Free Republic

NEW YORK (AP) — Even as Catholic dogma continues to repudiate same-sex marriage and gender transition, one of the most prominent religious orders in the United States — the Jesuits — is strengthening a unique outreach program for LGBTQ+ Catholics. The initiative — fittingly called Outreach — was founded two years ago by the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit who is one of the country’s most prominent advocates for greater LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Catholic Church. Outreach, a ministry of the Jesuit magazine America, sponsored conferences in New York City in 2022 and 2023, and last year launched a multifaceted...

The CDC proposed the codes in 2021. “There has been interest expressed in being able to track people who are not immunized or who are only partially immunized,” Dr. David Berglund, a CDC medical officer, said during a meeting about the proposal. One code is for being “unvaccinated for COVID-19.” Another is for being partially vaccinated, or not having received a primary series of a COVID-19 vaccine. In comments to the CDC about the proposal, health care providers said they supported adding the codes—with some detailing how they’d be used. Identifying people who are unvaccinated or undervaccinated for COVID-19 “will...

Although it was black voters in South Carolina who probably saved Biden’s bacon by giving him a much-needed bounce, it might be black voters who give Trump help in retaining the White House. In 2016, Trump was able to win the White House with only 8% of the black vote. Although that meant 92% of blacks who voted went for Hillary, the problem was with the number of blacks who stayed home: Of the black voters who turned out for Obama in 2012, 7% stayed home for Hillary in 2016. If Democrats are to have a prayer of retaking the White...

The Trump campaign is investing more money and resources in an attempt to attract African-American voters than any Republican presidential campaign in recent memory. The drive includes highly visible television advertising, including an $11 million Super Bowl commercial, along with ad purchases in local black newspapers and on radio stations; “Black Voices for Trump”; storefronts in key battleground states; and a sustained social media campaign directed at black voters whose consumer, religious and demographic profiles suggest potential support, including on such issues as immigration, abortion, gender roles and gay rights. For Trump, the effort became all the more crucial as...

Great news from the Washington Examiner: President Trump is opening 15 urban campaign field offices in an aggressive bid to improve his performance with black voters, who for decades have been an overwhelmingly Democratic constituency. Sleek and situated in retail shopping districts to generate foot traffic, this unique collection of regional “community centers” is a critical component of the Trump campaign’s multimillion-dollar strategy to double in 2020 the 8% support the president received from black voters nearly four years ago. Where will these “community centers” be? Five offices are slated for Florida: Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and Miami. In North...

Over the years, many prominent conservatives have asked me why blacks are not more involved in the Republican Party and the conservative movement. The answer is very simple: Conservatives have shown no demonstrable indication to the black community that we are welcomed by the party or the conservative movement. As a matter of fact, conservatives force “real” blacks to make a false choice: to be black or conservative, as though we can’t be both. Most blacks are conservative by nature and by upbringing. “Real” blacks don’t check their blackness at the door when they join a conservative group. We still...

While you were enjoying your Fourth of July weekend, I was attending a national conference on socialism. Why? Because socialism is having its moment on the left. Since there’s often confusion as to what socialism really is, I decided to attend the Socialism 2019 conference at the Hyatt Hotel in Chicago over the Fourth of July weekend. The conference, which had the tag line “No Borders, No Bosses, No Binaries,” contained a cross-section of the most pertinent hard-left thought in America. Among the sponsors were the Democratic Socialists of America and Jacobin, a quarterly socialist magazine. The walls of the...

[snip] In this time of deep polarization and identity-driven politics, there is a profound difference in how the two parties approach the “other” America. Democratic presidential candidates are spending a great deal of time in Iowa, demonstrating to farmers that they understand their concerns. They hold forums where they talk about soybean prices and the marketing practices of seed suppliers; they propose plans on issues from agricultural monopolies to rural broadband. They’re “reaching out” so hard, their arms are about to pop out of their shoulder sockets. If you missed all the times Republican presidential candidates held forums in urban...

Nine years ago Rick Scott, then a Florida businessman, sat down with a group of self-described jaded Republican strategists to discuss what it would take for him to run for governor. "You are not going to get anywhere with Hispanic voters, but we'll try," said Wes Anderson, founding partner and pollster for OnMessage Inc. (where my co-author, Brad Todd, works). "Rick Scott looked at us and just shook his head. He said, 'I reject your dismissal of Hispanic voters. We are going to pursue them, and we're gonna pursue them hard,'" explained Anderson. "He flat-out rejected that there was this...

The shift in American society from admiring Christians to fearing and criticizing them provides an opportunity for self-reflection. How have we been presenting the message we believe in? Might there be a more grace-filled way?Some want to focus on personal morality and leave public morality to secular politicians. Others seek ways to guide the broader culture while still communicating grace. Rather than propose a single path, I will instead make some observations and suggestions for Christians to consider as we interact with a world that does not always share our views.Clashes Between Christ and Culture Are UnavoidableJohn Howard Yoder recounted...

Two doctors have volunteered to stay with children trapped in a Thai cave for four months if floodwaters cut them off and make rescue attempts impossible, it has emerged. A football coach and 12 'rake thin' young players remain trapped in the Thamg Luang cave network in the country's north as experts desperately try to come up with a plan to rescue them. There are fears fresh rainfall over the next few days could add to flooding in the caves - meaning the boys, who cannot swim, may have to wait until the end of monsoon season in October before...

The perennial question posed during every election season is: How can Republicans win back the black vote? As a retired Army lieutenant colonel and chairman of the National Black Republican Association, I can tell you there are clear steps to take. But before we can get to solving the problem, it is necessary to first understand the root cause. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the Republican Party has never turned its back on black Americans. It continuously conducts black voter engagement, as is done for all identifiable groups, including Hispanics, rural Americans, the middle-class in “fly-over country,” young voters and women....

The Republican Party is working diligently to support Hispanics who are eager to become civically engaged leaders in their communities. Last month, I led a Republican Leadership Initiative event in Las Vegas to teach local activists how to mobilize their communities around issues that affect them. The training — tailored to a Spanish-speaking audience — was an opportunity to share our conservative message as we work to earn the widespread support of people from all backgrounds, nationwide. To win elections in 2018 and beyond, we must ensure that Americans know that our values of limited government and economic freedom are...

Politico is reporting that several sources on the board of the Heritage Foundation are saying there is an organized effort to dump the organization's president, Jim DeMint.  DeMint, who has a close relationship with the Trump White House, is accused of being "too political" and corrupting the foundation's historic mission of research and policy formulation. There's also a sense that he's made the institution too much about himself. "He has been a congressman and senator. They are solo performers. When you are in the Senate, life is all about the senators," said one board member, who asked for anonymity to...

A memorable contestant in the first season of "The Apprentice," Manigault is expected to join President-elect Donald Trump's White House staff, according to two people familiar with the decision. Her job is expected to focus on public engagement. Manigault was one of Trump's most prominent African-American supporters during the campaign and has been working with his transition team. Her effusive praise of Trump has at times drawn criticism....

While the overwhelming majority of Jewish voters voted for Hillary Clinton over President-elect Donald Trump, the Republican candidate still received the second-highest total Jewish vote for the GOP in the past 30 years, beaten only by Mitt Romney in 2012. According to a poll released on election night for J Street by Democratic pollster Jim Gerstein, “there is a bloc of Jewish Republicans — it exists, it is small, but it is not going away.” ... Brooks also noted that Jewish representation on the Republican side of the lower house had now doubled with David Kustoff’s appointment for Tennessee. Jewish...

The Democratic Party handed Donald Trump a rare opportunity to make radical changes to the electoral map that could last for years to come. First, the Democrats gave Trump a great gift by completing the ongoing radicalization of their party under President Obama. After 2008, it was no longer a party of the working and middle classes, but a lopsided political pyramid. On top were the cynical elites who turned up in the WikiLeaks John Podesta email trove: self-important media members, Ivy League grandees, Silicon Valley billionaires, Wall Street plutocrats and coastal corridor snobs. They talk left-wing but live royally....

Vanity: I almost never post so this is likely in the wrong spot. If anyone has access to or can communicate with the Trump campaign here is a suggestion for an ad to influence Korean-Americans. Background: South Korea is currently going through a crisis with their President the influence certain people have with her. Suggestion: Make an ad in the New York, LA, Chicago, Wash DC, etc markets showing that the situation in Korea will be replicated here with Hillary and Soros/Abedin/etc.

In a bid to woo Indian-Americans, Donald Trump has borrowed from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's winning slogan of the 2014 general elections as the Republican presidential nominee is seen in a TV ad saying "Ab Ki Baar Trump Sarkaar" (This time, Trump government) . This is the first time that a US presidential candidate has specifically targeted the Indian-American vote bank. The new advertisement shows the 70-year-old reality TV star adapting BJP's catchy election slogan of the 2014 polls "Ab Ki baar, Modi Sarkaar". Indian-Americans are traditionally supporters of the Democratic Party and Trump's move is seen as an effort...

Black Likely Voters for TRUMP @Rasmussen_Poll Oct 17 – 17% Oct 18 – 19% Oct 19 – 18% Oct 20 – 15% Oct 21 – 16% Oct 24 – 15% Oct 25 – 16% — Ted Carroll (@mediainvestors) October 25, 2016 If Democrats lost 25% of the black vote they would lose Virginia, Florida, Ohio and North Carolina.