Free Republic

This all began a few days ago, when Jeff Miller at the Curt Jester blog posted this comment regarding RC women who seek to be ordained. I do enjoy it when my own humor sparks others to their own hilarity.  I jested the other day: "If women are being called to the priesthood then why is it only dissident women that are being called?  Where are the women being ordained that have a preference for the extraordinary form of the Mass?  Why do they always have a preference for Hippy stoles and not beautifully embroidered ones.  Where are the traditionalist...

ROME (AFP) — One of Italy's leading animal rights groups said Monday it was launching an Internet petition to demand Pope Benedict XVI stop wearing fur during religious ceremonies at the Vatican.Lorenzo Croce, chairman of the Italian Association for the Defence of Animals and the Environment (AIDAA), denied being provocative or wanting to make an anti-religious statement."We just want to ask him in a message of love and peace to give a strong signal towards the protection of animals and the environment through a small but very significant personal sacrifice," Croce told the Italian news agency ANSA.Since his election Pope...

WASHINGTON, July 21 /PRNewswire/ -- - July 25th Marks 40th Anniversary of Vatican's Devastating Decision Forty years ago, a decision was announced that has had a catastrophic impact on the poor and powerless around the world. On July 25, 1968, Pope Paul VI slammed the door on the hopes of the vast majority of Catholics and confirmed a complete prohibition on modern methods of contraception. The papal encyclical Humanae Vitae was a defining moment in modern church history and continues to be a source of great conflict and division in the church. It is a little-known fact that before Humanae...

Well, It's official. Jack Kevorkian, Dr. Death, is on the ballot in Michigan in his run for the U.S. Congress. [Det. news] Jack Kevorkian -- nicknamed "Dr. Death" for the high-profile assisted suicides he performed -- gathered enough valid signatures to be on the November ballot and try to unseat veteran Rep. Joe Knollenberg, the chief of elections for Oakland County said Monday. "He has enough qualifying petition signatures," said Joe Rozell, director of elections for Oakland County. "They are valid." Now we realize that Dr. Death's campaign is an uphill battle. Therefore, we once again make our offer...

When I heard the report at the end of last week that Pope Benedict has asked the Congregation for Divine Worship to study some potential changes to the liturgy, I got very excited. Think about all the possibilities! Think about what the Mass could be, rather than what it often is. The abuses and experiments, gone! The tawdry celebration of self, gone! Latin back in its proper place! Gregorian Chant! The priest's magnificent back on glorious display! The more I thought about it the more excited I became and the more I started wondering how would such a change be...

Islam Factor is a bold experiment in Muslim freedom of expression, freedom of speech and cooperation with people from all walks of life. Some who follow, agree with or are amicable to Islam and some who are opposed. Whether you agree with or follow Islam or not, whether you oppose Islam or not, no matter the nation, race, religion or creed we are from, we all have one thing in common. We all are human-beings with the same basic needs, hopes and emotions. Our forum hopes to promote an almost unheard of tolerance (that eludes many Muslim groups) that transcends...

Pop icon Madonna is using kabbalah to brainwash Yankee star Alex Rodriguez into believing they are "soulmates," the ballplayer's estranged wife is telling friends. Cynthia Rodriguez, who has bolted to rocker Lenny Kravitz's Paris pad to avoid the limelight, is blaming the Material Girl for breaking up her five-year marriage, a close friend told the Daily News. The 34-year-old stunner has revealed to close confidants that she discovered a note her husband wrote professing his true feelings to Madonna. "I believe he was having an affair with Madonna," she told a friend, who spoke anonymously for fear of angering A-Rod....

The little rabbit in this video is apparently looking for its father. This video is humorous but true for today, many are confused or wondering whom their father is so please pray for this worldwide confusion and sexual promiscuousness. The Bible says, confusion is of the evil one (Devil).

NEW YORK — The angels are familiar, and the demons with the yellow sulfury smoke rising from their nostrils — but the plot, well, not so much.    The stage version of This Present Darkness, this summer’s Broadway sensation, is raking in profits but has rankled the author and many Christians expecting a faithful re-telling of the book.     "It’s a pale, watered down representation of my novel," says author Frank Peretti who sold the rights to two longtime producers but is now urging Christians to boycott the show.     Renamed ‘Dark,’ the musical depicts demons in Cats-style costumes and 12-foot...

Battle Creek, Mi - John Hodges, the associate pastor of Liberty Baptist Church in Battle Creek, stood before an emotional and confused congregation this past Sunday and tried his best to explain what was going on with the church's senior pastor, Dr. Charles Hollingsworth. "I know we are all in shock," said Hodges from the pulpit. "Believe me, I'm hurting from this too. But I think one thing that brother Charles needs right now is our prayers and our support. He's been placed on sabbatical indefinitely, but we want to work with him and spend some time trying to help...

Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church. ---------------- The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals. ------------------------- The sermon this morning: "Jesus Walks on the Water." The sermon tonight: "Searching for Jesus." ------------------------- Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King. -------------- Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands. ------------------ The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today...

“Son of a…” June 14th, 2008 by Tom Purcell Get this: Dads are essential to kids.According to the National Fatherhood Initiative, kids who grow up without dads are more likely to grow up poor, drop out of school, end up in jail and encounter numerous other struggles in life than kids who grow up with dads.This information comes as no shock to most men. We know that boys are prone to stupidity and that the creature best suited to taming them is the like-minded fellow called dad.When I was five, my father told me to stop jumping around the tub,...

DEARBORN, Mich. — Elias Al-Karim says he’s always gotten along well with his neighbors, who are evangelical Christians. But he was angered recently to learn that they had added his name, and the names of his wife and children, to Community Faith Center’s corporate prayer list. Elias called the church to complain. "We do not want prayer from Christians, and we did not ask for it," he told a reporter. "It’s a violation to pray for someone without their knowledge or consent." To ease tensions, the church did what many churches and ministries are increasingly doing: started a "do not...

Jackson, Tn - It's a Sunday morning in Jackson, Tennessee, and for David O'Rouke, on this particular Sunday, it's a day of uncertainty and possible change. O'Rouke, who has been a long time member of the popular Longview Baptist Church, which has over 15,000 members, has ventured out into the unknown, paying a visit to the much smaller but friendly congregation of Mt. Olive Baptist Church on the outskirts of town. With just over 300 active members and a 4 member praise band, Mt. Olive's worship service is a far cry from the massive production that occurs every Sunday at...

Click the link to listen to the following songs, each will make you laugh because they are so absurd, and cry because they do indeed fit so many who proclaim to be Christian. Blest Be The Tie That Doesn't Cramp My Style Pillow of Ages, Fluffed for Me I Surrender Some I'm Fairly Certain That My Redeemer Live Sit Up, Sit Up For Jesus Take My Life and Let Me Be What An Acquaintance We Have In Jesus Where He Leads Me, I Will Consider Following He's Quite a Bit To Me Oh, How I Like Jesus Fill My Spoon,...

Mormons, note the simularity of portions of the Book of Mormon to the King James Version of the Bible, assert that it proves the divine origin of the Book of Mormon. Of course that convicted fraud Joseph Smith Jr. would need to plagerize, but the G-d of Israel, of Jacob, and of Abraham would not need to plagerize, seems to have excaped them.

Thursday, May 8, 2008 Westboro to picket...Westboro? Topeka,KS- If anyone thought they were safe, surely the actual members of the Westboro Baptist Church did, but this weekend plans are underway for a picketing, that's right, the Westboro Baptist members will picket themselves. "It's a shame we have to do this. America is doomed, and we've allowed ourselves to become overwhelmed by the stupidity of this doomed country," said Frank Phelps, a distant cousin of Shirley Phelps. "We have become too pro-homosexual, so now we have to warn ourselves of God's doom and wrath against our own church." The zealous...

One of the first internet hoaxes to reach a mass audience was the claim in a 1994 press release that Microsoft had bought the Catholic Church. Its success signalled the enormous power of the new online technology to disseminate information, or misinformation, in ways that sidestepped the traditional gatekeepers of the media. The press release, which bore a Vatican City dateline, noted that this was “the first time a computer software company has acquired a major world religion". It quoted Bill Gates as saying that he considered religion to be a growth market and that, “The combined resources of Microsoft...

The Right Thing To Do... When Senator Barack Obama tells "Fellow Child-Murder Advocates" at Planned Parenthood that providing "Sex Education For Kindergartners" is "The Right Thing To Do", is he alleging that NOT teaching children how to "Get It On" is "The Wrong Thing To Do"? Can we all agree that NOT providing food and shelter for one's children would be "The Wrong Thing To Do"? Can we all agree that a Parent who fails to provide for their children should have their children taken from them... by force... if necessary? -

Bock vs. Pentecost Tribulation Cage Match Dallas-In a move that rocked the far-flung Dispensational community, noted Traditional Dispensationalist Dwight Pentecost challenged Progressive Dispensationalist champion Darrel Bock to a cage match fight to determine the future of Dispensational thought in America. Pentecost, the author of numerous books, is perhaps best known for his treatment of the end times from a traditional dispensationalist viewpoint in his magnum opus Things to Come. Darrel Bock, meanwhile, is one of the leading proponents of the theological position known as "Progressive Dispensationalism," co-authoring a book of the same name with Craig Blaising. Accusations and theological barbs...

ST. LOUIS, MO - Riverside Spirit-Filled Assembly is fairly typical as far as charismatic churches go. If you attend one of their services, you will experience lively worship, bible reading, testimonies, and a happy church family. You will see a choir, praise team, ushers, and several pastors. They even have Children's Church. Things will also be very well-organized. There is one thing, according to the Apostle Daniel Morris, senior pastor at Riverside, that does make his church unique. Morris told TBNN, "As with most charismatic churches, we heartily believe in the second blessing of the Holy Spirit. However, at our...

Recently, I spoke to a group of non-Utahns. It was clear from the beginning that none of them knew much about Mormons other than we were possibly - how to put this nicely? - nuts. These were not stupid people. In fact, I admit to being the dumbest person in the room. They were in Salt Lake for a university-level conference. They probably all had doctorates in stuff more or less useful. After my gab, I took polite questions about Mormonism, namely polygamy, the temple, plural marriage, underwear, extra wives and some more about polygamy. One lady wanted to know...

Seeing as how I used to be a singles pastor, I thought that I would give you some of the tips that I gave my singles on how NOT to lure the right one to your side. (Thanks to Carrie for her help!) 20. ”I am not overweight. The word ‘glory’ in Hebrew is kabod which according to HALOT literally means ‘heaviness.’ The Bible also says that we are to reflect God’s glory. Therefore, I am just doing what the Bible says.” 19. “Looking at you makes me reconsider preterism, because you are heaven on earth.” 18. “Paul said that...

HOUSTON, TX - At this Easter Sunday celebration, Lakewood Church had something special in store for its audience. Along with the normal new praise choruses, drama, puppet ministry, and man-centered preaching, Pastor Osteen announced that Lakewood Church would begin using a new slogan. Pastor Osteen proclaimed, "I have said time and again what a big fan I am of John Piper. He is just such a good preacher and teacher. I still don't know where he gets all of his material. Anyway, he has a pretty good slogan. Pastor John says, 'God is most glorified in us when we are...

RightNation.US member lyria checked out the scene as the visiting Benedict XVI made his way through the nation's capitol today. According to a delightfully hilarious post by lyria, the hawkers were strange enough, but: The real show was the protesters. I love a good freakshow. When I heard the angry voice through the bullhorn, I was expecting a gay rights group, a reproductive rights group, or maybe something about female ordination or the pedophilia scandals. No..... They were protesting the existence of Catholicism. No, really, they were. I am not joking. Once I realized it, I started looking for the...

04/09/2008 01:57 AM ID: 69863 Wikileaks Leaks Scientology Secrets Wikileaks has "leaked" some of Scientology's top secret bibles and is not backing down from threats coming from lawyers. Instead of taking down the documents, they instead told the world that it has been verified. Some of the drills L Ron Hubbard says will reach OT1 is: 2) Note several large and small female bodies until you have a cognition. Note it down. 3) Note several large and several small male bodies until you have a cognition. Note it down. Scientology attorneys are claiming that the works are copyrighted while Wikileaks...

St. Louis, Mo - It is Sunday morning at Calvary Baptist Church in St. Louis. Mark Treadwell and his wife Amy with their three kids are usually early for worship that begins at 10AM. For Mark and Amy, Calvary Baptist is special to them. Both were raised at the church, and they grew up together in Sunday School through youth group, young singles, and finally into the young married couples class. While the Treadwells have always felt at home at Calvary Baptist some things have recently changed that are making them and others in the church feel a little "uncomfortable"...

(Dallas Theological Seminary : Ucs News) Sources close to the Dallas Theological Seminary are reporting the official date for the Rapture has been delayed, indefinitely. According to the unnamed sources "The daily review of world events has Seminary officials concerned the Lords work is just not complete and the chosen ones are not delivering on Gods promise." The Rapture is the name given to a future event in which Jesus Christ will descend from Heaven, accompanied by the spirits of all the saints of God, both from the pre-incarnation period and after. There is considerable debate among Christians who believe...

Recently, the religious world was shocked to learn that Muslims now outnumber Catholics, 1.3 billion to 1.13 billion. I myself was planning to convert to Catholicism — 17.4 percent of the global population can’t be wrong — but now I feel like: what’s the point? After all, a faith’s explication of the ineffable mysteries of Creation can best be measured by its sales figures. And maybe how much rock music it inspires. But numbers is where Islam has Catholicism beat. It’s just doing a better job capturing the key “disgruntled 18-to-49-year-old male” demographic that advertisers prize as Catholicism continues losing...

Wake Forrest, Id - The members of South Woods Baptist Church are deeply worried over the future of their church these days. Some members have already left the church while others are on the verge. The problem has gotten so bad that the church is close to splitting right down the middle. The trouble all centers around two small electronic devices, the popular Apple iPod and Microsoft's competition device known as the "Zune." The problems began almost a year ago when the church's Assistant Pastor, Trey Waters, was preaching during the vacation of Senior Pastor Albert Weissen. Waters reportedly used...

It’s not the Calvinists!March 29th, 2008 Great quote from Attorney General Michael Mukasey, when asked about the profiling of Muslims: Mr. Mukasey said that tactic is not used at airports. However, he used blunt language to defend extra scrutiny the Justice Department gives to militant Islamic groups.“So far as focusing investigations, we investigate where the threat is coming from. The threat is coming from Islamist extremism. It’s not coming from Calvinism,� the attorney general said.

Become A Better Calvinist April 1st, 2008 · 1 Comment Joel Osteen has decided to help out Calvinists, especially, the ones who miss the big picture.Q: For Calvinists, what is your advice for how they can slow things down and find peaceful moments and smile?A: What Calvinists need to realize is that their predestination is the key. See, what Victoria and I have realized is that when you pronounce the word “predestination� your mouth starts to naturally form a smile. They just need to learn to hold that smile throughout the whole word, claim it and take the smile...

SPRING HILL, Fla. — After taking time off recently due to ministry burn-out, pastor’s wife Julie Torrey returned to her church with a new passion: interpretive dance. Though her husband and some in the congregation have yet to fully embrace her new ministry, she is committed to "communicating the gospel in the beautiful language of dance and movement." "My dance interpretations are as important as the sermon itself," Julie says. "They speak to people in a unique way." But husband and pastor Ed Torrey appears to have only grudgingly accepted his wife’s new calling. He allows her to take the...

CHESTERFIELD — A youth group from a suburban mega-church traveled to inner-city St. Louis for a ministry trip which confirmed their preconceptions about urban poverty. "It’s even grosser than I thought down here," said Emma Fahe, 15, after performing in a human video. "I better not get a disease. I never want to come back, even for ministry." "Why don’t people move out?" one boy wondered aloud as he picked up trash around the neighborhood. He was wearing arm-length rubber gloves, a clear visor and mask and using tongs. "I’m sorry I even know this place exists." "Ick," said another...

ROME, ITALY - No matter how long you are in the news business, there are some things you just cannot predict. TBNN has learned of a scandal going on within the Vatican. Although no official announcement has yet been made, our sources tell us that Pope Benedict has converted to Christianity. How could this happen? How could the leader of the Roman Catholic Faith convert to another religion? The Pope's journey is interesting and educating for us all. Several months ago, the Vatican began encouraging all Catholics to read great Catholic theologians. The thought was that this would increase the...

Chicago, Il - Hundreds of people are lined up outside of Terry Jenkins' apartment to see what some are calling "a miracle." The 45-year-old construction worker and life-long resident of Chicago is fast becoming a celebrity in his home city because of a startling discovery he made last week while praying. According to Jenkins he was praying while looking at a 5x5 picture of Mary in his apartment when something caught his eye. "I had never noticed it before but there was something strange behind Mary's left hand in the picture," said Jenkins. "As I gazed at the picture and...

Are you having difficulty getting your teenagers to read The Message? Is your daughter uncomfortable lugging around a cumbersome book? Does your son often fall asleep attempting to read those lengthy passages out of The Message with all the unnecessary letters? Do you honestly want to see them grow in their spiritual life but don't know their language? Well, d tx Message is the book for you... and we mean that. The d tx Message is NOT for your teenager. It's for YOU! The d tx Message contains everything you need to make a connection with your teenager (assuming your...

Evangelical churches and ministries across America are reeling today after a lower court in Manhattan found the defendants guilty in the "U.S. vs. 'Rev. John Smith'" sermon sharing case. On April 1, 2007 the justice department filed charges against thousands of pastors and seminary students across America. Due to the large number of parties involved, the justice department simply designated the defendant as "Rev. John Smith" to represent the whole. At the center of the suit are the sermons and writings of Rev. Timothy J. Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Manhattan. After an intensive three year investigation the justice...

Hollywood, Ca - Film director and screenwriter Oliver Stone announced on Tuesday that he is currently casting for an upcoming film about the Bible called The Lost Testament. Stone, whose controversial 1991 film JFK presented the theory that there was a second gunman in the Kennedy assassination, began work four years ago on the film because of a personal conviction that something "just didn't seem right" about the apparent "contradictions" between the Old and New Testament. An Episcopalian turned Buddhist, Stone argues that there has to be more information out there that bridges the gap between the "God of Wrath"...

You’re a pastor, and you’ve just left your latest church. It is blown up, and in shreds – but who can blame you for that? You tried, but the people just weren’t holy enough. Now you’ve gone to another town, and joined a local church. You’re temporarily out of the ministry. Your work is ahead of you. You’ve got to be careful at this point. Discernment is needed. In your new church there are bound to be some areas of sin and looseness that you can exploit. The task before you is to be judicious in selecting just which issues...

SAINT PATRICK First this...... Prayer to Saint Patrick O Blessed Apostle of Ireland, glorious Saint Patrick, many centuries ago you converted Ireland to Christ. Receive my grateful and heartfelt prayers today and intercede for me and for those I love. I unite my prayers to those of all your spiritual children, turning confidently to God through the ages. May I begin anew at this moment to love God with all my heart and serve him with all my strength. Gain for me that missionary spirit which inspired you to work for the gospel. Open my heart to charity for...

This is a video of a rare Columbian parakeet named Perija and there is only a few in number of this type of parakeet. With an animation of the parakeet’s photo I use it for a greeting on my you-tube videos and wish to say hello and God bless you also at Free Republic. Revski

LAFAYETTE, Ind.- Millions of middle-aged and older Catholics remember Sister Mary Margaret, their third-grade teacher. She told gory stories about the martyrs, lived and breathed The Baltimore Catechism, and made you hold your nose to the blackboard if you didn’t do your homework. Fuel for some funny stories, yes. But noted Catholic scholar Robert Orsi says that Sister provided fervent religious formation and helped transform Catholics into one of the most educated, most successful segments of American society.Teaching nuns in 1960 were “the most educated sisters in all Catholic history,” he said in a lecture at Purdue University Feb. 8....

Failing to recycle plastic bags could find you spending eternity in Hell, the Vatican said after drawing up a list of seven deadly sins for our times. Your view: What are the 'deadly sins' of our time? Vatican sex guide urges Catholics to do 'it' more often Climate change 'will spark global conflict' The seven, which include polluting the environment, were announced by Monsignor Gianfranco Girotti, a close ally of the Pope and the head of the Apostolic Penitentiary, one of the Roman Curia's main court.

BIG TIMBER, Mont. — Without their consent or knowledge, a pastor in rural Montana has sold his church and congregation on eBay for $3 million. "I finally got good and sick of them," says Tad Marshall, pastor for 15 years who completed the secret sale last week. "This serves them right. All of them." But many in the church are stunned by the Marshall family’s sudden departure. "We had such a good relationship," says Winifred Barnes. "Whenever I called him in the middle of the night to pray for my psoriasis, he was happy to help. I’m surprised he would...

1:1 As it is written in the AP Manual, "Behold, I send my press corps before thy face, who shall prepare thy way." And so it came to pass that pundits went forth into all that country, preaching a vote of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. And lo, these pundits spake by the Spirit of the Age, going into all their towns and cities and declaring:   1:2 "He is not operating on the same plane as ordinary politicians. . . . [He is] the agent of transformation in an age of revolution, as a figure uniquely qualified...

ON SATURDAY, I SPENT a couple of hours chatting with a friend who runs an evangelical bookstore. He set the shop up in the heart of Mormon country and has kept at it for 30 years. "I have to say, I admire your devotion," I tell him. "I never take credit for personal virtue," he says. "That's you guys." It's the way things are between us. We don't play a lot of slap and tickle. We know where we stand. Evangelical faith comes out as confidence and boldness, which Mormons often see as brazen. Mormon faith comes out as obedience,...

Accidental Similarities? This is the tale of two organizations with eerie similarities in how they evolved through the years. One is fictional, the other quite real. As far as we know, these similarities are not intentional, though this author believes in a Sovereign God – meaning there are no coincidences. Nobody knows for certain the origin of either organization. Both entities appeared and “history” was filled in after the fact to varying degrees. They gave rise to charismatic, authoritarian leaders whose power was rarely challenged. Each leader provides communications to the respective “collective”, insuring each “drone” has the official message,...

Can the cracks in the road or the formation of potholes create a profile of a person or an animal? How about a profile of Jesus' face? While traveling down East 29th Road, north of Seneca, Kris Jackson said in an e-mail that Jesus' face just "came up and hit me in the face" when she noticed the formation of the cracks. Jackson returned to the area with her son and continued seeing the profile in the road. Jackson and her son drove by the cracked area in the road several times, before she took a photo of it the...