News Roundup: May 13, 2026

JMJ

Introduction

I have set this article to post on May 13th, the anniversary of the first of six apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at Fatima.

Fatima while a historical fact, still seems to point to the future. Has the consecration been done according to her wishes? Will another Pope do it again in the face of a world going mad and slipping into the same conditions that fostered two great wars?

I don't know. But I pray that the message of Fatima to repent and do penance is heard in the hearts of Catholics every where. We carry the light to the world and need to illuminate the 'The Way'.

The Catholic Church

Obviously, the death of Pope Francis I and the election of Pope Leo XIV is a major development in the Catholic Church and the World.

Just what the immediate outcomes of these two events will take some time. I strongly suspect that there will be no calls of Santo Subito for Pope Francis. If there is and if they do canonize Pope Francis ... well that will be a portent.

The World continues to turn and events unfold with the Crisis of the Church ever expanding and touching the world. For as the Church goes, imho, so does the World.

The World

On the economic front, I noticed that Trump continues to blink and scrabble to find his way out of the catastrophe of his own making. I noticed on May 9th that he was hinting at concessions with China as the first talks were slated for May 10th.

The fact that the President of the United States has been caught in yet another lie speaks volumes. To be clear, Trump stated that talks were underway and when pressed didn't provide evidence to support his assertion. While many politicians lie, I am surprised at the tidal wave of half truths and lies.

This does not bode well for the USA and 'the West'. If anything Trump is simply galvanizing the world and supporting the ascendancy of China as a great power.

Conclusion

The message for Catholics remains the same, do penance, pray and be patient. Don't lose hope in this fight because we know this war ends, in fact Christ has already won.

P^3

News Clippings

The Curious Case of Steve Skojec and the Dangers of Deep Diving into the Crisis Sub-Titled: The Failings of Others

+ JMJ It's been a while now since Steve Skojec sold 1P5 and abandoned the Catholic Faith. I've been a 'Trad' since 1982 and in those 40+ years I seen this death-spiral before with a similar end point. It seems that anyone who jumps into the fray unprepared for the enormous task of righting wrongs will, eventually, become discouraged by not the task but the people who surround them. I remember when Skojec complained of the treatment his family received from a traditional priest. This seems to have been the start of the end for him. So what can we learn from the likes of Steve Skojec, Michael Voris (maybe?), Louie Verrecchio, Gerry Matatix and other celebrity Catholics? Probably quite a lot about what not to do. First, don't burn out on the crisis? When you burn out, on work or anything else, little things assume a more greater importance than they are due. This is one of my 'canary in the coal mine' signals that I've been stretching myself too th...

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