50: Mike Lewis – Ripperger’s Legion of Problems

 

Written by Paul Fahey

Today I’m sharing a conversation I had last week with Mike Lewis about Fr. Chad Ripperger of the Archdiocese of Denver. For the past several months, Mike and I have been wanting to record a discussion about Ripperger. Mike has written several really great articles  at Where Peter Is about Ripperger over the last year or two. He is one of the few Catholic journalists who is bringing the many grave concerns about Ripperger to light. We’ve been waiting for the right time to record a conversation and then news broke this week that Ripperger was asked by Archbishop Golka to have a year long “fast” from public speaking. So we thought: Now’s the right time.

Catholic Celibacy and Married Priests: A Tradition Often Misunderstood

 

Written by Lavoisier Fernandes

Few subjects create as much confusion about the Catholic Church as priestly celibacy.

Many people assume that the Catholic Church universally forbids married priests. As a result, discussions often present celibacy as an outdated rule that the Church must either defend or abandon.

However, this common understanding is incomplete.

The Catholic Church has never been a single tradition with only one discipline regarding celibate clergy. The reality is more complex and far more interesting: while the Latin Church, which is the largest Catholic Church, ordinarily requires priests to embrace celibacy, other Catholic Churches have preserved the ancient tradition of married priests.

The issue, therefore, is not whether the Catholic Church allows married priests. It already does. The real question is why different Catholic traditions have different disciplines.

The personal relationship that God asks of every Christian

 

Religion Still Shapes Europe’s Economy, Education and Social Values

Controversy in the U.S. Over a Video of Trump Praying with American Bishops at the White House

ZENIT Staff

Prayer for public officials is firmly rooted in Christian tradition, and the Denver archdiocese was careful to distinguish the spiritual act from political endorsement. Respect for the presidency, it said, did not imply support for any particular candidate or party. Golka subsequently expressed hope that the encounter would encourage further dialogue on the sanctity of human life and the God-given dignity of every person

Pope Leo XIV will not participate in the anniversary of St. John Paul II’s historic World Day of Prayer for Peace in Assisi

ZENIT Staff

The Vatican’s decision does not suggest a setback in his recovery: reflects the prudence required after major surgery, even when clinical results are encouraging. The Pope had been expected to attend the gathering entitled “Disarmed and Disarming Peace,” which will bring together Christian leaders, representatives of other religious traditions and invited guests in the Umbrian town.

This is what the Vatican’s new document on the transmission of the faith is like (and this is what it says)

ZENIT Staff

The document was commissioned under Pope Francis and approved for publication by Pope Leo XIV on August 21. Signed by Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, prefect of the dicastery, and Archbishop Armando Matteo, its doctrinal secretary, it draws on contributions from bishops’ conferences around the world, with the participation of approximately 70% of them, according to one account. Its concluding chapter includes 13 anonymous testimonies of conversion gathered across five continents.

Mexico and Brazil: Surge in Attendance at Shrines of Our Lady of Aparecida and Our Lady of Zapopan

ZENIT Staff

The image of Our Lady of Zapopan in Guadalajara, Mexico, drew one million people, during the traditional Romería (pilgrimage) in honor of the Blessed Virgin on October 12. This date marked the conclusion of what is popularly known as the «Bringing of the Virgin» (Llevada de la Virgen) to the Basilica, with a Mass celebrated by the Apostolic Nuncio to Mexico, Monsignor Joseph Spiteri.

The Nuns Who Were Kidnapped… and Evangelized Their Captors

Alma Recinas

On the centenary of DOMUND (World Mission Sunday), the story of these missionaries serves as a reminder that a century of missionary zeal translates into thousands of lives dedicated to the service of the Gospel. «One in Christ, United in Mission» is not merely a motto, but an invitation to discover that evangelization begins when the love of Christ becomes visible in our actions, even toward those who cause us harm.

The King of England bestows an honor that Leo XIV accepts: a title associated with Windsor Castle

ZENIT Staff

The appointment came exactly one year after Charles III and Queen Camilla’s historic state visit to the Vatican on October 23, 2025, when the royal couple met Leo XIV and visited several important religious sites, including the Sistine Chapel and the Pauline Chapel

New scientific study reveals that the happiest people are those who pray and attend Mass

Jorge Enrique Mújica

The study, titled “Influence of Catholic Religious Practices on Spiritual Well-Being,” was conducted by Cecilia Salgado Lévano of Marcelino Champagnat University and Eduardo Manzanares Medina of the Peruvian University of Applied Sciences, both based in Lima. Their research examined four practices central to Catholic life: personal prayer, the recitation of prayers, attendance at Mass and participation in Eucharistic adoration.

The Archdiocese of Chicago and Cardinal Cupich are facing new controversy over an award given to a donor who funded access to abortion

Tim Daniels

Sacks, chairman and chief executive of investment firm GCM Grosvenor, was identified in a September 29 report by Crain’s Chicago Business as a donor to efforts to strengthen Illinois’ abortion-access infrastructure and offset federal funding cuts affecting reproductive health services. Initiatives associated with this effort have supported organizations including Planned Parenthood of Illinois and the Chicago Abortion Fund

The crisis of meaning: a key factor in conversion among men, according to a Finnish study

Joachin Meisner Hertz

The digital world also played a part. Forty percent of participants said public discussions of Christianity or religious content on social media had contributed to their interest. Podcasts, online sermons and videos offered accessible ways to explore questions that might not arise in their immediate social circles

Race for UN Sec Gen Stymied

Stefano Gennarini

In the latest poll of the UN Security Council, the Permanent Members indicated their displeasure with the leading candidates for UN Secretary General. The three leading candidates, Rebeca Grynspan, Rafael Grossi, and Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, each received at least two “discourage” votes

The number of priests killed in Russia’s war against Ukraine is rising

Joachin Meisner Hertz

The human cost of the conflict was also at the center of a meeting at the Vatican on October 23, when Pope Leo XIV received Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk, head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church. The encounter brought together two urgent concerns: the fate of Ukrainians held captive by Russia and the worsening humanitarian pressures facing a country preparing for another harsh winter

Religion Still Shapes Europe’s Economy, Education and Social Values Despite Secularisation, according to a study

Elizabeth Owens

The study, “Religion and Economic Growth: What We Know and Why It Matters”, brings together evidence from different periods and regions to examine how faith influences prosperity. Its authors include Sascha Becker, an economics professor at the University of Warwick, Jared Rubin of Chapman University and Ludger Woessmann of the University of Munich

Fidelity to the Magisterium: The Words of Leo XIV to the Jesuits and Students at His Roman School of Canon Law

ZENIT Staff

The Pope’s Address to Participants in the International Congress Marking the 150th Anniversary of the Faculty of Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University

Questions about liturgy: Which Way the Celebrant Should Face

Fr. Edward McNamara

Answered by Legionary of Christ Father Edward McNamara, professor of liturgy and sacramental theology at the Pontifical Regina Apostolorum university.

The UN & Abortion for Kids

ZENIT Staff

The General Comment was circulated in draft form last year and immediately faced pushback from the government of Argentina and the Holy See for including a right to “effective access to safe abortion services for adolescent girls.”

Trump Signs Law Giving Catholic Priests and Other Clergy a Second Chance at Social Security

ZENIT Staff

The measure, H.R. 227, creates a two-year window during which eligible clergy can elect to resume paying Social Security and Medicare taxes on their ministerial earnings. The opportunity applies to tax years 2029 and 2030. Rejoining the system will not automatically guarantee benefits: priests, pastors and other religious workers must still satisfy the ordinary contribution requirements

Archbishop Grob issues ‘public apology’ over White House meeting

What the Catholic Church in Egypt is doing to keep youths attached to their faith

Speaking to Aid to the Church in Need, Bishop Emmanuel Bishay of Egypt’s Coptic Catholic Eparchy of Luxor said that relations between the Catholic and Orthodox churches are good.

Rights group urges immediate release of 6 Christians detained over TikTok video in Egypt

Alliance Defending Freedom has urged Egyptian authorities to free six young Christians after they posted a TikTok video that authorities considered offensive to Islam.

Pope Leo XIV: Love for neighbor begins with a personal relationship with God

During his Sunday Angelus, the pope reflected on the greatest commandment and called for peace in Yemen and Jordan.

Milwaukee Archbishop Grob issues ‘public apology’ over White House meeting

Archbishop Jeffrey Grob said his “intention was never to cause confusion, anger, or disappointment among the people entrusted to my care” and that the meeting was publicized without consent.

Why don’t religious “nones” want kids?

Why don’t religious “nones” want kids?
ARC: Among childless older adults, the religious divide is less about circumstances than desire.

 

Michigan’s US Senate race deeply divides the state’s Jews
Religion News Service: Abdul El-Sayed, the Democratic candidate, has been a sharp Israel critic, dividing Michigan Jews.

 

Archdiocese of New York agrees to $800 million settlement over sexual abuse claims
NPR: The Archdiocese of New York has agreed to pay $800 million to settle the claims brought against the church by some 1,300 people who say they faced sexual abuse from clergy members and lay workers.

 

Uriel Simon, biblical scholar and ‘noted religious dove,’ dies at 97*
The New York Times: Dr. Simon studied Bible stories as literary texts and found guidance for Israel on questions that plague the nation today.

 

Catholic bishops pray over Trump days before midterms
Religion News Service: The U.S. bishops’ conference said it had no role in the Oval Office gathering, which echoed prayer sessions with Trump’s evangelical supporters.

Leo prays for Jordan attack victims, appeals for peace in Yemen

Leo prays for Jordan attack victims, appeals for peace in Yemen

After the Sunday Angelus, Pope Leo XIV prayed for those killed and injured in Friday’s attack on a funeral at St. George’s Orthodox Church in Jordan’s Karak governorate, and appealed for hostilities in Yemen to cease. “I am close to that community and to the entire country, which stands out for its peaceful coexistence and respect among different religions,” he said of Jordan, where Vatican News reports nine people were killed and about 40 wounded. He drew attention to the Yemeni city of Taiz, “where the population is suffering from a lack of food, water and medical care,” and invited the faithful to join in prayer with religious leaders gathering in Assisi on Tuesday, 40 years after St. John Paul II’s 1986 meeting. In his reflection on the Gospel of the greatest commandment, he said, “We cannot truly love God unless this love overflows into love for our brothers and sisters.” — Vatican News (appeals) · Vatican News (Angelus reflection)

Cardinal Paolo Romeo, archbishop emeritus of Palermo, dies at 88

[IT] Cardinal Paolo Romeo, archbishop emeritus of Palermo, died the morning of Oct. 25 after a long illness, at age 88. A longtime Vatican diplomat, he served as apostolic nuncio to Haiti, Colombia, Canada, and Italy before leading the Archdiocese of Palermo from 2006; Pope Benedict XVI created him a cardinal in 2010. His funeral will be celebrated Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the cathedral of his native Acireale, and Palermo Archbishop Corrado Lorefice has invited the faithful to pray for him. — Vatican News [IT]

New York archdiocese agrees to $800 million settlement with abuse survivors

The Archdiocese of New York and attorneys for about 1,300 people who said they were sexually abused by clergy have agreed to an $800 million settlement, the second-largest involving a U.S. Catholic archdiocese. Archbishop Ronald Hicks confirmed the agreement in an email to clergy Saturday, saying it will not be final until the parties sign it, which is scheduled for the week of Nov. 6. The settlement would end more than seven years of lawsuits; only the Archdiocese of Los Angeles’s $880 million agreement in 2024 is larger. — National Catholic Reporter (John Hanna, AP)

Also today

• Brazilian bishops release letter opposing Trump-backed candidate Flávio Bolsonaro — Eduardo Campos Lima, National Catholic Reporter. Forty-seven bishops have backed the letter ahead of today’s presidential runoff between Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
• [IT] Archbishop Jean Nicolas Rakotojaona succeeds Archbishop Fulgence Rabemahafaly in Fianarantsoa, Madagascar — Holy See Press Office. He had been coadjutor archbishop since October 2025.
• Bishop Nykiel: Confession is not a place of judgement but a home of celebration — Vatican News. The regent of the Apostolic Penitentiary closes a Rome seminar on contrition.

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Compiled from publicly available reporting as of about 7:45 a.m., Oct. 25, 2026 (ET). Quotations are as published by the linked outlets. Headlines from non-English sources are our translations.

This weekend edition was compiled with the help of AI tools and published automatically without editor review. Summaries reflect the reporting of the outlets linked, not the views of Where Peter Is. Please report any errors to the editors.

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Leo Before the Midterms: Democracy Needs Moral Law

 

Written by Morning Keys

Americans vote in the midterm elections on Tuesday, November 3, nine days from now. Several U.S. bishops have spoken up this fall about voting rights, and on October 14 USCCB president Archbishop Paul Coakley called voting “both a right and a responsibility.” But Pope Leo XIV had already asked the harder question back in April, in a message to the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, whose plenary theme was “The Uses of Power: Legitimacy, Democracy and the Rewriting of the International Order.” Democracy, he wrote, is not just a matter of counting votes. Cut loose from the moral law, it can turn into something else entirely.

This understanding of legitimate power finds one of its highest expressions in authentic democracy. Far from being a mere procedure, this type of democracy recognizes the dignity of every person and calls each citizen to participate responsibly in the pursuit of the common good. Reflecting this conviction, Saint John Paul II affirmed that the Church values democracy because it ensures participation in political choices and “the possibility both of electing and holding accountable those who govern them, and of replacing them through peaceful means when appropriate” (Centesimus Annus, 46). Democracy remains healthy, however, only when rooted in the moral law and a true vision of the human person. Lacking this foundation, it risks becoming either a majoritarian tyranny or a mask for the dominance of economic and technological elites.

— Pope Leo XIV, Message to Participants in the Plenary Session of the Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences, April 9, 2026

How to face tragedy and still affirm God is your friend?

How to face tragedy and still affirm God is your friend? The answer of a Venezuelan mother

Maria Elena Rocha recounts how despite the tragedy of losing her husband and two sons in last summer’s earthquake in Venezuela, her faith and trust in God still sustains her.

Students for Life, Turning Point debate abortion in ‘Feminists Lied’ campus tour

Here is a roundup of recent pro-life and abortion-related news.

Denver archbishop responds to criticism over Trump prayer meeting: ‘I was being a Catholic priest’

Archbishop James Golka led a prayer during an Oct. 22 meeting at the Oval Office between Trump and over half a dozen of his fellow U.S. bishops.

Jordan church attack death toll rises to 9 as Christian leaders call for unity

The attack took place during a funeral Friday, and security authorities are continuing their investigation and search for the perpetrators.

Inside the worlds most bizarre Catholic Cathedral

  

Micah gets an inside look at the worlds most unique Catholic Church-- Christ Cathedral in Garden Grove, CA. Shoutout to the Catholic Diocese of Orange and Anthony Vultaggio for making this video happen.