Most Popular News Within Last 30 Days
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Wisconsin bishop warns of possible canonical penalties against priest for video on Democratic Party
In a recent video, Father James Altman of La Crosse urged Catholics to “repent of your support of that party or face the fires of hell.” Bishop William Patrick Callahan responded, “I understand the undeniable truth that motivates his message ... Unfortunately, the tone Fr. Altman offers comes off as angry and judgmental, lacking any charity and in a way that causes scandal both in the Church and in society. His generalization and condemnation of entire groups of people is completely inappropriate.”2
Vatican issues statement on end-of-life care, condemns euthanasia
The Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) has issued a statement strongly reaffirming the Church’s ban on euthanasia as “intrinsically evil.” The CDF...3
Texas bishop endorses Wisconsin priest’s message: ‘You cannot be Catholic and a Democrat’
“As the Bishop of Tyler I endorse Fr [James] Altman’s statement in this video,” Bishop Joseph Strickland tweeted. “My shame is that it has taken me so long.” During the video, the La Crosse parish priest said, “Repent of your support of that party or face the fires of hell.”4
Former Christianity Today editor to be confirmed a Catholic
“A former Presbyterian pastor, [Mark] Galli spent seven years as editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, the premier publication for evangelicals whose founder was the legendary evangelist Billy Graham,” according to the report. “But for a few days last December, Galli was perhaps the most well-known evangelical in the country – after penning an editorial calling for Donald Trump’s impeachment.”5
Archbishop Paglia: Catholic politicians cannot protect or promote abortion
Days earlier, the president of the Pontifical Academy for Life had warned against politicizing life issues.6
Nun, at Republican National Convention, praises President Trump’s pro-life record
“As followers of Christ, we are called to stand up for life and against the politically correct or fashionable today,” said Sister Deirdre Byrne, a former army surgeon to whom the president paid tribute in 2019. “We must fight against a legislative agenda that supports and even celebrates destroying life in the womb” (full text).7
Cardinal O’Malley issues statement following priest’s endorsement of Biden
“The Catholic community has the right to expect the priests of the Archdiocese and those entrusted with handing on the faith to be clear and unequivocal on the Church’s teaching concerning respect and protection for life from the first moment of conception to natural death,” Cardinal Sean O’Malley said in response to comments by Msgr. Paul Garrity. Cardinal O’Malley added that priests “may not endorse or oppose candidates for election or political parties.”8
Refrain from saying that voting for Biden is a mortal sin, Father Martin advises priests
“It is not a sin to vote for either Mr. Biden or Mr. Trump,” the Jesuit wrote. “Nor is it a sin to be Democrat or Republican.” Father Martin cited the future Pope Benedict’s 2004 memorandum to Theodore McCarrick: “when a Catholic does not share a candidate’s stand in favor of abortion and/or euthanasia, but votes for that candidate for other reasons, it is considered remote material cooperation, which can be permitted in the presence of proportionate reasons.”9
‘Virtual’ Mass never substitutes for in-person participation, Cardinal Sarah tells bishops’ conferences
With the Pope’s approval, Cardinal Robert Sarah, prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, has written a letter to the presidents of episcopal conferences. “As soon as circumstances permit,” he said, “it is necessary and urgent to return to the normality of Christian life, which has the church building as its home and the celebration of the liturgy, especially the Eucharist, as the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed.”10
