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Jim was born in Mount Pleasant, TX to Glynn and EH Freeman on November 3, 1946. Jim attended elementary school in Mt. Pleasant and then went onto San Marcos Military Academy, San Marcos, TX to complete his middle school and high school education. Jim loved the time he spent at San Marcos Military Academy; he always said those were his best years growing up. Jim continued his education at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AK where he received a BA in Political Science in 1968. Jim was active with Mt Pleasant Boy Scouts during summer vacations…from college; he BBQed...

1. PrinciplesThe motu proprio “Traditionis Custodes” was issued by Pope Francis on 16 July 2021, along with an accompanying letter.As a restrictive decree, this present motu proprio of Pope Francis should be interpreted strictly, in accord with the legal maxim Regula Juris 15 (odiosa restringenda, favorabilia amplificanda). Interestingly, there is no vacatio legis on the document either.Pope Francis indicates in the first paragraph that the bishops constitute the principle of unity of the particular churches and govern them through the proclamation of the Gospel. As the specified end of the document is the “constant search for ecclesial communion”, it would...

He’s the new Trump tower. Teenage former first son Barron Trump was photographed in the Big Apple this week — towering over his 5-foot-11-inch mom, Melania. The rarely photographed youngest son of former President Donald Trump is already 6 feet 7 inches tall — even though he only just turned 15. He looked every inch of it on Wednesday when he stood head and shoulders over his mom and their security detail as they were snapped leaving their Manhattan home, the suitably named Trump Tower. The towering teen, wearing a dark, long-sleeve T-shirt tucked into his jeans, also appeared to...

-snip- Mrs. Trump walked across the South Lawn for the final time during her husband’s first term in office wearing an off-the-runway Chanel cropped jacket from the French fashion house’s Pre-Fall 2020 collection. Underneath is a fitted black crepe sheath dress by Dolce & Gabbana, perhaps Mrs. Trump’s most loyal fashion duo. The dress, from the Spring 2020 Ready-to-Wear collection, retails for about $2,155. The cropped Chanel jacket, featuring silver buttons emblazoned with the brand’s iconic double C logo, was paired with black suede Bottega Veneta gloves, snakeskin Christian Louboutin stilettos, a rare black crocodile Hermès Birkin bag, and Mrs....

First ladies don’t kiss and tell. A racy “New York” magazine cover showing Melania Trump smooching a Big Apple firefighter in the wake of 9/11 has been unearthed nearly two decades later. At the time of the photo shoot in 2002 — meant to be reminiscent of the iconic V-J Day smooch between a sailor and a nurse in 1945 — Trump was a little-known model named Melania Knauss who had been hired to pose on the cover of the publication’s Valentine’s Day “Singles” issue, according to New York. Knauss — who at the time was dating Donald Trump, then...

A new school year is about to begin and along with it comes a new solution to a new problem. And Stanford University, the Harvard of the West, is proudly taking credit for discovering the problem: that people in science aren't diverse and inclusive enough. Horrors. But, being a renowned research university, it is proudly offering its solution, called: PUWMAS. That's its unprepossessing acronym for Physics Undergraduate Women and Gender Minorities at Stanford, what it calls "Stanford’s first undergraduate group dedicated to forming an inclusive community of underrepresented minorities in physics." -- snip -- What does that mean? Well, along...

Viganò and the pyramid of lies The Viganò story broke on the morning of the third day of the Latin Mass Society's Walking Pilgrimage to Walsingham. I started seeing it on social media at a rest-stop about 5 miles from the shrine, as I was tweeting our progress. So I come a little late to the party, and would much rather be writing about other, and more edifying, matters. But here are some thoughts, now I have got home. Catholics, indeed everyone interested in the Church, stand in dazed awe at an audacious pyramid of lies. Broader, comprehensive lies support...

(CNN)First lady Melania Trump exited Air Force One Sunday in Tokyo, Japan, dressed smartly in a coat by Italian fashion house, Fendi, a leather pencil skirt by her frequent couturier, Hervé Pierre, and her ubiquitous sky-high Manolo Blahnik heels. The first lady, accompanying her husband President Donald Trump on his first official trip to Asia, will again have her turn in the spotlight, due in part to a familiar phrase: "What is she wearing?" That "she" being the first lady of the United States, be her Laura Bush, Michelle Obama, and now, Melania Trump. Like it or not, how the...

President Trump’s old office on the 26th floor of Trump Tower in Manhattan sits unoccupied now, unofficial storage space for the gathering trove of memorabilia that his two oldest sons say they hope will eventually be turned over to their father’s presidential library. But just one flight down, in Eric and Donald Trump Jr.’s cramped offices, their father is ever-present — in the seven copies of a recent issue of Golf Digest with his photo and the headline “Golfer-in-Chief” on the cover stacked on Eric’s desk; in his visage looping endlessly on CNN (yes, they watch CNN); in the cardboard...

Karl Lagerfeld likely will join Ralph Lauren in dressing the incoming first lady. Who will dress Melania? With the big event just days away, two names churning about the rumor mill make all the sense in the world. As my colleague Rosemary Feitelberg reported on Monday, one of those names is Ralph Lauren. The other: Karl Lagerfeld. Yes, that Karl Lagerfeld. If accurate, that rock-star combo will transport Melania Trump to Inauguration Day fashion Nirvana. Her wardrobe choices for the swearing in of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States, and later, for the inaugural balls, are...

While a few designers have made news saying they would not dress the future first lady, Carolina Herrera said she'd be honored if Melania Trump wore one of her outfits. The famed designer spoke about Trump on the red carpet before she received an honor of her own Tuesday night from the Women's Leadership Council at Lincoln Center. ... But when asked if she would, Herrera said, "Of course I will, as the first lady of this country I will. Of course." She added, "It is an honor to dress the first ladies of the country and it's something to...

ROME, August 28, 2015 (LifeSiteNews) -- While mainstream media is gushing with news today that Pope Francis allegedly praised a children’s book that promotes gender theory, the Vatican is decrying what they called the "manipulation" of a cordial letter from an official in the Secretariat of State to suggest that the Vatican is promoting teachings contrary to the Gospel. Italian children’s author Francesca Pardi was reported by The Guardian to have submitted a parcel of children’s books promoting the acceptance of homosexuality and gender theory to Pope Francis in June after Venice’s mayor Luigi Brugnaro publicly banned the author’s newest...

Vatican City, 27 February 2013 (VIS) – Today, Benedict XVI celebrated his last general audience. In St. Peter's Square, crowded with tens of thousands of people wishing to bid him farewell, the Pontiff said: “Thank you for coming in such large numbers to this, my last general audience. Thank you, I am truly moved! And I see the Church is alive! I think we also have to thank the Creator for the beautiful weather that He is giving us now, even in winter.” Following is the entire text of the Holy Father's words. Like the Apostle Paul in the Biblical...

On Ash Wednesday "The forty days of Lent recall Israels sojourn in the desert and the temptations of Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry." Vatican City, February 13, 2013 (Zenit.org). Before delivering his catechesis today, the Holy Father said the following to the faithful present: "Dear Brothers and Sisters, As you know, I have decided [applause] Thank you for your sympathy, I have decided to give up the ministry that the Lord has entrusted to me on April 19, 2005. I did this in full freedom for the good of the Church, after having prayed at length and...

On God As Creator of Heaven and Earth "In the work of creation, God is seen as the almighty Father who by his eternal Word brings into existence a universe of goodness, harmony and beauty" Vatican City, February 06, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the general audience Pope Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Creed, which begins by describing God as "Almighty Father," as we meditated on last week, then adds that He is the "Creator of heaven and earth," and thus takes up the Bible's opening line. In the first...

On Abraham's Faith "Saying 'I believe in God' means founding my life on Him" Vatican City, January 23, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave today during the general audience in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, In this Year of Faith, I would like to start today to reflect with you on the Creed, the solemn profession of faith which accompanies our lives as believers. The Creed begins, "I believe in God." It is a fundamental affirmation, deceptively simple in its essentiality, but one that opens onto the infinite world of the relationship...

On Christ As Mediator Between God and Man "Jesus is Truly God Among Us, 'The Mediator and the Fullness of All Revelation'" Vatican City, January 16, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the general audience Pope Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Second Vatican Council, in its Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation Dei Verbum, says that the intimate truth of the revelation of God shines for us "in Christ, who is both the mediator and the fullness of all revelation"(no. 2). The Old Testament tells us how God, after the creation, despite...

On the Incarnation "God gives us the greatest gift possible, the gift of himself " Vatican City, January 09, 2013 (Zenit.org). Dear Brothers and Sisters, In this Christmas season we focus once again on the great mystery of God who came down from Heaven to enter into our flesh. In Jesus, God became incarnate, He became man like us, and thus opened for us the door to His Heaven, to full communion with Him. In recent days, the term "incarnation" of God has resounded several times in our churches, to express the reality we celebrate on Christmas: the Son of...

On God the Almighty Father "Despite the Crisis of Fatherhood in Many Societies, the Scriptures Show us Clearly what it Means to Call God 'Father'" VATICAN CITY, January 30, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is a translation of the General Audience Pope Benedict XVI gave today in Paul VI Hall. Dear Brothers and Sisters, In last Wednesday's catechesis we focused on the words of the Creed: "I believe in God." But the profession of faith specifies this statement: God is the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I should like to reflect with you now on the first, fundamental definition of...

On the Identity of Jesus "The Incarnation is the Beginning of the New Creation" VATICAN CITY, January 2, 2013 (Zenit.org). Here is the translation of the Holy Father's weekly general audience address. Dear Brothers and Sisters, The Nativity of the Lord once again illuminates the darkness that often surrounds our world and our hearts with His light, bringing hope and joy. Where does this light come from? From the stable in Bethlehem, where the shepherds found "Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger" (Lk 2:16). Before this Holy Family, another and deeper question arises: how can the...