Saint John Eudes by Ermes Dovico

Despite the ceasefire contained in the June agreement, Israeli forces launched a new offensive against Lebanon on 15 and 16 August. This was in retaliation for the wounding of three IDF soldiers, and caused several deaths.

GERMANY

Tepid reply from Rome to Hamburg bishop’s 'diversity' guidelines for Catholic schools

The Dicastery for Culture and Education has sided with parents who oppose the sexual 'diversity' guidelines imposed by Bishop Hesse on Catholic schools in the German archdiocese. It is just a few lines long, due but necessary. The project must be stopped before it becomes operational.

CHURCH

Calls for Pope to stop new synodality increase

The open letter from Dutch bishop Mutsaerts is the latest initiative to call on Pope Francis to halt the numerous reckless moves by bishops who, under the pretext of synodality, are distorting Catholic doctrine. The fundamental question that must be answered is: what is the Church?

MEANING OF THE DOGMA

The Assumption of Mary, a sign of the triumph of the new Eve

In the papal bull containing the solemn dogmatic definition of the Assumption of Mary into Heaven, body and soul, Pius XII explains that this truth is linked to the unique decree of predestination by which the Blessed Virgin is the 'Partner of the Divine Redeemer', the new Eve. Together, they triumphed over sin and death; together they reign in glory.

Spain is facing an invasion, and it is the Catholics who are bearing the brunt of it because religious persecution is intensifying.The Daily Compass interviews Polonia Castellanos, president of Christian Lawyers. Sánchez is responsible. He needs millions of North African voters to prop up his corrupt government. And we Christians are already paying the price.'

World 14_08_2026 Andrea Zambrano

Its happening in Hamburg: ultra-progressive Bishop Hesse, a champion of German synodality, is forcing gender-based sex education courses on Catholic schools, despite parents' objections. They have appealed to the Pope and the Congregation for Bishops. But they have been waiting six months for a response that has not arrived. The courses are due to begin on 20 August.

Ecclesia 13_08_2026 Nico Spuntoni

In Taybeh, the last entirely Christian village in the West Bank on the outskirts of Ramallah, security is once again in danger of becoming a pretext for new restrictions. Pizzaballas appeal is not enough to halt the exodus.

LIECHTENSTEIN

Alois: the prince who champions life and defends children from abortion

In the principality, whose capital is Vaduz, centre-left and feminist groups have collected signatures for a referendum on the legalisation of abortion. However, the Crown Prince and Regent has made it clear that he will veto the measure should the referendum pass. This is an example of a sovereign exercising power for the common good.

Brussels

Irregular migration: the EU remains out of touch with reality

Another social media campaign has been launched in Morocco in preparation for a new attempt to storm Ceuta. The president of the Spanish Bishops' Conference has lucidly denounced the use of migration as a political weapon. Yet the extraordinary EU summit has produced no concrete results apart from the intention to tackle the problem together.

The Issue / 2

Lefebvre and the refusal to submit to the reigning Pope

For the founder of the Society of St Pius X, St John Paul II was not a Catholic. Lefebvre theorised about communion with past popes whilst effectively disobeying the current one. This is by no means a Catholic theory because only the reigning pope holds the power of the keys.

RULING

UK: Judge gives go-ahead for transgender child trials

The High Court has dismissed the appeal lodged by the parents of gender-confused children and detransitioner Keira Bell. They were seeking to halt research into the use of puberty-blocking drugs. The trial, which is due to start on 1 August, involves recruiting 226 participants aged between 11 and 16. A human trial with foreseeable harms.