Categorized Under: World News
Pope Invites Anti-LGBT Pentecostal ‘Apostle’ to Synod
Pope Francis has invited a leading Pentecostal so-called apostle and televangelist who supports the criminalization of homosexuality to participate in the forthcoming Synod on Synodality. Professor Opoku Onyinah, who backs the anti-LGBT bill unanimously passed by the Parliament of Ghana in July, will be permitted to join in the synodal discussions as a "fraternal delegate," but he will not be allowed to vote. Read more
Secret Probe Reveals AU Bishop Abused 71 Aboriginals
A confidential investigation authorized by Pope Francis into an Australian bishop has found that the prelate may have sexually abused and groomed 71 young aboriginal males. In the 200-page bombshell report, witnesses described Bp. Christopher Saunders as "a sexual predator" who sought "to prey upon vulnerable aboriginal men and boys" and groomed his victims, plying them with cash, alcohol, hotels, phones, phone credit, air and bus travel. Read more
Join the Worldwide Novena to the Leader of God’s Army
Faithful Catholics around the world are invited to join Benedictine monks in England for a novena to St. Michael the Archangel. The novena begins on Sept. 21 and runs through Sept. 29, the Feast of St. Michael. It's being initiated by the Benedictine monks of the historic St. Michael's Abbey in Farnborough, 30 kilometers outside of London. Read more
Victims Slam Pope for Whitewashing Ex-Jesuit Abuser
Victims of the sexual abuse allegedly perpetrated by a former Jesuit celebrity artist are condemning Pope Francis and the diocese of Rome for downplaying the egregious acts committed against over 25 nuns. In a letter to Pope Francis published Tuesday, former nuns of the Loyola Community said they were "left speechless" by Rome's cover-up of serial abuser Fr. Marko Ivan Rupnik. Read more
Cardinal Directs Priests to Promote Other Religions
The cardinal-archbishop of Goa is directing priests and faithful to promote other religions — after a priest's sermon rebuking Catholics for venerating Hindu gods and patronizing witchcraft went viral on social media. Responding to Cdl. Filipe Neri Ferrão's directive, Salesian nuns running the Auxilium School in Mapusa venerated the idol of the elephant-headed Hindu god Ganesha "with a traditional lamp lighting followed by a prayer service to invoke the blessings of Lord Ganesha." Read more
Pope Defrocks Patron of Marian Vision for Sex Abuse
A prominent Filipino priest, celebrated for promoting devotion to the Rosary and a controversial Marian apparition, has been laicized by Pope Francis for allegedly abusing minors. The diocese of Borongan announced Sunday on its Facebook page that the holy father "has dismissed from the clerical state Fr. Pio Cultura Aclon." The priest is "no longer a cleric and cannot exercise priestly ministry in the Church." Read more
‘Heretic’ Indian Bishop Offers Mass in Papal Basilica
In a historic first, the Vatican has permitted an Indian patriarch heading an autocephalous church branded as heretical by the Holy Inquisition to celebrate the Holy Eucharist at a papal basilica in Rome. Christ "calls us to recognize and adore him at a single Eucharistic altar," Pope Francis stressed, as His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III offered the divine liturgy at the Papal Basilica of St. Paul Outside-the-Walls on Sunday morning in the West Syriac rite. Read more
Abp. Fernandez Defends ‘Doctrine of the Holy Father’
The Vatican's new doctrine chief is warning against heresy and schism in both progressive and traditional circles. Cardinal-designate Abp. Víctor Manuel Fernández cautioned against those who would go against the "doctrine of the Holy Father" in a recent interview with Catholic journalist Ed Pentin. Read more
Priest Accuses 6 Swiss Bishops of Cover-up, Sex Abuse
The Vatican has ordered a pro-LGBT bishop to investigate accusations of cover-up and sexual abuse against six Swiss bishops and several priests after a senior whistleblower priest reported the accused to the Holy See. "I can no longer accept dissimulation. For a long time, I watched and saw that nothing was happening," said Fr. Nicolas Betticher, former vicar general of the diocese of Lausanne, Geneva and Fribourg, admitting he had "made mistakes" by not reporting the abuse earlier. Read more
Cologne Cancels Iconic Cathedral to Boost Diversity
"With the new image, we want to contribute to promoting the perception of what the local church has to offer and the diverse commitment of the people," a diocesan press release announced. Read more
Prelate Admits Celibacy Was Never Part of Formation
A senior archbishop is blaming historic seminary formation for failing to train priests to cope with celibacy and has admitted he came "close" to falling in love with a woman who is still a close friend. "We were never trained for celibacy. You are cut out from the world," Abp. Diarmuid Martin, the former primate of Ireland and emeritus archbishop of Dublin, told Ireland's state broadcaster RTÉ in a new television series titled "The Meaning of Life." Read more
Bishops’ Media College Performs Rite With Hindu Cult
The media institute of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India has performed a Hindu rite with a pro-abortion doomsday cult to celebrate a Hindu festival that ritually seals a sacred bond between brother and sister. The ritual involves a sister tying a rakhi (sacred thread) around the wrist of a brother on the feast of Raksha Bandhan (knot of protection) and, in turn, the brother pledges to protect his sister at every birth of the cycle of reincarnation. Read more
Papal Mystification in Mongolia
Pope Francis wrapped up his historic trip to Mongolia by attempting to redefine the Church's mission. On the plane trip back to Vatican City, he further offered some thoughts on China-Vatican relations, which are difficult to reconcile with the lived experiences of Chinese Catholics. In a prepared talk on Monday, the pontiff stated, "Another myth needing to be dispelled is that the Catholic Church, distinguished throughout the world for its great commitment to works of social promotion, does all this to proselytize, as if caring for others were a way of enticing people to 'join up.'" Read more
Prelate Defends Giving Communion to Muslim Sheikh
A pro-LGBT Brazilian archbishop is invoking Pope Francis' apostolic letter on liturgical formation and the documents of Vatican II to justify his choice to administer Holy Communion to a Muslim sheikh at a funeral service. "Every reception of Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ was already desired by Him in the Last Supper," argues the archbishop of Londrina, Geremias Steinmetz, quoting Pope Francis in a clarification issued on the diocesan website on Aug. 30. Read more
