News

+ Héctor Aguer, Archbishop Emeritus of La Plata, Buenos Aires, (LifeSiteNews) - Here in Argentina July 20th has been celebrated as Friendship Day for some years now. The initiative was born of Masonic inspiration, in the name of “universal brotherhood” and in recognition of man’s arrival on the moon on that date in 1969. In reality Friendship Day should be celebrated on January 2nd, which commemorates St. Basil and St. Gregory of Nazianzus, who studied together in Athens and shared a deep friendship in the Lord... The current phenomenon of social media is multiplying cases of “virtual” friendships—that is, not real, not true.

By Fr. Mario Alexis Portella, Crisis Magazine - Caught between Israel's military and Muslim persecution, it's unclear if and how Christianity can survive the raging conflict in the Middle East... At least three people were killed and several others were injured after the Holy Family Church in northern Gaza—the only Catholic Church there—was hit by an Israeli strike on Thursday morning. Among the injured was the parish priest, Fr. Gabriel Romanelli... The church was sheltering civilians, including a number of children with disabilities ....

By John M. Grondelski, The Catholic Thing - This year marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the first of the seven ecumenical councils, accepted by Catholics and Orthodox alike.  The Council met from May to June 325. Pope Francis wanted to go to Turkey (within which Nicaea now sits) for the occasion.  His extended illness and death made that trip impossible, though it remains likely that Pope Leo XIV will go to Turkey this Fall, his first international pilgrimage.