On September 16 the Vatican published "A Journey of Hope," a Note for the 60th anniversary of Nostra Aetate approved by Pope Leo XIV. It says "the defensive entrenchment in one's own position and the view that proselytism is the only way to engage with the other no longer make sense." Anthony Stine of Return to Tradition asks what sixty years of dialogue have produced, and why the social Kingship of Christ, taught by Pius XI in Quas Primas and by Vatican II's own account left "untouched," is now treated as dangerous.

On September 4 Fr. Edmund Waldstein, O.Cist., a leading integralist, was suspended from teaching moral theology at the Benedict XVI Philosophical-Theological University at Heiligenkreuz, Austria. The rector, Fr. Wolfgang Klausnitzer, cited a 2019 post on Waldstein's blog Sancrucensis defending Pope Leo X's bull Exsurge Domine, which condemned Luther's proposition "that heretics be burned is against the will of the Spirit," and called his remarks "unspeakable." Fr. Waldstein: "I do not advocate for such punishments today." Vienna's Archbishop Grünwidl has called integralism "political messianism"; Edward Feser, Thomas Pink and Fr. Thomas Crean have defended him.

On the morning of September 15, the day after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Fr. Román de la Cruz Hernández, 48, pastor of Santa Cruz (Holy Cross) parish in Huejutla, Hidalgo, was found shot to death beside a highway in Lolotla. The Mexican Bishops' Conference has called on authorities "to conduct a thorough investigation to clarify the facts and ensure that justice is served swiftly." Bishop José Hiraís Acosta Beltrán of Huejutla urged the faithful not to speculate. According to the Catholic Multimedia Center, President Claudia Sheinbaum's term has seen 28 incidents of violence against members of the Church,
including four priests murdered.

SCRIPTURE (Douay-Rheims):

• Matthew 28:18-19 - "All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. Going therefore, teach ye all nations."
• Matthew 5:10 - "Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
• John 15:20 - "The servant is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you."

DOCUMENTS REFERENCED:

• Pope Pius XI, Quas Primas (11 December 1925), 18 and 32
• Vatican II, Dignitatis Humanae 1 (7 December 1965)
• Note, "A Journey of Hope" (16 September 2026) https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20260916_nota-cammino-speranza_en.html

SOURCES:

• Edward Pentin (17 September 2026) https://edwardpentin.substack.com/p/theologians-suspension-for-essay
• David Ramos, EWTN News (17 September 2026) https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/americas/mexican-bishops-demand-thorough-investigation-of-priest-s-murder

ANTHONY STINE / RETURN TO TRADITION:

• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@ReturnToTradition
• Substack - https://returntotradition1.substack.com/

EDWARD CLANCY / AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED:

• Help the persecuted Church - https://www.churchinneed.org/

Christ the King, reign over us. Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for Mexico.

#AnthonyStine #NostraAetate #ChristTheKing #ReturnToTradition #Waldstein #Integralism #AidToTheChurchInNeed #Mexico #ACatholicTake #Catholic #TraditionalCatholic

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