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DETROIT (ChurchMilitant.com) - Young priests in the United States are voicing their concerns about the sex abuse crisis and the upcoming Synod on Youth.  Eight priests signed their names to an open letter published online by First Things on Wednesday. Addressing the bishops who will be attending the Synod, the letter states, "We wish to express our concern about the unfolding crisis of sexual abuse in the Church, especially the Church in the United States. Specifically, we are concerned about how this crisis relates to the Synod on the Faith, Young People, and Vocational Discernment, which is to take place in Rome in...

Proverb 19 (NKJV) The Fear of the Lord Leads to Life 01 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity 00 Than one who is perverse in his lips, and is a fool. 02 Also it is not good for a soul to be without knowledge, 00 And he sins who hastens with his feet. 03 The foolishness of a man twists his way, 00 And his heart frets against the LORD. 04 Wealth makes many friends, 00 But the poor is separated from his friend. 05 A false witness will not go unpunished, 00 And he who...

While the eyes of most of the faithful who follow Church news remain fixated on the near-constant drumbeat of new information about Clerical Abuse Scandal 2.0, another papal document has dropped, and in it, another likely time bomb.This morning, Pope Francis issued the Apostolic Constitution Epicopalis Communio (EC) – “Episcopal Communion” – which aims to “reform” the synodal process. The document, available thus far only in Italian, makes changes that should be of familiar concern to anyone who paid attention to the 2014 & 2015 synods on the Family. From Chris Altieri’s commentary today at the Catholic Herald: The role of the General Secretary...

ANALYSIS ROME, September 18, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) — Have the jocular images and low-key statements of US Bishops following their meeting with Pope Francis last week set back their attempts to address the grave situation in the Church, especially the handling of sexual abuse cases by bishops? The details that have been revealed of the bishops’ meeting with Francis last Thursday give no indication that they addressed the extent of the McCarrick coverup or the need for an investigation into the troubling allegations against the Pope contained in Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò’s testimony.  Given Viganò’s widely accepted character and credibility,...

Proverb 18 (NKJV) The Name of the LORD Is a Strong Tower 01 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; 00 He rages against all wise judgment. 02 A fool has no delight in understanding, 00 But in expressing his own heart. 03 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; 00 And with dishonor comes reproach. 04 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; 00 The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. 05 It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, 00 Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 06 A fool's...

Proverb 18 (NKJV) The Name of the LORD Is a Strong Tower 01 A man who isolates himself seeks his own desire; 00 He rages against all wise judgment. 02 A fool has no delight in understanding, 00 But in expressing his own heart. 03 When the wicked comes, contempt comes also; 00 And with dishonor comes reproach. 04 The words of a man's mouth are deep waters; 00 The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook. 05 It is not good to show partiality to the wicked, 00 Or to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 06 A fool's...

The new law appears to combine the Synod’s teaching authority with that of the Roman PontiffPope Francis issued an Apostolic Constitution on Tuesday morning, which introduces significant reforms to the structure of the Synod of Bishops. Titled Episcopalis communio — “Episcopal communion” — the document is composed of a six-page introduction articulated in ten numbered sections, and a 27-article dispositive part.The introduction talks a good deal about collegiality, broad consultation with all the faithful of every state of life in the Church, and the general spirit of synodal collaboration: Although in its composition it appears as an essentially episcopal organism,...

NEW YORK (ChurchMilitant.com) - Church Militant has confirmed that longtime vicar general Msgr. Greg Mustaciuolo will no longer serve in his position in the New York archdiocese, and will be replaced by another priest. Saint Gregory Barbarigo Parish confirmed that Fr. Joseph Lamorte will be taking over the position of vicar general effective Oct. 1.  Although the archdiocese has not publicly given any reason for the abrupt change, inside sources confirm Mustaciuolo's removal is directly related to the launch of the New York attorney general's investigation into the Catholic Church — a move long feared by the New York archdiocese.   Inside sources confirm Mustaciuolo's...

ROME, September 17, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) — Cardinal Donald Wuerl arrived in Rome today, just one week after telling priests of the archdiocese of Washington that he intended “in the very near future, to go to Rome to meet with our Holy Father about the resignation I presented nearly three years ago, on November 12, 2015.” The Cardinal’s flight touched down at Rome’s Fiumicino airport this morning shortly before 8 a.m. local time, sources confirmed.  Last week, in a letter dated Sept. 11, Cardinal Wuerl, 78, told priests of the Washington archdiocese that: “It was clear that some decision, sooner rather than later,...

ATLANTA (ChurchMilitant.com) - Celebrity Jesuit Fr. James Martin is heading to Georgia, courtesy of pro-gay Abp. Wilton Gregory of Atlanta, Georgia. On Friday, Martin announced on Twitter that Abp. Gregory has invited him to speak in October at two Atlanta-area locations. "Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta has graciously invited me to his archdiocese to speak," Martin tweeted, "so I will be speaking at St. Thomas More Parish (the Jesuit parish) on Sat. Oct 20 and at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception on the morning of Sun. Oct 21." Gregory's personal invitation comes as no surprise to faithful Catholics, as...

The rapidly unfolding crisis in the Roman Catholic Church is not a matter of concern to Catholics alone. Its true dimensions have yet to be measured, but we think it will prove to be a crisis on the scale of the Protestant Reformation, which began just over 500 years ago — an earthquake of 9.5 on the Richter scale. If so, resolution of the crisis will take decades to work through.Resolution and absolution will require serious effort, and most likely require deep, structural reforms. Even if we are mistaken, the Catholic crisis is of such a magnitude that Christians...

A private Christian college in Pennsylvania is under fire after a former student took to Facebook to explain how he was turned away from finishing his degree because he is gay. Clarks Summit University, formerly known as Baptist Bible College, has defended its decision not to readmit a former student Gary Campbell. Campbell applied to be re-enrolled at the school this fall so that he could finally finish his last six credits and earn a degree 15 years after he left the university and eventually joined the U.S. Navy. At the end of August, Campbell asked his friends on Facebook...

Here's another collection of my tweets to my Bishop, mostly about --- what shall we call it? --- The Situation. These won't all be recyclable, but I hope some of them will. Feel free to use any of them. It's just tiny way, I suppose, to offer filial correction or support. We must obey God, not men --- as our first Pope, St. Peter said. God bless Bishop Strickland. Abp Vigano had the courage to speak up clearly and pay up personally. Let the Pope answer Vigano's Testimony if he can. The silence -- Omerta --- is not going to...

Key words: Proverb 17 (NKJV) The LORD Tests Hearts 01 Better is a dry morsel with quietness, 00 Than a house full of feasting with strife. 02 A wise servant will rule over a son who causes shame, 00 And will share an inheritance among the brothers. 03 The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, 00 But the LORD tests the hearts. 04 An evildoer gives heed to false lips; 00 A liar listens eagerly to a spiteful tongue. 05 He who mocks the poor reproaches his Maker; 00 He who is glad at calamity will...

Senior US bishops thanked the Pope for meeting them, but declined to go into details on what was discussedThe leaders of the US bishops’ conference had a “lengthy, fruitful and good exchange” with Pope Francis during their meeting today, but have not mentioned any details about what was discussed or whether any concrete measures were taken or promised. Cardinal Daniel DiNardo, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, met the Pope at the Vatican along with Cardinal Sean O’Malley of Boston – who also serves as President of the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors – Conference Vice-President...

Wells Cathedral in Somerset is the latest to show its allegiance to the cause of LGBT ‘radical inclusion’. The What’s On section of its website advertises a “Rainbow Church Eucharist”, under the banner of a stylized rainbow coloured cross: ‘Rainbow Church’ is a new grouping being established in Bath and Wells diocese, with a view to promoting greater inclusion for gay people. ‘Rainbow Church’ will launch their new initiative with a Eucharist at Wells Cathedral on Saturday 22nd September at 11 am. The Bishop of Taunton will preside, and the speaker is Jayne Ozanne, a well known author and activist....

It just occurred to me that I should share all my tweets to my Bishop on FR too, so FReeper Catholics can tweet them to your bishops as well. I am not much of a social media maven, but if 60 million Catholics do the little we can -- well, you know how this gospel works: you give your 2 little fishes and 5 barley buns, and the Lord will multiply it out. So here, please free free to use my hand-crafted artisanal right-sized tweets to my bishop over the past couple weeks: Speaking of "news": USCCB statement saying that...

Our Tendency to Entertain Lies as Seen in A Vintage Commercial Msgr. Charles Pope • September 14, 2018 • We tend to lie to ourselves about many things; we are even “glad” at times to have others lie to us. This is especially true in matters related to flattery and vanity. Perhaps we can label these “vain lies.”There are other lies that are far more serious in their impact because they besmirch the truth that is necessary for us to thrive and even to be saved. Let’s call these “damnable lies.” Of these St. Paul warned,For the time will...

The non-admission of the Russian Orthodox Churches' complicity with the Soviet persecution of Greek-Catholics in Ukraine is undermining relations between the two Churches. The warning was voiced by the Archbishop of Kiev, Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Greek-catholic Church. "The ability to apologize shows a lively Christian conscience, which is a precondition for the so-called healing of memories," said Archbishop Shevchuk in an interview with the Ukrainian newspaper Den (Day). "The Russian Orthodox Church was used by Stalin's regime for the compulsory settlement of our church - he added - the fact there has been no symbolic reconciliation between us...

Proverb 16 (NKJV) Wisdom Is Better Than Gold 01 The preparations of the heart belong to man, 00 But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. 02 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, 00 But the LORD weighs the spirits. 03 Commit your works to the LORD, 00 And your thoughts will be established. 04 The LORD has made all for Himself, 00 Yes, even the wicked for the day of doom. 05 Everyone proud in heart is an abomination to the LORD; 00 Though they join forces, none will go...