Seventy church buildings in the Diocese of Roermond are currently in the process of being closed, Bishop Cornelis Van den Hout, 61, of Roermond, Netherlands, told Nd.nl on March 3. In 2026, he employed a full-time economist to oversee the closure of church buildings. "It's an urgent issue. The financial figures leave us with no other option," Bishop Van den Hout said. He believes that the downward spiral will not stop after the closing of the seventy churches. "At the moment, the diocese has 280 church buildings. Around the turn of the century, we had 360. Occasionally, a church would be closed in the previous century, but until 1981, new ones were still being built." Monsignor Van den Hout added that presiding over the Eucharist in a church "requires a certain number of people — not ten people in a church that can hold several hundred". "Given the current financial situation and declining church attendance, it is inevitable that we will designate one centrally located church building …More
03.03.2026 When Pope Leo cannot affirm Vatican Council II, the Creeds, Councils and Catechisms rationally and so traditionally, it is schism. The pope needs to recant or issue a clarification. Pope Leo would be magisterial and apostolic on Vatican Council II only when he uses the rational premise and inference and so then there is a hermeneutic of continuity with the past. When Pope Leo cannot affirm Vatican Council II, the Creeds, Councils and Catechisms rationally and so traditionally, it is schism with the Magisterium of the 16th century, for example. He is political but not magisterial on Vatican Council II etc.This would be a reason for the SSPX ordaining new bishops, who will interpret the Creeds etc rationally. The pope needs to recant or issue a clarification. Pope Leo would be magisterial and apostolic on Vatican Council II only when he uses the rational premise and inference and so then there is a hermeneutic of continuity with the past. When the 1949 Letter of the Holy Office …More
Mon Mar 2, 2026 - 7:19 pm EST (LifeSiteNews) — A soon-to-be-published book recounts the inside story of how in last year’s papal conclave an early lead by Cardinal Péter Erdő morphed into support for Cardinal Robert Prevost, who was expected to carry the torch of Pope Francis. “The Election of Pope Leo XIV: The Last Surprise of Pope Francis,” pulls from the testimony of cardinals to give a play-by-play of the conclave and explain the motivations of the cardinals’ support, or lack thereof, of the leading candidates. It is notable that the husband-wife author team consisting of Gerard O’Connell, Vatican correspondent for the heterodox Catholic magazine America, and Elisabetta Piqué, a journalist for Argentina’s “La Nacion” newspaper and CNN contributor at the 2025 conclave, were “longtime friends of Pope Francis,” according to CNN’s reporting on the new book. Francis baptized two of the couple’s children while he was a bishop in Argentina and “later also married” them. The main …
Mon Mar 2, 2026 - 5:11 pm EST (LifeSiteNews) — In a recent interview, Bishop Athanasius Schneider confirmed that many bishops refuse assent to doctrines proposed by Francis in acts of his magisterium because they think his teaching was erroneous. This refusal to assent undercuts the claim made by the defenders of Francis’ papal claims that he enjoyed the “universal and peaceful adherence” of the hierarchy. As I have explained in an earlier piece, it is far from clear (to put it mildly) that peaceful adherence to a man as pope can be reduced to mere verbal recognition. If a bishop says he accepts a man as pope but simultaneously regard him as a heretic to whose teaching he cannot give assent, can it truly be said that he “peacefully adheres” to him as pope? We will explore this question in more detail below, but first let’s look more closely at Bishop Schneider’s comments. Bishop’s Schneider’s admission In his interview with Robert Moynihan, Bishop Schneider stated: When I ask them …
Matthew McCusker Mar 2, 2026 Some bishops refuse assent to errors but only in private, leaving the faithful under the impression that Francis was a legitimate teacher of the Catholic faith. In a recent interview, Bishop Athanasius Schneider confirmed that many bishops refuse assent to doctrines proposed by Francis in acts of his magisterium because they think his teaching was erroneous. This refusal to assent undercuts the claim made by the defenders of Francis’ papal claims that he enjoyed the “universal and peaceful adherence” of the hierarchy. As I have explained in an earlier piece, it is far from clear (to put it mildly) that peaceful adherence to a man as pope can be reduced to mere verbal recognition. If a bishop says he accepts a man as pope but simultaneously regard him as a heretic to whose teaching he cannot give assent, can it truly be said that he “peacefully adheres” to him as pope? We will explore this question in more detail below, but first let’s look more closely at …More
Rev. Asif Sardar, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Lahore, participated recently in an interreligious prayer event at the Badshahi Mosque, Lahore’s historic royal mosque. On March 2, he told Fides.org that the gathering included an iftar, the meal that Muslims use to break their fast. "In this difficult time marked by war that directly affects us, we want to reaffirm our spiritual communion and our shared commitment to peace," he said. There is currently violence and war at the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan. According to VaticanNews.va, the Vicar General described the event as a "dream" because he was able to witness interreligious harmony and peace between the two communities. During the meeting, Fr. James Channan, a Dominican and the head of the Peace Center in Lahore, shared a commitment with Abdul Khabir Azad, the imam of the mosque, to "deepen the roots of relations between Christians and Muslims in Pakistan." They also agreed to "live the shared values of fasting, …More
03/03/2026 Entire blog as a free PDF eBook. For several years now, I have been writing about the impending financial crisis, which has still not materialized. Although cracks are visible—for example, in the prices of precious metals—there is still no crisis. Not that I am longing for one, but since it is imminent, I would like to know what it might look like. Ernst Wolf, a Chinese-born German author of books on international finance, gave an interview to kla.tv that paints a picture of the possible changes in the future financial situation in the world. Despite their alleged rivalry, governments are working together to transfer the world power completely to wealth managers like BlackRock. According to Ernst Wolff, this is happening worldwide through the roll-out of a digital financial system. He explains the role of several governments and regions that are taking part in this roll-out. But the architects and guardians of this coming digital prison are not sure if this system is going …
On 21 February, Monsignor Joseph Coffey (65), Auxiliary Bishop of the Military, along with several priests, the Sisters of Life and numerous other faithful, prayed fifteen decades of the rosary outside an abortion clinic in Philadelphia, USA. Over 6,000 abortions are performed there a year. They were ridiculed, mocked and screamed at by a mob of militant activists on the opposite pavement. Due to the police presence, there was no physical violence. Bishop Coffey told LifeSiteNews.com that he was there "for the babies when they die": "I hope that someday, maybe we can meet them in heaven and they can say, 'You were there, you were there with me when we died'." He added that the police in the USA are not like those in England, who arrest people simply for praying outside abortion clinics: "We're not there yet, but we could be someday if we don't fight for our freedoms and rights." Picture: LifeSiteNews.com, #newsOgfnkivjfg
A viral video captures the moment an Iranian ballistic missile outmaneuvers multiple interceptors over central Israel, leading to a tragic impact in Beit Shemesh. This Iranian ballistic missile strike on March 1, 2026, marks the deadliest event in the current conflict, claiming nine lives. We analyze the "saturation tactics" used by the IRGC to overwhelm the Arrow-3 and David's Sling systems. Experts from the CSIS Missile Defense Project note that as Iranian ballistic missile technology evolves with high-speed agility, the cost-to-kill ratio for defenders is becoming unsustainable. In this video you will see: 1. Analysis of the "Fattah" maneuverable re-entry vehicle (MaRV) and its terminal agility. 2. Aftermath of the direct hit on the Beit Shemesh synagogue and shelter. 3. Nighttime footage of the "cat-and-mouse" game between the missile and 10+ interceptors. 4. Why saturation warfare is dropping interception rates below 90% in high-volume waves. Expert Insight: Firing 20 interceptors …More
'Preparation is no longer optional. Citizens must urgently secure supplies of clean food and water, as supply chains will fracture under the strain of war and potential domestic unrest. Investing in tangible assets like physical gold and silver -- honest money without counter-party risk -- is critical as the fiat dollar system heads for collapse.'
[Saint John of the Cross – XVI Century AD; Fontiveros, Crown of Castile, Spanish Monarchy/Ubeda, Crown of Castile, Spanish Monarchy; (Aged 49); Priest, Mystic, Writer, Doctor of the Church] “4. Wherefore, to the end that all, whether beginners or proficients, may know how to commit themselves to God's guidance, when His Majesty desires to lead them onward, we shall give instruction and counsel, by His help, so that they may be able to understand His will, or, at the least, allow Him to lead them. For some confessors and spiritual fathers, having no light and experience concerning these roads, are wont to hinder and harm such souls rather than to help them on the road; they are like the builders of Babel, who, when told to furnish suitable material, gave and applied other very different material, because they understood not the language, and thus nothing was done. Wherefore, it is a difficult and troublesome thing at such seasons for a soul not to understand itself or to find none who …More
"8. And, since this introduction relates to the dark night through which the soul must go to God, let not the reader marvel if it seem to him somewhat dark also. This, I believe, will be so at the beginning when he begins to read; but, as he passes on, he will find himself understanding the first part better, since one part will explain another. And then, if he read it a second time, I believe it will seem clearer to him and the instruction will appear sounder. And if any persons find themselves disagreeing with this instruction, it will be due to my ignorance and poor style; for in itself the matter is good and of the first importance."
An unpublished letter by Benedict XVI on Christian prayer, dated April 27, 2021, has been published in the Italian book ‘La fede del futuro’. His short meditation. In general, prayer is the fundamental religious act. It is an attempt to establish a direct connection with God. The peculiarity of Christian prayer is that one prays with Jesus Christ and to Him simultaneously. As both man and God, Jesus can be the bridge that overcomes the infinite abyss between God and man. In this sense, Christ is the ontological possibility of prayer. For this reason, he is also the practical guide to prayer. His disciples, who had seen him pray, addressed this request to him: "Lord, teach us to pray" (Lk 11:1). They recalled that John the Baptist had taught his disciples to pray, knowing that Jesus was infinitely closer to God than even the greatest religious figure: John the Baptist. Thus, the two fundamental characteristics of prayer emerge: those relative to being and awareness. These two characteristics …More
Jeremiah 18:18-20 “Come, let’s devise a plot against Jeremiah.” It’s so easy to attack someone instead of truly listening to him and finding ways to grow together in faith. Matthew 20:17-28 “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your kingdom.” The Kingdom of God is His Love. In Love, we don’t call this a place, but a state. And Love is 100%. Let us enter the Heart of God immediately, in the present moment. Biblical texts: NAB-RE Normand Thomas.
M ROSA in English. DEAR FRIENDS, since the Slovak edition of the M ROSA magazine has received an extraordinary response around the world, we have translated this issue 01-02/2026 into English. Please, since it is a serious Catholic content, spread this magazine as much as possible. It is important. Thank you! Anton Selecký Editor-in-Chief and Director of the Magnificat Slovakia Association.
Augustinians to Close Cork Church After 800 Years: After nearly 800 years in Cork, Ireland, the Order of St Augustine will close St Augustine’s Church this July. The decision, described as being taken with “great sadness,” follows an accelerating decline in vocations that began in the mid-1970s. Of the 70 Augustinian priests in Ireland, only 10 are under 70. The Cork community is now down to just three members.
Religious order to end near 800-year association with Cork when it closes church in city centre
A religious community which has been ministering to the people of Cork for almost 800 years its to close its church in the city centre later this year. Vicar Provincial of the Augustinians in Ireland, Fr Paddy O’Reilly, told the congregation attending a Vigil Mass at St Augustine’s on Washington Street on Saturday that the order was closing the church in July due to falling vocations. O’Reilly told Mass-goers that the decision to close St Augustine’s was taken with “great sadness”. He said that since the mid-1970s, the order had experienced “a slow but accelerating decline in vocations”. According to the Order of St Augustine website, it has 70 priests living in 10 locations in Ireland. READ MORE O’Reilly told worshippers that only 10 of these priests are under the age of 70 and more than half its members are over 80. It is understood that St Augustine’s, which was run with the consent of the Bishop of Cork and Ross, is now home to just three Augustinian priests following the deaths …
I was standing a few feet away from him once in from of Westminster cathedral, and rapidly realized who he was. He has always been intrigued by my home country, England, it's Catholic history..