Holy Spirit Roman Catholic Church

Pope Leo today noted the work of his namesake, Leo XIII, in promoting Christian Unity, and the week of prayer for unity, which begins today. Speaking after the midday Angelus on this January 18, the Holy Father noted: Today marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The origins of this initiative date Read More…

100 Years of the Christian unity prayer week

Peace is a word we use easily — in greetings, in prayers, in New Year’s wishes — but far harder to live when life feels tense, loud, or divided. Peace can feel like something reserved for diplomats or distant conflicts, not something that belongs in kitchens, inboxes, or family conversations. And yet, in his message Read More…

A reflection on the 2 characteristics Pope Leo gives peace

Last week — in what turned out to be one of our readers’ favorite articles — I wrote about the importance of honesty to make communication work. We’re all talking past each other because of all the assumptions we make. The same dynamic is present in our internal monologue, the things we say to ourselves, Read More…

Our internal monologue’s lies — and how to get honest

Jan 18, 2026 / 07:00 am (CNA).

Archbishop Dabula Mpako of South Africa’s Catholic Archdiocese of Pretoria has issued a canonical decree requiring a group of parishioners who reportedly incited a series of protests at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart in the archdiocese to undergo a “rehabilitative process” or be penalized — including the possibility of excommunication.

In the decree circulated on Jan. 11, Mpako described the events of December 2025 in which some parishioners of the cathedral are said to have organized demonstrations, inciting other parishioners to participate in them. He said that they disrupted Mass to protest a pastoral decision that was made by the bishop concerning “a pastor of the archdiocese.”

The actions of Dec. 7 and Dec. 28, Mpako said, “seriously harmed ecclesial communion and the good name of the Church” as well as the freedom of the archbishop in the legitimate exercise of his pastoral office.

He said that penalties will include possible excommunication that “is reserved for those who, after due warning, persist in the schismatic behavior of inciting revolt against the lawful authority of the bishop.”

Parishioner protests

On Dec. 7, a group of approximately 42 parishioners are said to have unlawfully assembled in front of the cathedral and conducted a public protest “denouncing the diocesan bishop for a legitimate pastoral decision concerning the pastor.”

The group is said to have made false and defamatory public assertions regarding the reasons for the bishop’s decision and to have incited opposition, resistance, and hostility against the bishop.

Mpako said the protesters caused public scandal and disturbance to the ecclesial order. He claimed that prior to the Dec. 7 event, the same group “instrumentalized” the celebration of Mass by engaging in coordinated protest actions during the sacred liturgy, thereby gravely violating the sanctity of divine worship and the reverence owed to the Eucharistic celebration.

Afterward, the individuals are said to have disseminated photographs and videos of the demonstration through social media platforms, further propagating false accusations and aggravating scandal among the faithful.

The same group reportedly wrote and sent letters of appeal to certain Church authorities based on what the bishop claims are false and defamatory public assertions regarding his decision.

The parishioners are said to have encouraged others to attach their digital signatures to the allegations.

On Dec. 28, a smaller number of the same individuals reportedly staged another protest at the conclusion of Pretoria’s jubilee year celebration.

Mpako said these actions seriously harmed the reverence owed to sacred worship and that in their conduct, the parishioners violated 11 canon laws, including failure to preserve communion with the Church.

He said the parishioners also violated the law that speaks about “illegitimate and harmful expression of opinions contrary to reverence toward pastors and the common good of the Church.”

Among the canonical penalties that may be given, the archbishop highlighted interdict, meaning that protesters may be barred from receiving the sacraments and sacramentals, and from participating in liturgical actions as ministers.

The other penalty falls under Penal Remedies and Penances, and includes public reprimand, withdrawal of permission to hold ecclesiastical office, and the imposition of pious or charitable works.

Other penalties include suspension from ecclesiastical offices, excommunication, as well as “just penalties for sacrilege” given the sacrilegious abuse of the Mass the parishioners reportedly may have committed.

The archbishop, however, proposed a corrective and rehabilitative process, saying that he desires “the conversion, reconciliation, and pastoral restoration of the offenders.”

The process he suggested includes a public retraction and apology requiring those responsible to retract the false accusations made publicly; remove scandalous content from social media; and issue an apology “in a manner determined by the diocesan authority.”

He also advised that for a determined time, participants in the protests may be barred from liturgical ministries, leadership roles, and public ecclesial functions. The parishioners are also to refrain from organizing or participating in public demonstrations related to ecclesiastical governance.

Mpako further directed mandatory participation in sessions on ecclesiology, the theology of episcopal authority, the nature of obedience and communion, as well as the sacredness of the liturgy.

As for “spiritual rehabilitation,” the archbishop said the protesters must engage in mandatory spiritual direction, acts of penance, and prayers for ecclesial unity, as assigned. “If any step is refused or neglected, the ordinary will proceed to impose canonical penalties as warranted.”

Further, he added: “This decree takes effect immediately upon notification and is to be communicated to the individuals concerned in the most expedient manner.”

This story was first published by ACI Africa, the sister service of EWTN News in Africa.

[...]

A woman receives a baby shower at her local church through Embrace Grace. | Credit: Embrace Grace Jan 18, 2026 / 06:00 am (CNA). Amy Ford was 19 years old when she found herself with an unplanned pregnancy. Scared and thinking her life and drea... [...]

In his encyclical, Aeterni Patris, which called for a renewed study of St. Thomas Aquinas’ philosophy, Pope Leo XIII referred to the faith as a “friendly star” for philosophers. What he meant by this metaphor was [...]

Editor’s note: This essay was posted originally at CWR on July 3, 2022. “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.” (Col. 3:21) The relationship between the preconciliar and postconciliar forms of Mass [...]

What is unfolding in Iran today is faithful to the Quran. The present regime represents the mature expression of political Islam as articulated through Quranic command, prophetic precedent, and juridical enforcement. The Iranian theocracy emerged [...]

feature

Father Travis Moger on the day of his ordination alongside his son, Mark; wife, Amelia; mother; and daughter, Maddy. | Credit: EWTN News screenshot Jan 17, 2026 / 11:00 am (CNA). Father Travis Moger has been a Catholic priest for just nine mont... [...]