In May 2022, I addressed the St. John Paul II Natural Law Legacy & International Human Rights Conference in Warsaw, Poland organized by Ave Maria Law school and Cardinal Stefan Wyszyński University. One of the most applauded speakers was Archbishop Zbigņevs Stankevičs of Riga, Latvia, who spoke on “Inter-religious Cooperation for Family Values: Latvian Experience.”
Given that talk of last year, I’d have expected nothing less of the archbishop at the current synod. See story below by Courtney Mares.
HOLY SEE WELCOMES 12 PRIESTS FROM NICARAGUA
Holy See Press Office Director Matteo Bruni: “I can confirm that the Holy See has been asked to receive 12 priests from Nicaragua, recently released from prison. The Holy See has accepted, they will be welcomed by an official from the Secretariat of State in the afternoon and housed in some facilities of the Diocese of Rome”
LATVIAN BISHOP AT SYNOD: IF SOMEONE IS LIVING IN SIN, WE CAN’T TELL THEM THAT’S ALL RIGHT
In response to a question about blessing same-sex unions, a Latvian archbishop at the Synod on Synodality warned that telling someone living in sin that “everything is all right” places that person in great spiritual danger.
Archbishop Zbigņevs Stankevičs of Riga, Latvia is on the right in this photo:
Speaking at a synod press conference on Oct. 18, Archbishop Zbigņev Stankevičs of Riga, Latvia, said that the Church teaches that people with same-sex attraction should be accepted with respect, quoting Pope Francis that there is room for everyone in the Church.
“We welcome with love and respect, but true love cannot be separated from truth because if love is separated from truth, it is no longer love,” Stankevičs said.
SYNOD ON SYNODALITY: LAYWOMAN’S SPEECH OPPOSING WOMEN’S ORDINATION DRAWS BIG OVATION
Described as ‘profound and real,’ the speech characterized calls for women’s ordination as a form of clericalism and as a distraction from what Catholic women want and need.
VATICAN CITY — A laywoman received loud applause this week at the Synod on Synodality for a speech that characterized some members’ push for women’s ordination as an attempt to clericalize the laity, several sources have confirmed.
Given in response to multiple small-group reports calling for women’s ordination not only to the diaconate, but in some cases also to the priesthood, the laywoman’s Oct. 16 morning address to the assembly also argued that a focus on women’s ordination is a distraction from what women in the Church want and need.
The Register spoke with two synod members who were present in Paul VI Hall at the time of the speech, and a third source confirmed their account. The participants spoke on a condition of anonymity given the event’s restrictive confidentiality rules.
TO CONTINUE: https://www.ncregister.com/news/synod-on-synodality-laywoman-s-speech-opposing-women-s-ordination-draws-big-ovation
VATICAN MUSEUMS TO RAISE ENTRY FEE JANUARY 1, 2024
An announcement today from the head office of the Vatican Museums announced that, on January 1, 20p4, the price of ordinary entry tickets to the Museums will increase to 20 Euros from the current 17 Euro price.
Reduced price categories will not undergo any change and the discounted rate will always be 8 Euros.
The announcement explained that “The need to adjust the ticket price is closely linked to the general increase of costs. The new tariff will guarantee the management of the museum complex and the care of the artistic, historical and cultural heritage in a more effective and congenial way to current needs, as already envisaged in the overall reorganization of the reception policies of the Vatican Museums.
“The ultimate aim remains, as always, to offer a better service, closer to needs of visitors, with particular attention to the faithful who wish to get closer to the experience that only the largest body of works in Christianity is able to offer. The cost of the non-mandatory booking fee, set at 5 Euros, remains confirmed. Further details will be available on the official website http://www.museivaticani.va”
Joan's Rome 