The Innocent Cardinal and the Plagiarizing Priest?

The Cardinal Pell saga continues, with his own lawyer now apparently conceding some sort of truth to the decades-old offences, while George Weigel offers strong evidence that Cardinal Pell’s innocence, which His eminence has always maintained, an innocence which can be, and has been, confirmed beyond reasonable doubt. Perhaps the Cardinal could hire Weigel as his lawyer, credentials notwithstanding.

One way or the other, the Cardinal’s conviction bodes ill for the Church, for the perception of priests and high-ranking clerics, and for any future trials of clergy members, especially those of a more conservative disposition, a harbinger, methinks, of the imminent persecution, already underway in many subtle – and not so subtle – ways.

There is at least a passive persecution, as certain orthodox prelates and priests are shut out of synods, Vatican appointments and influential roles, while others whose views leave much to be desired are promoted, protected and shape what policies there be. The same applies to laypeople in dioceses, schools, colleges, apostolates. David Warren has some direct words about the recent synod, which ignored the central cause of the sex abuse crisis – the homosexualization of the priesthood. As Cardinal Ratzinger predicted, it seems the Church is being winnowed, and what will be left will be a smaller, more spiritually focused remnant. Without a central belief in Jesus Christ and all that has been revealed and handed on in His Church – from sex to ethics and beyond – we drift into unbelief and a secular messianism, the very doctrine of Antichrist, of which Cardinal Mueller – see the passive persecution, above – warned in his recent manifesto.

Yet there are ways and means of God winnowing His own, and I think the recent uncovering of Father Rosica, accused of rank plagiarism dating back decades, is an opportunity for him – and us all – to examine that ‘small, still divine voice’ that is our conscience. Yes, the same Father Rosica who not long ago rejoiced that the Church was now openly ruled by an individual rather than by the authority of Scripture alone or even its own dictates of tradition plus Scripture.

A Pope unhinged from the very revelation – the very truth – he is mean to keep, safeguard and hand on? I am not sure if the Pope feels this way about his office, whatever his own words and actions signify. What we can hope is that Father Rosica himself comes to a more ‘conservative’ frame of mind, which includes the principle that passing off the work of others as one’s own is a violation of the seventh and eighth commandments, part of that whole ‘Tradition and Scripture’ thing to which we are all – Vicar of Christ included – bound.

Carney’s Amoral Majority

After five defections – euphemistically described as ‘crossing the floor’ – and three by-elections, Mark Carney and his Liberals how have their coveted majority. One wonders what bowls of pottage were offered in back-room deals. In the archaic monarchical system that is the Dominion of Canada, this majority allows the newly-minted Prime Minister to rule[…]Continue reading→

Saint Kateri , Canada’s Protectress

This was the title given to Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, by Pope Benedict XVI, when he canonized her on October 28th, 2012, along with six others, in Saint Peter’ Square (she had been beatified by Pope John Paul II back in 1980). With Saint Joseph as our protector, along with the Canadian martyrs, we seem to[…]Continue reading→

A Closed, Unsustainable, Descending Loop

As a follow-up to my thoughts on Payette’s payout, here be a stark image of where are here in Canada. As the graph shows in, well, graphic terms, since 2025, the public sector has contributed to 95.5% of economic growth. The private sector – which funds the public sector, or is supposed to – has[…]Continue reading→

A Tale of Two Benedicts

A grace-filled Holy Week to all our readers! As we await and prepare for the Resurrection about to dawn upon us, we might keep in mind two Benedicts: Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, requiescat in pace, elected on this day in 2005; and today’s commemoration of the mystic pilgrim, Benedict Joseph Labre, who died on this[…]Continue reading→

My Name is Bernadette

April 16th is a propitious day, for besides the anniversary of Father de Valk’s death, who founded Catholic Insight in its print form decades ago, and the commemoration of the ‘two Benedicts’, mentioned in accompanying posts, today we also recall Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the young visionary to whom the Virgin Mary appeared numerous times at[…]Continue reading→

Presidential Pardon of Weronika Krawczyk

As a good news, follow-up to our story from Poland, of the persecution of Weronika Krawczyk for her pro-life views, we heard that she has been granted a presidential pardon. One might still wonder why one needs a presidential pardon for simply holding the long-held belief that the child within the womb is a child,[…]Continue reading→

Saint Lydwina of Schiedam and Suffering Joyfully

Saint Lydwina of Schiedam (1380 – 1433) was one of the countless and glorious ‘victim souls’ in the history of the Church, those whose lives are filled with suffering, often of an unimaginable intensity, but who suffer joyfully. She was a fifteen-year old Dutch girl, out skating one day, when she fell and broke one[…]Continue reading→

The Glorious Martyrdoms of Martin and Maximus

As we enter into Eastertide, we recall on this 13th of April Pope Saint Martin I (+655), one of the noblest, if most tragic, of the successors of Saint Peter. Born in Umbria, Italy, he was of noble lineage, with great intelligence combined with charity and love of the poor and the Church. While still[…]Continue reading→

Pope Leo and a Rosary for Peace

Pope Leo XIV has asked Catholics across the world to join him in a Rosary for peace today, at 18:00 Rome time (6 pm), which would be noon from where I write (EST). If you are able, whether at that time or another, and in whatever way you pray, to join in intercession with the[…]Continue reading→

Payette’s Payout

I was glancing through some headlines, and noticed a mention of Julie Payette – engineer and astronaut and sometime the Queen’s representative in Canada – which brought back vague memories. She was appointed Governor-General by Justin Trudeau in 2017. Ms. Payette resigned in 2021, amidst claims that she created a ‘toxic work environment’, with allegations[…]Continue reading→