Top LifeSite Catholic Newsmakers of 2018: Pope Francis, Abp. Viganò, Abuse Crisis

LifeSiteNews Staff, Dec 27, 2018

December 27, 2018 (LifeSiteNews) – Below is a list of the 10 most viewed Catholic stories published by LifeSite over the past year. Thank you for supporting our pro-life, pro-family mission. We look forward to continuing the fight for the Church and our cherished faith in 2019.

Archbishop Carlo Maria ViganoPhoto by Edward Pentin, National Catholic Register

10) Viganò releases new ‘testimony’ responding to Pope’s silence on McCarrick cover-up – September 27, 2018

89,455 pageviews

Archbishop Vigano’s shocking testimony this year made him a target for not just liberal clergy but for Pope Francis himself. Francis’s constant references to “the Great Accuser” suggests he views Vigano as a sort of devil-figure, exposing things that should otherwise be kept quiet. In a follow-up statement released in September, Archbishop Vigano put forth the reasons why he went public with his initial allegations. He also reiterated his claim that the Pope knew how perverse Theodore McCarrick was and that the Pope played a role in covering up for or blocking investigations into other priests and prelates.

Cardinal Burke speaking at the Rome Life Forum in Rome, May 2018.

9) Cardinal Burke responds to former US nuncio’s explosive letter about Pope Francis – August 26, 2018

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Dubia-author Cardinal Raymond Burke strongly supported Archbishop Vigano and his explosive 11-page testimony. In a statement to LifeSiteNews in August, Burke said, “The corruption and filth which have entered into the life of the Church must be purified at their roots.” Burke also said, “The declarations made by a prelate of the authority of Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò must be totally taken to heart by those responsible in the Church…each declaration must be subject to investigation, according to the Church’s time-tried procedural law.” 

8) Newly revealed vision of St. Pope John Paul: Islam will invade Europe– November, 23, 2017

107,318 pageviews

A never before released prediction made by John Paul II was revealed by one of his close friends this past autumn. Speaking in October, Monsignor Mauro Longhi of the Opus Dei prelature said that during a conversation he had with John Paul in March of 1993, the late pontiff believed the “deadly scourge” of “Islamism” would invade Europe, and that it would be more “painful and more deadly” than Communism. Catholics would need to contain the invasion “with their family” and by living out their faith integrally, the pope allegedly said.

Cardinal Robert Sarah, Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship offers Mass at London’s ‘Sacra Liturgia’ conference on July 6, 2016.Fr. Lawrence Lew, O.P. / Flickr

7) Cardinal Sarah: Widespread Communion in the hand is part of Satan’s attack on the Eucharist – February 22, 2018

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Cardinal Robert Sarah has defended the need for reverent liturgy ever since being named Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship by Pope Francis in 2014. While some clergy have resisted his efforts, Sarah is unwilling to ignore liturgical abuse. In the preface to a book on Holy Communion released this year, Sarah wrote, “The most insidious diabolical attack consists in trying to extinguish faith in the Eucharist, by sowing errors and fostering an unsuitable way of receiving it.” He also called on Catholics to “come as children” to the Eucharist and to “receive the Body of Christ on our knees and on our tongue.”

Pope Francis meets with Fr. Antonio Spadaro, SJ.

6) Papal advisor retweets call for Church to shut down EWTN unless they fire Raymond Arroyo – February 20, 2018

125,972 pageviews

EWTN’s Raymond Arroyo has courageously put his career on the line by reporting the truth about Pope Francis and the crisis in the Church. In February, papal confidante Father Antonio Spadaro, editor-in-chief of La Civiltà Cattolica, retweeted a call for EWTN to be censured “until they get rid of” Arroyo. The original tweet, which called for an “interdict” to be leveled on the news network, was sent out by Anthony Annett, Assistant to the Director at the International Monetary Fund’s Communications Department. Annett claimed Arroyo and EWTN were launching a “war” on the papacy.

5) ‘Eerie and ominous’ sign appears as Pope Francis visits Vatican Nativity – January 2, 2018

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Soon after Pope Benedict resigned in 2013, lightning struck the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. Another strange event occurred on New Year’s Eve 2017 when Pope Francis was touring the nativity scene in St. Peter’s Square. A squabble of about 500 seagulls suddenly flew up from behind the basilica and swarmed above the scene, squawking and squealing for about the exact time it took for the Pope to walk from the basilica to the display. They then disappeared into the night sky, which was lit up by an almost full moon.

4) Cardinal raises question: Is Pope Francis part of Church’s ‘final trial’?– May 7, 2018

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Cardinal Willem Eijk, the Archbishop of Utrecht in the Netherlands, published an article in May noting that when it comes to inter-communion at Catholic masses, Pope Francis has failed to “maintain and transmit faithfully” the “deposit of faith contained in Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture.” The issue has been intensely debated this past year, with many liberal German bishops in favor of Protestants receiving Communion. In his article, Eijk also said the pope’s behavior reminds him of Article 675 of the Church’s Catechism, which speaks of a trial that will “shake the faith of many believers.”

Cardinal Sergio Obeso RiveraNotimex

3) New cardinal: Abuse victims should be ‘ashamed’ to speak due to their own failings – August 21, 2018

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Mexican Cardinal Sergio Obeso Rivera shockingly attacked victims of clerical sexual abuse this year when he told journalists that those who accuse priests of abuse should be “ashamed” because they too have skeletons in their own closets. “I’m here happy to talk about nice things, not about problematic things,” said the tone-deaf, Francis-appointed Cardinal. His Eminence’s remarks were made shortly after the bombshell Pennsylvania Grand Jury report revealed more than 300 priests sexually abused more than 1,000 mostly teenage boys.

Screen capture of Drudge Report this past Good Friday for most of the day. Drudge is one of the most read sites on the Internet.Drudge Report

2) ‘Catastrophic for the Catholic Church’: World media reacts to Pope Francis’ denial of hell – April 4, 2018

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Pope Francis continued his practice of making remarks completely out of line with established Church teaching when he sat down with Italian journalist Eugenio Scalfari just days before Holy Thursday 2018. Scalfari is a 93-year-old atheist and founder of the left-wing newspaper La Repubblica. Scalfari claimed on March 28 that Pope Francis told him “souls are not punished” and that “those who do not repent and cannot be forgiven disappear. There is no hell — there is the disappearance of sinful souls.” The remarks were never corrected by the Holy See Press Office.

1) Pope Francis covered up McCarrick abuse, former US nuncio testifies (OFFICIAL TEXT) – August 25, 2018

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LifeSite was one of the very few media outlets in the English-speaking world to break news of the landmark 11-page testimony of Archbishop Carlo Vigano. Vigano went public this year with allegations that there is massive sex abuse and homosexuality in the Catholic Church, and that, in particular, Pope Francis knew about now-ex Cardinal McCarrick’s abusive past but covered it up and rehabilitated him. Archbishop Vigano’s bombshell testimony has sent shockwaves throughout the Church, and LifeSite has been the premier news outlet in North America for the latest updates of his situation and the effect he has had.

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