The book on celibacy: the buck stops with Ganswein

After the uproar caused by the prepublication of extracts of the book in defense of ecclesiastical celibacy, signed by Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah, the sensational about turn by Ratzinger's secretary, Monsignor Georg Gänswein is provoking discussion. He affirmed the pope's ignorance of the co-authored book project, though the facts deny this. And Cardinal Sarah confirms that agreements were clear and shared, and publishes letters from Benedict XVI addressed to him. What’s more the publishers also received the "approval to print" from Gänswein. Perhaps, after the received violent attacks, lies and threats, the secretary wanted to protect the pope emeritus, but he will actually obtain the opposite result: separating the pope emeritus from cardinal Sarah has only made it easier for their enemies to work to eliminate them. Meanwhile, the book will now be published by Cardinal Sarah, "with the contribution of Benedict XVI.” But the content, which is what matters, remains the same.

Benedict XVI challenges the "new Church"

The co-authored book by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Cardinal Robert Sarah explodes like a bomb on the attempt to change the doctrine of ecclesiastical celibacy, of which the Synod on the Amazon was a fundamental passage. Now Pope Francis, whose post-synodal apostolic exhortation is awaited, is in serious difficulty: proceeding with the requests of the Synod means creating a fracture in the unity of the Church. But Benedict and Sarah also teach that the unity of the Church is possible only on the Truth. And to those who object to the interventions of the Pope Emeritus, Cardinal Sarah gives a lesson: «With this book, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has not broken his silence. This is the fruit».

A woman and a cardinal try to save Catholics in China

At long last someone has decoded what the Chinese woman shouted to the Pope in St. Peter's Square, before being slapped. It was a heartfelt appeal to rethink the Holy See's policy of reconciliation with Beijing, which is sacrificing hundreds of thousands of Chinese Catholics. A gesture that pairs with Cardinal Zen's letter to his confreres. Signs of an intolerable situation that requires our solidarity.

Matzneff scandal: how French intellectuals sustained pedophilia

After the publication of the book by Vanessa Springora, France is shaken. But the sexual experiences of the writer Gabriel Matzneff, with children between 10 and 15 years old, were known, described in his books and even told 'playfully' on TV. Yet he has received multiple literary awards, political support (right and especially left) and collaborations with leading newspapers. It was he who wrote the Petition of 1977, which in fact asked for the decriminalization of pedophilia. And that was signed by many famous French intellectuals, already protagonists of the 1968. A case that once again confirms the lucidity of Benedict XVI's analysis on the spread of pedophilia.

Burke: Strenghten your faith by going on pilgrimage

Going on a pilgrimage deepens our faith and that in the Holy Land is the mother of all pilgrimages: "Humbly placing your step where the Son of God put his, not only heightens awareness of the events of His life but above all the Mystery of His abiding presence on earth.” These are Cardinal Burke’s reflections at the end of a pilgrimage he led.

From Charlie Hebdo to today: terrorism evolves and festers

Five years ago in Paris, the attack took place that killed 17 people and inaugurated the season of ISIS jihadist massacres. Today there are fewer casualties, but by making stabbing the preferred technique, it is easier to strike and maintain a war that is becoming endless.

Can the killing of Soleimani be morally justified? It depends

EU does not trust the new Spanish Red Government

In his thirst for power Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has tightened his deadly alliance not only with the leftist party Podemos, the European version of Castro-Chavez populism, but also with the most extreme Spanish secessionist movements. The Prime Minister has seen his political stock decline in Brussels. The program presented by the Socialists and Podemos is a shift in an unparalleled obscurantist direction.

India, "Christmas gift" for the harassed Church

The defeat of the ruling Hindu nationalist BJP in the election to the state legislature of Jharkhand was a real "Christmas gift" for the Christians, after years of persecution from the hindu nationalists. Very happy is Archbishop Felix Toppo of Ranchi, after years of false accuses againts nuns and priests.

A Papal slap. The price of Media Hype

The year 2020 opens with a papal slap on the hand of a pilgrim. The pope apologized, but the episode reveals the truth about his temperament and confirms rumors about his abrupt manners. This makes him more “human,” but relentless media hype has given us a papacy that is more horizontal than vertical. Do we really need this secularization?

It will now be more difficult for bishops to cover up for abusing priests

The new norms issued by the Holy See remove the Pontifical secret on cases of delicta graviora (the most serious crimes) committed by clerics, such as the abuse of minors. This change takes away any sort of “canonical alibi” for bishops, who can now be prosecuted for the canonical crime of “abuse of the episcopal office” if they do not take action when a priest is accused. However, the new norms have consequences that affect not only open procedures but also closed ones.

Angels & Demons: The sick system of child custody that the Left has not seen

Italy: The Angels and Demons investigation on family custody in Emilia (northern Italy). The evidence against social workers is extremely serious, which has led to an obsessive search for abuse and mistreatment with shocking discoveries, such as the existence of a network of officials, priests, and police who collaborate in abuse. These episodes reveal that the government custody service holds enormous power, and that there is an obsessive ideological framework at work – as for example in entrusting children to the care of lesbian couples. The left in Emilia and the Democratic Party (PD) that governs the Emilia-Romagna region seems to not to have noticed, even though for years it has praised the family custody system.