The Wild Hunt (https://wildhunt.org/tag/catholic-church)
In this week’s Pagan Community Notes: a cardinal (not the bird kind) reignites the Pachamama controversy and debate over Paganism in the Catholic Church, career spells make the business news, Brittany explores the “misnamed Witch,” and, of course, Star’s Tarot of the Week.
The fashion house Fendi has sponsored a two-year restoration of the Grotto of Diana at the Villa d’Este, a Renaissance villa that belonged to a cardinal in the Catholic Church who decorated his vast estate with many depictions of classical myth.
I’m sure we have all seen the recent news from Philadelphia grand jury revealing the abominations by Catholic priests that have spanned decades. I know that many of my Catholic colleagues feel intimately betrayed and are currently struggling to understand the scope of disloyalty and harm unleashed on their church by duplicitous and predatory leaders. To its credit, the Vatican accepted the “shame and sorrow” at the findings and responded with powerful language describing the abusers as “criminal and morally reprehensible” Followed by Pope Francis’ statement condemning priestly sexual atrocities and asserting that “no effort must be spared to create a culture able to prevent such situations from happening, but also to prevent the possibility of their being covered up and perpetuated.”
The Pope offers a very real hope for change for his flock and hints at a long and drawn-out battle with clericalism. Unfortunately, sexual predation is far too common among powerful clergy of any faith. I don’t need to recount the cases in the Pagan and Polytheist communities.
IRELAND –Voters in the Republic of Ireland came out in force this week to roll back the clock to 1983 – a time before abortions were effectively banned in this heavily Roman Catholic country. The “once in a generation vote,” as it was framed by prime minister Leo Varadkar, brought out people across the age spectrum to support the repeal; the movement even garnered the support of Brigid. Article 40.3.3 of the Irish constitution establishes “the right to life of the unborn and, with due regard to the equal right to life of the mother,” calls for that right to life to be vigorously defended. Under the language approved by voters with a two-to-one margin, the article now reads, “Provision may be made by law for the regulation of termination of pregnancy.” It will fall to legislators to decide what new laws to that end actually get passed.
[When you support The Wild Hunt, you are supporting independent, reader-funded journalism. If you enjoy reading our work each day, consider donating to our Wild Hunt Fall Fund Drive today. It is you that makes it all possible! Your donations go directly back to getting the important news out there. Donate today and help keep The Wild Hunt going for another year. And share our link with others.