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Pope: we are not saved by political or clerical parties

February 29, 2016 breaking Comments Off on Pope: we are not saved by political or clerical parties

(Vatican Radio) God’s salvation does not come from great things, from power or wealth, nor from clerical or political parties, but from the small and simple things of God. That was Pope Francis’ message on Monday during the daily Mass at the Casa Santa Marta. Salvation comes from the simplicity of the things of God, not from the powerful The day’s readings spoke about contempt. In the first Reading, Naaman the Syrian, a leper, asked the prophet Elisha to heal him, but could not appreciate the simple means by which this healing would be accomplished. The Gospel spoke of the disdain the inhabitants of Nazareth felt at the words of Jesus, their fellow countryman. It was not “how we thought…Continue Reading

Catholic bishop rebukes Vatican over conference trying to make children ‘agents of change’ on climate

February 27, 2016 breaking Comments Off on Catholic bishop rebukes Vatican over conference trying to make children ‘agents of change’ on climate

ROME, February 26, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) — Bishop Athanasius Schneider, a prelate known for his outspoken defense of the Catholic faith, is raising concern about a recent Vatican conference that focused on how to help children become “agents of change” in the fight against “man-made climate change.” Titled “Children and Sustainable Development: A Challenge for Education,” the conference took place last November under the auspieces of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences (PAS), whose chancellor is Archbishop Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo. Among the most controversial presenters was UN advisor Jeffrey Sachs, who has called for the birth rate in Africa to be drastically reduced through government programs aimed at increased use of contraception, and who has championed abortion as a way to reduce…Continue Reading

Fr Cantalamessa preaches second Lenten sermon on the Word of God

February 27, 2016 breaking Comments Off on Fr Cantalamessa preaches second Lenten sermon on the Word of God

(Vatican Radio) The preacher of the papal household, Capuchin Father Raniero Cantalamessa, gave the second Lenten sermon for the members of the Roman Curia gathered in the Redemptoris Mater chapel in the Vatican on Friday morning. Continuing his reflections on the key documents of the Second Vatican Council, Fr Cantalamessa spoke about the meaning of the Word of God through the text of ‘Dei Verbum’. Beginning with an exploration of how God spoke through the prophets of the Old Testament, the papal preacher went on to talk about the way the Word became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. He focused his reflection on reading the Bible as a path to personal sanctification, especially through the practice of ‘lectio…Continue Reading

Pro-life and Catholic leaders voice grave concern over Pope’s contraception remarks

February 24, 2016 breaking Comments Off on Pro-life and Catholic leaders voice grave concern over Pope’s contraception remarks

John-Henry Westen February 23, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – Pope Francis’ remarks on contraception on the plane returning from Mexico, affirmed by Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi, have launched an unprecedented issuance of public concern from Catholic and pro-life lay leaders, some begging for a clarification from the pope. Excerpts from significant leaders have been reproduced below with links to their full comments. Professor E. Christian Brugger (Senior Fellow in ethics and director of the fellows’ program at the Culture of Life Foundation in Washington, and Professor of Moral Theology at St. John Vianney Theological Seminary in Denver, holding the Stafford Chair of Moral Theology) wrote at the National Catholic Register: Some, perhaps many, will be elated by the Pope’s words. But…Continue Reading

Contraception, Congo Nuns, Choosing the Lesser Evil, and Conflict of Commandments

February 23, 2016 breaking Comments Off on Contraception, Congo Nuns, Choosing the Lesser Evil, and Conflict of Commandments

February 20, 2016 The Church has never taught that if the harms are serious enough, it is permissible to use contraception. It is time to review some basic principles that bear upon the question of the morality of contraception. Meaning of contraception: Thing and act First, let us note that the word “contraception” is used to describe both a thing and an act. Only the act permits of moral analysis. There are many “things” called contraception, such as the many forms of the pill, the condom, the IUD, and the patch. Contraception as an act permitting of moral analysis is the act of doing something before, during, or after an act of spousal intercourse to prevent the act from achieving…Continue Reading

Fr. Z . . . It’s not an urban legend, it’s a LIE: Paul VI did NOT give permission to nuns to use contraceptives.

February 21, 2016 breaking Comments Off on Fr. Z . . . It’s not an urban legend, it’s a LIE: Paul VI did NOT give permission to nuns to use contraceptives.

The other day Pope Francis, in the infamous post-Mexico airplane presser, said: Paolo VI – il grande! – in una situazione difficile, in Africa, ha permesso alle suore di usare gli anticoncezionali per i casi di violenza. … Paul VI – the great one! – in a difficult situation in Africa, permitted sisters to use contraceptives for cases of violenze. I’ve heard this before. I never believed it. Years ago on the COL Forum (which I ran) we had a discussion about this. One of the staffers tried to dig up the old files. In the meantime he – The Great Roman™ – sent this information. It was not originally written in English, so I touched it up here and…Continue Reading

Vatican affirms Pope was speaking about contraceptives for Zika

February 20, 2016 breaking Comments Off on Vatican affirms Pope was speaking about contraceptives for Zika

ROME, February 19, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) – Vatican spokesman Fr. Federico Lombardi has affirmed that the Holy Father was indeed speaking of “condoms and contraceptives” when on the flight back from Mexico, Pope Francis said couples could rightly “avoid pregnancy” in the wake of the Zika virus scare. Fr. Lombardi told Vatican Radio today, “The contraceptive or condom, in particular cases of emergency or gravity, could be the object of discernment in a serious case of conscience. This is what the Pope said.” According to Lombardi, the pope spoke of “the possibility of taking recourse to contraception or condoms in cases of emergency or special situations. He is not saying that this possibility is accepted without discernment, indeed, he said clearly…Continue Reading

I remind everyone that the Roman Pontiff doesn’t teach doctrine on faith and morals through off-hand comments to journalists ON AN AIRPLANE RIDE!

February 18, 2016 breaking Comments Off on I remind everyone that the Roman Pontiff doesn’t teach doctrine on faith and morals through off-hand comments to journalists ON AN AIRPLANE RIDE!

Another trip, another presser, another post. A priest friend wrote to me: I’m writing a new prayer for all of us … a “Nine Hour Pope Plane Ride Novena.” I will write now what I have written before. Again, when I am elected Pope, We shall take the name of Pius X-II (“Pius Decimus Secondus” – or maybe “Clement Ganganelli”), We shall not give interviews or press conferences. We shall forbid the Lord Cardinals from speaking to the press without permission. We shall disappear into the Apostolic Palace for lengths of time so long that the press will begin to speculate that We may have died. Our encyclicals will be limited to five pages in Latin. And Our first act…Continue Reading

Pope Francis departs Mexico, reminds people of their ‘Mother of Guadalupe’

February 18, 2016 breaking Comments Off on Pope Francis departs Mexico, reminds people of their ‘Mother of Guadalupe’

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday evening departed from Ciudad Juarez at the end of his Apostolic Journey to Mexico. The Holy Father finished his visit much as he began: with a prayer to the Virgin of Guadalupe for the Mexican people. “May Mary, Mother of Guadalupe, continue to walk on your lands, helping you to be missionaries and witnesses of mercy and reconciliation.” The people of Mexico are certainly not used to wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Or not anyway when it comes to Pope Francis. And as he came to their nation as ‘a messenger of peace’ they opened up their hearts and lifted up their faces towards him. And he was grateful, struck by their love…Continue Reading

Pope tells Mexico’s youth to believe in their dreams

February 17, 2016 breaking Comments Off on Pope tells Mexico’s youth to believe in their dreams

(Vatican Radio) Pope Francis on Wednesday 16th of February was in the capital of Michoacán, Morelia, hotspot of drug related violence to meet with young people at the ‘José Maria Morelos y Pavòn’ stadium. When he arrived in what looked more like a golf cart than a pope mobile and made his way over a makeshift lawn, the Pope was greeted by the indigenous people of Michoacán in their traditional embroidered costumes, a splash of yellow, red, blue and a touch of green. And when a few of the 50.000 of the young people gathered there spoke, they thanked Pope Francis for coming to Morelia and asked him for a word of hope. One young man, Alberto, highlighted how happy…Continue Reading