Italian Diocese Expands Women’s Roles in Church Administration. Worse than Germany: The Italian Diocese of Trapani, is increasingly appointing laypeople - including women - to formal Curia and diocesan roles as the number of priests declines. The diocese now has fewer than 100 diocesan priests and is bringing in priests from Madagascar, Tanzania, and religious institutes to fill parish vacancies. Among the most significant appointments, lawyer Susanna Catalano has been named the diocese’s second vice-chancellor. Four lay Catholics will receive the instituted ministry of catechist, including two women, Francesca Messina and Caterina Vesco.
Trapani, mancano i preti ma crescono i laici in Curia: Fragnelli cerca sacerdoti all’estero e nomina la seconda vicecancelliera
Cardinal Pizzaballa Visits Taybeh: Standing With Palestine’s Last Christian Village | SG News Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has visited Taybeh, Palestine’s last remaining fully Christian village, bringing a message of courage, solidarity, and hope to its residents. During Mass at the Church of Christ the Redeemer on the Feast of the Assumption, the Patriarch stood alongside a community facing growing uncertainty and restrictions. The visit follows a July Israeli military order declaring Taybeh and nearby Rimon a closed military zone. The restrictions have affected access to agricultural lands, historic sites, and religious landmarks, while also making it more difficult for pilgrims, journalists, and international volunteers to reach the area. Despite the challenges, Cardinal Pizzaballa urged the faithful not to surrender to fear, reaffirming the Church’s commitment to preserving the Christian presence and witness in the Holy Land. Watch the full report …Caman
US Sisters and the Macarena Retirement Tour: The Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) held its 70th anniversary gathering in Orlando, Florida, from 11 to 14 August. They posted a video on Facebook showing elderly women in civilian clothes dancing the Macarena (1995). The fitting headline: "When Catholic sisters get together, watch out for the dance parties! ". Macarena was popular when the sisters were in their 50s. The LCWR represents the leaders of many women's religious congregations in the United States.
Dance party of "nuns": The LCWR 70th Anniversary Gathering was held August 11–14, 2026, in Orlando, Florida. The event brought together Catholic women and men religious from the United States, Canada, Latin America and other parts of the Americas for prayer, worship, talks, discussion and community events.
And you wonder why vocations to the nunnery have collapsed. People who have a religious vocation take their lives seriously and look for serious opportunities
2. Historical Context and "Dance Manias" Catholic history records instances where mass dancing was interpreted through the lens of spiritual affliction or divine punishment. [1, 2] St. Vitus’ Dance (Chorea): In the Middle Ages, outbreaks of compulsive, uncontrollable dancing (now understood as a neurological or psychological phenomenon) swept through Europe. [1, 2, 3, 4] Spiritual Intercession: Victims were sent to shrines of St. Vitus, a Christian martyr, to pray for deliverance and healing from what many at the time feared was a demonic curse or affliction. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5] 3. Ritual Dancing and Entry Points Catholic moral theology warns against practices that willingly open a person up to the influence of evil spirits. Trance Induction: Repetitive, frenzied, or rhythmic dancing used in occult or neo-pagan rituals is designed to lower conscious defenses and alter the state of mind. [1, 2, 3] The Danger of Invitation: Exorcists warn that participating in dances meant to invoke …Caman
On July 20, at Loyola University Maryland in Baltimore, the 88th Annual Meeting of the Catholic Biblical Association (CBA) elected Amy-Jill Levine, 70, as president for 2026–2027. She is the first Jewish president in the CBA’s history. Founded in 1936, the CBA is an independent association with longstanding institutional ties to the U.S. bishops. Its constitution says it pursues biblical scholarship “in conformity with the teaching of the magisterium of the Catholic Church.” Levine is a New Testament scholar and is a longtime member of the CBA. In spring 2019, she became the first Jewish scholar to teach New Testament at Rome’s Pontifical Biblical Institute. She has also had three audiences with Pope Francis. In a sermon at Washington National Cathedral on March 7, 2021, Levine said: “I’m a Jew. I don’t worship Jesus as Lord and Savior.” "Lectionary Revision Is Only A Start" In an interview published by The Christian Century in June 2023, Levine describes parts of the Gospel of John as …Caman
Lourdes Bans FSSPX Masses: On August 13, Bishop Jean-Marc Micas of Tarbes and Lourdes, France, issued a statement concerning the Priestly Fraternity of Saint Pius X (FSSPX) pilgrimage to Lourdes. He cited the episcopal consecrations at Écône on July 1 and the subsequent decree of the Holy See. The FSSPX is no longer authorized to celebrate Mass or other sacraments inside the Lourdes Sanctuary, nor to organize public prayers there. Individual pilgrims remain free to pray privately. Bishop Micas wrote that he was aware the decision would cause “pain” and “perhaps incomprehension.” The FSSPX had held organized public worship at Lourdes for many years, including Masses, confessions, processions and public prayers within the Sanctuary.
Relationship With Female Staffer CALLED OUT By Press and Senators Trump is lashing out at the press as questions grow over his relationship with longtime aide Natalie Harp and Melania Trump’s absence from major public events. The scrutiny intensified after Sen. Jon Ossoff publicly questioned Harp’s unusually close role in Trump’s inner circle. Trump is now attacking CNN correspondent Kristen Holmes after she questioned him. Popok reports. Subscribe: youtube.com/channel/UCJgZJZZbnLFPr5GJdCuIwpA Become a member of Legal AF YouTube community: youtube.com/channel/UCJgZJZZbnLFPr5GJdCuIwpA Become a member of the Legal AF Substack: Subscribe to Legal AF's Substack Follow Legal AF on Bluesky: Legal AF (@legalafmtn.bsky.social) Follow Michael Popok on Bluesky: POPOK (@mspopok.bsky.social) Subscribe to the Legal AF podcast feed here: Legal AF by MeidasTouch Subscribe to the Intersection with Michael Popok podcast feed here: The Intersection with Michael Popok Subscribe to Unprecedented with …Caman
Natalie Harp - Wikipedia According to the journalist Alex Isenstadt, in one instance, Trump's wife Melania discovered Harp in his private quarters—an area reserved for the Trump family—delivering papers to him at night. Her proximity to Trump concerned other aides, some of whom attributed Trump's relationship with Harp to her decision to remain with him after the January 6 Capitol attack. Aides who spoke to The New York Times called Harp a "conduit" and an "instant enabler of his impulses". Trump purportedly remarked that Harp was the only aide who cared about him after his arraignment in connection with the Georgia election racketeering prosecution, according to the Times. The paper additionally reported on a series of letters Harp sent Trump in 2023 that unnerved people in Trump's inner circle, citing phrases such as "You are all that matters to me" and "I want to bring you joy." Her access to Trump allowed people to send her damaging clips of their rivals and she served as an …Caman
Irish Female Preacher at Eucharist: "I’d Love to See Women Priests" Worse than Germany: On 13 August, Irish TV broadcaster Mary Kennedy delivered the homily during the 'National Novena' at Knock Basilica, Ireland. Kennedy is divorced, has had subsequent relationships and said she “shouldn’t really be receiving Holy Communion” but is an “à la carte Catholic”. She added, “that’s the kind of Catholic that suits me.” Furthermore, Kennedy said that she loves “the sound of the Muslim call to prayer”. Later in the address, Kennedy criticised what she described as the “male-dominated” ministry: “I would love to see women priests. I really would.”
On 13 August 2026, Irish broadcaster Mary Kennedy delivered a roughly 15-minute guest address entitled “Faith in Full View” during the National Novena to Our Lady of Knock in Knock Basilica, Co. Mayo, following the Gospel: “I would like it if it weren’t such a male-dominated ministry. I think there is real value in having women in important positions in the Church. It’s not going to change in my lifetime, or in the lifetimes of other people present here, but I really do feel that women would have a huge contribution to make to the Church, and I would love to see women priests. I really would.”
OBAMA ADMIN WANTS TO DEPORT CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOLERS. OBAMA ADMIN WANTS TO DEPORT CHRISTIAN HOMESCHOOLERS By:Todd Starnes 3/5/2013 03:01 PM RESIZE:AAA PRINT 413 The Romeike family fled their German homeland in 2008 seeking political asylum in the United States – where they hoped to home school their children. Instead, the Obama administration wants the evangelical Christian family deported. The fate of Uwe and Hannelore Romeikie – along with their six children – now rests with the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals – after the Dept. of Homeland Security said they don’t deserve asylum. Neither the Justice Dept. nor the Dept. of Homeland Security returned calls seeking comment. “The Obama administration is basically saying there is no right to home school anywhere,” said Michael Farris, founder of the Home School Legal Defense Association. “It’s an utter repudiation of parental liberty and religious liberty.” The Justice Dept. is arguing that German law banning home schooling does not …Caman
The Mass in the traditional Roman rite plays “no separate or prominent role” in the Archdiocese of Cologne, "conservative" Cardinal Rainer Maria Woelki told Die-Tagespost.de on the occasion of his 70th birthday on August 17. “I see myself entirely at home in the tradition and teaching of the Second Vatican Council,” Cardinal Woelki said. The liturgical reform was “one of the essential reforms” of Vatican II. The cardinal expressed gratitude to the Priestly Fraternity of St. Peter (FSSP), which celebrates the Roman liturgy at designated locations in the archdiocese. “I see this as an enrichment, because there have always been different rites in the Church,” he explained. His but: “The Novus Ordo Missae has a beauty and dignity that is in no way inferior to the Tridentine rite.” For Cardinal Woelki, the ars celebrandi is decisive. Liturgical abuses are not confined to the Novus Ordo, Cardinal Woelki believes. If Mass were merely "rattled off in ten to twelve minutes" - something that …Caman
"Methinkst he doth protest too much." 'Beauty and dignity', when present, are quite apparent when extant, and speak for themselves eloquently without need for an apologist. 'Have you no eyes to see, nor ears to hear'?!
Can You Say, Thy Will Be Done? The reading from Ezekiel highlights the need for purification within the church and ourselves. It emphasizes the importance of following God’s commandments and being willing to do His will, even when it is difficult or requires sacrifice. Fr. Altier urges us to examine our prayer life, moral life, and willingness to conform to God’s will, especially in challenging times. Fr. Altier is a Priest at Holy Trinity Parish in South St. Paul: Home | Holy Trinity Parish You can also find Fr. Robert Altier’s homilies and talks on: catholicparents.org: Daily Homilies | Catholic Parents Online Rumble: rumble.com/user/CatholicParentsOnLine Twitter: Catholic Parents Online (@CatholicPa42753) on X For access to a library of talks by Fr. Robert Altier, go to: podia.com To order Fr. Altier's book, God's Plan for Your Marriage, go to the website: God's Plan For Your Marriage Book – God's Plan … An Exploration of Holy Matrimony from Genesis to the Wedding of the Lamb by …Caman
During a secret Vatican consultation in 2016, six voters didn't simply doubt the Medjugorje apparitions but reportedly concluded that the devil was behind the phenomenon, Italian journalist David Murgia reported August 17 on IlSegnoDiGiona.com. Six participants in the confidential consultation of the Vatican's then-Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith concluded that Medjugorje could not be explained without the “original, direct and foundational intervention” of the Evil One. Three of the six were reportedly cardinals. In Murgia's account, they considered Medjugorje not a “Mariophany” - an appearance of Mary - but a “Satanophany.” Their proposed judgment was constat de praeternaturalitate maligna: essentially, a finding of malign preternatural origin. The six were part of a larger group of 33 Church figures who submitted opinions on Medjugorje in 2016. According to Murgia, 21 rejected a supernatural origin, nine favored it, and three remained undecided. The six who attributed the …Caman
In Lungo’s case, it seems likely that some at least will take this same line in response to his apparent Freemasonry. But for the Vatican, the case is — or should be — much more acute, since it involves the wholesale moral condemnation by the Church of a legal category of persons.
After entering a civil ceremony in Cascais, Portugal, on August 11, Cristiano Ronaldo and his concubine Georgina Rodríguez received for their Amoris Laetitia relationship a blessing à la Fiducia Supplicans from a priest at the Shrine of Fátima. This was followed a Eucharist behind closed doors in the Chapel of Nossa Senhora das Dores. Ronaldo's management confirmed the civil marriage to Reuters. Portuguese and Spanish reports say the ceremony took place in the couple's living room. Both have publicly identified with “Catholicism”. On August 10, Ronaldo and Rodríguez signed a prenuptial agreement in Lisbon establishing separation of property. They retained their respective surnames, while the marriage record reportedly lists their residence as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. “Their” children were present at the event in Fatima. Cristiano Ronaldo Jr., born in 2010, is Ronaldo's eldest son. His mother's identity has never been publicly disclosed, and Ronaldo has said he has custody of him. Twins …Caman
He Flunked Latin but Died a Martyr: The Story of Blessed Stanley Rother with Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda "The shepherd cannot run at the first sign of danger." Biographer Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda joins CatholicTV to share the incredible witness of Blessed Stanley Rother, the first martyr born in the United States. What does it take for an ordinary farm boy from Okarche, Oklahoma, to become a recognized Catholic martyr? Author and biographer Maria Ruiz Scaperlanda steps into the living room on This Is the Day to unpack the life of Blessed Father Stanley Francis Rother. Maria shares Father Stan's relatable early struggles—from being sent home after flunking his first year of theology due to Latin textbooks, to discovering his true calling at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary and volunteering for the Oklahoma mission in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. There, among the Tzʼutujil Mayan community, this humble farmer built schools, a hospital, translated scripture, and learned their language fluently. When civil …Caman
Rainbow Dance at the Altar Includes Men in Skirts: On August 15, at the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Torrelavega, Spain, parish priest Juan Carlos Rodríguez del Pozo introduced a “contemplative dance” in which men and women wearing large, rainbow colored skirts danced in a circle around “the table of the Eucharist.” Explaining its symbolism, he said: “We’re going to see many colors, which symbolize… diversity”. After the dance, he added: “We are a welcoming, diverse community, where nobody is superfluous, where we all (todos) feel at home, whoever/however we may be.” In the homily, Rodríguez del Pozo rejected a faithful understanding of Our Lady’s bodily Assumption: “No human being is going to ascend to heaven body and soul.”
l párroco anunció: «Pues ahora vamos a contemplar al grupo de danza contemplativa de la parroquia […] que nos va a hacer un guiño en este 125 aniversario. Vamos a ver muchos colores que simbolizan el rosetón […] los colores, la diversidad, la alegría […] Van a danzar en círculo. El círculo es la perfección […] Alrededor de la mesa de la Eucaristía nadie sobra […] Pues vamos, en estas claves, a disfrutar un momentito de esto».
A depiction of Our Lady by Romanian artist Teodora Axente has sparked controversy in Siena, Italy. The Virgin on this year's Palio banner os androgynous and departs from any Marian iconography. The Municipality of Siena commissioned Axente to create the Drappellone, the painted silk banner awarded to the winning contrada, one of Siena's historic districts, in the city's centuries-old Palio horse race. Axente was appointed by the city government on the proposal of Mayor Nicoletta Fabio. The banner was unveiled on August 10. It places the Virgin above Siena and its contrade, protecting the Golden Rose associated with Pope Pius II, and commemorates the 500th anniversary of the 1526 Battle of Camollia. Axente called the figure her personal vision of the Madonna and said the figures in the work were “more androgynous” and therefore “universal characters.” On August 13, the Archdiocese of Siena published a statement by Father Enrico Grassini, rector of the Collegio dei Correttori. He rejected …Caman