TODAY: Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Beatification

Livesreamed here at 2 pm:

https://www.celebratesheen.com/ 

Synodalism Marches On: Martyrs Need Not Apply

 To be "written in blood," meant (and still means) to make binding. God himself called the New Testament, written in His blood, an everlasting testament.

• 
  Fr. John A. Perricone

  Martyrs are now passé—for the Synodalist Church, that is. 

  Martyrs spilled their blood for Truth come down from Heaven. For the Synodalist, there is no truth, only transactional process.

  Who would die for that?

  For the Synodalist, truth is an antediluvian embarrassment—and so are martyrs.

  To the chagrin of faithful Catholics, the Synodal Church marches forward. Any religion worth its salt cringes at the sandbox therapeutics of this comedy parading as Catholicism.

  Our one consolation is that its only appeal lay in the tony salons of the outré theological gentry. They pride themselves as standing aloof from the smelly Catholic hoi polloi who still clutch their rosaries and prayer books, standing on confessional lines in heartfelt contrition. Synodalists and their fellow travelers such as America,The National Catholic Reporter, and the elite Catholic universities have been birthing a New Christianity, one not shackled to a spent millennial past. These Bright Young Things (forgive me, Mr. Waugh) are no longer victims to a literal Gospel which takes God at His word. Part of their sparkle is a proud new revision of the Gospel page, unimpeded by the rude objectivity of the past.

  More: https://x.com/sitsio/status/2093043212109971826?s=46&t=IydJ-X8H6c0NM044nYKQ0w

BREAKING: Rupnik victims speak out

Reported by Michael Haynes via Twitter:

JUST IN: Alleged Rupnik victims pen open letter to Pope Leo

They argue “it is useless to report abuse to church authorities, because nothing will happen anyway, no one will be held accountable, and the victims will never see justice”

Call for transparency & impartiality so that Rupnik's trial “remain free of any shadow of doubt.”

They note they only heard his trial was underway from media reports – Vatican has been silent 

On @CatholicHerald

Umberto Eco on the Internet “invasion of the idiots”

 

Mexican bishop bans laypeople from presiding over liturgical celebrations

 Niwa Limbu

Aug. 27, 2026

A Mexican bishop has issued a decree restricting laypeople from presiding over certain liturgical celebrations and wearing vestments reserved to the clergy

Bishop Carlos Enrique Samaniego López of Texcoco has issued a decree prohibiting laypeople who have not been instituted as acolytes from presiding over celebrations of the Word, funeral rites, sacramentals and other liturgical acts reserved to ordained ministers.

The decree, promulgated on 10 August in the Episcopal City of Texcoco, also prohibits laypeople from wearing the alb and other sacred vestments reserved to the clergy, whether during liturgical celebrations or outside them. 

Bishop Samaniego said the measures were necessary because of “irregular practices that distort the priestly ministry and the sacred character of liturgical acts”. Particular concern was raised about celebrations taking place in halls, gardens and other locations that have not been approved for worship, sometimes involving people who present themselves as ministers despite lacking the necessary authorisation.

The bishop specifically named former seminarians, religious, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion and other lay faithful who have not been instituted in the stable ministry of acolyte. Such people, the decree states, may not preside over celebrations of the Word, funeral rites, sacramentals or “any kind of celebration or liturgical act proper to an ordained minister”, whether inside churches belonging to the Diocese of Texcoco or elsewhere.

The prohibition is accompanied by a warning about the use of clerical or liturgical clothing. “It is further forbidden, by reason of evident unlawfulness, to use or put on, within or outside liturgical acts, the alb or any sacred ornament or vestment reserved uniquely and exclusively to the clergy,” the decree states.

The regulation is directed not only at laypeople but also at priests serving in the diocese. Bishop Samaniego instructed priests incardinated in Texcoco, as well as priests from other dioceses who are invited to celebrate there, to ensure that liturgical acts are celebrated “validly and licitly”.

Priests are told not to “permit, consent to, or promote illicit practices, abuses, or deceptions” and are instructed to prevent laypeople from assuming responsibilities that belong exclusively to the ordained ministry.

More: https://x.com/niwalimbu1988/status/2092905675168862385?s=46&t=IydJ-X8H6c0NM044nYKQ0w

Cardinal Sarah says restricting the TLM is ‘harmful, destructive for the Church’

Cardinal Sarah on the perfidious document 'Traditionis Custodes', based on manipulations and lies of the late Argentine pope who cruelly persecuted Catholics who adhered to Tradition:

"It did not seem to me a wise or respectful choice. But Benedict XVI, a man meek as a lamb, allowed himself to be humiliated, and, thus, in silence and prayer, offered his suffering to God to better immerse himself in Christ's pain for his Church and purify it.

The war on those who devoutly participate in the Mass, solely because they prefer one form over another: it is a shortsighted and entirely ideological attitude, therefore not pastoral and not Christian. It is harmful, destructive to the Church."

@SiateSanti

The meteoric rise of Patrick Kelly

N.B. How many millions did the K of C spend on the disastrous and scandalous “Rapenik” mosaics covering every wall of their DC JPII chapel, which are now completely covered in shame?

 en.news

Leo XIV Appoints to Vatican Former CIA Analyst - $1.9M CEO of Knights of Columbus

Today, Leo XIV has appointed Patrick Kelly, Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, as a member of the Dicastery for the Laity, Family, and Life.

Kelly has moved during his career through the U.S. military, congressional intelligence oversight, the State Department.

CIA for Five Years

Kelly worked for the Central Intelligence Agency for five years as an analyst after graduating from Marquette University in 1985.

He subsequently graduated from Marquette Law School, served as a Navy JAG, worked at the Justice Department's Office of Intelligence and Policy Review, and became legislative counsel to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.

At the Intelligence Committee, his chief responsibility was the annual Intelligence Authorization Act.

From Washington to Catholic Institutional Leadership

After Kelly's CIA/DOJ/House Intelligence work, he served at the State Department as senior adviser on international religious freedom and was its principal interlocutor with the Holy See. Then, in 2006, he moved directly into the Knights as VP for Public Policy.

Kelly became member of the board of the Knights of Columbus in 2013 and Deputy Supreme Knight in 2017. In 2021, he succeeded Carl Anderson as CEO, completing a 15-year rise through the organization's senior ranks.

Kelly accumulated senior positions in several major American Catholic institutions. He chaired the March for Life Education and Defense Fund from August 2012 until March 2021.

$1.9 Million in Reported Compensation

The latest publicly available IRS-derived filing for the Knights of Columbus reports $1,851,231 in reportable compensation for Kelly as “Director/Supreme Knight,” plus $50,356 in “other compensation”.

His reported compensation has risen considerably since he became Supreme Knight:
2021 $1,159,239
2022 $1,639,096
2023 $1,417,331
2024 $1,851,231

Founded in 1882 as a Catholic fraternal benefit society with a particular mission of protecting widows and orphans, the Knights today combine their activities with a vast insurance and investment operation. The latest filing reports approximately $31.2 billion in assets, $28.1 billion in liabilities and $3.08 billion in net assets.

Seven-figure compensation for the Supreme Knight predates Kelly. His predecessor, Carl Anderson, also received compensation packages reaching or exceeding these levels.

Access to the Vatican

As Supreme Knight, Kelly had regular direct access to Pope Francis: in October 2021, April 2022, April 2023, January 2024 and December 2024. Kelly used the meetings to brief Francis on Knights initiatives including humanitarian relief in Ukraine, evangelization, charitable programs and Catholic formation.

Kelly met the future Leo XIV in 2023, shortly after Prevost became prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops.

Following Prevost's election on May 8, 2025, Kelly issued an unusually expansive statement of institutional loyalty. Speaking for the Knights, he declared: “I pledge our loyalty to Pope Leo XIV,” and said, “The Knights of Columbus will always stand in solidarity with Pope Leo XIV.” Kelly added the new pope's priorities would shape the organization itself: “As it was with his predecessors, the pastoral priorities of Pope Leo XIV will guide and inform everything we do.”

Leo XIV received Kelly in an audience in July 2025 and again in October.