New books, new movies, new controversies and heresies—2018 is just beginning as the world comes hurtling to its end.  Take a look at these headlines:

 Francis Watch

• LifeSiteNews reported that Pope Francis visited the Vatican’s controversial gay-themed nativity scene on New Year’s Eve.  Observers who were wondering what the pontiff might say or do got their answer.  He blessed it. You can read the whole article at the link below:

“Eerie and ominous” sign appears as Pope Francis visits Vatican Nativity https://t.co/sv9j3T8wB0

— LifeSiteNews.com (@LifeSite) January 3, 2018

Amoris Laetitia

• The new year got off to a sizzling start as three bishops issued a letter rejecting Amoris Laetitia:   In their letter, the bishops uphold the constant tradition of the Church that it is never permissible for people living in adultery to receive Communion.  And no one has the authority to change it—not even the pope. Stay tuned to see how Francis responds to this direct contradiction of his recent “teaching.”  Several links below:

BREAKING: Three Bishops call Pope’s reading of Amoris Laetitia “alien” to Catholic faith https://t.co/DodAzHoAS2

— LifeSiteNews.com (@LifeSite) January 2, 2018

• http://whatisupwiththesynod.com/index.php/2018/01/04/and-right-on-cue-the-toadies-start-braying-dissident-conservatives-attacking-pope/

JUST OUT: Two Italian Bishops, + Luigi Negri, archbishop emeritus of Ferrara-Comacchio and +Carlo Maria Viganò, former apostolic nuncio to the United States, have joined the bishops of Kazakhstan in putting their names to the Profession Truth about Sacramental Marriage @LifeSite

— Diane Montagna (@dianemontagna) January 2, 2018

This confirms the low level of the signatories. I know one of them well https://t.co/CmRsScfN2k

— Massimo Faggioli (@MassimoFaggioli) January 2, 2018

++Coccopalmerio: #Pope's interpretation of #AmorisLaetitia to allow Communion for some "remarried" divorcees doesn't contradict canon law because they have intention to change but can't because of circumstances. Scroll down for his full comments here: https://t.co/Hi4OmURkOk pic.twitter.com/WiwVOu5Drg

— Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) January 2, 2018

IMPORTANT: Bishop Athanasius Schneider interview with Rorate Caeli on "Profession of the Immutable Truths", communion for "divorced and remarried"https://t.co/gpsr2l3pCn pic.twitter.com/1lzomY1OfL

— Rorate Caeli (@RorateCaeli) January 4, 2018

Bishop Schneider: "It is a Kind of Blasphemy" for Sinners to "Demand Access to Holy Communion" – OnePeterFive https://t.co/hqrnthGPrj via @onepeterfive pic.twitter.com/Wb7Sd5XNox

— Steve Skojec (@SteveSkojec) January 5, 2018

Humanae Vitae

• Edward Pentin reports that the situational ethics of Amoris is being used to challenge the Church’s ban on contraception.  The heretic in this case is a theologian from the Pontifical Academy for Life.  This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of Humanae Vitae’s publication, and, as I have mentioned previously, many inside the Church are planning to use this occasion to undermine its teachings.

Pontifical Academy for Life Member Uses Amoris Laetitia to Justify Contraceptive Use https://t.co/aylFuHBSZb @NCRegister pic.twitter.com/boErEm58Vo

— Edward Pentin (@EdwardPentin) January 10, 2018

Arts & Culture

• Give the paragraph below a read.  It comes from the soon-to-be-published book by Ross Douthat, conservative Catholic columnist for the New York Times.  If more “expert” theologians and members of the hierarchy had Douthat’s good sense, there wouldn’t be an Amoris Laetitia controversy.

A great paragraph from @DouthatNYT forthcoming book. https://t.co/Ga2BWt9m5x pic.twitter.com/XLrmPa25tg

— Ryan T. Anderson (@RyanTAnd) January 6, 2018

• Jim Caviezel is in a new movie about St. Paul!

Scripture is ‘the only source material’ for new film about St. Paul https://t.co/rUewCX3euL

— LifeSiteNews.com (@LifeSite) January 5, 2018

 

Events

• The March for Life in Washington D.C. is Friday, January 19th!
• The March for Life in Raleigh, NC is Saturday, January 13th!

#MarchForLife events planned across the US https://t.co/g9ROqN9T0D

— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 9, 2018