lifesitenews--2020-01-10--Leading cardinal of Belgium reflects on 2019: Brexit bad, atheism fully respectable

January 10 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Looking back on 2019 , Cardinal Jozef De Kesel of Mechelen-Brussels finds that the most important events of that year centered on the environment and immigration , with some treatment of abortion , atheism , and the Amazon Synod included .
In a 3,000 word interview with the official Catholic website of French-speaking Belgium , cathobel.be , he described the commitment of young people who “ demonstrated for the safeguarding of our planet ” as what he will retain “ on the positive side.
” Most of his concerns appear to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Cardinal Danneels , former archbishop of Brussels and very close to Pope Francis , De Kesel has clearly chosen to follow in Danneels ’ s footsteps .
Jozef De Kesel was named primate of Belgium at the end of 2015 by Pope Francis , bringing a whole new orientation to the diocese of Brussels , where his much more traditionally minded predecessor , Mgr .
André Léonard , had never received the cardinal ’ s hat associated with that see .
De Kesel was created a cardinal less than one year after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he has made a number of statements favorable to Communion for the divorced and “ remarried , ” in line with Amoris Laetitia , and ( according to a homosexualist magazine ) to LGBT couples in relationships where “ stability and faithfulness take the central place.
” De Kesel was interviewed at the beginning of this month by Vincent Delcorps , of the press service of the Belgian Bishops ’ Conference , in order to present his personal retrospective on the year that just ended .
Fighting “ for the planet ” was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mind : The young people ’ s demonstrations were orchestrated around the personality of Greta Thunberg , the Swedish adolescent suffering from Asperger ’ s syndrome who is being touted as the figurehead of youthful anger against adults ’ mismanagement of Mother Earth .
It was she who launched the Friday strikes for the climate , where youngsters of school-age lay down pens and leave their classrooms in order to change the world .
Farther along in the interview , Cardinal De Kesel returned to his ecological concerns in commenting on the Amazon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dimension ( if any… ) of the event needed to be relegated to the background .
He said : Among other things that concerned him in 2019 , De Kesel spoke about the present abortion debate in Belgium , where efforts are being made to liberalize the current law .
“ I note that there was a desire to pass a new abortion law as soon as possible .
Today , even politicians are a little more cautious .
I am glad about that , because on such issues , we need a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many people , particularly those working in the care sector , have spoken out , ” he said .
The cardinal was referring in particular to a statement made in November by more than 700 doctors , midwives , nurses , and psychologists who signed a call to parliamentarians not to prolong the term of legal abortion from 14 to 18 weeks .
Some days later , 1,500 doctors and medical personnel stated the opposite .
Is it right to have “ debates ” on the period when killing an unborn child is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — one supposes — a Catholic journalist in the official media of the French-speaking bishops of Belgium , entered into the debate .
He said : His half-hearted condemnation of abortion as such followed : “ Furthermore , it should be remembered that abortion is always a failure and will never be an ordinary medical procedure.
” A failure ?
Or an “ abominable crime , ” as the Second Vatican Council called it ?
Did the bishop have other special memories of 2019 ?
Yes , he did .
“ The Brexit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it reveals a tendency to withdraw into oneself .
This is a trend that can be found in several European countries , but also in the United States and Russia.
” In the line of bridges , not walls , Cardinal De Kesel stuck to his sociopolitical discourse , regretting that “ in the face of the many challenges of our world , fear sets in : fear of the other , of the migrant , of the foreigner.
” This became even clearer when the cardinal spoke of the “ hope ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Redemption , nor the joy of the truth , but the hope of combating poverty , “ the call for greater solidarity.
” In a clear return to the horizontalism of the post–Vatican II years , De Kesel spoke first and foremost of politics and the role of politicians : This , by the way , is a traditional leftist misquoting of Margaret Thatcher .
When the former prime minister of the United Kingdom was pleading against relying on the government for everything , she said : “ I think we have gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and people have been given to understand ‘ I have a problem , it is the Government ’ s job to cope with it ’ … and so they are casting their problems upon society , and who is society ?
There are individual men and women and there are families , and no government can do anything except through people and people look to themselves first .
It is our duty to look after ourselves and then after our neighbour … and people have got the entitlements too much in mind without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insist that “ there is no such thing as society , ” in the sense that society is not responsible for all that is evil , and that people , especially families , should first have a sense of their own obligations and to care more for their neighbors .
Her famous speech was a plea for the strengthening of social institutions such as families , churches , schools , and charitable and other voluntary associations .
De Kesel , on the other hand , clearly pleaded for more government involvement , higher @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suggested that Europe should take up a fight against climate change as an entity and invite the rest of the world to join in .
When asked during the course of the interview how hope can be restored , Cardinal De Kesel once again evaded the specifically Catholic response by saying : De Kesel does not want to see churches looking after only their own affairs .
“ I am fighting against the privatization of religion , ” he assured , adding : “ As much as I fully respect atheism I do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ religions to the private sphere.
” A Catholic cardinal who respects atheism as such — and not the persons who might profess it — is a strange thing , indeed .
Responding to a question about the dearth of priests in Belgium , where over half of the diocesan priests are now over 75 years old , De Kesel recognized that “ the Church has already been changing a lot , ” in particular regarding the role of the laity and of permanent deacons .
Regarding the role of women , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue .
The Church should become more involved [ . ]
… Women must be given greater responsibilities.
” Should women be ordained priests ?
the interviewer asked .
“ That ’ s another matter , ” said De Kesel .
“ Is that what you want ?
” insisted Vincent Delcorps .
“ Well , we ’ ll see .
There are theological but also cultural elements : that ’ s not forget that the church is present on every continent , ” said De Kesel .
Reading between the lines , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what is holding the Church back from ordaining women is the opposition of certain ( more backward ? )
continents .
Of the ordination of married men , De Kesel said the following : Finally , De Kesel was questioned about Catholics who do not go to Mass on every Sunday .
Having told the interviewer that it is also necessary “ to welcome those who come from time to time , ” Delcorps asked : “ So you don ’ t have to go to Mass every Sunday to be a Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was a “ feel-good ” one , confused enough to make everyone feel happy .
The cardinal said : “ Going to Mass is very important .
If a Christian wants to live his faith , he must nourish it .
That ’ s why I can ’ t say that someone who doesn ’ t come every Sunday is not Catholic [ . ]
...
I don ’ t have the right to say that someone is not Catholic .
We must be welcoming !
When people come to church , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a wedding or a funeral .
These can be moments of grace .
The most important thing is the authenticity of the meeting.
” If a cardinal of the Catholic Church can not say someone who does not believe the truths taught by her and does not follow her commands is not Catholic , then who can ?

Analysis
January 10, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Looking back on 2019, Cardinal Jozef De Kesel of Mechelen-Brussels finds that the most important events of that year centered on the environment and immigration, with some treatment of abortion, atheism, and the Amazon Synod included. In a 3,000 word interview with the official Catholic website of French-speaking Belgium, cathobel.be, he described the commitment of young people who “demonstrated for the safeguarding of our planet” as what he will retain “on the positive side.”
Most of his concerns appear to be primarily social. As a former protégé of Cardinal Danneels, former archbishop of Brussels and very close to Pope Francis, De Kesel has clearly chosen to follow in Danneels’s footsteps.
Jozef De Kesel was named primate of Belgium at the end of 2015 by Pope Francis, bringing a whole new orientation to the diocese of Brussels, where his much more traditionally minded predecessor, Mgr. André Léonard, had never received the cardinal’s hat associated with that see. De Kesel was created a cardinal less than one year after having succeeded Léonard.
Since then, he has made a number of statements favorable to Communion for the divorced and “remarried,” in line with Amoris Laetitia, and (according to a homosexualist magazine) to LGBT couples in relationships where “stability and faithfulness take the central place.”
De Kesel was interviewed at the beginning of this month by Vincent Delcorps, of the press service of the Belgian Bishops’ Conference, in order to present his personal retrospective on the year that just ended.
Fighting “for the planet” was the first issue that came to his mind:
Two thousand nineteen was an important year for ecology, especially thanks to these young people who succeeded in mobilizing public opinion. Today we are really aware of the problem, it has become difficult to deny it — even if COP 25 in Madrid was not a great success[.] … This challenge concerns everyone and requires us to work together. For Europe, which is a bit lacking in perspective, this is a great project! But Europe also needs to work with other partners in the world[.]
The young people’s demonstrations were orchestrated around the personality of Greta Thunberg, the Swedish adolescent suffering from Asperger’s syndrome who is being touted as the figurehead of youthful anger against adults’ mismanagement of Mother Earth. It was she who launched the Friday strikes for the climate, where youngsters of school-age lay down pens and leave their classrooms in order to change the world.
Farther along in the interview, Cardinal De Kesel returned to his ecological concerns in commenting on the Amazon Synod, making clear that the Catholic dimension (if any…) of the event needed to be relegated to the background. He said:
In the West, the synod was mainly talked about in connection with the issue of priestly celibacy. But the synod was not primarily convened to discuss this subject, but to deal with an ecological issue that is important for Latin America and the whole world. I would like to add that ecological and social issues are linked: when big companies exploit the land for their own profit, they also exploit the poor! With this synod, therefore, the Church has sent out a strong ecological and social signal. I regret that the press did not report more about it.
Among other things that concerned him in 2019, De Kesel spoke about the present abortion debate in Belgium, where efforts are being made to liberalize the current law.
“I note that there was a desire to pass a new abortion law as soon as possible. Today, even politicians are a little more cautious. I am glad about that, because on such issues, we need a societal debate. In the press, many people, particularly those working in the care sector, have spoken out,” he said.
The cardinal was referring in particular to a statement made in November by more than 700 doctors, midwives, nurses, and psychologists who signed a call to parliamentarians not to prolong the term of legal abortion from 14 to 18 weeks. Some days later, 1,500 doctors and medical personnel stated the opposite. Is it right to have “debates” on the period when killing an unborn child is legal?
De Kesel, speaking to — one supposes — a Catholic journalist in the official media of the French-speaking bishops of Belgium, entered into the debate. He said:
The period within which an abortion can be carried out is not a trivial matter: there is a big difference between twelve and eighteen weeks. At eighteen weeks, the operation is much more burdensome for both the woman and the doctor.
His half-hearted condemnation of abortion as such followed: “Furthermore, it should be remembered that abortion is always a failure and will never be an ordinary medical procedure.” A failure? Or an “abominable crime,” as the Second Vatican Council called it?
Did the bishop have other special memories of 2019?
Yes, he did. “The Brexit. Not as such, but because it reveals a tendency to withdraw into oneself. This is a trend that can be found in several European countries, but also in the United States and Russia.” In the line of bridges, not walls, Cardinal De Kesel stuck to his sociopolitical discourse, regretting that “in the face of the many challenges of our world, fear sets in: fear of the other, of the migrant, of the foreigner.”
This became even clearer when the cardinal spoke of the “hope” society needs — not the hope of Redemption, nor the joy of the truth, but the hope of combating poverty, “the call for greater solidarity.”
In a clear return to the horizontalism of the post–Vatican II years, De Kesel spoke first and foremost of politics and the role of politicians:
I believe that if we want a society where young people can find hope, we must take this into account in the way we govern the country. One example: in the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher said that there was no such thing as society, that there were only individuals. If we follow that logic, it means that everyone must be responsible for themselves. That is the logic of individualism.
This, by the way, is a traditional leftist misquoting of Margaret Thatcher. When the former prime minister of the United Kingdom was pleading against relying on the government for everything, she said: “I think we have gone through a period when too many children and people have been given to understand ‘I have a problem, it is the Government’s job to cope with it’… and so they are casting their problems upon society, and who is society? There are individual men and women and there are families, and no government can do anything except through people and people look to themselves first. It is our duty to look after ourselves and then after our neighbour … and people have got the entitlements too much in mind without the obligations.”
She went on to insist that “there is no such thing as society,” in the sense that society is not responsible for all that is evil, and that people, especially families, should first have a sense of their own obligations and to care more for their neighbors. Her famous speech was a plea for the strengthening of social institutions such as families, churches, schools, and charitable and other voluntary associations.
De Kesel, on the other hand, clearly pleaded for more government involvement, higher and higher up, as when he suggested that Europe should take up a fight against climate change as an entity and invite the rest of the world to join in.
When asked during the course of the interview how hope can be restored, Cardinal De Kesel once again evaded the specifically Catholic response by saying:
On Sundays, when I comment on the Gospel, I always try to show how our Christian faith commits us to a more just society. We are not going to give hope to young people just by minimizing their problems. We must actively work towards building a more fraternal society. And here again, the role of politicians is important. Politicians must not only act in accordance with public opinion; they must also try to shape public opinion. We need leaders who can say things we don’t necessarily want to hear. Politicians are not serving their own party, but the common good!
De Kesel does not want to see churches looking after only their own affairs. “I am fighting against the privatization of religion,” he assured, adding: “As much as I fully respect atheism I do not find serious this desire to confine religions to the private sphere.” A Catholic cardinal who respects atheism as such — and not the persons who might profess it — is a strange thing, indeed.
Responding to a question about the dearth of priests in Belgium, where over half of the diocesan priests are now over 75 years old, De Kesel recognized that “the Church has already been changing a lot,” in particular regarding the role of the laity and of permanent deacons.
Regarding the role of women, he said: “On this subject we must continue. The Church should become more involved[.] … Women must be given greater responsibilities.”
Should women be ordained priests? the interviewer asked. “That’s another matter,” said De Kesel.
“Is that what you want?” insisted Vincent Delcorps.
“Well, we’ll see. There are theological but also cultural elements: that’s not forget that the church is present on every continent,” said De Kesel. Reading between the lines, it appears that in his opinion, what is holding the Church back from ordaining women is the opposition of certain (more backward?) continents.
Of the ordination of married men, De Kesel said the following:
That question has matured. Now we have to think about it. Obviously, it is not a question of suppressing the celibacy of priests: we are not going to ask priests to marry! On the other hand, if I meet a married man, a convinced Catholic, theologically well formed, who has already exercised responsibilities, I cannot exclude the possibility that the Lord may call him to the priesthood! I add that the married priest already exists in the Catholic Church. In my seminary there is a twenty-eight year old, married and father of two children. He belongs to the Chaldean community, but he was born in Mechelen, and he will be a priest in our archdiocese. That makes me happy! So things are changing[.]
Finally, De Kesel was questioned about Catholics who do not go to Mass on every Sunday. Having told the interviewer that it is also necessary “to welcome those who come from time to time,” Delcorps asked: “So you don’t have to go to Mass every Sunday to be a Catholic?”
Once again, the answer was a “feel-good” one, confused enough to make everyone feel happy. The cardinal said: “Going to Mass is very important. If a Christian wants to live his faith, he must nourish it. That’s why I can’t say that someone who doesn’t come every Sunday is not Catholic[.] … I don’t have the right to say that someone is not Catholic. We must be welcoming! When people come to church, they must feel welcome, especially when preparing for a wedding or a funeral. These can be moments of grace. The most important thing is the authenticity of the meeting.”
If a cardinal of the Catholic Church cannot say someone who does not believe the truths taught by her and does not follow her commands is not Catholic, then who can?
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lifesitenews--2020-01-11--Cdl Burke on new edition of Catechism: Original remains ‘authoritative’

LA CROSSE , Wisconsin , January 10 , 2019 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― An American cardinal has stated that a new edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will not have the same authority as the original promulgated by St. Pope John Paul II .
In a December interview with The Wanderer , published in two parts this week , Cardinal Raymond Burke responded to questions regarding a “ soon-to-be-published volume entitled Catechism of the Catholic Church with Theological Commentary.
” Of particular interest to the cardinal ’ s interviewer , Don Fier , was the authority of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Catechism will not have the authority of the text that was approved for promulgation in 1994 , which will continue to be the authoritative text , ” Burke declared .
“ Whatever commentary ( editor ) Archbishop ( Rino ) Fisichella and other contributors offer in the new volume will have the worth of their fidelity to the unchanging doctrine of the Church , ” the cardinal continued .
“ This is not some new Catechism of the Catholic Church and should not be viewed as such.
” The cardinal added @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official English-language Catechism promulgated in 1994 and underscored that authority is inextricably linked to the authentic teaching of the Church .
“ Once again , I emphasize that whatever authority the new edition has will depend on the correctness of its fidelity to doctrine , ” Burke said .
During the interview , the cardinal also recommended a study of the authoritative Catechism in order to be truly transformed by Christ , not merely experience “ good feelings.
” “ Right now , typical of a modernist approach , it is all sentimentality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good feelings ’ about how they are living and about the Church , ” he told his interviewer .
“ But it is not a question about good feelings ; it is a question about truth and love .
We need to return to the Catechism of the Catholic Church , study it deeply , and conform our lives to what it teaches , ” he continued .
“ In this way , our lives will be truly transformed by Christ Himself because the knowledge of Christ is not something that is abstract.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the perennial teaching of the Church , found in the Catechism , not the theological opinions of a pope , that must be Catholics ’ “ point of reference.
” “ The only answer in the situation in which we find ourselves at present is to fall back on the constant teaching of the Church , which is contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in the official magisterial teaching of the Church , ” he told his interviewer .
“ That has to be our point of reference .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the laity — and they must have recourse to it.
” Burke gave as his example the Arian Crisis : “ ...
When the Arian heresy was rampant , and the heretical element was seemingly going to prevail because the majority of Catholics had become Arians , it was by the heroic insistence on what the Church had always taught about the two natures and one divine Person of Our Lord Jesus Christ that the truth prevailed , ” the cardinal explained .
He noted that St. Athanasius in particular suffered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The saint was exiled and even excommunicated by Pope Liberius for the politically-motivated “ sake of peace.
” “ St .
Athanasius accepted all the suffering inflicted upon him and remained steadfast in fighting for the truth .
That is precisely what needs to happen again today , ” Burke declared .
“ Faithful priests and members of the laity must be prepared.
” He had impatient words for the concept of a “ Pope Francis magisterium ” that sweeps away perennial doctrine .
“ Recently , I talked to two young @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with third young priest who was studying moral theology , ” Burke recounted .
“ He said to them : ‘ We have Pope Francis ’ magisterium that is completely new ; we now have to abandon all the old categories and develop a new theology to match this magisterium , ’ ” the cardinal continued .
“ This is simply preposterous — this is not the magisterium !
Priests and the lay faithful must understand this.
” The revised theological commentary for the new edition of the Catechism will contain novel teachings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the condemnation of capital punishment as “ intrinsically evil ” and “ against the Gospel.
” In the online edition , a change to paragraph 2267 has already been made .
It now reads : The new concept of “ ecological sin ” is also expected to be propounded in the new edition .
In a speech he gave to the 20th World Congress of the International Association of Penal Law in Rome , Pope Francis said , “ We have to introduce ― we are thinking about it ― to the Catechism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ecology , the 'ecological sin ' against our common home , because a duty is at stake.
” According to the new volume ’ s editor , Archbishop Fisichella , Pope Francis has written the preface to this new edition himself .
Fisichella is the first president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization , a post he received in 2010 .
This role followed a short stint ( between 2008 and 2010 ) as a controversial president of the Pontifical Academy for Life .
During his tenure , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Brazil by criticizing the bishop who excommunicated the abortionists and everyone else who encouraged the procedure on the unusually young mother .
He has served as president of the International Council for Catechesis since 2013 .
In a 2019 interview with America magazine , Fisichella himself emphasized that the Theological Commentary is not itself a work of Magisterium and that each of the 42 commentators “ takes personal responsibility for his or her own contribution.
” The commentators included such left-wing luminaries as Cardinal Christoph Schönborn , whose commitment to women ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and other innovations are well documented .
Different dates are often given for the Catechism of the Catholic Church promulgated by St. Pope John Paul II .
He approved the original text in 1992 , but there was a delay regarding the English translation , and thus it was not approved until 1994 .
The official Latin edition was promulgated in 1997 .

The faithful cardinal emphasized that references to a new Pope Francis magisterium are 'simply preposterous — this is not the magisterium! Priests and the lay faithful must understand this.'
LA CROSSE, Wisconsin, January 10, 2019 (LifeSiteNews) ― An American cardinal has stated that a new edition of the Catechism of the Catholic Church will not have the same authority as the original promulgated by St. Pope John Paul II.
In a December interview with The Wanderer, published in two parts this week, Cardinal Raymond Burke responded to questions regarding a “soon-to-be-published volume entitled Catechism of the Catholic Church with Theological Commentary.” Of particular interest to the cardinal’s interviewer, Don Fier, was the authority of the new text.
“This new issue of the Catechism will not have the authority of the text that was approved for promulgation in 1994, which will continue to be the authoritative text,” Burke declared.
“Whatever commentary (editor) Archbishop (Rino) Fisichella and other contributors offer in the new volume will have the worth of their fidelity to the unchanging doctrine of the Church,” the cardinal continued.
“This is not some new Catechism of the Catholic Church and should not be viewed as such.”
The cardinal added that he asks people to study the official English-language Catechism promulgated in 1994 and underscored that authority is inextricably linked to the authentic teaching of the Church.
“Once again, I emphasize that whatever authority the new edition has will depend on the correctness of its fidelity to doctrine,” Burke said.
During the interview, the cardinal also recommended a study of the authoritative Catechism in order to be truly transformed by Christ, not merely experience “good feelings.”
“Right now, typical of a modernist approach, it is all sentimentality, of people wanting to have ‘good feelings’ about how they are living and about the Church,” he told his interviewer.
“But it is not a question about good feelings; it is a question about truth and love. We need to return to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, study it deeply, and conform our lives to what it teaches,” he continued.
“In this way, our lives will be truly transformed by Christ Himself because the knowledge of Christ is not something that is abstract.”
The Cardinal underscored that it is the perennial teaching of the Church, found in the Catechism, not the theological opinions of a pope, that must be Catholics’ “point of reference.”
“The only answer in the situation in which we find ourselves at present is to fall back on the constant teaching of the Church, which is contained in the Catechism of the Catholic Church and in the official magisterial teaching of the Church,” he told his interviewer.
“That has to be our point of reference. It is available to good priests and faithful members of the laity — and they must have recourse to it.”
Burke gave as his example the Arian Crisis:
“ … When the Arian heresy was rampant, and the heretical element was seemingly going to prevail because the majority of Catholics had become Arians, it was by the heroic insistence on what the Church had always taught about the two natures and one divine Person of Our Lord Jesus Christ that the truth prevailed,” the cardinal explained.
He noted that St. Athanasius in particular suffered in this struggle to keep the faith. The saint was exiled and even excommunicated by Pope Liberius for the politically-motivated “sake of peace.”
“St. Athanasius accepted all the suffering inflicted upon him and remained steadfast in fighting for the truth. That is precisely what needs to happen again today,” Burke declared. “Faithful priests and members of the laity must be prepared.”
He had impatient words for the concept of a “Pope Francis magisterium” that sweeps away perennial doctrine.
“Recently, I talked to two young priests who conveyed a conversation they had with third young priest who was studying moral theology,” Burke recounted.
“He said to them: ‘We have Pope Francis’ magisterium that is completely new; we now have to abandon all the old categories and develop a new theology to match this magisterium,’” the cardinal continued.
“This is simply preposterous — this is not the magisterium! Priests and the lay faithful must understand this.”
The revised theological commentary for the new edition of the Catechism will contain novel teachings proposed by Pope Francis, such as the condemnation of capital punishment as “intrinsically evil” and “against the Gospel.” In the online edition, a change to paragraph 2267 has already been made. It now reads:
Recourse to the death penalty on the part of legitimate authority, following a fair trial, was long considered an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good. Today, however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the state. Lastly, more effective systems of detention have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but, at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption. Consequently, the Church teaches, in the light of the Gospel, that “the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person”, and the Catholic Church works with determination for its abolition worldwide. (CCC, 2267)
The new concept of “ecological sin” is also expected to be propounded in the new edition. In a speech he gave to the 20th World Congress of the International Association of Penal Law in Rome, Pope Francis said, “We have to introduce ― we are thinking about it ― to the Catechism of the Catholic Church the sin against ecology, the 'ecological sin' against our common home, because a duty is at stake.”
According to the new volume’s editor, Archbishop Fisichella, Pope Francis has written the preface to this new edition himself.
Fisichella is the first president of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, a post he received in 2010. This role followed a short stint (between 2008 and 2010) as a controversial president of the Pontifical Academy for Life. During his tenure, Fisichella responded to a notorious abortion case in Brazil by criticizing the bishop who excommunicated the abortionists and everyone else who encouraged the procedure on the unusually young mother. He has served as president of the International Council for Catechesis since 2013.
In a 2019 interview with America magazine, Fisichella himself emphasized that the Theological Commentary is not itself a work of Magisterium and that each of the 42 commentators “takes personal responsibility for his or her own contribution.” The commentators included such left-wing luminaries as Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, whose commitment to women’s ordination, blessings for same-sex couples, and other innovations are well documented.
Different dates are often given for the Catechism of the Catholic Church promulgated by St. Pope John Paul II. He approved the original text in 1992, but there was a delay regarding the English translation, and thus it was not approved until 1994. The official Latin edition was promulgated in 1997.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-12--‘I cannot keep silent’: Benedict XVI and Cdl Sarah defend priestly celibacy in new book

ROME , January 12 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah have co-authored a new book on priestly celibacy , taking a firm stand against the priestly ordination of married men in the Latin Church .
The timing of the new volume is significant .
It comes ahead of Pope Francis ’ s highly anticipated post-apostolic exhortation on the recent Synod of Bishops on the Amazon .
The meeting , which took place in October at the Vatican , proposed creating an exception to celibacy in the Latin priesthood .
Titled , “ From the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ De profoundeur de nos cœurs ] the new book by the pope emeritus and the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments will first be released in French on January 15 .
“ The ability to renounce marriage in order to place oneself totally at the Lord ’ s disposal is a criterion for the priestly ministry , ” Benedict XVI writes in the new book .
“ As for the concrete form of celibacy in the ancient Church , it should also be pointed out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Holy Orders if they had committed themselves to sexual abstinence , that is to say , to a Josephite marriage .
Such a situation seems to have been quite normal during the first centuries.
” During the Amazon Synod last October , the synod fathers discussed the possibility of ordaining married men ( viri probati ) in the region as an exception .
In the wake of the synod , key members of the German hierarchy openly said that if such an exception is created , they too will make a push @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is unknown where exactly Pope Francis stands on the issue of opening an exception for married clergy in the Latin Church .
On January 27 , 2019 , during an inflight press conference on his return from Panama , Francis said he “ personally ” believes “ celibacy is a gift to the Church ” and does “ not agree with allowing celibacy as an option.
” But he added that he might envisage “ some possibilities for very remote places , ” like the Pacific Islands , where there is a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the final document of the Amazon Synod .
In section 111 of the document , which passed by a two thirds majority , the authors state : “ We appreciate celibacy as a gift of God ( SC1967 1 ) to the extent that this gift enables the missionary disciple , ordained to the priesthood , to dedicate himself fully to the service of the Holy People of God.
” However , the document went on to note that “ some [ of the synod fathers ] were in favor of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and therefore proposed that “ suitable and respected men of the community with a legitimately constituted and stable family , who have had a fruitful permanent diaconate and receive an adequate formation for the priesthood ” be ordained “ in order to sustain the life of the Christian community … in the most remote areas of the Amazon region.
” The new book by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah therefore comes amid a discussion on married priests opened by Francis and allows their voices to be heard .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ son of Africa , support the idea that the peoples on the road to evangelization should be deprived of this encounter with a priesthood lived to the full , ” Cardinal Sarah writes in the new book .
“ The peoples of Amazonia have the right to a full experience of Christ the Bridegroom .
They can not be offered ‘ second class ’ priests .
On the contrary , the younger a Church is , the more it needs to meet the radical nature of the Gospel.
” The book also comes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ priestly formation and homosexual corruption that enabled prelates such as former cardinal and convicted sex abuser Theodore McCarrick ascend the ranks of the hierarchy unchecked .
In the introduction , the pope emeritus and the Guinean cardinal explain that the volume was born out of silence , prayer , and a series of conversations and letters they exchanged in recent months .
With the fourth century doctor of the Church , St. Augustine , they affirm : “ I can not keep silent !
I know how pernicious silence would be for me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wallow in ecclesiastical honors , but I think that it is to Christ , the first of the Pastors , that I will have to give an account of the sheep entrusted to my care .
I can not keep silent or claim ignorance.
” Once news of the book broke in French , Mark Brumley took to Twitter announcing that Ignatius Press will be publishing the volume under the title : “ From the depths of our hearts : priesthood , celibacy , and the crisis of the Catholic Church.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , January 13 and will ship on February 20 .
“ Their book is not just about priestly celibacy , important as that is in itself , ” said Ignatius Press founder and editor Father Joseph Fessio in a press release on Sunday .
“ It is about , as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI describes it in his first paragraph : ‘ the lasting crisis that the priesthood has been going through for many years.
’ But it is about more than that ; it is about the nature of the Church @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a book that all should read .
It is powerful and personal — from the depths of their hearts.
” Key passages from the new volume were published as an exclusive by the French daily Le Figaro on Sunday .
Here below we publish an unofficial English translation of several excerpts .
Passages taken from the introduction and conclusion of the book were written jointly by Benedict XVI and Cardinal Sarah .
In recent months , as the world resounded with the din created by a strange media synod that was taking precedence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We exchanged ideas and concerns .
We prayed and meditated in silence .
Each one of our meetings gave us a sense of comfort and calm .
Our reflections in different ways led us to exchange letters .
The similarity of our concerns and the convergence of our conclusions led us to put the fruit of our work and our spiritual friendship at the disposal of all the faithful , following the example of St. Augustine .
Indeed , like him we can affirm : “ Silere non possum !
I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pernicious silence would be for me .
For I do not wish to wallow in ecclesiastical honors , but I think that it is to Christ , the first of the Pastors , that I will have to give an account of the sheep entrusted to my care .
I can not keep silent or claim ignorance.
” ( ... ) We do so in a spirit of love for the unity of the Church .
If ideology divides , truth unites hearts .
Studying the doctrine of salvation can only unite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so in a spirit of charity .
The daily celebration of the Eucharist , which implies a permanent state of service to God , does not spontaneously leave the impossibility of a matrimonial bond .
It can be said that sexual abstinence which was functional has transformed itself into ontological abstinence .
( ... ) Nowadays , it is too easily claimed that all this is simply the consequence of a disregard for corporeality and sexuality .
( ... ) Such a judgment is erroneous .
To prove this , we need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considered marriage as a gift granted by God from heaven on earth .
However , the conjugal state concerns man in his totality , and since the service of the Lord also requires the total gift of man , it does not seem possible to realize the two vocations simultaneously .
Thus , the ability to renounce marriage in order to place oneself totally at the Lord ’ s disposal is a criterion for the priestly ministry .
As for the concrete form of celibacy in the ancient Church , it should also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only receive the sacrament of Holy Orders if they had committed themselves to sexual abstinence , that is to say , to a Josephite marriage .
Such a situation seems to have been quite normal during the first centuries .
Without the renunciation of material goods , there can be no priesthood .
The call to follow Jesus is not possible without this sign of freedom and renunciation of all compromise .
I believe that celibacy has great significance as the abandonment of a possible earthly domain and circle of family life ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our journey towards God can remain the foundation of our life and express itself concretely .
This means , of course , that celibacy must permeate all the attitudes of life with its demands .
It can not attain its full meaning if we conform to the rules of property and the attitudes of life commonly practiced today .
There can be no stability if we do not put our union with God at the center of our lives .
THE MISSION OF THE PRIEST What does it mean to be a priest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The essence of the priestly ministry is defined in the first place by the fact of standing before the Lord , to keep watch for Him , being there for Him .
( ... ) This means for us to stand before the Lord who is present ; that is , it points to the Eucharist as the center of priestly life .
( ... ) The priest must be someone who watches .
He must be vigilant in the face of the threatening powers of evil .
He must keep the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ someone who stands on the edge : straight in the face of the current of time .
Straight in the truth .
Straight in commitment to the service of good .
Standing before the Lord must always also mean taking care of men before the Lord who , in turn , takes care of all of us before the Father .
And this must mean supporting Christ , his Word , his truth , his love .
The priest must be upright , courageous and even willing to suffer insults for the Lord @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a person full of rectitude , vigilant , who stands upright .
To all this is added the need to serve .
( ... ) If the liturgy is a central duty of the priest , it also means that prayer must be a priority reality which must be learned ever anew and ever more deeply at the school of Christ and of the saints of all times .
WHAT DOES THE WORD “ HOLY ” MEAN ?
The word “ holy ” expresses the special nature of God .
He alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ holy in the measure that he begins to be with God .
To be with God is to set aside that which is only the `` I '' and become one with the whole of God 's life .
However , this liberation of the self can be very painful , and is never accomplished once and for all .
However , the term “ sanctify ” can also be understood in a very concrete way to mean priestly ordination , in the sense that it implies that the living God radically claims @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve Him .
Priestly celibacy well understood , if it is sometimes a trial , is a liberation .
It allows the priest to establish himself coherently in his identity as spouse of the Church .
The project of depriving communities and priests of this joy is not a work of mercy .
I can not in conscience , as a son of Africa , support the idea that the peoples on the road to evangelization should be deprived of this encounter with a priesthood lived to the full .
The peoples of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experience of Christ the Bridegroom .
They can not be offered “ second class ” priests .
On the contrary , the younger a Church is , the more it needs to meet the radicality of the Gospel .
IT IS A LIE TO TALK ABOUT EXCEPTIONS The ordination of married men , even if they were previously permanent deacons , is not an exception , but a breach , a wound in the coherence of the priesthood .
To speak of exceptions is an abuse of language or a lie ( ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ married men in young Christian communities would forbid the fostering of priestly vocations of unmarried priests .
The exception would become a permanent state prejudicial to the proper understanding of the priesthood .
THE CHURCH IS NOT A HUMAN ORGANIZATION ... We live in sadness and suffering in these difficult and troubled times .
It was our sacred duty to recall the truth of the Catholic priesthood .
For through him the whole beauty of the Church is called into question .
The Church is not just a human organization .
She is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bride of Christ .
This is what our priestly celibacy constantly reminds the world of .
It is urgent , necessary , that everyone , bishops , priests and lay people , no longer allow themselves to be impressed by bad pleas , theatrical productions , diabolical lies , and fashionable errors that seek to devalue priestly celibacy .
It is urgent , necessary , that all , bishops , priests and laity , rediscover a gaze of faith on the Church and on priestly celibacy which protects its mystery .
This will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of division , against the political spirit but also against the spirit of indifference and relativism .

PETITION: Support Cardinal Sarah's Defense of Priestly Celibacy! Sign the petition here
ROME, January 12, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah have co-authored a new book on priestly celibacy, taking a firm stand against the priestly ordination of married men in the Latin Church.
The timing of the new volume is significant. It comes ahead of Pope Francis’s highly anticipated post-apostolic exhortation on the recent Synod of Bishops on the Amazon. The meeting, which took place in October at the Vatican, proposed creating an exception to celibacy in the Latin priesthood.
Titled, “From the Depths of Our Hearts,” [De profoundeur de nos cœurs] the new book by the pope emeritus and the prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments will first be released in French on January 15.
“The ability to renounce marriage in order to place oneself totally at the Lord’s disposal is a criterion for the priestly ministry,” Benedict XVI writes in the new book. “As for the concrete form of celibacy in the ancient Church, it should also be pointed out that married men could only receive the sacrament of Holy Orders if they had committed themselves to sexual abstinence, that is to say, to a Josephite marriage. Such a situation seems to have been quite normal during the first centuries.”
During the Amazon Synod last October, the synod fathers discussed the possibility of ordaining married men (viri probati) in the region as an exception.
In the wake of the synod, key members of the German hierarchy openly said that if such an exception is created, they too will make a push for married priests in Germany.
It is unknown where exactly Pope Francis stands on the issue of opening an exception for married clergy in the Latin Church. On January 27, 2019, during an inflight press conference on his return from Panama, Francis said he “personally” believes “celibacy is a gift to the Church” and does “not agree with allowing celibacy as an option.” But he added that he might envisage “some possibilities for very remote places,” like the Pacific Islands, where there is a “pastoral necessity.”
This stance was reflected in the final document of the Amazon Synod. In section 111 of the document, which passed by a two thirds majority, the authors state: “We appreciate celibacy as a gift of God (SC1967 1) to the extent that this gift enables the missionary disciple, ordained to the priesthood, to dedicate himself fully to the service of the Holy People of God.”
However, the document went on to note that “some [of the synod fathers] were in favor of a more universal approach to the subject” and therefore proposed that “suitable and respected men of the community with a legitimately constituted and stable family, who have had a fruitful permanent diaconate and receive an adequate formation for the priesthood” be ordained “in order to sustain the life of the Christian community … in the most remote areas of the Amazon region.”
The new book by Pope emeritus Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah therefore comes amid a discussion on married priests opened by Francis and allows their voices to be heard.
“I cannot in conscience, as a son of Africa, support the idea that the peoples on the road to evangelization should be deprived of this encounter with a priesthood lived to the full,” Cardinal Sarah writes in the new book. “The peoples of Amazonia have the right to a full experience of Christ the Bridegroom. They cannot be offered ‘second class’ priests. On the contrary, the younger a Church is, the more it needs to meet the radical nature of the Gospel.”
The book also comes in the wake of a crisis in priestly formation and homosexual corruption that enabled prelates such as former cardinal and convicted sex abuser Theodore McCarrick to ascend the ranks of the hierarchy unchecked.
In the introduction, the pope emeritus and the Guinean cardinal explain that the volume was born out of silence, prayer, and a series of conversations and letters they exchanged in recent months.
With the fourth century doctor of the Church, St. Augustine, they affirm: “I cannot keep silent! I know how pernicious silence would be for me. For I do not wish to wallow in ecclesiastical honors, but I think that it is to Christ, the first of the Pastors, that I will have to give an account of the sheep entrusted to my care. I cannot keep silent or claim ignorance.”
Once news of the book broke in French, Mark Brumley took to Twitter announcing that Ignatius Press will be publishing the volume under the title: “From the Depths of Our Hearts: Priesthood, Celibacy, and the Crisis of the Catholic Church.” The book will be available for pre-order on Monday, January 13 and will ship on February 20.
“Their book is not just about priestly celibacy, important as that is in itself,” said Ignatius Press founder and editor Father Joseph Fessio in a press release on Sunday. “It is about, as Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI describes it in his first paragraph: ‘the lasting crisis that the priesthood has been going through for many years.’ But it is about more than that; it is about the nature of the Church and of Christian discipleship. This is a book that all should read. It is powerful and personal — from the depths of their hearts.”
Key passages from the new volume were published as an exclusive by the French daily Le Figaro on Sunday. Here below we publish an unofficial English translation of several excerpts. Passages taken from the introduction and conclusion of the book were written jointly by Benedict XVI and Cardinal Sarah.
* * *
I CANNOT KEEP SILENT
In recent months, as the world resounded with the din created by a strange media synod that was taking precedence over the real synod, we met. We exchanged ideas and concerns. We prayed and meditated in silence. Each one of our meetings gave us a sense of comfort and calm. Our reflections in different ways led us to exchange letters. The similarity of our concerns and the convergence of our conclusions led us to put the fruit of our work and our spiritual friendship at the disposal of all the faithful, following the example of St. Augustine. Indeed, like him we can affirm: “Silere non possum! I cannot keep silent! I know how pernicious silence would be for me. For I do not wish to wallow in ecclesiastical honors, but I think that it is to Christ, the first of the Pastors, that I will have to give an account of the sheep entrusted to my care. I cannot keep silent or claim ignorance.” (…) We do so in a spirit of love for the unity of the Church. If ideology divides, truth unites hearts. Studying the doctrine of salvation can only unite the Church around its divine Master. We do so in a spirit of charity.
—Introduction
ONTOLOGICAL ABSTINENCE
The daily celebration of the Eucharist, which implies a permanent state of service to God, does not spontaneously leave the impossibility of a matrimonial bond. It can be said that sexual abstinence which was functional has transformed itself into ontological abstinence. (…) Nowadays, it is too easily claimed that all this is simply the consequence of a disregard for corporeality and sexuality. (…) Such a judgment is erroneous. To prove this, we need only recall that the Church has always considered marriage as a gift granted by God from heaven on earth. However, the conjugal state concerns man in his totality, and since the service of the Lord also requires the total gift of man, it does not seem possible to realize the two vocations simultaneously. Thus, the ability to renounce marriage in order to place oneself totally at the Lord’s disposal is a criterion for the priestly ministry. As for the concrete form of celibacy in the ancient Church, it should also be pointed out that married men could only receive the sacrament of Holy Orders if they had committed themselves to sexual abstinence, that is to say, to a Josephite marriage. Such a situation seems to have been quite normal during the first centuries.
—Benedict XVI
RENUNCIATION OF ALL COMPROMISE
Without the renunciation of material goods, there can be no priesthood. The call to follow Jesus is not possible without this sign of freedom and renunciation of all compromise. I believe that celibacy has great significance as the abandonment of a possible earthly domain and circle of family life; celibacy even becomes truly indispensable so that our journey towards God can remain the foundation of our life and express itself concretely. This means, of course, that celibacy must permeate all the attitudes of life with its demands. It cannot attain its full meaning if we conform to the rules of property and the attitudes of life commonly practiced today. There can be no stability if we do not put our union with God at the center of our lives.
—Benedict XVI
THE MISSION OF THE PRIEST
What does it mean to be a priest of Jesus Christ? (…) The essence of the priestly ministry is defined in the first place by the fact of standing before the Lord, to keep watch for Him, being there for Him. (…) This means for us to stand before the Lord who is present; that is, it points to the Eucharist as the center of priestly life. (…) The priest must be someone who watches. He must be vigilant in the face of the threatening powers of evil. He must keep the world alert for God. He must be someone who stands on the edge: straight in the face of the current of time. Straight in the truth. Straight in commitment to the service of good. Standing before the Lord must always also mean taking care of men before the Lord who, in turn, takes care of all of us before the Father. And this must mean supporting Christ, his Word, his truth, his love. The priest must be upright, courageous and even willing to suffer insults for the Lord. (…) The priest must be a person full of rectitude, vigilant, who stands upright. To all this is added the need to serve. (…) If the liturgy is a central duty of the priest, it also means that prayer must be a priority reality which must be learned ever anew and ever more deeply at the school of Christ and of the saints of all times.
—Benedict XVI
WHAT DOES THE WORD “HOLY” MEAN?
The word “holy” expresses the special nature of God. He alone is the Holy One. Man becomes holy in the measure that he begins to be with God. To be with God is to set aside that which is only the “I” and become one with the whole of God's life. However, this liberation of the self can be very painful, and is never accomplished once and for all. However, the term “sanctify” can also be understood in a very concrete way to mean priestly ordination, in the sense that it implies that the living God radically claims a man in order to make him serve Him.
—Benedict XVI
NO SECOND-CLASS PRIESTS
Priestly celibacy well understood, if it is sometimes a trial, is a liberation. It allows the priest to establish himself coherently in his identity as spouse of the Church. The project of depriving communities and priests of this joy is not a work of mercy. I cannot in conscience, as a son of Africa, support the idea that the peoples on the road to evangelization should be deprived of this encounter with a priesthood lived to the full. The peoples of Amazonia have the right to a full experience of Christ the Bridegroom. They cannot be offered “second class” priests. On the contrary, the younger a Church is, the more it needs to meet the radicality of the Gospel.
—Cardinal Robert Sarah
IT IS A LIE TO TALK ABOUT EXCEPTIONS
The ordination of married men, even if they were previously permanent deacons, is not an exception, but a breach, a wound in the coherence of the priesthood. To speak of exceptions is an abuse of language or a lie (…). Moreover, the ordination of married men in young Christian communities would forbid the fostering of priestly vocations of unmarried priests. The exception would become a permanent state prejudicial to the proper understanding of the priesthood.
—Cardinal Robert Sarah
THE CHURCH IS NOT A HUMAN ORGANIZATION…
We live in sadness and suffering in these difficult and troubled times. It was our sacred duty to recall the truth of the Catholic priesthood. For through him the whole beauty of the Church is called into question. The Church is not just a human organization. She is a mystery. She is the mystical Bride of Christ. This is what our priestly celibacy constantly reminds the world of. It is urgent, necessary, that everyone, bishops, priests and lay people, no longer allow themselves to be impressed by bad pleas, theatrical productions, diabolical lies, and fashionable errors that seek to devalue priestly celibacy. It is urgent, necessary, that all, bishops, priests and laity, rediscover a gaze of faith on the Church and on priestly celibacy which protects its mystery. This will be the best defense against the spirit of division, against the political spirit but also against the spirit of indifference and relativism.
—Conclusion
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lifesitenews--2020-01-14--Trans activist who demanded women wax his genitals attacks reporter

SURREY , British Columbia , January 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) ― A well-known Canadian transgender activist , infamous for bringing human rights complaints against women who refused to wax his genitals , was caught on camera attacking a journalist outside a court .
Jonathan “ Jessica ” Yaniv was filmed Jan. 13 leaving a courthouse in Surrey , B.C .
by The Rebel reporter Keean Bexte .
Bexte posted the video of their subsequent altercation , adding that “ J .
Yaniv just punched me in the back of the head , ” Bexte tweeted .
“ Just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two security cameras directly overhead at the courthouse .
I need an Advil.
” The video shows Yaniv veering from his path to confront the reporter , who is over 10 feet away , while waving his arm , shouting and cursing , and punching in Bexte ’ s direction .
The audio plays the sounds of Bexte grunting in pain and shouting “ Stop.
” The video clip has now been seen over a million times .
Bexte told online newspaper The Daily Wire that he had only one question for Yaniv― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Within several seconds , Yaniv charged me and punched the back of my head while holding me down , ” he added .
“ Police have been reluctant to charge him before , and so I ’ m speaking to legal counsel to figure out my options to make sure this menace sees justice.
” Yaniv had appeared before the court on a prohibited weapons charge .
The transgender activist had displayed a taser to another transgender activist during a social media debate about Yaniv ’ s complaints to the British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of beauticians .
The activist , who has not had so-called “ bottom surgery , ” took offense when the aestheticians refused to wax his male genitalia .
At one point during the hour-long Facebook show , Yaniv disappears momentarily , then returns and says , “ I don ’ t need to be scared in my own house , that I ’ m going to get ( expletive ) attacked , ” before raising the Taser and activating it on screen .
The Blaze reported that Yaniv had apparently been disturbed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bathroom stalls needed to carry pepper spray to protect themselves from people like Yaniv .
For at least a year prior to his human rights complaints , screenshots of Yaniv ’ s social media posts showing his interest in the menstruation of 10- and 12-year-old girls and whether he would see them unclothed in women ’ s change rooms circulated online .
The Gender Trender blog alleged that in May , June , and July 2018 a number of teenage girls took to Twitter , Facebook , and Instagram to claim Yaniv “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to access private Facebook groups for adolescent girls “ where he spewed his creepy sexual fetishes about young women , menstruation , toilet and locker room fantasies.
” Last July , Jessica Rumpel filed a child sexual exploitation report against Yaniv with CyberTips for allegedly sexually harassing her when she was between the ages of 14 and 15 .
“ Yaniv ’ s reported online activity reflects a pederastic interest in young teenage girls that predated his interest in transgenderism .
The fact that he now calls himself a ‘ proud lesbian ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ females , ” noted Doug Mainwaring of LifeSiteNews when reporting on Rumpel ’ s complaint .
Last December Yaniv shared his shock and confusion on Twitter when a gynaecologist refused to see him .
“ So a gynaecologist office that I got referred to literally told me today that ‘ we do n't serve transgender patients ’ , '' he stated .
“ And me , being me , I 'm shocked.. and confused ... and hurt , ” he continued .
“ Are they allowed to do that , legally ?
Is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Last October , Yaniv began a Human Rights court action against a beautician who refused to wax his legs , despite having lost that same month a case at the Human Rights Tribunal in which he had brought a `` discrimination '' complaint against about a dozen beauticians who refused to wax his genitals .
`` Human rights legislation does not require a service provider to wax a type of genitals they are not trained for and have not consented to wax , '' the decision stated .
The decision further found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” `` filed complaints for improper purposes , '' and that Yaniv ’ s testimony was “ disingenuous and self-serving .
”

'J. Yaniv just punched me in the back of the head. Just spoke to police.'
January 15, 2020 update: Watch extended footage of Yaniv's altercation with Rebel reporter here.
SURREY, British Columbia, January 14, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) ― A well-known Canadian transgender activist, infamous for bringing human rights complaints against women who refused to wax his genitals, was caught on camera attacking a journalist outside a court.
Jonathan “Jessica” Yaniv was filmed Jan. 13 leaving a courthouse in Surrey, B.C. by The Rebel reporter Keean Bexte. Bexte posted the video of their subsequent altercation, adding that
Yaniv, 32, had punched him.
J. Yaniv just punched me in the back of the head. Just spoke to police. Luckily there are two security cameras directly overhead at the courthouse. I need an advil. pic.twitter.com/3hfm2CfYhq — Keean Bexte �������� (@TheRealKeean) January 14, 2020
“J. Yaniv just punched me in the back of the head,” Bexte tweeted.
“Just spoke to police. Luckily there are two security cameras directly overhead at the courthouse. I need an Advil.”
The video shows Yaniv veering from his path to confront the reporter, who is over 10 feet away, while waving his arm, shouting and cursing, and punching in Bexte’s direction. The audio plays the sounds of Bexte grunting in pain and shouting “Stop.”
The video clip has now been seen over a million times.
Bexte told online newspaper The Daily Wire that he had only one question for Yaniv― whether or not he would plead guilty.
“Within several seconds, Yaniv charged me and punched the back of my head while holding me down,” he added.
“Police have been reluctant to charge him before, and so I’m speaking to legal counsel to figure out my options to make sure this menace sees justice.”
Yaniv had appeared before the court on a prohibited weapons charge. The transgender activist had displayed a taser to another transgender activist during a social media debate about Yaniv’s complaints to the British Columbia Human Rights Tribunal against a number of beauticians. The activist, who has not had so-called “bottom surgery,” took offense when the aestheticians refused to wax his male genitalia.
At one point during the hour-long Facebook show, Yaniv disappears momentarily, then returns and says, “I don’t need to be scared in my own house, that I’m going to get (expletive) attacked,” before raising the Taser and activating it on screen.
The Blaze reported that Yaniv had apparently been disturbed by his interlocutor saying that young girls in bathroom stalls needed to carry pepper spray to protect themselves from people like Yaniv.
For at least a year prior to his human rights complaints, screenshots of Yaniv’s social media posts showing his interest in the menstruation of 10- and 12-year-old girls and whether he would see them unclothed in women’s change rooms circulated online.
The Gender Trender blog alleged that in May, June, and July 2018 a number of teenage girls took to Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to claim Yaniv “pretended to be transgender” in order to access private Facebook groups for adolescent girls “where he spewed his creepy sexual fetishes about young women, menstruation, toilet and locker room fantasies.”
Last July, Jessica Rumpel filed a child sexual exploitation report against Yaniv with CyberTips for allegedly sexually harassing her when she was between the ages of 14 and 15.
“Yaniv’s reported online activity reflects a pederastic interest in young teenage girls that predated his interest in transgenderism. The fact that he now calls himself a ‘proud lesbian’ is indicative of his continued interest in females,” noted Doug Mainwaring of LifeSiteNews when reporting on Rumpel’s complaint.
Last December Yaniv shared his shock and confusion on Twitter when a gynaecologist refused to see him.
“So a gynaecologist office that I got referred to literally told me today that ‘we don't serve transgender patients’,” he stated.
“And me, being me, I'm shocked.. and confused… and hurt,” he continued.
“Are they allowed to do that, legally? Isn't that against the college practices?”
Last October, Yaniv began a Human Rights court action against a beautician who refused to wax his legs, despite having lost that same month a case at the Human Rights Tribunal in which he had brought a “discrimination” complaint against about a dozen beauticians who refused to wax his genitals.
“Human rights legislation does not require a service provider to wax a type of genitals they are not trained for and have not consented to wax,” the decision stated.
The decision further found that Yaniv “engaged in improper conduct,” “filed complaints for improper purposes,” and that Yaniv’s testimony was “disingenuous and self-serving.”
Editor's note: LifeSiteNews' Lianne Laurence contributed to this report.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-14--Irony: In pro-abortion Ireland, dairy is bad because it ‘takes babies from their mothers&#8217

Irony: In pro-abortion Ireland, dairy is bad because it ‘takes babies from their mothers’

January 14 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) — My family and I had the blessed opportunity to spend the twelve days of Christmas this year at Silverstream Priory , a Benedictine monastery just outside Dublin , where the monks praise God in chanted psalms seven times a day and once in the night and celebrate the traditional Latin Mass with great beauty and reverence .
Although we spent most of our time at the monastery , we made a few trips farther afield .
One day I took my daughter in to Dublin to see the National Gallery of Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ great paintings , including masterpieces by Vermeer , Caravaggio , Velázquez , Rembrandt , and Turner .
We also visited Trinity College for an informative exhibit on the Book of Kells and related Gospel books .
In the late afternoon we enjoyed tea with Pat Kenny , who has done much to promote the heroic example and spiritual doctrine of Fr .
Willie Doyle ( 1873–1917 ) , especially through a dedicated website .
As we started our day walking from the Pearse train station to the Gallery , I beheld a large @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at which several gallons of milk must surely be gone through each day .
I really could not believe my eyes and had to take a picture of it .
The billboard stated : “ DAIRY TAKES BABIES FROM THEIR MOTHERS.
” The mother cow , with bovine pride , licks her cute calf , from which she is soon to be parted so evil humans can drink the surplus milk .
I subsequently learned that this billboard started going up around Ireland just a few months after the abortion referendum legalized abortion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ abortion — the ultimate example of taking babies away from their mothers — should be legal , while presumably dairy farms should be illegal .
Such is the twisted logic that obtains when faith and reason alike are abandoned in favor of the postmodern delirium of “ me , myself , and I.
” As G.K. Chesterton once almost quipped ( but didn ’ t quite ) : “ When a man stops believing in God , he doesn ’ t believe in nothing , he believes in anything.
” The billboard informs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ free vegan guide ” from www.goveganworld.com .
A glance at that website brought up a title-page video that proclaims : “ We all have the right not to be used or killed regardless of species.
” Alas , this “ right ” seems to obtain only with subhuman species .
I am reminded of something Chesterton writes in his masterpiece Orthodoxy : Chesterton ’ s “ two mad moralities ” are writ large in modern Western societies : insane sentimentality toward brute animals and insane cruelty toward the most vulnerable and innocent members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point of inventing rights where they do not exist ; inhumane to the point of undermining the most fundamental right that does exist , and without which all other rights are meaningless .
If we can not even treat one another humanely , what does that suggest about our conception of the universe we inhabit ?
We see fulfilled before our eyes this wise statement from the Second Vatican Council : “ Without the Creator , the creature would disappear .
… When God is forgotten , the creature itself grows unintelligible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 36 ) .
Take away God , in whose image and likeness man is created , uniquely among material beings , and you take away awareness of his very distinctiveness and dignity .
Instead of seeing vices as the true cause of human misery and the rape of nature , with virtues ( above all , the virtue of religion ) as the only cure for these diseases of fallen humanity , you begin to see human beings themselves not as blessings to be welcomed , but as evils to be thwarted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ creature to “ disappear ” and “ grow unintelligible.
” Male and female are confused…the ranks and relations of animal species are confused…all is confused , in a false exaltation of “ mother nature ” and a false denigration of the noblest being on the face of the Earth .
A friend sardonically put it to me this way : “ 1500 B.C .
: worship animals , sacrifice babies ; 2020 A.D. : worship animals , sacrifice babies.
” The Bible says nihil novi sub sole : there ’ s nothing new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moral and metaphysical darkness from which Christianity rescued mankind , and to which mankind is doomed to return when Christ , true man and true God , is rejected .
Come to think of it , the Bible ’ s statement has one exception : Christ Himself , the truly new thing under the sun , the New Adam , the New Song , Bridegroom of the New Jerusalem .
He alone can say : “ Behold , I make all things new ” ( Rev 21:5 ) .
May He , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Our Lady of Knock , restore Ireland to renewed faith in the only one who can save us from the oldness of sin .

January 14, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — My family and I had the blessed opportunity to spend the twelve days of Christmas this year at Silverstream Priory, a Benedictine monastery just outside Dublin, where the monks praise God in chanted psalms seven times a day and once in the night and celebrate the traditional Latin Mass with great beauty and reverence.
Although we spent most of our time at the monastery, we made a few trips farther afield. One day I took my daughter in to Dublin to see the National Gallery of Ireland, which boasts an exquisite collection of great paintings, including masterpieces by Vermeer, Caravaggio, Velázquez, Rembrandt, and Turner. We also visited Trinity College for an informative exhibit on the Book of Kells and related Gospel books. In the late afternoon we enjoyed tea with Pat Kenny, who has done much to promote the heroic example and spiritual doctrine of Fr. Willie Doyle (1873–1917), especially through a dedicated website.
As we started our day walking from the Pearse train station to the Gallery, I beheld a large billboard, provocatively stationed over a café at which several gallons of milk must surely be gone through each day. I really could not believe my eyes and had to take a picture of it. The billboard stated: “DAIRY TAKES BABIES FROM THEIR MOTHERS.” The mother cow, with bovine pride, licks her cute calf, from which she is soon to be parted so evil humans can drink the surplus milk.
I subsequently learned that this billboard started going up around Ireland just a few months after the abortion referendum legalized abortion by a landslide majority. Apparently, abortion — the ultimate example of taking babies away from their mothers — should be legal, while presumably dairy farms should be illegal. Such is the twisted logic that obtains when faith and reason alike are abandoned in favor of the postmodern delirium of “me, myself, and I.” As G.K. Chesterton once almost quipped (but didn’t quite): “When a man stops believing in God, he doesn’t believe in nothing, he believes in anything.”
The billboard informs us that we can obtain a “free vegan guide” from www.goveganworld.com. A glance at that website brought up a title-page video that proclaims: “We all have the right not to be used or killed regardless of species.” Alas, this “right” seems to obtain only with subhuman species.
I am reminded of something Chesterton writes in his masterpiece Orthodoxy:
Darwinism can be used to back up two mad moralities, but it cannot be used to back up a single sane one. The kinship and competition of all living creatures can be used as a reason for being insanely cruel or insanely sentimental; but not for a healthy love of animals. On the evolutionary basis you may be inhumane, or you may be absurdly humane; but you cannot be human.
Chesterton’s “two mad moralities” are writ large in modern Western societies: insane sentimentality toward brute animals and insane cruelty toward the most vulnerable and innocent members of the human race. Humane to the point of inventing rights where they do not exist; inhumane to the point of undermining the most fundamental right that does exist, and without which all other rights are meaningless. If we cannot even treat one another humanely, what does that suggest about our conception of the universe we inhabit?
We see fulfilled before our eyes this wise statement from the Second Vatican Council: “Without the Creator, the creature would disappear. … When God is forgotten, the creature itself grows unintelligible” (Gaudium et Spes, n. 36). Take away God, in whose image and likeness man is created, uniquely among material beings, and you take away awareness of his very distinctiveness and dignity. Instead of seeing vices as the true cause of human misery and the rape of nature, with virtues (above all, the virtue of religion) as the only cure for these diseases of fallen humanity, you begin to see human beings themselves not as blessings to be welcomed, but as evils to be thwarted. This is what it means for the creature to “disappear” and “grow unintelligible.” Male and female are confused…the ranks and relations of animal species are confused…all is confused, in a false exaltation of “mother nature” and a false denigration of the noblest being on the face of the Earth.
A friend sardonically put it to me this way: “1500 B.C.: worship animals, sacrifice babies; 2020 A.D.: worship animals, sacrifice babies.” The Bible says nihil novi sub sole: there’s nothing new under the sun. That includes the moral and metaphysical darkness from which Christianity rescued mankind, and to which mankind is doomed to return when Christ, true man and true God, is rejected.
Come to think of it, the Bible’s statement has one exception: Christ Himself, the truly new thing under the sun, the New Adam, the New Song, Bridegroom of the New Jerusalem. He alone can say: “Behold, I make all things new” (Rev 21:5). May He, in His mercy, by the prayers of Our Lady of Knock, restore Ireland to renewed faith in the only one who can save us from the oldness of sin.
Peter Kwasniewski, Thomistic theologian, liturgical scholar, and choral composer, is a graduate of Thomas Aquinas College in California (B.A. Liberal Arts) and The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC (M.A. and Ph.D. in Philosophy). He taught at the International Theological Institute in Austria and the Franciscan University of Steubenville’s Austria Program, then helped establish Wyoming Catholic College in 2006. There he taught theology, philosophy, music, and art history and directed the choirs until leaving in 2018 to devote himself full-time to writing and lecturing. Today he contributes regularly to many websites and publications, including New Liturgical Movement, OnePeterFive, LifeSiteNews, Rorate Caeli, The Remnant, and Catholic Family News, and has published thirteen books, including four on traditional Catholicism: Resurgent in the Midst of Crisis (Angelico, 2014, also available in Czech, Polish, German, Portuguese, Spanish, and Belarusian), Noble Beauty, Transcendent Holiness (Angelico, 2017), Tradition and Sanity (Angelico, 2018), and Reclaiming Our Roman Catholic Birthright: The Genius and Timeliness of the Traditional Latin Mass (Angelico, 2020). His work has been translated into at least eighteen languages. Kwasniewski is a scholar of The Aquinas Institute in Green Bay, which is publishing the Opera Omnia of the Angelic Doctor, a Fellow of the Albertus Magnus Center for Scholastic Studies, and a Senior Fellow of the St. Paul Center. He has published over a thousand articles on Thomistic thought, sacramental and liturgical theology, the history and aesthetics of music, and the social doctrine of the Church. For news, information, article links, sacred music, and the home of Os Justi Press, visit his personal website, www.peterkwasniewski.com.
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lifesitenews--2020-01-14--Controversial Netflix ‘Two Popes’ film nominated for three Oscar awards

LOS ANGELES , January 13 , 2020 ( LifeSiteNews ) -- A Hollywood movie portraying Popes Francis and Benedict XVI has received Oscar nominations in spite of reviews accusing it of “ lies.
” The Two Popes was released by the Netflix online streaming service in December , meriting praise from liberals for its fictional account of the relationship between the two men .
Based on the premise that former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio went to the Vatican to tender his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI , it stars veteran English actors Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins .
Pryce received an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leading Role , and Hopkins got the nod for Best Actor in a Supporting Role .
The third nomination by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Monday for the film was for Best Adapted Screenplay .
However , it did not win nominations for the coveted Best Picture or Best Director prizes .
The screenplay for The Two Popes was adapted from The Pope , a stage play that was based on an earlier nonfiction book penned by Anthony McCarten ( 58 ) , a Catholic from New Zealand .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ biopics Darkest Hour ( 2017 ) , The Theory of Everything ( 2014 ) , and Bohemian Rhapsody ( 2018 ) .
Each of these films had leads that won the Oscar for “ Best Actor.
” The announcement of the winning Oscar nominations will be televised on February 9 .
The Two Popes was directed by Fernando Meirelles , a Brazilian who helmed City of God ( 2002 ) , for which he received an Academy Award .
A former Catholic and self-described agnostic , Meirelles has said he expects Pope Francis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not think any change will come in Church teachings about abortion .
He said in December that “ the work Francis is doing in the Church has been very important for changing many things that certainly had to change .
I believe , if it were up to him , that there would be even more changes.
” The Two Popes has received considerable attention and hype , especially among admirers of Pope Francis .
For example , a huge full-color billboard advertising the film was displayed in December on the side of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just outside St. Peter ’ s Square .
Fr .
James Martin , SJ wrote on social media that the film was “ beautifully written and acted ” and showed “ sensitive and nuanced portrayal of the two pontiffs.
” Pro-LGBTQ Fr .
Martin has been notable not only for his support for the current Pope but also for his views about same-sex relations , which have been condemned , for example , by Cardinal Raymond Burke as departing from authentic Catholic moral teachings about sexuality and marriage .
At First Things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the film , saying of the portrayals of the two Popes : “ These men bore no resemblance to the real-life men they were supposed to represent .
That ’ s fundamentally why The Two Popes is a dangerous and misguided movie.
” A review by Catholic News Service opined of the “ glossy but highly speculative account of supposedly real events ” that screenwriter McCarten and director Meirelles “ ill-advisedly try to extol Pope Francis ( Jonathan Pryce ) by trashing retired Pope Benedict XVI ( Anthony Hopkins ) .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brief screen time to two people who label the pontiff emeritus a Nazi.
” Also , National Review published an analysis titled Lies of The Two Popes , saying it is a “ fantasy built on lies.
” The announcement of the Oscar nomination for The Two Popes comes just as Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah published From the Depths of Our Hearts , which offers a meditation on the value of priestly celibacy in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church .
While the English edition is due to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ excerpts of the French edition emerged Sunday .
In October , as an outcome of the Amazonian Synod in Rome , a formal proposal to ordain mature married men , so-called “ viri probati , ” to the priesthood was presented to Pope Francis as a means of addressing shortages of priests in the vast region .
The Pope is studying the synod ’ s proposals , which include proposals for increased missionary activity , environmentalism , and sensitivity to ethnic and cultural differences .
His response is expected later this year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reporters while returning from a visit to Panama , `` Personally , I believe that celibacy is a gift to the church .
I 'm not in agreement with allowing optional celibacy , '' and he added , `` A phrase St. Paul VI said comes to mind : ' I would rather give my life than to change the law on celibacy . '
'' Confusingly , Pope Francis admitted , however , that `` there could be some possibility '' of ordaining married men in remote places that seldom have Masses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When papal spokesman Matteo Bruni was asked by journalists on Monday to respond to the publication of the book by the pope emeritus and Cardinal Sarah , he referred questioners to Pope Francis ’ remarks of last year .
However , Bruni reiterated that Pope Francis signaled that “ some possibility ” remains of ordaining married men for service in remote areas .
Where “ there is a pastoral necessity , ” Bruni quoted Pope Francis , the “ pastor must think of the faithful .
”

LOS ANGELES, January 13, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — A Hollywood movie portraying Popes Francis and Benedict XVI has received Oscar nominations in spite of reviews accusing it of “lies.”
The Two Popes was released by the Netflix online streaming service in December, meriting praise from liberals for its fictional account of the relationship between the two men. Based on the premise that former Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio went to the Vatican to tender his resignation to Pope Benedict XVI, it stars veteran English actors Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins.
Pryce received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role, and Hopkins got the nod for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The third nomination by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Monday for the film was for Best Adapted Screenplay. However, it did not win nominations for the coveted Best Picture or Best Director prizes.
The screenplay for The Two Popes was adapted from The Pope, a stage play that was based on an earlier nonfiction book penned by Anthony McCarten (58), a Catholic from New Zealand. McCarten’s previous screenplays include the biopics Darkest Hour (2017), The Theory of Everything (2014), and Bohemian Rhapsody (2018). Each of these films had leads that won the Oscar for “Best Actor.”
The announcement of the winning Oscar nominations will be televised on February 9.
The Two Popes was directed by Fernando Meirelles, a Brazilian who helmed City of God (2002), for which he received an Academy Award. A former Catholic and self-described agnostic, Meirelles has said he expects Pope Francis to reform the Catholic Church but does not think any change will come in Church teachings about abortion. He said in December that “the work Francis is doing in the Church has been very important for changing many things that certainly had to change. I believe, if it were up to him, that there would be even more changes.”
The Two Popes has received considerable attention and hype, especially among admirers of Pope Francis. For example, a huge full-color billboard advertising the film was displayed in December on the side of a building owned by the Vatican, just outside St. Peter’s Square.
Fr. James Martin, SJ wrote on social media that the film was “beautifully written and acted” and showed “sensitive and nuanced portrayal of the two pontiffs.” Pro-LGBTQ Fr. Martin has been notable not only for his support for the current Pope but also for his views about same-sex relations, which have been condemned, for example, by Cardinal Raymond Burke as departing from authentic Catholic moral teachings about sexuality and marriage.
At First Things, reviewer John Waters wrote a withering analysis of the film, saying of the portrayals of the two Popes: “These men bore no resemblance to the real-life men they were supposed to represent. That’s fundamentally why The Two Popes is a dangerous and misguided movie.”
A review by Catholic News Service opined of the “glossy but highly speculative account of supposedly real events” that screenwriter McCarten and director Meirelles “ill-advisedly try to extol Pope Francis (Jonathan Pryce) by trashing retired Pope Benedict XVI (Anthony Hopkins). They even go so far as to give brief screen time to two people who label the pontiff emeritus a Nazi.” Also, National Review published an analysis titled Lies of The Two Popes, saying it is a “fantasy built on lies.”
The announcement of the Oscar nomination for The Two Popes comes just as Pope Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah published From the Depths of Our Hearts, which offers a meditation on the value of priestly celibacy in the Latin rite of the Catholic Church. While the English edition is due to be published by Ignatius Press in February, excerpts of the French edition emerged Sunday.
In October, as an outcome of the Amazonian Synod in Rome, a formal proposal to ordain mature married men, so-called “viri probati,” to the priesthood was presented to Pope Francis as a means of addressing shortages of priests in the vast region. The Pope is studying the synod’s proposals, which include proposals for increased missionary activity, environmentalism, and sensitivity to ethnic and cultural differences. His response is expected later this year.
In January 2019, Pope Francis told reporters while returning from a visit to Panama, “Personally, I believe that celibacy is a gift to the church. I'm not in agreement with allowing optional celibacy,” and he added, “A phrase St. Paul VI said comes to mind: 'I would rather give my life than to change the law on celibacy.'” Confusingly, Pope Francis admitted, however, that “there could be some possibility” of ordaining married men in remote places that seldom have Masses because of a lack of priests.
When papal spokesman Matteo Bruni was asked by journalists on Monday to respond to the publication of the book by the pope emeritus and Cardinal Sarah, he referred questioners to Pope Francis’ remarks of last year. However, Bruni reiterated that Pope Francis signaled that “some possibility” remains of ordaining married men for service in remote areas. Where “there is a pastoral necessity,” Bruni quoted Pope Francis, the “pastor must think of the faithful.”
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