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[Catholic Caucus] Austrian priest: Pope Francis abolishing priestly celibacy would devastate the Church‘The Pope’s heralds are already preparing it: One high-ranking prelate after another speaks out against celibacy and hopes to receive 30 pieces of silver from Francis in return,’ Fr. Joachim Heimerl writes.This essay by Fr. Joachim Heimerl was originally published in French on the blog of Italian journalist Marco Tosatti. It has been translated and reprinted by LifeSiteNews with the permission of Marco Tosatti.(LifeSiteNews) — An increasing number of voices in the pope’s circle are saying it: celibacy is to become a victim of the “Franciscan” Church reform.Yet...

[Catholic Caucus] Belgian bishops renew push for ‘women deacons,’ married priests ahead of fall Synod session e Ahead of the October session of the Synod on Synodality, the Belgian bishops have renewed their call to open Holy Orders to married men and for the creation of a female deaconate.The bishops of Belgium have proposed female deacons and married priests as top priorities they wish to see discussed at the upcoming session of the Synod on Synodality this coming fall in Rome. The proposals, which are nothing new among liberal bishops, are widely understood among faithful bishops as capitulations to a...

In recent years, there’s been a significant increase in celibacy among young people, particularly young men aged 18 to 30. This is a stark contrast to the late 2000s when the numbers were much lower, closer to 10%. Several factors seem to be contributing to this shift: Unappealing Hookup Culture: Hollywood’s hookup culture has lost its appeal to many, leading young men to seek more meaningful connections. Dating App Dynamics: Dating apps often favor female selection, making it challenging for some men to find suitable partners. Rise of Pornography: Easy access to explicit content online has made pornography a readily...

Pope Francis has hinted that he would review the Roman Catholic Church’s rule of priestly celibacy, describing it as an individual “discipline” rather than a “contradiction” to the church. “There is no contradiction for a priest to marry. Celibacy in the western Church is a temporary prescription,” Francis, 86, remarked. “It is not eternal like priestly ordination, which is forever, whether you like it or not. Whether you leave or not is another matter, but it is forever. On the other hand, celibacy is a discipline.” Celibacy was made a requirement in the Catholic Church around the 11th century, following...

CARDINAL REINHARD MARX WITH POPE FRANCIS A prominent Roman Catholic Church leader in Germany has said that he believes priests should be allowed to get married, opposing centuries of mandated celibacy for clergy. Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the archbishop of Munich and a reformist ally of Pope Francis, told the German publication Sueddeutsche Zeitung that he supported clerical marriage as part of reforms to battle sex abuse. “For some priests, it would be better if they were married — not just for sexual reasons, but because it would be better for their life and they wouldn’t be lonely,” stated Marx, as...

Letter from Rome: The old order is passing awayThe Church's implosion accelerates as cardinals call for major doctrinal changes and a former pope tries to save a legacy. There was more turbulence in Roman Catholicism this past week -- at least on the Old Continent.A number of recent events verified -- to those who are willing to open their eyes and face reality -- that the Roman Church's ongoing implosion is picking up pace.Here are just a few things that happened when many people were probably not paying attention:- Two cardinals close to Pope Francis publicly called for radical changes...

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced Tuesday the resignation of its top administrator for "possible improper behavior" after an outlet linked Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill's phone activity to gay bars and the LGBTQ dating app Grindr.

Monsignor Jeffrey Burrill, former general secretary of the U.S. bishops’ conference, announced his resignation Tuesday, after The Pillar found evidence the priest engaged in serial sexual misconduct, while he held a critical oversight role in the Catholic Church’s response to the recent spate of sexual abuse and misconduct scandals. “It is with sadness that I inform you that Msgr. Jeffrey Burrill has resigned as General Secretary of the Conference,” Archbishop Jose Gomez wrote July 20 in a memo to U.S. bishops. “On Monday, we became aware of impending media reports alleging possible improper behavior by Msgr. Burrill. What was shared...

Shock: Retiring monsignor announces plans to marryDetails: The Rev. Monsignor Howard Lincoln, who celebrated his final mass at Sacred Heart Church in Palm Desert last week after leading the Catholic congregation for 20 years, has informed members of the church community that he plans to marry a woman as he moves into retirement, church leaders said this weekend.In a letter dated Saturday and posted on the church’s website, Pastor Gregory Elder and Parochial Vicar Tyler Tripp wrote: “It is with mixed emotion that we share with you the following message: On Wednesday, June 30, at the end of our farewell...

[Catholic Caucus] Swiss priest got civilly married on his deathbed, after living a lie for decadesHis bishop was there for the funeral, speaking openly about the priest’s partner during his farewell homily.May 14, 2021 (LifeSiteNews) — A Swiss priest was civilly married on his deathbed last April, shortly before being plunged into an artificial coma by way of palliative care, putting an end to 30 years of silence about his ongoing relationship with a former nun.Although he opened up about the situation to his bishop, Charles Morerod of Lausanne, about a month before he died, “Father C” received a full...

[Catholic Caucus] Francis Attacks Amazon Synod: "No Discernment," "Useless Bitterness" There was a "rich" and "well-founded" discussion at the 2019 Amazon Synod but "no discernment“ about married priests, Francis wrote in notes published by his apologist Father Antonio Spadaro (LaCiviltaCattolica.it, September 4).Francis explains that he didn't endorse in Querida Amazonia (February 12) the Synod’s wish to abolish celibacy because "discernment" is "something different, than just arriving at a good consensus or at a relative majority."Nobody, including Francis, has a clue what the buzzword "discernment" means in this context. For Francis, Bishops‘ Synods should be opportunities for "prayerful reflection" and "spiritual...

I filed my column just after it came out; I cannot claim to have deeply studied the papal document, Querida Amazonia. Given more time, I’d hesitate to study it any deeper. Like many Catholics, who at least aspire to be “faithful” and “traditional,” I simply rejoice in what it doesn’t say. It doesn’t, in itself, advance such campaigns as those for the marriage of priests, or the ordination of women. It does recommend the appalling Amazon Synod Final Report, rather than ignore it, or better, refute it. This is the “footnote” tactic, tried by Bergoglio before. But now it can...

[Catholic Caucus] BREAKING: Pope Francis opens door to abolish priestly celibacy according to leaked Amazon Synod doc Pope Francis’ post-synodal exhortation of the Amazon Synod will abolish celibacy, according to several bishops who have leaked the document. Jan. 31, 2020 4:47 PM EST update: This report now includes comments from Professor Roberto de Mattei. ROME, January 31, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) – Catholic historian Roberto de Mattei is claiming, based on documents he has received from “several bishops,” that Pope Francis’ post-synodal exhortation on the Amazon Synod will open the door to abolishing priestly celibacy in the Latin church.   According to documents obtained...

It’s “Certain”: Francis Will Abolish Celibacy in South America – And Elsewhere The semi-official IlSismografo.blogspot.com (January 16) announces that it is “certain” that Francis will abolish celibacy in early February via his Amazon Exhortation.The measure will first regard the nine countries which have a part of the Amazon basin, IlSismografo writes.They are: Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia, Guyana, Bolivia, Suriname and French Guiana.IlSismografo pretends that Francis impending decision was “authorized” by the Amazon Synod.Nothing could be farther from the truth. The Amazon Synod was an authentic Robber Synod to which Francis invited a selected group of ignorant Pachamama bishops with...

Cardinal Müller: Benedict XVI could not keep silent because he saw the ‘danger’ ROME, January 17, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Benedict XVI said he could not remain silent in his new book because he sees the voices of those who wish to abolish priestly celibacy as a “great danger” for the Church, Cardinal Gerhard Müller has said.  In a recent interview with Corriere della Sera, the former prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) added that while “some are putting pressure on Francis,” the “contribution” of Benedict’s new book with Cardinal Sarah is “a help to...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Benedict’s publisher stands by listing him as co-author on new book defending priestly celibacy Cardinal Sarah and Pope Benedict have come under sharp attack since news of the book surfaced. ROME, January 14, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — As conflicting stories about the genesis of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah’s new book on priestly celibacy have continued to swirl on social media today, Benedict’s English publisher has weighed in with a statement insisting they will continue to list the two prelates as co-authors. Critics of the new volume, titled From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood,...

[Catholic Caucus] Critics Slam Benedict for New Book Defending Priestly Celibacy The retired pontiff breaks his silence — and not all are happy DETROIT (ChurchMilitant.com) - Critics are slamming Pope Benedict XVI and Cdl. Robert Sarah for defending clerical celibacy in their forthcoming book, From the Depths of Our Hearts. Scheduled for release in February, the collaboration is a timely work that tackles the crisis in the Church, especially in relation to the priesthood, with a key focus on the question of priestly celibacy. Father Joseph Fessio, founder and editor of Ignatius Press, described the book as about "the lasting crisis that the...

[Catholic Caucus] Anno Domini MMXX - Notes for the Year: Benedict XVI Speaks Up in Defense of Priestly Celibacy - Could this be why Amazon Synod document is late? Wasn't the final papal document (post-synodal exhortation) of the Amazon Synod supposed to be released before Christmas 2019? And yet, nothing came out. Could it be a last-minute intervention regarding one of the pet projects of the Francis pontificate, the ordinary ordination of married men in the Amazon region? One can suspect this with the upcoming publication of a Book jointly written by Benedict XVI and Cardinal Sarah. A scoop revealed...

Fr. Pierre Valkering wins appeal, allowed to say Mass privately againAMSTERDAM (ChurchMilitant.com) - The Vatican has reinstated a homosexual Dutch cleric dismissed by his bishop for violating his priestly vow of celibacy. Father Pierre Valkering told Dutch radio earlier this month that the Congregation for the Clergy has granted his appeal, six months after Bp. Jozef Marianus Punt of Haarlem-Amsterdam removed him as pastor of Vredeskerk Peace Church. The longtime LGBT activist said his dismissal was overturned owing to procedural errors. "According to the ruling, it was unclear exactly what Valkering had done wrong, the evidence against him was insufficient,...

Will the Catholic Church dispense with celibacy in order to deal with a critical shortage of priests? In a synod addressing the crisis of access in the Amazon, bishops recommended ordaining married deacons as priests — in that region only, for now. Critics worry that this will lead to an end of a thousand-year practice of priestly celibacy in the Latin Rite: Roman Catholic bishops from across the Amazon recommended Saturday to allow married deacons to become priests — a proposal intended to address a severe shortage in the region, but also one that breaks from centuries of church...