Free Republic

Twenty-five years ago, a police officer found a baby in a California dumpster. Last week, the baby – now a grown man – got to meet the man who saved him. Robin Barton shares a bond like no other with retired Santa Ana police officer Michael Buelna. "I hoped that someday I would see him again," Buelna said. The two first met 25 years ago, though Barton was just 4 hours old, in what some would call a miracle encounter. It was Nov. 21, 1989. Buelna was on duty in Santa Ana.

Your Love is Lifting Me Higher – A Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent By: Msgr. Charles PopeThe readings in today’s Mass speak to us of our desperate condition, and how God’s abiding love has not only set us free, but also lifted us higher. God was not content to restore us to some earthy garden, paradise though it was. No, he has so loved the world that he sent his Son who has opened heaven itself for us and given us a new, transformed and eternal life.Let's look at some of the themes and ponder that God works...

In all the daily conflict we see between progressive liberal activists, secular humanists, atheists, gay activists, and radical Muslims versus Christians—I am speaking to Christians—as followers of Christ, we must always be mindful of our marching orders, and from whom those marching orders come. Do not rejoice at our victories, and do not despair at our defeats.  The culture war isn't about you anyway. It’s about the souls of those who are perishing. Persecution in all forms will come to us as Christians.  Jesus said it would happen. Speaking to His disciples, Jesus said in John 16:32, “A time is...

The Whole Law, standing on one foot! A Homily For the 30th Sunday of the year By: Msgr. Charles PopeThere was an expression common among the rabbis of Jesus’ time, wherein one rabbi would ask another a question, and request that the answer be given while “standing on one foot.” This is a Jewish way of saying, “Be brief in your answer.”And that sort of expression may be behind the question that is raised in today’s gospel by the scholar of law, who asks, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”Just as an aside, it is likely that...

God and God Alone: A Homily for the 29th Sunday of the Year By: Msgr. Charles PopeThe Gospel today contains lots of interesting juxtapositions: hatred for Jesus but grudging respect for him,  real questions versus rhetorical ones, politics and faith, duties to Caesar and duties to God. The word  “juxtaposition” is from the Latin juxta (meaning “near”) and positio (meaning “place or position”). Hence juxtaposition is the placing of two things near to each other in order to see how they are similar and yet different.  In English, usually a juxtaposition emphasizes differences more than similarities.Let’s look at these one...

My Love for you is immense and in its abilities of Divine and "Eternal Forgiveness" lies the wisdom of " Eternal Freedom " for Each of My Children willing to receive it and walk in it . These "ARE" ~ Rules of Engagement ~ for your lives ARE full of Choices but these choices effect your Eternity not just your day. "Choose the Life" of " Eternal Freedom " for I AM your "In" Heritance of your very Heart "in" Me. "Choose Life" for UN-Forgiveness of your Self and others leads to Death . . . Deuteronomy 30:15-20 15 See,...

What difference does it make now? [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8INIH0JfNA8] Video linkHe is not up for reelection and won't be impeached regardless of whatever He is or loves. If impeached, He wouldn't be convicted. On the other hand, such questions and their responses provide useful distractions from what He and His acolytes are doing to America.According to Dana Milbank at Organizing for Action the Washington Post, knowing that Obama is a Christian and loves "His" country should be a no-brainer. This is not a matter of conjecture. The correct answer is yes: Obama is Christian, and he frequently speaks about it in public. Balz and Costa presented Walker with this...

THE Eternal Love of The Father Virtue upon virtue , line upon line of My Word is truly a River of Life as you walk in My Love and not your own for as your Father in Heaven I AM with you always even onto forever but it is My desire you carry My Heart and not your own for your love can be injured But My Love for you ,in you and through you is an unstoppable Truth that sheds off the lies of the enemy and before which all condemnation Must Fall! For My Love is Sovereign and...

There has been no shortage of news coverage—and criticism—regarding comments I made about President Obama at a political gathering last week in New York. My blunt language suggesting that the president doesn’t love America notwithstanding, I didn’t intend to question President Obama’s motives or the content of his heart. My intended focus really was the effect his words and his actions have on the morale of the country, and how that effect may damage his performance. Let me explain. (clip)........ Obviously, I cannot read President Obama’s mind or heart, and to the extent that my words suggested otherwise, it was...

President Obama: Do you really love America? ( 3:01) Published on Feb 21, 2015 Does President Obama really love America? CJ elaborates. To follow CJ on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/CJ-Pea...

Obama loves America. He can prove it by disclosing when, where and under what name he registered with Selective Service.

Talk radio host and author of “The Liberty Amendments,” Mark Levin defended Rudy Giuliani’s comments regarding President Obama’s love of America on Thursday’s “Hannity” on the Fox News Channel.

The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cincinnati issued a warning to Christians about the movie Fifty Shades of Grey, ahead of its release over the weekend weekend. "The story line is presented as a romance; however, the underlying theme is that bondage, dominance, and sadomasochism are normal and pleasurable," Archbishop Dennis Marion Schnurr posted on the Archdiocese of Cincinnati's Facebook page. The movie tells the story of a sexual relationship between a wealthy businessman and a college student and includes scenes that depict whipping and bondage. "This movie is in direct contrast to the Christian message of God’s design for self-giving...

If you are single, you might occasionally browse personal ads from people looking for love. Please post words or phrases you consider red flags in personal ads. I am less concerned about obvious reg flags like "just got out of prison." I am more interested in subtle reg flags, euphemisms and words that put you off personally. But please feel free to post any type of red flag to keep the discussion flowing. Thank you.

Women from around the world are invited to mail us their copy of Fifty Shades of Grey. In exchange, we will mail you a copy of Pulling Back the Shades for free! This book addresses God’s design for intimacy, and shows why erotica is exploiting women’s longings rather than satisfying them. We openly address questions women are unsure where to go for answers, and talk about how you can be a sexual and spiritual woman.

Is There Anyone You Know Who Might Have Been Forgotten This Christmas? By: Msgr. Charles PopeChristmas is a beautiful time of the year for most of us, most of the time. But it is also true that Christmas can be a very painful time of year for some, especially those who have experienced recent loss or who, for various reasons, have fewer family options at Christmas. Yes, Christmas can be the best of times or the loneliest of times, the most wonderful time of the year or the most painful.The video below reminds us that Christmas can also be a...

President Obama will meet Tuesday at the White House with members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), including freshman GOP Rep. Mia Love (Utah). The meeting comes as top black leaders — including CBC Chairman G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.) and Reps. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) and John Lewis (D-Ga.) — are vowing to skip a March 3 speech by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to protest an invitation they see as a slight to the president in the midst of high-stakes nuclear talks with Iran. Love is currently the only Republican member of the CBC. Her office said Monday that she plans...

Pondering Punishment as an Act of Love By: Msgr. Charles PopeIn the first reading from today’s Mass (Wednesday of the fourth week of the year) came this admonition:My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges.In our times, we have tended to set love and punishment in opposition; we also set mercy and punishment in opposition. But this is wrong. It is possible, at least with human beings, that a certain punishment can be excessive. But of itself, punishment...

**SNIP** What does a bodyman do? Dubbed Obama’s “chief of stuff” in the news media, Love explains the job like this: “I was his DJ, his Kindle, his travel agent, his valet, his daughters’ basketball coach, his messenger, his punching bag, his alarm clock, his vending machine, his chief of stuff, his note passer, his spades partner, his party planner, his workout partner, his caterer, his small forward, his buffer, his gatekeeper, his surrogate son, and ultimately, his friend.” Early-morning workouts, food and, yes, basketball helped bring them together. They e-mailed each other stat lines from top NBA point guards...

Many Have Reduced Love to Kindness, and Kindness to Mere Affirmation – A Further Reflection on the Moral Troubles of our Time By: Msgr. Charles PopeIn yesterday’s post, there was a critique of a flawed moral perspective that sets up a false dichotomy between mercy  and moral teaching, and between love and the law. As noted yesterday, well-ordered love and mercy must be rooted in truth. The greatest mercy is to keep people out of Hell and to save them from all the suffering that comes from sin.Jesus exhibits this in His person, for He who is love insists on moral...