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All, Mission To The World, the PCA's international ministry, has issued an appeal for funds to aid in the relief of Myanmar cyclone victims. I know that most of us have heard stories about countries and large relief agencies having their hands tied, but God will provide a way for His church to break through manmade barriers. _________________________________________________________________ Horrifying and harrowing stories are emerging in the aftermath of the catastrophic tropical cyclone that devastated much of already poverty-striken Myanmar. Reuters News is reporting as many as one million people left homeless. No one really knows how high the death toll...

Up Next: watch the promo May 18, 2008 on WGVU-TV West Michigan:#820 Christians in the Courtroom Witnesses place their hand on the Bible before they testify: how would principles from that Bible play out if it were actually opened up and applied? Would prosecutors be arguing for forgiveness? Stephen Bloom, attorney with Irwin & McKnight law firm in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and author of The Believer's Guide to Legal Issues, wonders with host Karen Saupe how empty courtrooms might become. Inner Compass is a television interview show that explores how people make their decisions about ethical, religious, and social justice issues....

Des Moines, IA (LifeNews.com) -- Iowa-based St. Ambrose University, a Catholic college, is under fire from pro-life advocates in the Midwestern state for honoring an abortion advocate. The school awarded what one pro-life group called "one of Iowa’s most notorious abortion activists" with an honorary degree. At the St. Ambrose graduation ceremony on Sunday, school officials handed an honorary degree to Margaret (“Maggie”) Tinsman, a former state senator in Iowa from 1989-2006. Tinsman received an “Honorary Doctor of Public Services” by the St. Ambrose Board of Directors. That came despite a strongly pro-abortion voting record, including opposing a measure that...

Hi all, several years ago those of you who were around FR might remember a band of young rocker brothers who did a song "Hateful Lies" that skeweed Michael Moore. Well, the band is still around, and has just released a music video for its new song "Westboro", inspired by the lunacy of the WBC. We thought some of you might be interested, if so the video can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PD0oSIyBUBQ. If you like their music video, let them know please, they have a myspace at http://www.myspace.com/attilahuns. FYI, here are the lyrics: Westboro, words and music by Andrew O'Donnell...

Is Barack Obama the AntiChrist? He was born in Honolulu a city of seven hills with seven streams leading to the bay. He has taken a metaphorical wound to the head (Pastor Wright) and has recovered with no marks. He has deceived intelligent people with his aura of empty promises. You be the judge.

Kirkwood — About 75 protesters gathered Monday outside the world headquarters of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, many holding signs that asked simply, "Why?" The question was directed at church leaders who, during Holy Week last month, pulled the plug on a popular radio program on the denomination's KFUO-AM station called "Issues, Etc." The host, the Rev. Todd Wilken, and producer, Jeff Schwarz, were fired without warning, and all reference to the show was taken off KFUO's website. Fans were left confused and angry. ... In the vacated time slot, the church has launched a new program called "The Afternoon Show,"...

According to Dr. David O'Brien, it's an offense to past generations of Catholics who built the Church in America to mourn the changing Church instead of celebrating it. In an upcoming lecture titled, "On Solid Ground: Our Changing Church in Historical Perspective," he will expand on that theory.His talk, April 9, 7 p.m., at Christian Brothers Academy in Albany, is sponsored by the Holy Cross Club of Eastern New York. For 39 years, he taught at Holy Cross College in Massachusetts as "Loyola professor of Roman Catholic studies."'Big picture'Having experienced Catholicism both before and after the Second Vatican Council in...

Dear Pro-Lifers We work to eliminate abortion in our country and ultimately the world because we know God is LORD. We know that He is Dwelling Place, Fortress and Refuge both now and in eternity to those who submit to His Lordship by obedience to His commands. However, we also know that apart from God we can do nothing. Even the best human efforts without His power behind them, if not done in His Way according to His direction, even if they happen to get some earthly results will not have the lasting, spiritual, truly God-honoring results He intended, unless...

As they listened to the gospel during mass Sunday, few parishioners at Holy Name parish could have imagined the bloodshed about to taint both the holiday service and their Easter finery. Six protesters disrupted the beginning of Cardinal Francis George's homily to shout their opposition to the Iraq war. The demonstrators, who call themselves "Catholic Schoolgirls Against the War" despite their male and female membership, squirted fake blood on themselves and nearby worshipers as security guards tried to usher them from the parish's auditorium, where mass is being said during repairs of the cathedral in downtown Chicago. The syrupy red...

You are being ‘pinged’ because I have seen your heart for prayer on one or more recent Free Republic prayer threads. This thread is for those interested in worshipping and praying for those who support our troops and our troops themselves. If this is of interest to you, please read on. If not, send me a private note to be removed from future ‘pings’. (I apologize I don’t know how to put a link for Add/Remove into my posts yet.) I have only been blessed to be part of the FR community for a few months. I was drawn to...

Ezekiel 38:1-7 gives 10 names as participants in the invasion of Israel that will follow the regathering of the Jews to their homeland. First mentioned, is the land of Magog. The most common identity for Magog is in Central Asia. The Jewish historian Josephus said, "Magog founded the Magogians, called Scythians by the Greeks. Scythians were a nomadic tribe who inhabited the ancient territory from Central Asia across the southern part of ancient Russia." Today this area is inhabited by the former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and possibly northern parts of Afghanistan. All of these nations...

The fact that he is taking time during a limited visit to meet with them, she said, is a "very strong statement about how important Catholic education is." WASHINGTON (CNS) - When Pope Benedict XVI comes to Washington this spring, he will deliver a one-hour address on Catholic education April 17 to presidents of U.S. Catholic colleges and universities and Catholic school superintendents from every U.S. diocese and archdiocese. The gathering will take place on the campus of The Catholic University of America. This will not be the first time a pope has visited the university established in 1887 by...

BROOKLYN, N.Y. (CNS) -- A "hierarchy of values" exists, which means not all political issues are of equal value, said Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn. "Our faith must inform our political decisions," he said, and Catholic voters are obliged to distinguish "between moral evil," such as abortion, "and matters of prudential judgment," such as tuition tax credits. Bishop DiMarzio made the comments in an address Feb. 7 to a crowd of 500 at the Cathedral Club of Brooklyn's annual dinner. His remarks drew on the U.S. bishops' 2007 document, "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility." When...

How can something be both immense and minute at the same time, something upon which all of human history depends, yet fragile and almost non-existent to the eye?  It is the union of an egg and sperm — an embryo.  Such is God's way.  He takes something smaller than a mustard seed and brings forth all of civilization.  After creating everything in the universe single-handedly, He created us in his own image and bestowed upon us the power to become co-creators with Him.  Working in union with us, when the sperm unites with the egg, not only has a new...

The following are suggested prayer points to work with as you pray for this fall's elections. As you think of others, add them to your list. They are followed by "vertical" Scriptures-verses that have been adapted to be prayed back to God. Thank you for committing to pray for this fall's elections. May God lead and bless you as you pray. Pray the Vote Prayer Points Pray for: * God's Will to be done * Godly and righteous leaders to rise up * Citizens to desire godly leaders * Discernment-for the electorate and for leaders * Wise involvement by all...

Voddie Baucham advocates Christians pulling their children out of government-run schools. He has a response for those who say they can't afford private education or home-schooling -- find a way.

Perhaps it is easier to list what is not attacked in this brutal ridiculing of the Catholic faith. The production is called "Jerry Springer--The Opera in Concert" and on January 29 and 30, it will be performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City. The American TFP and its America Needs Fatima campaign vehemently protest this production. The TFP is asking its friends and supporters to send their e-protests to the famous theater right away (click here). The TFP is also promoting a protest outside Carnegie Hall on Tuesday night from 6-8 p.m. The musician “opera” defies description in detail...

Welcome to any new visitors. I'm a Catholic young adult, studying and working in Washington DC, who is providing exclusive on-the-ground coverage of the 35th Annual March for Life. Here's what I offer: All March-for-Life related posts are collected here (includes event schedules & info)My photographs will be uploaded to this Flickr page, starting Monday eveningMy videos will be uploaded to this YouTube page, again starting Monday evening Collections of my other news stories are available on this page. Humorous "PPOTD's" are here.To contact me with with tips, information or media requests: "thomas [at] americanpapist [dot] com"Notification: My Itinerary...

Folks, though today I am off from work, a busy week looms ahead. Nevertheless, this is what I am going to be watching, commenting, and praying about in the next few days. Today we observe the memory of St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr. According to the Saint of the Day Page, "Almost nothing is known of this saint except that she was very young—12 or 13—when she was martyred in the last half of the third century. Various modes of death have been suggested—beheading, burning, strangling. Legend has it she was a beautiful girl whom many young men wanted to...

For months the leaders of Call to Action have been collecting signatures on a petition to the US bishops' conference, demanding action against Bishop Fabian Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska, who has refused to play along with the "audits" required by the Dallas Charter. Pause here for a bit of background: The bishops' conference has no authority to discipline an individual bishop for non-compliance with the Charter audits.Insofar as the conference can do anything, it's already been done; the conference has published public pleas for Bishop Bruskewitz to get in line with the policy.Bishop Bruskewitz, who (rightly) regards the audits as...

Assisted suicide advocate Dr. Jack Kevorkian – a convicted felon known as “Dr. Death” – is scheduled to speak at the University of Florida on January 15. According to news reports: * Dr. Kevorkian has killed 130 people * Dr. Kevorkian was convicted of first-degree murder and is currently on parole * Dr. Kevorkian will be given $50,000 to speak at the University of Florida Students of Pro-Life Alliance at the University of Florida are protesting. TFP Student Action applauds their effort and encourages its members to also call for the cancellation of Dr. Kevorkian’s speech by signing a petition...

"What are you doing about Bush's trip here?" the young man asked me as he emerged from the cave. For me, it was a surprising question. Or rather, the source of the question surprised me. I had just arrived at Homesh to do guard duty and help the young pioneers who have tenaciously maintained a Jewish presence in the settlement destroyed by Israel three summers ago. These young people are the absolute cream of the idealistic crop. Every time that the army comes to expel them, it also destroys everything that it can get its hands on. The only place...

The Catholic Information Center, downtown Washington's "street parish" — thought to be the first U.S. Catholic bookstore on Facebook — is poised to be "Blogger Central" on the day of the 2008 March for Life, with free wireless Internet, a 15% discount for pro-life bloggers, and a tea party, plus celebrity book and DVD signings. "Our store and chapel have traditionally been a respite stop for March-for-Life participants," noted CIC manager Kevin Jones. "This year, we wanted to do something more, so—since we already offer free wireless internet—we decided to create some special incentives to encourage marchers to show their...

My favorite hymn is 'nothing but the blood of Jesus'. I was on you tube looking for some videos and found the below links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zvg5_V3cUlc&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDlTK-HpPig And this is a reminder of how that blood was given for our sins: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=whtIUVxsRew

USCCB Office for Film & Broadcasting under fire for review of "The Golden Compass"; Director reminds readers, "We have the Church's best interests at heart." By JOSEPH McALEER Fairfield County Catholic, December 22, 2007 "Hollywood history is rife with examples of literary works that, by dint of problematic sexual, violent, or religious content have been softened to varying degrees to mollify public sensibilities." So began a review of The Golden Compass written by Harry Forbes and John Mulderig, director and media reviewer, respectively, of the Office for Film & Broadcasting (OFB) of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). The...

What Part of Catholic Do You Not Understand? Someone needs to ask the US bishops conference (USCCB) movie reviewer, Harry Forbes what part of the concept “Catholic” he does not understand. Mr. Forbes gave a glowing review to the film, The Golden Compass, and put all American Catholic bishops on record as supporting the work of an atheist! Subsequently, New Line Cinema attempted to do a full-scale promotion of the movie using diocesan newspapers claiming that the bishops’ movie office had declared the film to be “entirely in harmony with Catholic teaching.” Just to set the record straight: this movie...

Israel's enlightened dictatorship is like an octopus, winding its tentacles around every display of Jewish values. One of this week's most obvious victims of the enlightened octopus is the Jewish family. As a dictatorship gains strength, it will necessarily fight against the traditional family structure -- and yes, against the Jews. The basic loyalty that exists in the family unit is a thorn in the side of the despot who wants to control all loyalty and to be the one and only authority. Recent history shows that both the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany attempted to decimate the family unit....

A new logo to accompany the official website of the Pope's upcoming visit to the United States. Zenit reports: The message "Christ Our Hope" over an image of Benedict XVI before the dome of St. Peter's Basilica is the logo for the Pope's visit to the United States, April 15-20..... The theme reflects the Holy Father's new encyclical, "Spe Salvi," an invitation for people to personally encounter Jesus Christ. In the encyclical, the Pontiff said that faith in Christ brings well-founded hope in eternal salvation, the "great hope" that can sustain people through the trials of this world.The logo...

USCCB Reviewer Caught Okaying Another Film Celebrating Homosexual Immorality Special to LifeSiteNews.com by Pete Vere NEW YORK, December 18, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - Harry Forbes, director of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) Office of Film and Broadcasting, has given a positive review to the homosexually-themed "Rent". Forbes, whose initial positive review of "Brokeback Mountain" two years' ago was subsequently modified by the USCCB, became the center of controversy earlier this month after the USCCB withdrew his positive review of "The Golden Compass". The 2005 movie "Rent" is based upon a musical of the same name. The movie's plot...

By Pastor Ted Weis, Congregational Church, Little River, Kansas Characteristic of the mainline church tradition, the United Church of Christ (UCC) is a denomination committed to freedom of thought, social justice, and understanding others. So when you enter the doors of a local UCC church, it's possible to hear advocacy on a whole host of social issues, from many viewpoints-- at a worship service, a Sunday School class, or a community event. The free exchange and consideration of ideas is essential in order for an individual or group to decide beliefs and direct actions. To this end, United Church of...

Friday, December 14, 2007 Lutheran CORE News 1.6 A blessed Christmas to you and yours from Lutheran CORE, the coalition for reform! Most of us have other things on our mind than the struggles of our church body during this season, as we should. For the hope we claim is that the God who sent His Son to redeem our fallen humanity is the Lord of the whole Church, including that part of the Body of Christ in which we find ourselves. And we believe that just as the Holy Child was saved from the machinations of Herod and all...

DRYDEN, Mich. — Aside from birthdays, Christmas is the time when teenagers Paul and Mike Brestovansky ask for video games as gifts.“As far as luxury items, that’s all they want,” said their mother, Laura. Still, she limits the games they own.“I only let them play E-rated [Everyone] games. I don’t let them play the T-rated [Teen] games because I have a 6-year-old daughter who is often in the same room with them,” said Brestovansky. Neither my husband nor I will allow M-rated [Mature, 17 and above] or ‘first-person shooter’ games in our home.”The Brestovansky children aren’t alone. According to a...

  Marshall Ganz, a Harvard sociologist, was a major force behind organizing Voice of the Faithful (VOTF), a dissenting Catholic organization devoted to "structural" change in the Church. VOTF, you may recall, used the occasion of the priest sex scandals to call for changes in Catholic doctrine such as the addition of a married priesthood and popularly-elected bishops.   Ganz is a nationally known expert in political organizing. In 2004 he was an adviser to Howard Dean -- Ganz now advises Democratic presidential candidate, Barak Obama.   Ganz's intent in helping to found VOTF is made clear from a letter...

The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has withdrawn a positive review of the film "The Golden Compass," after more than a week of criticism about the church's apparent approval of a pro-atheism work. The review, which had said that the film "can be viewed as an exciting adventure story with, at its core, a traditional struggle between good and evil, and a generalized rejection of authoritarianism," was not available on the USCCB.org Web site last night.

Exciting news for 2008!/ Since the end of the fall 2007 campaign, the 40 Days for Life national leadership team has fervently prayed for discernment about what specific actions God desires next. We sincerely thank the many of you who have expressed your thoughts about what God may be asking of us in the year ahead. We prayerful hearts, we will be going forward with two national, coordinated 40 Days for Life campaigns in 2008: o February 6 - March 16 [2008] o September 24 - November 2 [2008] Please sign up for 40 Days for Life updates (please use...

It is worth asking in passing whether Jews could now be depicted with the same idiom as is now being deployed against Catholics It's not that often a train of thought unites Nicole Kidman and Peter Viereck, the American maverick conservative. But I had been to a screening of The Golden Compass, the film that Kidman effortlessly illumines, and I was thinking about the villain of the piece, which wasn't anyone at all so much as an institution called the Magisterium. In the Philip Pullman novel on which the film is based, the other word for the Magisterium is the...

US Bishops asked to Fire Chief Film Critic over Glowing Reviews for "Brokeback" and "Compass" "Bishops horrified at what has been done in their name" By John-Henry Westen WASHINGTON, DC, December 3, 2007 (LifeSiteNews.com) - The Bishops of the United States are being asked to fire the chief movie reviewer for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB). Harry Forbes, the Director of the USCCB Office for Film and Broadcasting, has reignited scandal by praising the film "The Golden Compass" which is based on an anti-Catholic novel. Forbes caused similar controversy two years ago when he issued a glowing...

Folks, the battle for the integrity of marriage is now being fought on my turf. A proposal is now underfoot to make "sexual orientation, or gender identity or expression" a protected status in the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA). It would force the Church and its affiliated agencies to hire homosexual job applicants for any and all positions, including teachers and counselors, and it would force these agencies to place children for adoption or foster care with homosexual couples. It will make lawsuits against the Church permissible on this basis. This is the same crap that just got approved in...

The Pro-Life Case Against Rudolph Giuliani The Republican Party is on the verge of electing its first pro-abortion President since Gerald Ford, who became the President not by being elected, but who assumed office after the resignation of President Nixon. It is assumed that Rudolph Giuliani is the only candidate who can beat Hillary Clinton. I don’t think this is true. Hillary Clinton is a weak candidate and has shown so recently by a poor performance in a debate and a controversy over planted questions at town hall meetings. She is only helped by the fact that her Democratic opponents...

I am pro-life (contrary to what many might perceive). I believe pro-life also means pro-God. I also think it is very important to be consistent in this position. And there is also the matter of understanding the total nature of Life and God – which is beyond our capacity in this human condition. So, those of you who believe you have the absolute truth regarding this matter, please don’t waste your time responding to this, just continue on healing the masses and ascending to heaven. I know “pro-life” is mostly associated with anti-abortion or also, restricting the choice of a...

I took a break from work this evening to enjoy a movie I have been meaning to watch since it came out a couple years ago. As is usually the case, I waited until it came out in DVD so we could rent it. The name of the movie is Amazing Grace, and it is the true story of William Wilberforce, the British Member of Parliament who spearheaded the long struggle to end the slave trade. My impressions: The movie was well written, directed, and acted, and although it was a bit slow in a couple parts, it held my...

What Every Parent Should Know About "The Golden Compass" Interview With Pete Vere and Sandra Miesel INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana, NOV. 14, 2007 (Zenit.org).- The film "The Golden Compass" isn't simply about using fairy-tale magic to tell a good story, it corrupts the imagery of Lewis and Tolkien to undermine children's faith in God and the Church, says Catholic author Pete Vere. In this interview with ZENIT, Vere and Sandra Miesel discuss the movie adaptation of the fantasy novels written by Philip Pullman. The film, staring Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig, will be released in the United States in early December. Vere...

One of the most dangerous political considerations today is that of abortion; it is a most divisive subject. Many in this arena are motivated by religious beliefs. Just in case anyone has forgotten, we are not a theocracy – our founding fathers wanted religion left to the churches and the government left to the most qualified. Those who fanatically oppose the medical procedure of abortion refer to themselves as “pro-life”, implying that those who do not agree with them do not value life as much as they do (a most arrogant state of mind) . To believe so strongly in...

Help! The left wing, religion hating website "Sadly, No!" is currently 3 votes away from taking the lead in the Funniest Blog category of the Weblog 2007 weblog awards voting. A fellow Freeper runs the DUmmie Funnies blog that makes fun of the left wing site, Democratic Underground, and he is currently in the lead. Each have about 2300 votes at this time. Sadly, No! will likely take the lead as I type this. Please vote HERE for the DUmmie FUnnies as the FUnniest Blog on the Web or click on the above "Source" link under the title to vote....

An anti-religious website is about to take the lead in the "Funniest Blog" category of the 2007 Weblogawards. The site name is "Sadly No!" and it won last year. A fellow Freeper is in the running with a site named "DUmmie FUnnies" that takes a humourous look at posts on the left wing site "Democratic Underground". This site is currently in the lead by only a few votes and, though it is not a religious site, help is requested to prevent the Sadly No! site from winning.

The Catholic Campaign for Human Development is the Plymouth Duster of the U.S. Bishops Conference, a relic of early-1970s social activism that -- except for its value as a fashion statement -- was a disappointment when it was launched and hasn't improved with age. Yesterday we were given our official annual spadeful of the 40-year-old rhetoric: The Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD) distributed more than $9.5 million in grants to local organizations working to overcome poverty in the United States. The 2007, grants, totaling $9,578,000, will be used by 314 projects in 46 states, the District of Columbia and...

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Rejecting a political climate based on "powerful interests, partisan attacks, sound bites and media hype," the U.S. bishops call Catholics to "a different kind of political engagement" in a document to be voted on during their fall general meeting Nov. 12-15 in Baltimore. That engagement must be "shaped by the moral convictions of well-formed consciences and focused on the dignity of every human being, the pursuit of the common good and the protection of the weak and vulnerable," they said. The 37-page "Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship: A Call to Political Responsibility From the Catholic Bishops of...

October 19 Radio talk show host and author, Laura Ingraham Her life, career and faith

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Abstinence advocate calls on CBS to apologize Program ridicules Christians, has hypocrites stone club member The leader of an organization that advocates abstinence is demanding CBS apologize for portraying Christian members of an abstinence club as sexually active hypocrites who stone another member to death. "CBS should apologize to America for its reckless episode," said Leslee Unruh, president of National Abstinence Clearinghouse. "With visibility comes responsibility, and CBS didn't take that into account when airing this tainted show. Abstinence education works." The episode at issue is of the CBS crime show "Cold Case," which depicts presumably devout Christian teens in...