In case we need reminding that a huge source of opposition to attempts to reform the Catholic church, especially under the current pope, is right-wing Catholic megadollars in the US.
Loup Besmond de Senneville reports on a secret meeting of Catholic bishops and cardinals that took place at a posh hotel in Prague in September, ostensibly to organize against the bogus threat of "gender ideology."
But the subtext of the meeting is clear: they see that Francis's days are numbered and are already organizing to try push through a hard-right successor. Gender issues are a useful tool for dividing the church and keeping it on the straight and narrow in its social teachings, especially about wealth and capitalism — the real issue that concerns the US right-wing megadonors spearheading the attempt to undermine Francis.
Today in Labor History January 31, 1606: Guy Fawkes jumped to his death moments before his execution for treason. Guy Fawkes belonged to a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Fawkes, who had converted to Catholicism, also fought in the 80-Years War for Catholic Spain against the Dutch. He later traveled to Spain seeking support for a Catholic rebellion in England. The English tortured him into confessing the names of his co-conspirators. Brits have celebrated Guy Fawkes Day ever since, usually accompanied by fireworks and burning effigies, traditionally the pope, but recently they’ve burned effigies of Liz Truss, Rishi Sunak and Margaret Thatcher, instead. James Sharpe, professor of history at the University of York, called Fawkes "the last man to enter Parliament with honest intentions." Numerous historical novels and children’s books have been written about Fawkes, including William Harrison Ainsworth's 1841 historical romance “Guy Fawkes; or, The Gunpowder Treason.”
24 Jan: feast #otd of Francis de Sales, d. 1622, bishop & massively influential spiritual #writer whose works were translated by #Catholic & #Protestant alike.
Here is a #nuntastic English Benedictine version from Cambrai (eebo)
18 Jan 1553: Thomas Stapleton elected a Fellow of New College #Oxford#otd - he would become a superstar #Catholic exile theologian and a translator of #Bede (BM/EEBO)
Regardless of how the ICJ finds, rest assured Trudeau, good Catholic boy, and the Liberal Cabinet, kowtowing to the US, will continue to support, fund, and arm genocidal Israel.
Housefather and Mendicino are gleefully complicit in the deaths of hundreds, including children.
14 Jan 1643: Rory O’More & Thomas Preston #catholic Confederate general of #Leinster capture #Birr [Parsonstown] using their brand new siege artillery #otd (TPower)
"African bishops, with Pope Francis’ agreement, declare ‘No blessing for homosexual couples'":
"The message, titled 'No blessing for homosexual couples in the African churches,' was signed by Congolese Cardinal Fridolin Ambongo Besungu, president of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar, or SECAM, and a member of Pope Francis’ Council of Cardinals. "
"Deliberately grounded on a tiny reef in the #SouthChinaSea, part of an island chain claimed by the two Asian countries, the #BRPSierraMadre is now the unlikely base for a detachment of Filipino marines who stand guard over the atoll, scanning the turquoise waters for Chinese ships." #AyunginShoal#SecondThomasShoal#Philippines
Filipino bishops rebuked #China in a rare statement about the #WestPhilippineSea dispute, and said it is “morally permissible” to take refuge in “the friendship of allies” if diplomacy fails.