PLR USA

07/05/2023

The Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) expressed deep sadness and shock at the recent resurgence of persecution against Christians in Manipur. The CBCI president, Mar Andrews Thazhathu, who serves as the archbishop of Thrissur in Kerala, emphasized that the Catholic Church is deeply concerned about the welfare of all people in Manipur, regardless of their tribe or community.

The violence erupted earlier this week following a rally by indigenous communities protesting moves to grant tribal status to the main ethnic group in the state. Mobs attacked homes, vehicles, and churches, resulting in a death toll that some reports estimate to be as high as 54. Approximately 10,000 people have been displaced, and thousands of troops have been deployed to maintain order. Several districts are under curfew, and internet access has been suspended.

While the army claims to be bringing the situation under control, the Hindu-nationalist BJP-led government in the state has faced accusations of not doing enough to prevent the violence.

The Meitei community, which constitutes at least 50% of the state's population, has been demanding inclusion under the Scheduled Tribe category for years. This category reserves government jobs, college admissions, and elected seats at all levels of government for historically marginalized communities to rectify past injustices that have denied them equal opportunities. If granted this status, the Meiteis would gain access to forest lands and be guaranteed a proportion of government jobs and places in educational institutions. However, other tribes are concerned that they may lose control over their ancestral forest lands.

On Tuesday, thousands of tribal people from the hill districts of the state participated in a march organized by the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur to oppose the demand. The following day, a similar rally turned violent, sparking unrest in other districts that has since spread.

Let's pray for peace and protection of Church in Manipur, India

28/04/2023

'We're just like everybody else': the event for Satancon kicks off in Boston as woman tears apart Bible and protestors condemn the gathering. Chalice Blythe, the SatanCon programming director, tore up a bible during the first day of the event.

Hundreds of members of The Satanic Temple will be in Boston this weekend for SatanCon which is held from Friday to Sunday, April 28–30. This will be the largest satanic gathering event in history that is currently being held by The Satanic Temple. The sold-out three-day event at the Marriott Copley Place will include satanic rituals, entertainment and discussion panels. Organizers say that this the event also celebrates the tenth anniversary of The Satanic Temple.

The Satanic Temple, which, according to its website, denies the existence of God and Satan, is a political activist group known for protesting religious symbolism in public spaces and mocking Christianity by offering “unbaptism” and hosting black masses.

The Archdiocese of Boston is responding to the Satanic Temple’s “SatanCon” event in Boston with scheduled eucharistic adoration, Catholic devotions, and “intense prayer.” “At the direction of the cardinal [Sean O’Malley], we are approaching it through a response balanced and focused on prayer,” archdiocesan spokesman Terrence Donilon told CNA April 17.

Nevertheless, the group’s satanic imagery and use of the word “satan” to attract people to its cause has prompted the Archdiocese of Boston’s prayerful response. “Our men and women religious will be invited to more intense prayer during that weekend. In addition, many of our parishes will be opening up during the three days ... for adoration and Masses with this intention. The archdiocese is offering parishes prayer cards while encouraging the recitation of the St. Michael the Archangel prayer, Donilon said.

As we see the world around us becoming increasingly plagued by evil and darkness. We should be deeply concerned and cautious about the rise of Satanic activity in our society. As Christians, we know that the devil is a very real and dangerous presence in the world, and we must be vigilant.

It is imperative that we take a stand against these forces and work to protect ourselves and our communities by joining in prayers. We must speak out against Satanic activity wherever we see it. Together, we can make a difference in the world and stand as a beacon of light in the face of darkness. May our Lord Jesus bless us and guide us in our efforts to fight against evil- – PLR USA

17/04/2023

On April 30, 2000, Pope John Paul II canonized Maria Faustina Kowalska and declared the second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. This year, on April 16, we commemorate this special occasion.

Two years after the canonization, in his deep devotion, Pope John Paul II consecrated the International Shrine of the Divine Mercy in Lagiewniki, Poland, entrusting the world to divine mercy.

As he stood before the image of divine mercy, the pope solemnly declared, "With a burning desire, I wish to entrust the world to divine mercy. Through the message of God's merciful love, proclaimed here through St. Faustina, may all people of the earth know and embrace this hope in their hearts."

Pope's Prayer:

God, merciful Father,

in your Son, Jesus Christ, you have revealed your love

and poured it out upon us in the Holy Spirit, the Comforter,

We entrust to you today the destiny of the world and of every man and woman.

Bend down to us sinners,

heal our weakness,

conquer all evil,

and grant that all the peoples of the earth

may experience your mercy.

In you, the Triune God,

may they ever find the source of hope.

Eternal Father,

by the passion and resurrection of your Son,

have mercy on us and upon the whole world!

~ PLR USA

05/02/2023

The Satanic Temple to open free abortion clinic in New Mexico.

The Satanic Temple announced the launch of a telehealth abortion clinic. The facility, which is located in New Mexico will be called “The Samuel Alito’s Mom’s Satanic Abortion Clinic,” and the services provided will be free of charge as part of The Satanic Temple's ‘abortion ritual’. Alito is the U.S. Supreme Court justice who wrote the majority opinion for the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case in June 2022, which overturned Roe v. Wade.

The Satanic Temple wrote on its website: “In 1950, Samuel Alito’s mother did not have options. The clinic’s name serves to remind people just how important it is to have the right to control one’s body and the potential ramifications of losing that right. The release noted that TST ( The Satanic Temple) Health is a virtual clinic that "provides free medication abortion services to those participating in TST’s religious ritual." It schedules screenings and appointments, as well as prescribes abortion medication via mail to those in New Mexico who wish to perform The Satanic Temple’s Religious Abortion Ritual. "While abortion clinics are shutting down everywhere, TST (The Satanic Temple) is striking back," according to the release. The release also noted that the Satanic Temple hopes to expand operations into other states.

Ethel Maharg, executive director of Right to Life in New Mexico, told KOB4 that TST’s ( The Satanic Temple) announcement is “just an egregious thing. ”They’re trying to make it a religious right so that they can use, I guess, the First Amendment right to practice, but that’s different, freedom of speech and religion,” Maharg said.

Launching Samuel Alito’s Mom’s Satanic Abortion Clinic in New Mexico is just the first step for TST Health, The Satanic Temple’s religious medical services arm. Plans are already underway to launch clinics in several more states, including those where the religious abortion practice is banned. The Satanic Temple’s past stunts include briefly erecting a statue of Baphomet outside the Arkansas State Capitol and creating an After- School Satan club for elementary school students that have Christian “Good News” clubs.

As LifeNews previously reported, many Satanists believe abortion is sacred and some participate in the procedures themselves. In fact participating in abortions is particularly important for Satanists because it’s considered the best way to give an offering to Satan.

Life begins at conception since the soul is the principle which gives life to the body, then a child carried in the womb of its mother has a soul because it is alive. To kill it is murder. The Roman Catholic Church has consistently condemned abortion — the direct and purposeful taking of the life of the unborn child. Let us all stand together and voice our concerns against these inhuman practices – PLR USA.

29/01/2023

A ‘hate crime’ at Montana Catholic churches? Some think so

Wise men were decapitated, animals scattered, and Mary, Jesus, and Joseph were missing from a Nativity scene at St. Patrick’s Co-Cathedral in Billings, Montana, after vandals destroyed the statues the night of Jan. 16.

The incident was similar to another that occurred at Mary Queen of Peace Catholic Church on the city’s south side that same night. Three statues and some paintings were stolen there, artwork of Our Lady of Guadalupe was damaged, and graffiti such as “Mary is the w***e of Babylon” was written on the walls.

Two other non-Catholic churches were also vandalized the same week. It is not clear if the crimes are connected, but the pastor of one of the churches, Central Christian Church, said he doesn’t think they’re related, KTVQ/Q2 News reported.

Police estimated the stolen items at Our Lady Queen of Peace were worth about $8,300. Damage done to the front door of the church and by the graffiti was estimated at $4,000, according to KTVQ/Q2 News.

Father Jose Marquez, parochial administrator of Our Lady Queen of Peace, called the perpetrators “mentally, emotionally sick.
A parishioner at Our Lady Queen of Peace set up a GoFundMe page Jan. 18 to “help us repair, replace our sacred items and purchase a much needed alarm system.”“We have come to the conclusion that this was a hate crime,” a Jan. 21 update to the page reads. “Please help us restore our faith community.”

According to the GoFundMe page, damage at the church “is so severe that we are unable to worship until the space is repaired and reconsecrated by the bishop. All of our statues, holy books, and sacred icons are gone. The painting of Our Lady was defaced and marked with vulgarity.”

Almost $14,000 had been raised as of Friday afternoon.
CNA reached out to Marquez for comment but did not hear back by time of publication.

“Having heard the next day about what had happened down at Our Lady Queen of Peace Parish, [also called] Little Flower Church, I was starting to think maybe it could be some sort of a hate crime,” the pastor of St. Patrick’s, Father Leo McDowell, told KTVQ News. “To hear about it happening down there kind of just raised a question: Was it something that we were targeted, or was it something that somebody just lost it when they went by and was mad and did the anger thing?”

Nine days after McDowell filed a police report, he said he was still waiting for someone to investigate the case, according to the news outlet

Source: CNA (Catholic News Agency)

23/01/2023

Coven of witches give Catholic high school students magical ‘crystals’ as ‘icebreakers’

A counselor at a Pennsylvania Catholic high school recently lost her job after inviting three Wiccan “witches” to speak to students. The presentation, which was supposed to be about starting a small business, went “off the rails” when the self-proclaimed witches provided the students with magical “crystals,” KDKA-TV reported.

The witches told the news outlet that the North Catholic High School counselor invited the women to talk to a marketing class of junior and senior students about being “female entrepreneurs.” The three women own Elemental Magick, a “metaphysical” business that sells crystals with magical properties, incense, candles, and books.

According to the women, just before Christmas break, they were invited to speak at the school. After discussing the challenges of starting their business, these women explained that they provided students with crystals to act as “icebreakers” because they thought the teenagers would like them.

Tabitha Latshaw, one of the Wiccan witches, told KDKA, “God made these [crystals]. They come from the earth. That’s all I can say.” “We worship as Wiccans,” she added. “We worship nature. So our elements, earth, air, water and fire, that’s what we worship.”

Michelle Peduto, secretary for North Catholic High School, told the news outlet that the witches’ visit went “off the rails” when students became uneasy about the crystals’ supposed magical properties and reported the incident “directly to the administrators.”

The school conducted an investigation over the winter break and sent an email apology to students’ parents. School officials advised the students to dispose of the crystals and recite a prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel to cleanse their homes.

Peduto noted that crystals with magical properties have no place in a Catholic school or home. “It is because as we know our faith is in Jesus Christ and not in objects necessarily,” Peduto explained. “Rosary beads? Yes. But crystals? No.” According to Peduto, as a result, the counselor is no longer with the school.

Defending the faith of the Church is perhaps more important now than ever. The Lord needs people who are willing and able to humbly yet firmly defend Christ and the kingdom of God- PLR USA

11/01/2023

Catholic Bishop to be put on trial by Nicaragua Dictatorship

Bishop Rolando Álvarez, who criticized authoritarian President Daniel Ortega was held under house arrest in Nicaragua by the dictatorship since August 2022. He will be put on trial, accused of “conspiracy” and spreading “fake news” against the regime.

The Ortega dictatorship’s judiciary also stated that Father Uriel Antonio Vallejos, who managed to leave Nicaragua and has been living in exile in Costa Rica for a few months, is accused “of the same crimes” for which “the official letter to INTERPOL for his capture remains in effect.

Human rights organizations accuse Ortega's government of persecuting the Catholic Church. Another prominent cleric, Bishop Silvio Baez, is in exile in the United States along with a number of other priests who have fled.

Let's pray for the Catholic Church in Nicaragua!

31/12/2022

Farewell to the great Theologian Pope- Benedict XVI

The 95-year-old Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI passed away on Saturday at 9:34 AM in his residence at the Vatican's Mater Ecclesiae Monastery

The Holy See Press Office announced that the Pope Emeritus died at 9:34 AM on Saturday morning in his residence at the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery, which the 95-year-old Pope emeritus had chosen as his residence after resigning from the Petrine ministry in 2013.

During a briefing at the Holy See Press office at midday, the director, Matteo Bruni, told journalists that Pope Francis will preside over the funeral of the Pope Emeritus on 5 January at 9.30 CET in St. Peter's Square.

29/12/2022

Dec 28 2022: Pope Francis asks for prayers for Benedict XVI

At the end of the General Audience, Pope Francis asks for “special prayers” for Benedict XVI “who is very ill.” The Holy See Press Office director confirms there has been an aggravation in his health condition but says the situation remains stable.

“I would like to ask you all for a special prayer for Pope Emeritus Benedict, who in silence is supporting the Church. Remember him - he is very ill - asking the Lord to console him, and sustain him in this witness of love for the Church, until the end.”

At the end of the General Audience, Pope Francis asks for “special prayers” for Benedict XVI “who is very ill.” The Holy See Press Office director ...

16/09/2022

Catholic Church is under attack in Nicaragua!

The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) released a report on Sept. 13 that condemned the regime of Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, citing a “deterioration of the human rights situation.”
The report included a compilation of recent incidents in which the Nicaraguan government has attacked and repressed the Catholic Church.

Bishop Rolando Álvarez was a prominent voice of protest in Nicaragua, using his pulpit to denounce the government’s detention of opponents and suppression of civic rights. Then, last week, the government came for him. He was arrested after the police raided his residence and put him under home confinement and eight of his companions in jail.

The shocking arrest of Bishop Álvarez on Friday, the most senior clergyman to be detained in Latin America for political views in decades, was the latest and most aggressive move by Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega, against the Roman Catholic Church. Until now, it was the only institution that had escaped his control after 15 years of uninterrupted rule.

Mr. Ortega’s already authoritarian rule tipped into systematic repression last year when it became clear that he lacked a popular mandate to win another term in the general elections held in November. To retain power, he turned the country into a one-party state, jailing all opposition presidential candidates and then moving to silence all other dissident voices.

Now, with the last influential clergyman silenced, Nicaragua has reached a milestone, according to human rights activists, former officials and priests: cementing its position as a totalitarian state. “They are liquidating the last important social actor in Nicaragua,” said Vilma Núñez, a Nicaraguan human rights activist and one of the few government critics remaining in the country. “It’s a checkmate against democracy.”

Interviews with priests, church workers and parishioners across Nicaragua show the arrest of Bishop Álvarez was just one of several attacks in the government’s months long campaign to dismantle the church’s reach in the country.

The wave of arrests and expulsions led Pope Francis to make a rare reference on Sunday to repression in Nicaragua. “I would like to express my conviction and my hope that through an open and sincere dialogue the basis for a respectful and peaceful coexistence might still be found,” he said after a public prayer at the Vatican.

The clergymen and missionaries who have remained in the country have been subjected to a campaign of fear. The authorities in the past month have banned the church from conducting religious processions in the streets, prevented some priests from officiating Mass, stationed police patrols outside clergymen’s homes and called priests in for questioning. The once-crowded church pews have emptied out as parishioners have remained at home out of fear of being labeled dissidents by government agents. The outspoken priests have grown silent. The demoralization was on display this month during the celebration of Our Lady of Fátima, a major Catholic holiday. Once an exuberant procession of thousands, the commemoration was replaced by a somber walk of about 400 clergymen and parishioners around the grounds of the capital’s cathedral, after the government banned the church from using the streets.

Let’s pray for our brothers and sisters in Nicaragua ~ PLR USA

30/07/2022

The Vatican hosted a virtual listening session with differently abled Catholics in the month of May as part of the Synod on Synodality process. People from more than 20 countries participated in the video call hosted by the Vatican Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life: with some expressing concerns about experiences of discrimination and exclusion.

Accommodations were made so that people with sensory, physical, or cognitive disabilities could express themselves in their own languages, including sign language. According to the Vatican dicastery, the 30 participants in the video call were invited to offer further contributions to a document in the coming months that will be delivered to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops.

Cardinal Mario Grench, the Secretary General of the synod of Bishops, spoke to the participants at the beginning of the call. “I am in debt to people with disabilities. One of them led me on the path of a priestly vocation”. The Cardinal’s quote that inspired me was “If the face of the disabled brother or sister is discarded, it is the Church that becomes disabled “. A participant from France with Down syndrome shared on the call: “At birth, I could have been aborted. I am happy to live, and I love everyone and I thank God for creating me”.

PLR USA

30/07/2022

Mexico City: A Roman Catholic priest was wounded in a shooting on a highway in the southern Mexico state of Guerrero, the Mexican Council of Bishops said late Thursday.

The council said the Rev. Felipe Vélez Jiménez was shot in the cheek and was “out of danger.”

✍️PLRUSA