Catholic Church

By Diane Montagna, LifeSiteNews - We cannot avoid seeing as a sign of Providence that you, Pope Francis, and brother Bishops representing the entire Church have come together on the very day on which we celebrate the memory of St. Peter Damian. This great monk in the 11th century put all his strength and apostolic zeal into renewing the Church in his time, so deeply corrupted by sins of sodomy and simony....

Pete BaklinskI, LifeSiteNews - A number of Catholic laity from prominent organizations made statements at a press conference during the event, outlining concerns they have about the abuse summit. Links to the full statements are included below… “If this Synod limits itself to discussing only the problem of the abuse of minors, saying nothing about the plague of homosexuality which infests the Church, this Synod will betray its mission,” the International Coalition of Laity stated in a press release.

By Rose Folsom, Catholic Exchange - For a Time Such as This - In 2002, St. John Paul II asked “Catholics to stay close to their priests and Bishops, and to support them with their prayers at this difficult time.” Because of the crimes of a few and the cover-up of those crimes, these “difficult times” continue... As the world’s bishops meet in Rome, lay people have a chance to bring sunlight to disinfect what episcopal passivity has festered. Jesus reminds us, “You are light for the world (Mt. 5:14).”

By Philip Kosloski, Aleteia - The USCCB gives a succinct explanation: Catholic peoples from time immemorial have set apart Friday for special penitential observance by which they gladly suffer with Christ that they may one day be glorified with Him. This is the heart of the tradition of abstinence from meat on Friday where that tradition has been observed in the holy Catholic Church.