Read & Reflect

English bishop on ‘personal leave’ charged with rape of a minor

Bishop David Oakley of Northampton, England, has been charged with two counts of rape of a minor, local police confirmed June 24. The bishop has been on a leave of absence since October last year, when he announced he was taking time away from the diocese for “personal reasons.”Bishop David Oakley....

Evangelization in the 15th century and today: Why is Pope Leo talking about Hernando de Talavera?

In his remarks this month to the Spanish bishops, Pope Leo urged the Spanish Church to reflect on and imitate the Spaniards who evangelized Spain and the world in the 15th and 16th centuries.Pope Leo particularly cited the example of the “famous holy mufti [Islamic religious leader] of Granada, Fria...

Catholic leaders plead for aid after massive earthquakes hit Venezuela

The people of Venezuela are urgently in need of assistance, Catholic leaders said, after the northern region of the country was hit by a pair of earthquakes – the strongest in the country’s history.While there is no official death toll almost 24 hours after the earthquakes, there are almost 50,000 p...

Former diocesan employee pleads guilty in $150k gift card scheme

A former diocesan employee pled guilty in Missouri last week to stealing more than $150,000 from a Catholic scholarship fund by illicitly buying and misusing gift cards.A former IRS investigator told The Pillar that theft-by-gift-card is a problem on the rise, and requires careful attention to addre...

Who are the Eastern Catholic cardinals at the consistory?

The 23 Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with Rome will have up to seven representatives at this week’s extraordinary consistory of the College of Cardinals.Eastern Catholic cardinals in St. Peter’s Square in 2023. © Mazur/cbcew.org.uk.ShareThey are likely to offer distinctive insights at...

Once again, cardinals uncertain ahead of consistory

When the first extraordinary consistory of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate ended in early January, the general feeling in the College of Cardinals was overwhelmingly positive.Pope Leo XIV presides at Mass with the cardinals in Rome for a January 2026 consistory. Credit: Abaca Press/Alamy.While some cardi...

Pray for Ed. (and do him a favor)

Pillar paid subscribers can listen to this Pillar Post here: The Pillar TL;DRHey everybody,It’s the feast of Blessed Yaaqub El-Haddad, and you’re reading The Friday Pillar Post.Now, I know what you’re thinking. Two things, actually:“Today’s the feast of St. Josemaria Escriva, JD.” And you’re right....

Priestly ordinations rise in Germany, fall in France

The annual number of priestly ordinations is expected to rise in Germany and fall in France in 2026.Bishop Heinrich Timmerevers ordains Deacon Karim-Habib Gehrmann to the priesthood for the Diocese of Dresden-Meissen, Germany, on May 30, 2026. Credit: Screenshot from @BistumDresdenMeissen YouTube ch...

The Friday Pillar Post - June 26, 2026

Written by JD Flynn and published June 26, 2026.Upgrade your subscription!Are you a paying subscriber?Visit pillarcatholic.com/listen on your phoneCheck the top right corner of the webpage to ensure you are logged into your Substack account.Tap ‘set up podcast’ next to The Pillar TL;DRHaving issues?...

Armenians ‘disappointed’ and ‘frustrated’ with Vatican over Azerbaijan ties

Armenians from the region of Nagorno-Karabakh are “disappointed” and “frustrated” with the Catholic Church over its ties to Azerbaijan and a foundation that has funded hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of restoration projects in the Vatican, a leading activist told The Pillar.The Cathedral of t...

[Daily Rosary Meditations] How To Do An Examination Of Conscience