy resource centers and clinics ready to help new moms. But while these life-affirming centers outnumber the big abortion facilities, their advertising budgets are infinitesimally smaller.”
McKneely pointed out that recent studies show that 87% of women who get abortions are not married, indicating that they are without a strong support system.
These women, she continued, are targeted by the abortion industry, which the Biden administration further encouraged with their federal abortion website. McKneely expressed gratitude that President Donald Trump had this website taken down but added that Congress needed to take a further step.
“In post-Roe America, it is critical for the pro-life movement to help these women know that they have other options besides abortion, and there is a community of compassionate caregivers willing to walk beside them in a difficult season,” she wrote. “Rather than help the abortion industry further advertise its services, the administration can use its resources to promote resources that actually help women.”
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The proposed federal website would ask for a woman’s zip code and provide information for various local resources, including pregnancy crisis centers, housing support, legal support, services in the case of domestic violence, and mentorship opportunities. The website, McKneely continued, would link various government resources related to these services.
“This web portal would show that an expectant mom does not have to turn to Planned Parenthood as her only option,” she wrote. “It would not force her to choose life or regulate abortion in any way from the federal level. What it would do is provide easier access to the vast network of providers willing to walk with a mom as she navigates her pregnancy and early years of motherhood.”
McKneely states that Florida, South Dakota, and North Dakota have all created similar websites on a state level, offering a model for a federal website.
Moreover, there are two upcoming bills in Congress that would support the creation of a pro-life resource website: Standing with Moms, which will be sponsored by Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., and the MOMS Act, sponsored by Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala.
LifeNews Note: Grace Porto writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.
The post After Shutting Down Biden’s Pro-Abortion Web Site, Trump Should Launch Pro-Life Version appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: Ron Paul Institute - Featured Articles
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent complained last week that the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund are suffering from “mission creep.” But Bessent announced that Trump will be “doubling down” on supporting the largest foreign aid gushers on earth. “Far from stepping back, ‘America First’ seeks to expand U.S. leadership in international institutions like the I.M.F. and World Bank,” Bessent declared.
Bessent complained that the IMF “devotes disproportionate time and resources to work on climate change, gender, and social issues.” Unfortunately, Bessent said nothing about how the IMF and World Bank bankrolled many of the worst crony Covid crackdown policies.
But what should the US government expect when Congress and endless presidents give the World Bank and IMF billions of US tax dollars to play with? The US government is on the hook for $52 billion to the World Bank. The US has a financial commitment of $183 billion to the IMF.
The IMF was created in 1944 to shore up currencies and help nations with temporary balance-of-payment problems. In the decades since the IMF’s founding, global capital markets and fluctuating currency exchange rates have made the IMF a relic. But too many people have gotten rich from IMF largesse to permit the curtain to be closed on this institution.
The IMF enabled scores of governments that chose to pointlessly shut down their own economies after the outbreak of Covid-19. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva declared in April 2021, “While the recovery [from Covid] is underway, too many countries are falling behind and economic inequality is worsening. Strong policy action is needed to give everyone a fair shot—a shot in the arm to end the pandemic everywhere, and a shot at a better future for vulnerable people and countries.”
The IMF’s “fair shot” consisted of its international bureaucrats providing scores of billions of dollars in “emergency financing” to 80 governments, most of whom exploited Covid to stretch their own power. The IMF provided emergency relief via the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT) to 29 governments to supposedly help them “combat the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.” The IMF’s deluge of handouts to government helped fuel the worldwide inflation surge in recent years.
The World Bank President Ajay Banga “has sought to emphasize the bank’s focus on job creation…and to prioritize private sector involvement in projects around the world,” the New York Times reported. But the World Bank’s notion of the private sector has often been either a fraud or a political smokescreen. In the late 1980s, the World Bank touted its loans to Communist nations as private sector-oriented loans – one bait-and-switch too many, as I detailed in a 1988 Wall Street Journal article. And permitting the Bank to exonerate its handouts by counting illusory jobs created is a recipe for make-work scams.
The Covid pandemic provided the World Bank with the chance to play savior. In the first months of the pandemic, the Bank proudly announced that its “emergency operations to fight COVID-19 (coronavirus) have reached 100 developing countries – home to 70% of the world’s population.” From April 2020 to March 2021, the World Bank “committed over $200 billion, an unprecedented level of financial support, to public and private sector clients to fight the impacts of the pandemic. Our support is tailored to the health, economic, and social shocks that countries are facing.” The fact that the World Bank was effectively financing governments to pointlessly shock their own nations was omitted from celebratory press releases.
The IMF and World Bank have helped turn many foreign nations into kleptocracies – governments of thieves. A 2002 American Economic Review analysis concluded that “increases in [foreign] aid are associated with contemporaneous increases in corruption,” and that “corruption is positively correlated with aid received from the United States.”
Most importantly, neither the IMF nor the World Bank has any qualms about bankrolling tyranny. A 2015 report of the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty and human rights, Philip Alston, concluded that the World Bank “now stands almost alone, along with the International Monetary Fund, in insisting that human rights are matters of politics which it must, as a matter of legal principle, avoid, rather than being an integral part of the international legal order.”
The Bank justifies this position by insisting that it cannot involve “itself in the partisan politics or ideological disputes that affect its member countries” by improper methods such as “favoring political factions, parties or candidates in elections,” or “endorsing or mandating a particular form of government, political bloc or political ideology.”
But any time an international organization financially bails out a regime, it bolsters its power. After the United States invaded Afghanistan and Iraq, the Pentagon coined a term that perfectly captures the effect of foreign aid: “Money as a Weapon System.” The 2015 UN report noted that “the existing approach taken by the World Bank to human rights is incoherent, counterproductive and unsustainable. For most purposes, the World Bank is a human rights-free zone. In its operational policies, in particular, it treats human rights more like an infectious disease than universal values and obligations.”
The World Bank actively blindfolds itself to avoid hearing about atrocities in nations ruled by governments that it is bankrolling. The Special Rapporteur noted, “By refusing to take account of any information emanating from human rights sources, the Bank places itself in an artificial bubble.”
The Trump administration’s lust for “doubling down” on the IMF and World Bank is dicey to reconcile with their terminating 90% of foreign aid contracts from the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Cynics across the land rejoiced that Washington policymakers finally recognized one of the biggest swindles of the past 80 years.
If the Trump team can’t even get sound policy on the World Bank, then what hope is there of them resolving any more complex challenges? I was briefly a consultant for the World Bank in the late 1980s, getting paid to co-author a report on the follies of farm subsidies. At that point, Reagan administration officials had periodically caterwauled about the Bank for almost a decade, and they were followed by sporadic howling by the US Treasury Department ever since. Secretary Bessent complained on Wednesday that the World Bank “should no longer expect blank checks for vapid, buzzword-centric marketing accompanied by halfhearted commitments to reform.” But after almost a half-century of failed US attempts to reform the Bank and IMF, there is no reason to expect any boondoggles to be left behind.
Or do Trump’s appointees believe that laundering U.S. tax dollars through international entities somehow makes them beneficent? Or maybe US Treasury Department honchos want to make sure they continue to get invited to the most lavish parties in D.C. and around the world. Regardless, the IMF and World Bank financing the worst Covid policies around the globe is another reminder of why those entities should be axed.
Reprinted with permission from the Brownstone Institute.
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Site: Rorate CaeliRoberto de MatteiCorrispondenza RomanaApril 30, 2025The funeral of Pope Francis on the parvis of St. Peter's Basilica and the translation of the coffin to St. Mary Major, in the grandiose setting of ancient, Baroque, and 19th-century Rome, represented a historic moment charged with symbolism. Sovereigns, heads of state and government, public men of all ranks, gathered from all over the New Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118576661605931910noreply@blogger.com
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Site: LifeNews
CatholicVote joined a coalition of over 30 pro-life organizations Tuesday in urging the Trump administration to evaluate the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, immediately following the release of a new study revealing serious health risks.
In a letter to President Donald Trump, the coalition praised Trump’s pro-life leadership and called for swift action to protect unborn children and their mothers. The letter argues that mifepristone—used in over 60% of US abortions—was irresponsibly approved in 2000 and continues to harm women.
“We respectfully ask that you take swift action to protect the rights of states to defend unborn children, in keeping with your campaign pledge to return the issue of abortion to the states,” the letter read, calling on the administration to stand firm “as a defender of the weak and vulnerable.”
The appeal follows a shocking study released Monday, which found that nearly 11% of women suffer severe or life-threatening complications after undergoing an abortion with mifepristone.
As CatholicVote reported Monday, this complication rate is 22 times higher than what the FDA-approved label indicates.
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“The FDA needs to recognize that this is a red alert,” CatholicVote’s Joshua Mercer said. “A serious complication rate this high would be intolerable for any drug, let alone the most controversial one.”
Just days before the study’s release, FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary said the agency has “no plans to take action on mifepristone,” but left open the possibility of a future review if new data emerges.
“I believe as a scientist that you’ve got to evolve as the data comes in,” Makary said. “So, if the data suggests something or tells us that there’s a real signal, then we can’t promise that we’re not going to act on that data that we have not yet seen.”
Despite the growing concerns, the FDA’s website still calls mifepristone “safe and effective.” Pro-life researchers, including CatholicVote, have long criticized the drug’s rushed approval and the agency’s disregard of mounting evidence of its dangers.
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy also indicated earlier this year that Trump tasked him with reviewing the drug’s safety profile.
“President Trump has made it clear to me that one of the things he has not taken a position yet is mifepristone, a detailed position,” Kennedy said during his January confirmation. “But he’s made it clear to me that he wants me to look at safety issues, and I’ll ask the [National Institutes of Health] and [Food and Drug Administration] to do that.”
The pro-life coalition also warned that the Biden administration’s policy of mailing abortion pills has enabled abortionists to defy state pro-life laws.
“Unfortunately, Democrats and the left are trampling on the rights of state legislators to implement the will of the people to protect life, and they are using the US Postal Service to do so,” the letter stated.
The letter pointed to so-called “shield laws” in states like California and New York that protect abortionists who illegally ship mifepristone into pro-life states from prosecution.
Two recent cases in Texas and Louisiana, where women suffered serious medical emergencies from mifepristone, were cited as examples. In both cases, the pills were reportedly sent by New York abortionist Margaret Carpenter, who was shielded from prosecution by Democrat governors.
“There is substantial evidence indicating that some women are forced to take the medication, sometimes unknowingly,” the letter said. “This is exactly what happened in Louisiana where the law protects unborn children and their mothers from abortion.”
“States must be empowered to enforce pro-life laws, all the original safety protocols on mifepristone must be restored, and the FDA must investigate mifepristone, reconsidering its approval altogether,” the letter concluded. “The lives of women and unborn children and the rights of states depend upon it.”
The Trump administration has yet to publicly comment on whether it plans to take formal action following the coalition’s request.
LifeNews Note: Elise DeGeeter writes for CatholicVote, where this column originally appeared.
The post 30 Pro-Life Groups Ask Trump to Take Action Against Abortion Pill appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: Ron Paul Institute - Featured Articles
(photo: The erstwhile USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), now dubbed the USS Trembling Puppy for its multiple episodes of fleeing Yemeni missile strikes in a panic.)
In the aftermath of the USS Trembling Puppy acknowledging the loss of yet another fighter aircraft in the midst of a Yemeni missile attack, many speculations have arisen regarding what actually happened.
The “official” story is that an F/A-18 and its tow tractor were flung overboard while performing “evasive maneuvers” in the face of oncoming Yemeni anti-ship cruise missiles.
Many are skeptical of the “official” story of the jet going overboard as a result of an evasive maneuver.
Some think a US carrier would not even attempt an “evasive maneuver” to elude a cruise missile. But US carriers are trained on such maneuvers, even though I suspect they have limited potential efficacy.
Some think the Yemeni may have used loitering drones to shoot down an F/A-18 on landing approach to the carrier. This is an interesting conjecture, and while I do not dismiss it outright, I consider it less likely than the “official story”.
F/A-18 on approach for a carrier landing.
Let’s first consider the anti-ship cruise missiles, which are either Iranian “hand-me-downs”, or at least based on legacy Iranian designs, with a range up to 2000 km, a speed of ~.7 Mach, and a ~250 kg warhead.
Iranian Soumar ground-launched Cruise Missile, believed to be the design-basis for Yemeni ground-launched cruise missiles.
From a launch point in Yemen, it would require over an hour of flight time to travel the 1000+ km distance to the carrier strike group in the northern Red Sea.
Map of the Battle of the Red Sea — 2025
It must be assumed that US surveillance assets are able to track such missile launches along their entire path, and so CSG-8 should have been continuously apprised of the position of the various components of the strike package.
In other words, Rear Adm. Sean R. Bailey, commander of Carrier Strike Group Eight, and Captain Christopher “Chowdah” Hill, commander of the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75), both should have had real-time intelligence at every moment for 4+ hours of drone flight time, and over an hour of cruise missile flight time.
That said, the MQ-9 Reaper drone is one of the integral components of US persistent surveillance capability — and as has been widely reported, the Yemeni have now shot down 22 of them, several in the last month alone. So it is altogether possible that US surveillance of these missile launches could be meaningfully impaired.
Yemeni soldier celebrating the downing of yet another MQ-9 Reaper drone.
At any rate, I figure the Yemeni are firing cruise missiles which, at best, have about a 250m circular error probability at a distance of 1000+ km. Even a salvo of a dozen would struggle to score a hit on a moving ship 1000 km away — and the Yemeni have typically only fired 2 or 3 in any given salvo.
But apparently at least one got through the perimeter air defenses and the combat air patrol on this particular occasion, and was on a threatening track towards the Trembling Puppy.
Therefore Captain Soggy Cookie veered in a panic, dumping an F/A-18 and its tow tractor into the sea, and splashing salty seawater into the still-open wound of the Trembling Puppy’s February 2025 collision with a cargo ship just north of the Suez Canal.
Captain Soggy Cookie, formerly of the USS Brave Sir Robin (CVN-69), now commanding the USS Trembling Puppy (CVN-75).
USS Trembling Puppy Collision Hull Damage
USS Trembling Puppy Collision Hull Damage
Anyway, no matter the as-yet-uncertain details, it’s clearly another indisputable embarrassment for the US Navy, which has sought in vain for a year and a half to break the Yemeni selective blockade of the Red Sea.
With the recent addition of the USS Timid Vinny (CVN-70), which is cowering somewhere in the calm blue waters of the northern Arabian Sea, the Yemeni have now put the fear of Allah into five separate US Navy carrier strike groups over the course of the past eighteen months.
Alas, as I have long observed, there are no easy wars left to fight.
In any case, this simple fact remains: against all odds and prior expectations, the chronically underestimated Yemeni remain the gatekeepers of the Bab-el-Mandeb, and are inflicting upon the United States Navy one of the most decisive strategic defeats in its heavily mythologized history.
Reprinted with permission from imetatronink.
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Site: Mundabor's blogWe just had another example of the real nature of these Hollywood “stars”. They are total wrecks. They are complete and utter failures. They are virtue-signalling freak shows, living a life of drama, narcissism, and arrogance. Completely unable to be of any use in what is most important to someone who marries and has children, […]
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Site: AsiaNews.itA US air raid against a detention centre last Sunday killed at least 68 people from Africa. Since mid-March, US and UK planes hit at least a thousand targets. Advocacy groups report at least 400 civilians killed. Pope Francis is among the few voices who spoke out against the tragedy of migrants in the region.
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Site: LifeNews
The ACLJ just filed a federal lawsuit to defend a courageous pro-life advocate whose constitutional rights were blatantly violated by local officials in Carbondale, Illinois. We told you earlier this month that while we were live on air during our broadcast, a pastor reached out to us after some of his parishioners were being targeted for criminal citation by police just for having pro-life signs. We went right to work, in real-time, de-escalating the police and ensuring that our clients were not arrested that day.
We quickly followed up with a demand letter to the city attorney, which has been completely ignored. That is why we have now filed a federal lawsuit to protect the constitutional rights of Brandon – a sidewalk counselor who believes his mission field is to proclaim the Gospel and minister to women in crisis pregnancies – who was threatened with a citation and possible arrest for having pro-life signs on public property outside of an abortion clinic.
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As our readers may recall, on April 16, our client, a missionary and founder of a pro-life sidewalk counseling ministry, was peacefully advocating for life outside an abortion clinic in Carbondale. He was joined by other pro-life advocates. They carried small yard signs offering free baby supplies and life-affirming messages such as “We will adopt your baby” and “Love your preborn neighbor as yourself.”
That’s when the trouble began.
A city official, acting on direct orders from the city attorney, told Brandon that all signs – even those placed well beyond the 20-foot setback as required by the ordinance – were prohibited, despite the ordinance’s language that it is not intended to limit “demonstrations” or other “political rallies.” Brandon was informed that unless he removed the signs immediately, the police would be called, and he could face a citation and the confiscation of his property. When Brandon asserted that he had the right to demonstrate against abortion under the First Amendment, the city’s representative flippantly told him, “No, you don’t.”
Brandon attempted to comply with every shifting explanation the officials gave him, even retrieving new signs that were purely demonstrative and devoid of any offer of free goods or services. Still, the city official – on order from the city attorney – insisted that no signs were allowed, period.
Police officers were called in. Threats of citation and criminal charges followed. Brandon’s pastor called us for help, and we intervened immediately on behalf of our client and prevented an arrest or citation from being issued.
Even when reviewing the ordinance the following day, Brandon thought that there might be an exception to what he was told by city officials and that a 501(c)3 organization, like his ministry, could apply for a permit to post temporary signs. When he went to obtain this permit, he was told that a permitting process didn’t exist and there was no permit he could apply for to temporarily post anti-abortion signs. This was explicitly in contradiction to the city ordinance.
The ACLJ intervened swiftly, sending a formal demand letter to the city of Carbondale on April 22. We made it clear that Brandon’s speech was constitutionally protected, the city’s ordinance was unconstitutionally vague and chilled First Amendment speech when applied, and the city’s treatment of our client amounted to viewpoint discrimination. We demanded written assurances that his rights would be respected and that he would be allowed to obtain a permit under the ordinance’s own terms – just as any 501(c)(3) nonprofit is allowed to do.
The city failed to respond.
Their silence speaks volumes. Carbondale’s officials have effectively adopted an unwritten policy: Pro-life voices are not welcome in public spaces.
So the ACLJ has filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Carbondale, the city attorney, and the city’s community development manager. This case seeks to vindicate Brandon’s rights under the Constitution and Illinois law.
We argue that the city’s ordinance is unconstitutionally vague and arbitrarily enforced. Worse still, the city is applying the law in a discriminatory fashion to silence religious and pro-life speech. Brandon wasn’t just threatened with enforcement – he was outright denied the ability to even apply for a permit that the ordinance specifically allows for nonprofits like his. This is a textbook case of unconstitutional viewpoint discrimination, enforcing a policy in one way for some people and another way for others.
We are seeking declaratory and injunctive relief to stop Carbondale from continuing its unlawful behavior, along with compensatory damages and attorneys’ fees under federal civil rights statutes.
This is what the ACLJ was built for: to stand in defense of the Constitution and to ensure that no government can silence people of faith or punish them for their beliefs.
We will keep you updated as the case progresses. Your continued support is what makes this work possible. Stand with us as we fight for life and liberty in court.
LifeNews Note: Jordan Sekulow is the Executive Director of the American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ).
The post Lawsuit Filed Against City Giving People Criminal Citations for Pro-Life Yard Signs appeared first on LifeNews.com.
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Site: AsiaNews.itn Tajikistan, construction has just been completed on a special hangar for the luxurious presidential aircraft that Emomali Rakhmon purchased from Mexico, which could no longer afford the maintenance costs. This is the latest example of a widespread trend among heads of state throughout the region.
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Site: Novus Motus LiturgicusAuguste Danse, Study of Three Singers (detail)The following is based on a real letter.Dear Friend,I’m sorry to hear that you’re experiencing some “ups and downs” with regard to the liturgy there, though it’s hardly surprising in a way. Your diocese is not well known for liturgical propriety or taste, and, beyond that, priests mostly have control over how the liturgy goes, which is why we end up Peter Kwasniewskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02068005370670549612noreply@blogger.com0
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Site: Fr. Z's BlogIt’s sede vacante time and all eyes are turned to Rome in anticipation of a conclave. It is appropriate to have an expert explanation of exactly how a conclave works. Forget the TV pundits and Know-It-Alls in the Catholic press. … Read More →
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Site: AsiaNews.itA 50-year-old Piedmontese, pastor of a community of just 1,400 Catholics in an immense land where the Gospel was proclaimed only 30 years ago, brings to the conclave the breath of the most extreme missionary frontiers of the Catholic Church.He is the face of a community in dialogue with Buddhist believers, with a strong educational and social vitality, in a country nestled (not only geographically) between China and Russia.
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Site: non veni pacemSaint Catherine of Siena’s disputation to the traitorous Cardinals who supported an obvious antipope
(Key passages featured here, for anyone who thinks those of us speaking up for truth are somehow in sin. God forbid. Link to the whole thing at the end. Wishing you a blessed Feast of St. Catherine of Siena, Doctor of the Church. St. Catherine, pray for us, we need it! -nvp)
Dearest brothers and fathers in Christ sweet Jesus: I Catherine, servant and slave of the servants of Jesus Christ, write to you in His precious Blood: with desire to see you turn back to the true and most perfect light, leaving the deep shadows of blindness into which you are fallen. Then you shall be fathers to me; otherwise not. Yes, indeed, I call you fathers in so far as you shall leave death and turn back to life (for, as things go now, you are parted from the life of grace, limbs cut off from your head from which you drew life), when you shall stand united in faith, and in that perfect obedience to Pope Urban VI., in which those abide who have the light, and in light know the truth, and knowing it love it…
Oh, human blindness! Seest thou not, unfortunate man, that thou thinkest to love things firm and stable, joyous things, good and fair? and they are mutable, the sum of wretchedness, hideous, and without any goodness; not as they are created things in themselves, since all are created by God, who is perfectly good, but through the nature of him who possesses them intemperately. How mutable are the riches and honours of the world in him who possesses them without God, without the fear of Him! for to-day is he rich and great, and to-day he is poor. How hideous is our bodily life, that living we shed stench from every part of our body! Simply a sack of dung, the food for worms, the food of death! …
Oh, wretched man, the darkness of self-love does not let thee know this truth. For didst thou know it, thou wouldst choose any pain rather than guide thy life in this way; thou wouldst give thee to loving and desiring Him who Is; thou wouldst enjoy His truth in firmness, and wouldst not move about like a leaf in the wind; thou wouldst serve thy Creator, and wouldst love everything in Him, and apart from Him nothing. Oh, how will this blindness be reproved at the last moment in every rational being, and much the more in those whom God has taken from the filth of the world, and assigned to the greatest excellence that can be, having made them ministers of the Blood of the humble and spotless Lamb! Oh me, oh me! what have you come to by not having followed up your dignities with virtue? …
Now you have turned your backs, like poor mean knights; your shadow has made you afraid. You have divided you from the truth which strengthens us, and drawn close to falsehood, which weakens soul and body, depriving you of temporal and spiritual grace. What made you do this? The poison of self-love, which has infected the world. That is what has made you pillars lighter than straw. Flowers you who shed no perfume, but stench that makes the whole world reek! No lights you placed in a candlestick, that you might spread the faith; but, having hidden your light under the bushel of pride, and become not extenders, but contaminators of the faith, you shed darkness over yourselves and others. You should have been angels on earth, placed to release us from the devils of hell, and performing the office of angels, by bringing back the sheep into the obedience of Holy Church, and you have taken the office of devils. That evil which you have in yourselves you wish to infect us with, withdrawing us from obedience to Christ on earth, and leading us into obedience to antichrist, a member of the devil, as you are too, so long as you shall abide in this heresy.
Ah, foolish men, worthy of a thousand deaths! As blind, you do not see your own wrong, and have fallen into such confusion that you make of your own selves liars and idolaters…
https://www.virgosacrata.com/saint-catherine-of-siena-letter.html
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Site: PaulCraigRoberts.org
Dear Readers, as you know my interpretation of the Ukrainian “peace negotiations” is substantially different from that of the official narrative. I decided to ask experts in Russia for an explanation of what the Russian view of the “peace negotiations’ is. Ivan Andrianov, the director of a strategic consulting firm, has obliged me with an answer. Here it is:
Moscow’s Conditions for Peace: Between Diplomacy and Force
By Ivan Andrianov, Founder and CEO of IntellGlobe Solutions (https://igs.expert/), a strategic consulting firm specializing in geopolitical risk analysis, international security, and political forecasting. Editor-in-Chief of GEOFOR (https://geofor.ru/), an international analytical platform focused on global affairs.
Despite numerous statements, primarily coming from Western media and politicians, today it cannot be unequivocally stated that the Russian authorities are seriously considering the possibility of freezing the conflict with Ukraine along the current line of contact. Russian politicians, as well as public and behind-the-scenes experts view such a scenario with extreme skepticism.
If we carefully study the Russian media field and the statements of officials everything is essentially reduced to the position set out by President Putin last June at the board meeting of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation.
It envisions clearing Ukrainian troops from the territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR), as well as the Kherson and Zaporozhye regions, which became part of Russia in 2022 after local referendums. Putin stressed that Ukrainian forces must withdraw beyond the administrative borders of those territories as recorded on maps of the former Ukrainian SSR at the time of the Soviet Union’s dissolution.
There have been no recent reinterpretations or statements from the Russian president that would indicate a shift in Moscow’s position. This remains consistent with the Kremlin’s reiterated assertions that it is prepared to engage in negotiations with the United States regarding a peace settlement in Ukraine, or even directly with Kyiv — and notably, without any preconditions. However, the negotiation process itself is inherently protracted, and its eventual outcome remains uncertain.
The negotiations have been ongoing for several months, and it is evident that the Russian authorities continue to adhere to their core demands. There appears to be little reason to anticipate any fundamental shift in this position, and a number of factors – both direct and indirect – serve to reinforce this assessment.
To begin with, the map of Ukraine’s partition along the Dnieper – recently published on the basis of an interview with U.S. presidential envoy Kellogg – leaves part of the Kherson Region’s right bank under Kiev’s control and has caused considerable bewilderment within Russian diplomatic and expert circles. The same reaction is provoked by the idea of handing the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant and adjacent territories – currently part of the Russian Federation – over to Kiev.
Beyond that, the Russian leadership clearly takes into account public and troop moods, which is strongly influenced by reports of war crimes against civilians in the temporarily occupied areas of Kursk Region that surfaced after their liberation, as well as regular shelling of civilian targets. Official information – highly rationed – together with private-channel reports has reinforced, in the military and, more importantly, in society, a sense of righteous anger and the desire to achieve total victory over the enemy.
Sociological surveys and reports from individuals – military experts, soldiers on leave, volunteers, and so on – returning from the combat zone point to this. It is also noted that the number of people wishing to sign contracts with the Armed Forces has risen markedly of late.
One must also remember the series of terrorist attacks periodically thwarted by Russian security services, as well as those, unfortunately, carried out. Kiev regime recently assassinated Lieutenant-General Yaroslav Moskalyk, Deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff. As the general left his home, a car parked opposite the entrance exploded. The Russian citizen who prepared the bomb was detained the next day and immediately brought to Moscow. During interrogation he testified that he had acted on instructions from Ukrainian intelligence, for whom he was an agent, and that the device was detonated via a cellular signal from Kiev.
It was officially announced that the vehicle had stood there for over a week, suggesting that, beyond the usual aim of terrorizing the public, this act was timed to coincide with another visit to Moscow by U.S. presidential envoy Witkoff, in order to complicate the forthcoming talks.
Notably, the secretary of the Verkhovna Rada’s National Security Committee, Mr. Kostenko, acknowledged Ukraine’s involvement in the assassination of a Russian general and further stated that any ceasefire should be used by Ukrainian special services to carry out new attacks against Russia’s political and military leadership (https://youtu.be/F0iT55Gwpic?si=nayoRMWS43Lly-EW).
In this context, the majority of experts agree that under such conditions, the likelihood of President Putin agreeing to any compromise involving the cession of territories formally enshrined as part of the Russian Federation is virtually nonexistent, as such a move would be met with extremely negative reactions both among the Russian public and within the armed forces.
Among other issues, Kursk Region has just been fully liberated and can no longer be used by Kiev as a bargaining chip. Russia, on the other hand, holds territories in Kharkov and Sumy regions that are not formally incorporated into Russia, and potentially in Dnepropetrovsk Region, from which, at various points, Russian troops are only two to five miles away and are still advancing. Some experts believe that, if necessary, these areas could be traded for something in negotiations with Kiev. At the same time, there have been no official statements – or even indirect indications – from the Russian leadership suggesting the possibility of such a scenario.
Overall, there remains deep skepticism within Russia regarding the prospects of reaching a genuine agreement through negotiations with Ukraine, even with U.S. mediation.
While welcoming White House efforts toward peace, experts note the limited ability of the Trump administration to compel Kyiv and its European sponsors not only to cease hostilities but even to make a decision to begin serious negotiations. Against the backdrop of Washington’s and Moscow’s efforts, EU countries continue to give Kyiv political and financial support and to supply weapons, military equipment, and ammunition – though in recent days there has been some shift in their rhetoric regarding the possibility of initiating a negotiating process.
It is generally noted that even if the Russian and U.S. sides reach a mutually acceptable agreement (a scenario considered quite likely in Russia), it is unlikely to be implemented because of Kiev’s provocative actions, carried out with the consent and support of Europeans – primarily the British, French, and Poles. Incidentally, the talks on Ukraine in London effectively failed.
In this regard, it is important to note that, according to several military experts, Kiev is currently finalizing preparations for a major provocation along the front line – something that Ukraine’s military leadership is, in fact, not attempting to conceal.
According to Ukrainian media and bloggers, a reserve force of about 50-70 thousand people have now been formed. Given Kiev’s previous operations of a similar nature, the version suggesting that these forces will be deployed not to reinforce front-line units, but rather to carry out a politically oriented provocation appears entirely plausible. Similar incidents have already taken place, including in Russia’s Kursk and Belgorod regions. It can be also stated with high confidence that it will be reinforced by foreign mercenaries (official Russian Defense Ministry figures indicate that nearly 2,000 Poles were killed and identified in fighting in Kursk Region this year alone, not counting citizens of other countries, total amount of the foreign mercenaries killed in the Region is about 5,000).
Ukrainians also report a shortage of tanks and other armored vehicles. As for drones and ammunition for artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems, these are still available in sufficient quantities.
Taking all of the above into account, the prevailing view in Russia is that the hot phase of the Special Military Operation is likely to continue in one form or another into current and even next year. Occasional forecasts that the operation might conclude this year are still seen as “overly optimistic” and incompatible with the balance of forces on the battlefield and with how the negotiation process is proceeding.
In practice, to maintain political stability and resilience, the Russian authorities must present the populace and the security sector with something that resembles victory in one form or another, as a capitulation of the opponent is not in prospect. The configuration of such a “victory” could include the following essential points: legal recognition of Crimea, de facto recognition of the four regions as part of Russia (Russians would likely pay little heed to the legal niceties), and the lifting of sanctions. Naturally, Moscow would not be satisfied with transferring the Zaporozhe NPP to Ukraine, even under U.S. control, nor with giving up the Kinburn Spit.
Overall, this aligns with Peskov’s statements that “in Trump’s understanding of the situation in Ukraine there are many elements that coincide with Russia’s position.” However, several issues remain. These include the part of Kherson Region on the right bank of the Dnieper with the city of Kherson, and also part of Zaporozhe Region with its administrative center. As it appears at this stage, Kiev categorically opposes transferring these territories to Moscow, creating a serious contradiction. Moreover, the Kremlin is sure to demand limits on the size of the Ukrainian army and a prohibition on any European or NATO military contingents being stationed in Ukraine.
Furthermore, even if some agreement is reached, it is unclear how it would be preserved after Donald Trump’s presidential term expires, especially if the Democrats return to power – something Moscow considers quite a likely scenario.
Moreover, there is currently no clear and reliable mechanism for monitoring the observance of any potential ceasefire. This concern is further reinforced by the previous attempt at a truce during the Easter period, which demonstrated that, even if the Kiev authorities expressed an intention to engage in a ceasefire, they exercised limited control over their military forces, who did not consistently comply with the orders issued.
It will be interesting to see how the ceasefire is observed in May, especially since Kiev now has ample time to prepare.
Returning to Russian society, most experts agree that it expects the fulfillment of the demands articulated by President Putin prior to the launch of the Special Military Operation, namely:
• Demilitarization, that is, as far as we can judge now, a serious reduction in the size of the Ukrainian Armed Forces;
• Denazification, that is the complete dismantling of Ukrainian authority and its replacement by military or diplomatic means;
• Elimination of the NATO threat, which would presumably include recognition of the four new regions and the points mentioned above;
• Retention by Russia of the territories incorporated after the referendums;
• The lifting of sanctions remains a key expectation among both Russian society and business circles.
This is the minimum program, while the maximum would be victory over Ukraine in the classical sense of the word – that is, Kiev’s capitulation. The Kremlin surely understands this as well.
Regarding the ceasefires – which the Russian authorities have now initiated for the second time, effectively on a unilateral basis – they appear to serve several purposes. First, there is the humanitarian dimension. President Putin’s emphasis on humanitarian considerations is subject to both criticism and support: some believe in the sincerity of this approach, others do not; yet it remains a factor that is difficult to ignore, although a number of experts criticize such initiatives.
Second, it appears that Moscow is attempting to leave itself a fallback option if negotiations on Ukraine become completely deadlocked or fail altogether. The Kremlin remains open to a diplomatic resolution of the conflict, but if the proposed terms are deemed wholly unacceptable – and if temporary ceasefires are systematically violated by the Kyiv authorities – this could provide the Russian leadership with the necessary justification to withdraw from negotiations and intensify military operations on what it would argue are legally defensible grounds. Judging by the pressure reportedly being applied by the U.S. administration on President Zelensky, it seems that the White House is also aware of this dynamic.
Therefore, although the Russian authorities are not opposed to resolving the conflict by diplomatic means, Moscow today strongly doubts the realism of such a scenario, and the reason is not Trump himself or the work of his administration, but who will come to power afterward. And of course we must not forget that Kiev and the EU are doing everything today to ensure no agreements are reached, so it is logical to expect that even if an agreement is achieved, it will inevitably be derailed. Making major concessions in such a situation would, as it seems, be political suicide for Russian authorities. In any case, there are definite signals to that effect.
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Site: Catholic Herald
As the world’s most exclusive club prepares to elect the new pope, they are in the midst of an immediate test of just how seriously they will take the issue of clerical sexual abuse due to a Peruvian cardinal who is participating in pre-conclave meetings despite abuse allegations against him.
Peruvian Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, 81, is not eligible to vote in a conclave due to his age, while in 2019 he was subject to restrictions on his ministry imposed by Pope Francis over allegations lodged a year prior that he had sexually assaulted an adolescent boy.
Those sanctions, which Cipriani accepted and signed off on just before turning 75, apparently barred him from the following: wearing his red cardinal robes and other symbols associated with the cardinalate, returning to Peru without permission, making public declarations, and participating in a future conclave while he was still of age to do so.
Cipriani has repeatedly denied the allegations, which went public in January 2025 when Spanish newspaper El Pais revealed that Cipriani’s ministry had been restricted after an apparent victim complained to the Vatican in 2018, and that another similar complaint was lodged in 2002, but had apparently come to nothing.
These restrictions were confirmed by Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni, who in January said Cipriani in 2019 had “imposed a penal precept with some disciplinary measures” and which, Bruni added, “appear to still be in force.”
These measures, Bruni said, were “related to his public activity, place of residence and use of insignia”, and were “signed and accepted” by Cipriani himself.
Despite these restrictions, Cipriani has repeatedly violated them, traveling to Lima in January to receive a prestigious award from the city’s mayor, Rafael Lopez Aliaga, and issuing several public statements over the past two months denying the allegations against him, while accusing Pope Francis of undue process, and demanding that the Peruvian bishops rectify statements confirming the restrictions on his ministry.
He has also disobeyed the order not to use his cardinal insignia and symbols, showing up in his red cardinal robes to pay respects to Pope Francis on 24 April, while the late pontiff was lying in state, and at a Vespers service for the Pope held 27 April in the Basilica of St. Mary Major, where the body of Pope Francis is buried.
Cipriani has also been seen leaving the Vatican’s Paul VI audience hall, where pre-conclave general congregation meetings are taking place, with the gaggle of other cardinals present.
Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said the issue of clerical abuse was discussed by cardinals on 28 April as part of a discussion on the many challenges the Church faces.
When asked about Cipriani’s participation, Bruni said that the Vatican constitution governing conclave rules, Universi Dominici Gregis, made it clear that all cardinals without personal impediments such as illness were summoned to participate.
While the document does not include any specific rules barring prelates accused of sexual abuse from participating in a conclave or pre-conclave meetings, it does include provisions allowing cardinals to handle urgent matters as a collective body.
Point six of the constitution says, “should there be a problem which, in the view of the majority of the assembled Cardinals, cannot be postponed until another time, the College of Cardinals may act according to the majority opinion.”
The third paragraph of point seven in the document says: “During the time of the election, more important matters are, if necessary, dealt with by the assembly of the Cardinal electors.”
It thus falls to the cardinal electors, presumably under the leadership of the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Italian Giovanni Battista Re, to determine whether Cipriani ought to continue attending the general congregations.
Asked about Cipriani’s participation again during an April 29 briefing, Bruni did not respond to observations that Cipriani was disobeying orders from Pope Francis, but referred to his January statement in which he confirmed the restrictions on Cipriani’s ministry, and that they were still in effect.
The mushrooming controversy over Cipriani’s participation comes after another question of attendance at the conclave involving Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu, who was stripped of his rights and duties as a cardinal by Pope Francis in 2020 for alleged financial crimes and found guilty and sanctioned for these crimes by the Vatican’s court in 2023.
Becciu had initially, when general congregations began, argued publicly that he was never banned from participating in a conclave; however, he has withdrawn after reportedly being shown documents signed by the Pope confirming it was his will that Becciu should not participate.
The question that the cardinals now face is what to do, if anything, about Cipriani, given the allegations against him and his blatant disobedience of the restrictions imposed on him by Pope Francis.
The Peruvian bishops earlier this year confirmed the existence of a penal precept against him, presumably incurring sanctions for disobedience, but it is unknown what these sanctions involve, and who might impose them during the sede vacante before a new pope is selected and assumes leadership of the Catholic Church.
Although Cipriani is not an elector, his presence at general congregations has caused alarm among victims and activists who believe his presence is an insult to survivors and that it is also hypocritical given the apparent concern over the clerical abuse scandals among the College of Cardinals.
Multiple victims, experts and advocacy groups have condemned his presence, with advocacy group Bishop Accountability saying on 28 April that Cipriani’s participation “reassures abusive bishops of their colleagues’ continuing support even as it sends a distressing message to abuse victims. It revives the haunting idea that the Church is safer for accused clergy than for children.”
Many observers note that on the whole, while Pope Francis made his share of mistakes over the clerical abuse issue, he ultimately tried to do the right thing, and decisions such as defrocking former cardinal and priest Theodore McCarrick and suppressing the Peru-based Sodalitium Christianae Vitae marked significant progress on this front.
The case of Cipriani marks the first real litmus test since the Francis papacy came to an end as to how the current body of cardinals will respond to the Church’s abuse crisis, and what sort of action can be expected when it comes to high-ranking, influential prelates who face allegations.
It will be especially noteworthy if a cardinal accused of and punished for financial crimes was forced out of the conclave, while a cardinal accused of and punished for sexual crimes against minors is not.
If paragraphs six and seven of Universi Dominici Gregis are applied in this case, the cardinals can collectively make a decision about his participation. Presently, they don’t appear to be doing that.
RELATED: Controversy erupts as sanctioned cardinal attends pre-conclave meetings
Photo: Peruvian cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani lifts a blessed host during the celebration of the Corpus Christi in Lima’s main square (CRIS BOURONCLE/AFP/GettyImages)
The post Cipriani controversy tests cardinals’ resolve on clerical abuse ahead of conclave first appeared on Catholic Herald.
The post Cipriani controversy tests cardinals’ resolve on clerical abuse ahead of conclave appeared first on Catholic Herald.
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Site: Mises InstituteThis is really the "Biden stagnation" but Trump has made it his own by raising taxes and stifling international trade. So, now Trump owns it.
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Site: OnePeterFive
Above: a photo op with the Synod on Synodality. Source. The Scene: Several months have elapsed since the death of the pope. After days of debate over who might become the next pontiff, speculation has turned to when the conclave will be over. What is taking so long? Rumors abound: might there be fierce infighting among the cardinals? Might the churches in various geographic territories be…
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Site: PeakProsperityJoin Chris and Evie for the Signal Hour live at 1pm ET.
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Site: PeakProsperityPremium members may join Chris and Evie for an extended version of the Signal Hour live at 1pm ET.
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Site: Crisis Magazine
Does anybody in the hierarchy still believe that not all dogs and people go to Heaven…at least immediately? Following the announcement of John Paul II’s death, apparently all Holy Fathers now go directly by courtesy line to “the home of the Father.” And there have already been murmurings of “santo subito” about Francis. In his funeral homily, Cardinal Re asked Francis to “bless the whole world…
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Site: Fr. Z's BlogThere was obviously no love lost – in life or in death – betwixt Archbp. Carlo Maria Viganò and Francis. These days, Viganò is reported by LifeSite to be saying that cardinals created by Francis cannot legitimately elect a new … Read More →
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Site: Crisis Magazine
Following the passing of Pope Francis, I have been disturbed not by the ensuing commentary but by some of the callousness and cruelty that emerged from certain ideological camps. After I made a simple and respectful post on social media about his passing, I encountered a series of unhinged, dehumanizing responses. Some came from self-proclaimed Christians, including Catholics…
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Site: Catholic Herald
One of the interesting things to happen after Pope Francis died is that the movie Conclave, which came out last year, has had millions of new viewers online.
The film directed by Edward Berger – and starring Ralph Fiennes, Stanley Tucci, John Lithgow and Isabella Rossellini – looks at the intrigue and infighting occurring during the election of a new pope.
Although the movie isn’t very accurate, it highlights the fact that conspiracy theories abound when a conclave is about to take place.
A conclave brings together the cardinals under 80 who are allowed to vote for a pope. Famously, they are mostly sealed in the Sistine Chapel, and if a pope is elected, white smoke will appear at the Vatican. If the pope isn’t elected, then black smoke is seen in the air. A cardinal needs a two-thirds majority to win, although the current regulations allow that to reduce to 50 percent plus-one after the process starts taking too long.
On Monday, it was announced the conclave would start on Wednesday, 7 May. Leading to new conspiracies arising.
Raymond Arroyo said on X that the “delayed start suggests that the cardinals are asserting their authority over the Vatican insiders who were hoping for an expedited conclave”.
Austen Ivereigh, famous for his work on Pope Francis, responded by saying, “What tosh.”
“Every cardinal I’ve spoken to says they need more time to get to know other. In the end they’re only starting one day later than regulations allowed, and four days before they had to. The conclave is expected to last the usual two days. Do not trust Arroyo’s fictions,” he said.
Then Ed Condon of The Pillar, and a canon lawyer, threw in his remarks.
“I’m seeing a lot of nonsense about May 7 being a ‘delayed start’ for the conclave and some kind of procedural power play. That’s just rubbish. UDG states ‘from the moment when the Apostolic See is lawfully vacant, fifteen full days must elapse before the conclave begins,’” he wrote on X.
However, Arroyo points out that Pope Benedict changed the law, stating that the conclave could begin earlier, if the voting cardinals had all arrived in Rome.
“I thought my recollections were correct. Benedict XVI DID amend the rules of conclave allowing the cardinals to move the start of the conclave up if all the electors are present. So the intention of some to start the conclave on May 4 or 5 was a possibility. But I am relieved they have more time to talk and get acquainted,” he wrote.
This comment was made on the day it was announced when the conclave was taking place: now journalists will be scouring the city of Rome – and the neighbouring towns – to see who is speaking to whom, which person is paying for the wine, and what plots are supposedly taking place.
Are the progressives on top? Will the conservatives stage a comeback? Will the Church see a second pontiff from outside Europe? These stories are usually made up, or at least “configured” with limited data.
This is not to say the cardinals are not speaking about who they want to be the next pope; of course they are. But Pope Francis was 88-years-old when died, so any real intrigue has been taking place for years, and anything taking place now is just adding in the details.
Most of the talks aimed at the “undecided” – and there are many cardinals unsure of who they want to succeed Francis – are taking place publicly, in the formal reflections given to the cardinals and the homilies at the Novemdiales Masses being said for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis.
So take the media hype with a grain of salt.
With that in mind, I will just add my two cents on why I think the conclave is starting on 7 May .
May 1 is one of the biggest holidays in Italy; the city of Rome shuts down. This year, it is on a Thursday, meaning that before the pontiff died, many Italians had already decided to take a vacation day on the Friday and Monday following – this gives them a five-day weekend while only using two vacation days.
Of course, Vatican employees and reporters had to cancel their days off, but other city workers – including many providing food and hotel supplies – aren’t going to be working. Tuesday, 6 May, will be a return to normality, but probably a slow return. A conclave start on 7 May was the only way the cardinals could ensure a suitable dinner that first night.
But again, I might just be pouring some salt on the story.
RELATED: Bishop Barron is right: Catholics will run a mile from ‘Conclave’
Photo: Religious dress in a store near the Vatican on April 28, 2025 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
The post Stories of intrigue and secret plots gather pace as conclave approaches first appeared on Catholic Herald.
The post Stories of intrigue and secret plots gather pace as conclave approaches appeared first on Catholic Herald.
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Site: AsiaNews.itToday's news: Vietnam celebrates 50 years of reunification, with the historic capture of Saigon in 1975;Beijing approves a law to help private companies; list of US products exempt from tariffs created;Pakistan accuses India of imminent attack within 24-36 hours;The home of ousted South Korean president Yoon searched as part of investigation into influence peddling.
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Site: Rorate CaeliThe Sacred College of Cardinals during the General Congregation of Monday, April 28th last, has set the date for the beginning of the Conclave: May 7, 2025. Given the gravity of the situation, I ask that those who will complete the Novena on May 5th next, immediately begin a second Novena, continuing to pray the Novena Prayer until the new Successor of Saint Peter is elected. For those who have New Catholichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04118576661605931910noreply@blogger.com
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Site: Catholic Herald
Mel Gibson’s return to biblical cinema is underway with The Resurrection of the Christ, the long-anticipated sequel to his 2004 epic The Passion of the Christ. This new film, which begins filming in 2026, promises to transcend a straightforward retelling of the Resurrection, instead offering a sweeping, supernatural vision of Christ’s victory over death.
Gibson has described it as an exploration of “another realm” – beginning with the exile of the demons from heaven’s court, descending into hell, and culminating in the glory of the Resurrection.
Given its scope, the film will not follow a typical, linear structure. According to Gibson, it will rather opt for a theologically rich metaphysical approach – one with which those who saw The Passion will be familiar (particularly in the scenes containing Judas or Satan).
Speaking to Joe Rogan on a recent podcast, Gibson disclosed that “[i]n order to really tell the story properly, you have to really start with the fall of the angels. You need to go to hell.”
Co-written with his brother Donal and with longtime collaborator Randall Wallace, the script took over six years to refine. Gibson believes The Resurrection will be the most difficult and ambitious challenge of his career.
“There’s a lot required because it is – I’ll just tell you this – it’s an acid trip,” he said.
Gibson nevertheless desires to meticulously commit to historical and theological authenticity, asserting, “I regard the Gospels as history. It’s verifiable history.”
Jim Caviezel, who delivered an impactful and physically mortifying performance as Jesus in The Passion, will reprise the role in the sequel. Despite the 20-year gap since the original film, Caviezel’s return will be made seamless through advanced de-aging technology, ensuring continuity in his portrayal of Christ at the age of 33 years old.
Filming is to begin in 2026 at Rome’s renowned Cinecittà Studios, with additional scenes planned in ancient southern Italian towns such as Matera, Ginosa, Gravina, Laterza and Altamura – locations chosen for their historical authenticity and visual resonance with first-century Judea.
Matera, in the Italian region of Basilicata, was used as the convincing filming location for Jerusalem in The Passion, particularly during the Via Dolorosa scenes. In this choice, further continuity will be ensured between the two biblical epics Gibson will have directed.
However, other continuities will not be possible. In 2023, Gibson mourned the loss of Christo Jivkov, the Bulgarian actor who played St John the Apostle. Given St John’s prominent role among the twelve, and his importance in the early Church after the Resurrection, Jivkov’s sorely missed presence will present a challenge to the upcoming film.
Gibson’s artistic vision is deeply informed by his faith. A longtime passionate Sedevacantist Catholic – someone who rejects popes and innovations in the Catholic Church following Vatican II – with a longstanding devotion to the Latin Mass, he has consistently used film as a medium to explore spiritual truth. “I do actually believe this stuff to the full,” he told Rogan – an outlook that has not only guided his creative direction but also shaped the spiritual atmosphere on his film sets.
This was especially evident during the making of The Passion of the Christ, which was marked by a series of extraordinary and, for many, providential occurrences. One of the most remarkable events involved lightning striking (literally) actor Jim Caviezel – not once, but twice. During the filming of the Sermon on the Mount scene, Caviezel was struck directly in front of a plethora of onlookers who rushed over to provide medical assistance; a crew member was subsequently also hit. Caviezel later described the experience, saying he felt “light surrounding his body” before losing consciousness.
The strange occurrences didn’t stop there. In addition to the lightning strikes, Caviezel also endured a dislocated shoulder during the scourging scenes, was accidentally lashed with a real whip that tore a 14-inch gash across his spine, and developed pneumonia and hypothermia during the crucifixion sequences. “Every day, I was carrying my cross,” Caviezel later reflected. Yet he was convinced that the physical suffering added spiritual depth to his portrayal.
Even more significant were the spiritual transformations that took place among the cast and crew. Several individuals, including Luca Lionello, who played Judas Iscariot, experienced profound conversions to Christianity or returned to the Church after filming. Lionello, who had been an outspoken atheist, credited the experience of playing Judas and being part of the film with opening his heart to faith.
Many others on set reported feeling a palpable spiritual presence during key scenes, especially during the crucifixion. There were reports of spontaneous prayer, reverence and even weeping among non-religious crew members. These occurrences – many of which were confirmed or disclosed only years later – were not treated as publicity stunts but as signs that something greater was at work, making The Passion not just a film but an experience that transcended the screen.
Then, there was the opposition arraigned against the film. Before The Passion even hit theatres, it experienced an unusual level of hostility and challenge. Gibson described how no established producing consortium or studio would take the project. According to Gibson, Rupert Murdoch had been interested – but was reportedly threatened if he did.
“And then somebody advised him and said he’d be out of business in five years – Rupert Murdoch!…in five years if he distributed that…And I was like, wow. If he’s scared…I’m gonna…I’m gonna crash and burn here,” Gibson revealed.
When the film was released, it nevertheless performed incredibly well at the box office. Distributed by a minor company, and having eschewed traditional Hollywood giants, it was the first to do manage such a feat and typically shouldn’t have.
It nevertheless immediately received a slurry of scathing onslaught from secular media, influenced by a campaign from Abraham Foxman at the Anti-Defamation League, accusing the film of antisemitism. This was despite the fact both the film’s heroes and heroines are Jewish – and even some members of the Sanhedrin and Pharisees are portrayed sympathetically. Maia Morgenstern, the Romanian-Jewish actress who played Mary, publicly defended the film against the ludicrous charges of antisemitism.
The plethora of unusual events surrounding the film, both on set and then surrounding its release, have been noted by observers, especially the faithful. Other eerie and unusual anecdotes include the fact that Jim Caveziel’s initials match those of the great mysterious figure he portrayed, and that the name of Maia Morgenstern translates from German and Yiddish as “Mary Star of the Morning” – a typical title for the Virgin Mary. Many have noted that all this combines to serve as a powerful reminder of otherworldly forces at play – both in favour of and against the film’s creation.
This intense spiritual atmosphere is expected to carry over into The Resurrection of the Christ. Gibson has called it “the biggest challenge of my life”, emphasising that the film is not intended to replicate the success of its predecessor but to complete the spiritual narrative. While The Passion focused on Christ’s suffering and death, the new film will centre on His victory – His triumph over death, His harrowing of Hell, and His transformation of the world. “Who gets back up three days later after He gets murdered in public? Who gets back up under His own power?” Gibson asks. “Buddha didn’t do that s***.”
With a deep commitment to theological accuracy and spiritual depth, The Resurrection of the Christ promises to be a film that not only tells the story of the Resurrection but invites reflection on its cosmic and historical significance. With Caviezel’s return, Gibson’s profound faith, and the lessons learned from the challenges of The Passion, the sequel is shaping up to be not just a cinematic event, but an act of devotion. If the atmosphere on the previous film set is any indication, audiences can expect something much more than spectacle – something sacred.
RELATED: Mel Gibson sequel to ‘The Passion’ to start filming in August after 20-year wait
Photo: Peruvian clergymen depart the cinema after watching Mel Gibson’s biblical blockbuster ‘The Passion of the Christ, Lima, Peru, 11 March 2004. (Photo credit ALEJANDRA BRUN/AFP via Getty Images.)
The post Mel Gibson’s new film on the Resurrection: a metaphysical ‘acid trip’ into the supernatural first appeared on Catholic Herald.
The post Mel Gibson’s new film on the Resurrection: a metaphysical ‘acid trip’ into the supernatural appeared first on Catholic Herald.
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Site: Catholic Herald
Each day between now and the May 7 conclave to elect a successor to Pope Francis, we are running a profile of a different “papabile”, the Italian term for a man who could be pope. There’s no precise way to identity these contenders; it’s mostly a matter of weighing reputations, positions held and influence wielded over the years. There’s also certainly no guarantee one of these candidates will emerge wearing white; as an old bit of Roman wisdom has it, “He who enters a conclave as a pope exits as a cardinal.” But these profiles will feature the leading names drawing buzz in Rome right now, at least making it very likely that they will get a look. Knowing who these men are also suggests issues and qualities other cardinals see as desirable heading into the election.
It’s one measure of how young Luis Antonio “Chito” Tagle was when he burst onto the scene as a cardinal in 2012 that he was a contender for the papacy in 2013 but seen as far too young, and now 12 years later he’s again a serious possibility but in some circles his age, 67, still counts against him.
Given that the last two popes were elected at the ages of 78 and 76, one understands the reaction, but that’s not stopping a wide swath of the chattering classes from hailing the Filipino prelate – who reportedly prefers to be called by his nickname “Chito” rather than by his clerical title – as tanto papabile, meaning a highly serious candidate.
Paradoxically, however, as often as Tagle is touted for the papacy by media outlets, external commentators and ardent fans, he’ll at the same time be dismissed by an insider, insisting that he lacks the gravitas for the office and that his Vatican career has had uneven results.
No matter how you slice it, though, the prospect of the “Asian Francis” taking the reins of the Catholic Church is an intriguing prospect.
Born in Manila in 1957, Tagle went to seminary in Quezon City and later did his doctoral work at The Catholic University of America in Washington. He also studied in Rome before returning to the Philippines to serve as a pastor and teacher.
Tagle’s doctoral dissertation at Catholic University, written under Fr. Joseph Komonchak, was a favorable treatment of the development of episcopal collegiality at the Second Vatican Council. Moreover, Tagle served for 15 years on the editorial board of the Bologna, Italy-based “History of Vatican II” project founded by Giuseppe Alberigo, criticised by some conservatives for an overly progressive reading of the council.
From the beginning, Tagle was seen as a rising star in the Asian church, evidenced by his appointment in 1997 to the Vatican’s main doctrinal advisory body, the International Theological Commission. (The story goes that when then-Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger introduced Tagle to Pope John Paul II as a new member, Ratzinger jokingly assured the pope that the youthful-seeming Filipino had, in fact, received his first Communion.)
Tagle was named bishop of the Diocese of Imus in 2001, where he became famous for not owning a car and taking the bus to work every day, describing it as a way to combat the isolation that sometimes comes with high office. He was also known for inviting beggars outside the cathedral to come in and eat with him. One woman was quoted describing a time she went looking for her blind, out-of-work, alcoholic husband, suspecting she might track him down in a local bar, only to find that he was lunching with the bishop.
Here’s another typical story. Not long after Tagle arrived in Imus, a small chapel located in a run-down neighborhood was waiting for a priest to say Mass at around 4 a.m. for a group mostly made up of day laborers. Eventually, a youngish cleric showed up on a cheap bicycle, wearing simple clothes and ready to start the Mass. An astonished member of the congregation realised it was the new bishop and apologised that they hadn’t prepared a better welcome. Tagle said it was no problem; he got word late the night before that the priest was sick and decided to say the Mass himself.
Much the same reputation followed Tagle to Manila, where he also became known for a broadly centred approach to matters of policy. He took strong positions against the Philippines’ Reproductive Health Bill, which included promotion of birth control. Yet his towering social concern was defence of the poor, and he also displayed a strong environmental streak.
There’s no doubt of Tagle’s charisma and ability to move crowds. He’s also a very 21st-century prelate, a sort of Cardinal-Influencer with a vast social media following – he’s got an active X account and a Facebook page, where he can be seen, among other things, swaying and gyrating to traditional Filipino dances.
Recently the right-wing LifeSite News dug up an old video of Tagle crooning the John Lennon classic “Imagine”, blasting him for singing what it termed an atheist anthem. (For the record, the clip does not actually include him singing the key line, “imagine there’s no heaven/it’s easy if you try/no hell below us/and above us only sky.”) The reaction illustrates that for every person charmed by such scenes, there’s someone else, possibly including among Tagle’s fellow cardinals, who finds them unbecoming.
In December 2019, Pope Francis named Tagle to head the Congregation for the Evangelisation of Peoples, effectively the Vatican’s missionary department. Tagle and then-Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio had gotten to know one another at the 2005 Synod of Bishops on the Eucharist, and clearly the Pope wanted the charismatic Filipino cardinal in the mix of his administration.
At around the same time, Tagle had been elected president of Caritas Internationalism, the Rome-based federation of Catholic charities around the world. Taken together, the two roles seemed to position him to be the de facto leader of the Church across the developing world in the name of the Pope.
Alas, things didn’t quite work out that way. Many observers found his tenure at the congregation, now the Dicastery for the Evangelisation of Peoples, to be uninspired, and his oversight of Caritas led to an actual meltdown in 2022 when he was removed as president and the entire leadership team basically fired.
What’s the case for Tagle as pope?
To begin with, he’s an effective communicator and evangelist at a time when everyone agrees that mission, meaning attracting people to the faith, has to be a top priority for the next pope. His simple, natural style, coupled with his gift for playing to crowds and stirring both laughter and tears in almost equal measure, would make him an immediate star on the global stage.
In addition, Tagle would also put a face and a voice on the dynamism of the Catholic Church across the developing world, including in Asia, which with 23 cardinal electors will be an important force in this conclave. At a time when almost three-quarters of the 1.3 – 1.4 billion Catholics in the world live outside the West, at least some cardinals might find the idea of an Asian pope attractive.
The fact that Tagle is of Chinese descent could be an asset in terms of the Vatican-China relationship, though it may also be of concern to some of the other Asian cardinals already a bit leery of Chinese hegemony in the region.
The case against?
To put it bluntly, there are a number of observers in the Church, including not a few cardinals, who privately believe that Tagle simply isn’t ready for prime time. They regard his public persona as superficial, and behind the scenes they say he’s had six years now to prove he can do the heavy lifting of real leadership in the Vatican without much to show for it.
That’s a special concern in a time when most cardinals feel the next pope has to be a strong governor, capable among other things of addressing the severe financial crisis facing the Vatican in the form of unfunded pension obligations and other deficits. If Tagle couldn’t effectively run Caritas, they may wonder, what hope does he have with the entire Vatican to oversee?
In addition, more conservative cardinals probably also don’t care for Tagle’s theology and politics, which they find a bit too much left-of-centre. Basically, the indictment for this group would be that a vote for Tagle is really a vote for Pope Francis round two, only expressed in Tagalog rather than the Porteño dialect of Argentine Spanish.
Those concerns may be amplified by the prospect that, at 67, one can easily imagine him sitting on the Throne of Peter for twenty years, which may strike some observers as simply too long for comfort.
Whether Tagle actually has a serious shot at the papacy remains to be seen. Merely contemplating the prospect, however, all by itself, is an education in the riotous global diversity of Catholicism on the early 21st century.
RELATED: Cardinal Müller warns Church risks split if ‘orthodox’ pope not chosen
Photo: Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. (Credit: Vatican Media, via Crux.)
The post Papabile of the Day: Cardinal ‘Chito’ Tagle first appeared on Catholic Herald.
The post Papabile of the Day: Cardinal ‘Chito’ Tagle appeared first on Catholic Herald.
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Site: Fr. Z's BlogI’ve set this to start at almost the 6 minute mark. Set apart a few minutes to watch this. Does he hit the mark?
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Site: Catholic Herald
Cardinal Gerhard Müller has said the Roman Catholic Church needs to stand up to the “gay lobby” as part of taking a stronger position “on doctrine” that resists ideologically driven pressures.
The comments from the German cardinal, who is viewed as a influential traditionalist and was one of the strongest critics of Pope Francis during his papacy, came shortly before it was announced that the conclave to elect the next pope will occur on 7 May, reports the Daily Telegraph.
Cardinal Müller told Italian media La Stampa in a 28 April article that the next pope needs to be “strong on doctrine” and “determined to stand up to ideological lobbies, including the gay lobby”.He said the next pontiff should also have “a solid theological and doctrinal formation”, and called for a return to “orthodoxy, doctrine founded on Scripture and apostolic tradition, and against heresy”.
Focusing on the issue of marriage and the “gay lobby”, he pointed to the words of Jesus as providing clarity on this controversial and polarised issue that increasingly roils the Church.
“Doctrine is not the property of the pope, the bishops or the faithful,” the German cardinal said. “It must conform to the word of Jesus, no one can modify it.
“If Jesus says that marriage is between a man and a woman, no one can change this doctrine. The homosexual lobby wants to equate marriage with unions between people of the same sex, but this totally contradicts the doctrine of the Bible.”
The late pope’s 2023 decision to allow the blessing of same-sex couples sparked enormous controversy, with bishops in Africa and Asia refusing to permit the blessings. It was one of a number of decisions by Pope Francis with which Müller vehemently disagreed and as a result spoke out on.
Despite their apparent differences, though, Pope Francis himself also criticised the issue of homosexuality when it came to its influence in the Church.
Perhaps one of the least covered but most significant of Pope Francis’s controversies was his use of a crude slang term in referring to homosexuals during a session with Italian bishops in May 2024.
Francis was in the Vatican’s synod hall on 20 May to address the spring plenary assembly of the Italian Episcopal Conference (known by the acronym CEI), with roughly 230 bishops present, along with other clergy and supporting staff.
One of the topics that arose was the question of the admission of homosexual men to Catholic seminaries. Soon afterwards, rumours began to circulate that Francis had used an off-colour term in the context of the discussion, saying there’s already too much frociaggine in seminaries, which translates roughly to “faggotry”.
Some argued that since Italian was not the Pope’s mother tongue, he may not have understood that the term in question was offensive, especially given his reputation as the Pope of “Who am I to judge?”
Francis built a reputation for being friendly toward the LGBTQ+ community and its related issues, so media at the time took the position that he must have used the term almost accidentally, without intending to shock or offend.
The flurry of immediate backlash from the comment prompted a Vatican spokesman to put out a statement apologising, saying the Pope “never intended to offend or express himself in homophobic terms, and he apologises to those who felt offended by the use of a term, as reported by others”.
In a May 28 statement, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni reiterated previous statements from Francis that “in the Church there is space for everyone, for everyone! No one is useless, no one is superfluous, there is space for all. Just as we are, everyone”.
But Pope Francis used the term again a month later, in a June 2024 meeting with priests in the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome. The Italian news service ANSA reported that on that occasion, Francis said: “In Vaticano c’è aria di frociaggine” – meaning: “In the Vatican, there is an air of faggotry.”
That comment contradicted the initial narrative that the Pope did not know what he was saying when he used the term frociaggine. Instead, it indicated that Francis knew full well what the term signified and chose to employ a second time in public as he had a point to make.
What Francis demonstrated in the frocaggine fiasco, writes Crux Vatican correspondent Elise Ann Allen, was that despite his insistence on the need to be more welcoming toward members of the LBGTQ+ community, he clearly believed that there was an unhealthy gay element to clerical culture, and thought it was important enough to speak out about it.
On 7 May, Müller and his fellow cardinals – the so-called “Princes of the Church” – will gather inside the Sistine Chapel to pick a successor to Pope Francis, who died on Easter Monday at the age of 88 years old.
The date of the conclave was decided at a meeting of cardinals behind closed doors on Monday, two days after Pope Francis’s spectacular funeral in St Peter’s Square, reports the Telegraph.
The term “conclave” is derived from the Latin that means “with key”, and refers to cardinals being locked inside the chapel. Coming in the wake of a successful movie depiction of a conclave, the forthcoming gathering of cardinals to decide who will lead the world’s roughly 1.4 billion Catholics is being portrayed by much of the media as a battle between, in the words of the Telegraph, “progressives who want to continue the inclusive legacy of the late pope and traditionalists who want to roll back his reforms”.
In total, there are 252 cardinals in the Catholic church, but only 135 – those aged under 80 – are eligible to vote. Two have dropped out for medical reasons, another due to controversy, reducing the number of cardinal electors to 132.
Pope Francis appointed 108 of the cardinals – about 80 per cent – which it is argued gives the College of Cardinals a more “liberal” character, thereby making it more likely, it is reasoned, that they will choose someone with a liberal and reformist attitude similar to the late pontiff.
At the same time, however, conclaves have a track record of defying expectations and producing a pope that few saw coming.
The length of this coming conclave could well be impacted by the historically high number of cardinal electors and the sharply divergent views they hold.
The Telegraph reports the former head of the Italian Bishops Conference, 83-year-old Gualtiero Bassetti, explaining that it is hard to predict how long the conclave will last, though he suspects it won’t be long.
“There could be some difficulties because there have never been so many cardinal electors and many of them don’t know each other,” Cardinal Bassetti said.
“I have the feeling that this will not be a long conclave. Even among cardinals that I don’t know, and among those who come from the far reaches of the world, I see a great love for the Church and the desire for it to have a new leader as soon as possible.”
The longest conclave in history, which took place in the 13th century, lasted two years and nine months, while the longest during the 20th century lasted for five days.
The last two conclaves – those that elected Pope Benedict XVI in 2005 and Pope Francis in 2013 – lasted two days.
The cardinal electors come from 71 countries, with 53 from Europe, 23 from Asia, 21 from Latin America, 18 from Africa and 16 from North Africa.
Cardinal Müller has also warned, speaking out recently on a separate and earlier occasion, that the Catholic Church risks a schism if it does not choose an “orthodox” leader.
He has also criticised the use of labels “liberal” and “conservative” within the Catholic Church, pointing out the divide in the Church is deeper. The new pope, he said, “must be orthodox – neither a liberal nor a conservative”.
He said that “the question is not between conservatives and liberals but between orthodoxy and heresy”, adding: “I am praying that the Holy Spirit will illuminate the cardinals, because a heretic pope who changes every day depending on what the mass media is saying would be catastrophic.”
RELATED: Cardinal Müller warns Church risks split if ‘orthodox’ pope not chosen
Photo: German Cardinal Cardinal Gerhard Müller attends the swearing in ceremony for new members of the Vatican’s Swiss Guard at the Cortile di San Damaso, Vatican City, 6 May 2015. The ceremony is held on May 6 every year to commemorate the 147 halberdiers who died defending the Pope in 1527. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images.)
The post Cardinal Müller says next pope must stand up to ‘gay lobby’ first appeared on Catholic Herald.
The post Cardinal Müller says next pope must stand up to ‘gay lobby’ appeared first on Catholic Herald.
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Site: Fr. Z's BlogI posted his prayer, with one of my own, HERE NEW: Citing the “gravity of the situation” Cardinal Burke today urged Catholics to continue praying his novena after the 9 days, until the pope is elected. He adds: “If you … Read More →
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Site: AntiWar.comOn April 22, U.S. President Donald Trump did an interview with Time on his first one hundred days in office. On foreign policy he made two bold claims. The first was that he would successfully conclude diplomatic deals in the Ukrainian-Russian war and in Iran. The second was that he wouldn’t mind expanding American territory. … Continue reading "100 Days: What Trump Told TIME"
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Site: The Unz ReviewWelcome to “Ruler of the World” does Wonderland – to the sound of that hypnotic ‘Kashmir’ riff. Two overarching taboos reign on the – now shattered – collective West: Can’t define the Ukraine regime as Nazi. Can’t condemn the psychopathological Israeli genocide in Gaza. The taboos happen to be inextricably linked to the Forever Wars...
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Site: AntiWar.comReprinted with permission from The Realist Review. Much has been made of Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky’s tête-à-tête in Saint Peter’s Basilica over the weekend. If nothing else, the optics were stunning: The US and Ukrainian president looked to be patching things up – perhaps the spirit of Pope Francis awakened the better angels of … Continue reading "The Path to Peace: Europeanization Then Normalization"
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Site: The Unz ReviewFrom the moment Donald Trump descended the escalator on June 16, 2015 to announce his presidential candidacy, the self-proclaimed “America first” candidate has been verbally pummeling Iran on behalf of Netanyahu and Israeli extremism. And it isn’t just talk. For almost a decade, Trump has consistently put ultra-Zionist interests ahead of American interests. From his...
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Site: The Unz ReviewDear Readers, as you know my interpretation of the Ukrainian “peace negotiations” is substantially different from that of the official narrative. I decided to ask experts in Russia for an explanation of what the Russian view of the “peace negotiations’ is. Ivan Andrianov, the director of a strategic consulting firm, has obliged me with an...
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Site: AntiWar.com“Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.” ~ Voltaire, Enlightenment author and philosopher (1694-1778) Since the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the United States and Israel have been zealous in their efforts to disempower it. Israel has used its powerful hasbara (propaganda) machine to peddle absurdities about Tehran as a nuclear threat … Continue reading "Iran and the United States: Nuclear Argy Bargy"
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Site: The Unz ReviewIt’s widely reported that Trump’s regime used ChatGPT to help come up with the tariff rates for the 180+ countries to balance US trade deficit. While I have my doubt any AI assistant would be so “not intelligent” to suggest taxing Heard and McDonald Islands, I thought it would be interesting to ask AI how...
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Site: The Unz ReviewWhat do Iranian Uranium and White Identity have in common? The two categories are interrelated in current geopolitics dominated by Jewish Power. One might say the Jewish War on whiteness not only predated but set the preconditions for the Jewish War on Iranian nuclear power. Without the Jewish subjugation of the white race(and its doglike...
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