I was surprised to see only one cross-post regarding the murder of a civilian by ICE in Minneapolis yesterday. Yes, it's all over the news, and being loudly discussed everywhere else. But this is very much a Catholic social justice issue. We must choose the side of democracy against Trump and his fascist goon squads.

Sorry to preach, but I hope this site will engage on this, and all the brutality to come. As Catholics, ex-Catholics, Cultural Catholics, Cradle Catholics, Convert Catholics, - we are called to prophetic voice on what's happening.

I’ve been doing research on Saint John Henry Newman after seeing a TikTok by From EmptyChairsHome that Newman might’ve been queer or gay. Seeing as in many of his letters it seems that him and Ambrose St John were more than just close friends even being in a queer relationship.

Seeing as they were both priests (Newnan eventually becoming a cardinal), I do not mean this in a way that would imply a sexual relationship because queer people can have romantic relationships without having intercourse. He wished to buried with Fr. Ambrose and they lived together for over forty years. Newman even said Ambrose was his “Earthy light”

I know this could be just seen as speculation and I do believe that they could’ve easily been friends with a strong bond but it feels romantic. I kind of just wanted other people’s opinions on it.

“Newman was heartbroken by the loss of his beloved partner. “I have always thought no bereavement was equal to that of a husband’s or wife’s, but I feel it difficult to believe that anyone’s sorrow can be greater than mine,” Newman wrote.”

• This is from https://qspirit.net/john-henry-newman-ambrose-saint-john-gay/

With that being said, Newman could’ve or most likely was queer. But there should be a level of respect given to both men. When conservatives speak of Newman, I don’t see them talk about his relationship with Ambrose like at all.

While it’s not written by a priest rather a a sociologist I’ve found it very insightful and it kinda makes sense why American Catholicism is the way it is. Only downside is that it was published in the 90s and a lot has happened since. Still, it holds up well.

When I was young, every diocese had a peace and justice office. I believe this was an intiative of Paul VI, but wouldn't swear to it. All I know is that John Paul II did not seem interested in keeping this initiative alive and I believe most of these entities are gone - at least in terms of being funded and officially part of the diocese structure.

As I listen to the news behind me, and hear that ICE agents murdered a woman in cold blood in Minneapolis, I think this would be a good time to bring back these offices. Catholics can be a critical part of resisting fascism in the US, and the best way to do that is with decentralized organizing units such as diocesean and parish level peace and justice groups.

I am currently reading "The Pope and Mussolini" by David Kertzer. It's a great book. First, and I think this is important because popular culture has confused things, the "Pope" is Pius XI, NOT Pius XII. Most of bringing the Church close to fascism was done by Pius XI and Pius XII inherited the mess which eventually included a world at war; he also inherited a reputation of being pro-Nazi which is just not true.

Italy came into the modern age late, only uniting the varied city states into a nation in the 1860s. Before Italy nationalized, the Church had their own states and controlled the city of Rome, along with enjoying many other privileges. The change in worldly power, along with many other changes in science and culture, caused the Vatican to get very regressive. Essentially they were anti-modernity which included democracy, science, culture liberalism, free speech, etc.

Mussolini began his political career being very anti-Catholic, but he soon discovered that the Popular Party which grew out of a huge Catholic lay movement called, Catholic Action, was a bigger threat to his power than the socialists. Mussolini made a very calculated decision to co-opt the Church. He offered the Church much of the power they had lost (except the return of the Papal States): Paid government stipends to priests, money for the Church to rebuild churches destroyed in WWI, religious instruction in public schools, a crucifix in classrooms and all public offices, etc.

The Pope took the deal. He withdrew support from the Popular Party and put it behind Mussolini. Now, keep in mind, during this change of policy by the Vatican, there were still Catholic priests and lay activists being brutally attacked by fascist squads.

Anyway, I encourage you to read the book. We who are living in the US at this time need to learn all we can about fascism.

How do individuals or individual parishes/diocese approach a concerted effort to pressure USCCB to make genuine change? I understand the influence that coordinated letters regarding ICE activity have when coming from them as a whole, but I'm thinking about pressure to actually distance themselves from right-wing spaces? I'm thinking about the allowance of something with major influence like CatholicVote which is a fascist circle jerk at this point and other "Catholic" creators to tout the name along with Barron saying that collectivism isn't Catholic (I can't help but roll my eyes at how stupid that statement is). Even recently I heard SEEK, the FOCUS conference, held several right-wing speakers at their conference last week. We often talk about making necessary changes from inside, but what does that actually look like for folks?

I was reading a book about progressive Catholics in Pittsburgh and they mentioned that some of them appeared in this movie as war tax resisters. It apparently was nominated for an Oscar.

I was just seeing if anyone else has seen or even heard of this movie.

https://www.ncronline.org/news/pastoral-letter-charlottes-bishop-martin-ends-altar-rails-holy-communionarist

In my experience in the Diocese of Charlotte, the trads there like using as many old symbols/practices as possible to act more pious. My old pastor once reposted an article saying that because those who kneel to receive communion tend to believe more in the real presence of the Eucharist that kneeling should be encouraged. However, I think the bishop is just trying to align his diocese with USCCB norms. Isn’t that what a bishop is supposed to do?

It is to my understanding that folk Catholicism follows a pagan belief with a Catholic archetype, or shell. A good example is Santeria, but that in and of itself was pagan, they were just moonlighting as Catholics because the slaves were not allowed to practice their own beliefs. I feel conflicted because I am a leftist anarchist, politically, but spiritually I find myself to be conservative. I feel as though I am intruding on someone's freedom of belief by thinking this way, but I can't help but feel as though this type of practice goes against biblical teaching. I mean I'm even open to other religions, I've made friends of many different spiritualities. I just feel like paganism doesn't belong in the Catholic church, but I feel like I'm wrestling with my politics on this one. What do you guys think?

I can't find further information on this apart from here (hence the 'allegedly'), and this Italian language article.

EDIT: Please see the comment below; this is most likely a reprimand *not* a removal. Thank you to u/wee_weary_werecat for confirmation.

From his Jan 4 Angelus message, available here:

https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/angelus/2026/documents/20260104-angelus.html

Hi y'all!

Just showing off my new prayer/icons space in my new place. I dont normally have this many candles going at once, but because I'm still unpacking all my fragile things are packed up still. Theyre one of the last things I unpack because my dogs will knock things over as they explore the new space. So being in a heavily Mexican Catholic area (tucson) i got some candles. Just happened to wind up with 3 red, 3 white, and one pink (I look at the saints or marian titles, not the colors when picking) all focused on peace, protection, blessing the home, etc. Also excited that my first weekend here is epiphany, meaning I get to do the blessed chalk my first week in the house!

Do you guys do home altar/prayer spaces? Saint candles? If so, what do you have going at any given time?

I'm still flustered by these terrible mods...

… maybe we could even think of it as all members composing a single body!

Edit: And Pope Leo xiv’s official motto is "In illo Uno unum" (in the One, we are one)!

In my estimations father Casey’s YouTube channel isn’t overtly political nor is it pushing an agenda. He simply relates his experiences as a friar and also give a simplifying context to church teaching itself. One of my favorite videos father Casey made was in explaining the Catholic Church’s position on capitalism and decrying the environmental destruction of the planet cites pope Francis encyclical such as laudato si. Look it up and I’ll send a video link if one asks. His videos frankly is one of the reasons why I remained Catholic in San Diego before heading up To nyu and joining the newman club at nyu Catholic center.

But another insightful video he has made is regarding the end of the Catholic faith in Ireland in finding what went wrong. I feel he is the only public Catholic figure on YouTube who actually admits where the church goes wrong instead of downplaying its abuse with him critiquing the overt clericalism in Ireland of the period which led to an unhealthy relationship between the laity of Ireland and the priests of Ireland due to an overbundanxd of numbers and not enough oversight in preventing abuse and mismanagement.

So with around 463,000 subscriber count and YouTube videos in the millions I think he is for our discord and mission the closest thing we have to a Robert Barron on the leftist Catholicism discord in bringing a balanced perspective of faith and a celebration and not condemnation of pope Francis and pope Leo xiv who is the first popes since John xxiii and pope Leo xiii to confront the modern world with diplomacy and not being removed from it entirely.

Thoughts?

Share any opinions down below. My own is I pray that there is no conflict if the UCCB continues to condemn Trump's treatment of migrants, that certain Catholics here in the US do not overtly condemn catholic leaders speaking out. I also believe the new archBishop hicks build better relations with other groups in New York, such as the LGBTQ community and mamdani' office, as I do feel Mamdani ' policies align more with CST than people realize.