Catholic Church

By Dr. Jeff Mirus, Catholic Culture - And then, of course, he referred to Pope Francis’ 2020 encyclical on Social Friendship (Fratelli tutti). But what Cardinal-designate Aguiar calls even more to mind is the famous joint statement Pope Francis signed with the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar in 2019, Human Fraternity for World Peace and Living Together, which states: “The pluralism and the diversity of religions, color, sex, race and language are willed by God in His wisdom, through which He created human beings.”

By Francis X. Maier, The Catholic Thing - Print literacy and the ownership of property anchor human freedom.  Both can be abused, of course.  Printed lies can kill.  Owning things, and wanting more of them, can easily morph into greed.  But reasonable personal ownership of things like a home, tools, and land tutors us in maturity.  It enhances a person’s agency, and thus his dignity.  It grounds us in reality and gives us a stake in the world, because if we don’t maintain and protect what we have, we lose it, often at great personal cost.

By Father Raymond J. de Souza, EWTN News - Does the Holy See’s stand-down in the Shanghai standoff signal surrender in the Sino-Vatican relationship?... Bsp. Shen Bin takes a collaborative approach to the Chinese communist regime. The official Vatican announcement of his appointment includes this most unusual bit of biographical information: “Since 2022, Mons. Shen Bin is also the president of the organization called the ‘College of Chinese Catholic Bishops.’” That would be the illegitimate regime-erected Chinese bishops’ conference.

By Fr. Jerry J. Pokorsky, Catholic World Report - Scriptural teaching is unambiguous. The unrepented sins of Sodom and Gomorrah inflamed God’s wrath, and He destroyed the cities with fire and brimstone. Jesus warns against adultery and lust with complete clarity: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart”... In contrast to the firm certainties of faith, ambiguity is like a stealth fighter plane. The danger is often unnoticed until too late.