In Peru, members of the Catholic clergy took part in a pagan ritual

In Peru, two Catholic bishops and a Vatican official took part in a ceremony honoring the pagan deity Pachamama. The incident occurred as part of preparations for the pontiff’s upcoming visit to the country, according to the Lepanto Institute.

According to published video footage, Bishop Lisardo Estrada of the Archdiocese of Cusco and Monsignor Jordi Bertomeu, representing the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, took part in the ritual. During the ceremony, participants placed coca leaves into a ritual fire, which the ceremony’s leaders referred to as “grandmother.” The event, titled “Weaving Voices for Dignity,” was held with the support of organizations actively advocating for the promotion of LGBT rights and the legalization of abortion.

Following the meeting, a declaration was adopted calling for the implementation of “comprehensive sex education” and the expansion of LGBT rights; this document is scheduled to be presented to the Pope. For its part, the Lepanto Institute issued a sharp condemnation of the clergy’s actions, calling for an investigation into allegations of idolatry and demanding the resignation of Monsignor Bertomeu.