Free Republic

Tonette Scott, a mother to six, and previously a grandmother to six, celebrated the addition of four grandchildren in a single day. Scott was at the hospital supporting her daughter, Raighan Scott, who was in labor when the doctor came in with an unexpected announcement. Scott described the moment saying, Dr. Phillips came in. He said, ‘Well you better put some running shoes on, Grandma, 'cause you're gonna be going down the hall.' I said, ‘Why?' He said, ‘I just admitted Ty.' I said, ‘What!?' Another daughter, Tatyana Simmons, "Ty", was pregnant with twins and had come in dealing with...

Addressing the controversy surrounding the Vatican's decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples, Pope Francis said the critics of the guidance, except for Africans, belong to "small ideological groups."The pontiff claimed that even in Africa, the resistance is more cultural, as homosexuality is generally not tolerated, Reuters quoted him as saying in an interview with the Italian newspaper La Stampa.Francis was referring to the December 2023 document "Fiducia Supplicans" issued by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, which has sparked widespread debate within the Catholic Church. The guidance stated that priests may bless same-sex couples that approach them...

Pope Francis is seeking to clarify that the Catholic Church is not changing its teachings about homosexual practices and same-sex relationships as the Vatican faces criticism for approving a document allowing priests to bless same-sex couples. Delivering remarks at the plenary session of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith Friday, the pontiff addressed the “Fiducia Supplicans” declaration handed down by the Vatican office last month. The declaration, published on Dec. 18, allows priests to bless same-sex couples while stressing that “one should neither provide for nor promote a ritual for the blessings of couples in an irregular situation.”As...

Pope Francis urged Vatican officials to avoid "rigid ideological positions" in a speech days after his recent approval of blessings for same-sex couples.Addressing the Holy See hierarchy in his annual Christmas greeting last Thursday, Francis emphasized the importance of evolving to serve the Catholic Church effectively."In our service here in the Curia too, it is important to keep faring forward, to keep searching and growing in our understanding of the truth, overcoming the temptation to stand still and never leave the 'labyrinth' of our fears," the bishop of Rome said. "Fear, rigidity and monotony make for an immobility that has...

If you have followed my writing and speaking over the decades, you will know that Catholicism has not been a focus of my ministry, either praising it or criticizing it. At the same time, I recognize the important role of the Catholic Church in standing for the sanctity of life and the meaning of marriage. That’s what makes the recent pronouncement of Pope Francis, allowing priests to “bless” same-sex couples, especially distressing. What act of apostasy will be next?My Catholic colleague John Zmirak wrote on Tuesday, “Today I got one of those emails nobody wants to receive. You know, the...

According to much of what's read in the media and among some advocates, the Vatican's changed! It's finally come around to embracing the LGBTQ+ agenda, and is now offering blessings for gay couples for inclusivity's sake, and who knows, soon may be offering gay marriages! Here is some of the cheering from Christopher Lamb at CNN:With five words, uttered right at the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis changed the Catholic conversation about LGBTQ+ people. In 2013, when asked by a journalist about gay priests, the pope famously replied: “Who am I to judge?”Over the last decade the pope has...

Bishop: Homosex "Blessing" Signifies "God’s Approval" [of Sin]Homosex activist John Stowe, "bishop" of Lexington, Kentucky, is applauding Francis' statement that priests can "bless" homosex concubinages at their whim.Speaking to Time.com (October 4), he said that homosex "blessings" can be of "great significance" to those who practise homosexuality because such "blessings" are like prayers for God's presence and help and "almost signify God's approval."Stowe openly rejects the biblical condemnation of homosexual sins and regards "sexual orientation [such as paedophilia or necrophilia?]" as "not being something that one freely chooses."The Catholic understanding of free will and responsibility has been rejected by many...

Merry Christmas, FReepers & friends. Best to you all, God's blessings, and on our country in these challenging times. Thank You, God.

[Catholic Caucus] Belgium: Francis Would Have Approved the Blessing of Homosexual Couples According to a source, Pope Francis was aware of the preparation of a liturgy for the blessing of homosexual couples by the Dutch-speaking episcopate of Belgium, which was published on September 20, 2022, together with a letter of explanation.This publication caused a stir and many reactions. The bishops defended themselves. Msgr. Johan Bonny, Bishop of Antwerp, said he had spoken about this project to Pope Francis – with whom he met in Rome in June – and that he was in “communion with him.”In an article published...

I am requesting prayer on behalf of my former daughter-in-law. She's in a bad way right now because her firstborn was just murdered. He'd tried to stop a man from injuring a woman. The man ended up stabbing and killing the young man. DIL has 2 other teenage kids, they need prayer too. Mom is in a VERY bad way. Thankyou.

Author’s Note: Interested readers can find all previous volumes of this series here. News Flash: The first 56 volumes are compiled into a book titled “Bible Study For Those Who Don’t Read The Bible.” More details at the end. Now back to our regular programming.Thanks for joining us today. We begin our Thanksgiving-themed Bible study with a memorable quote from my deceased sister, Andrea: “I love Thanksgiving because all you have to do is show up and eat.” Yes, true, but now her baby sister will embellish:“I love Thanksgiving to God because all you have to do is show up,...

King James Version 11 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight; for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth. 3 If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be. 4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. 5 As thou knowest not what...

I am a white privileged American. Yes, and if you are black, Hispanic, Asian or an American of any race or background, you too are a privileged American. You live in America. People climb fences, often risking their lives and paying thousands to get here. People from around the world go through the long and frustrating legal immigration process to become an American immigrant. No one could blame anyone for doing anything they can to come to this land of freedom and opportunity.Could America be better? Of course. Am I dissatisfied with the politicians in Washington? Of course. Are there...

Francis' Personal Homosex Activist Expects "Reparation" For Not Blessing SinFrancis is “very hurt” about his own document against homosex "blessings," Francis' personal homosex activist Juan Carlos Cruz told LaTercera.com (April 10) without laughing.Five days after the publication of the document, Francis called Cruz informing him that he was the first homosex activist appointed to the Roman Curia, i.e. to the alleged "Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors."Cruz told LaTercera.com that he doesn't want to "excuse" Francis who is "responsible" for the document, but believes that “very powerful” prefects had also their say in this. In reality, Francis has surrounded...

Adam and Eve said, 'Lord, when we were in the garden, you walked with us every day. Now we do not see you anymore. We are lonesome here, and it is difficult for us to remember how much you love us.' And God said, I will create a companion for you that will be with you and who will be a reflection of my love for you, so that you will love me even when you cannot see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and...

The Biden-Harris Transition team announced Thursday that Mr. Biden had spoken by telephone with Pope Francis, who offered him “blessings and congratulations.” The press release does not specify who initiated the call, but only that “President-elect Joe Biden spoke this morning with His Holiness Pope Francis.” Since, however, the pope as a rule does not call to congratulate people for political victories, it must be assumed that the Biden team made the call.

Hidden in the uncertainty and fears of the public and the social isolation demands encouraged by the government, it’s too easy to lose sight of blessings that have emerged. May the hope and positive perspective provided contribute to your mental health and a constructive, optimistic attitude worth spreading. Even a country as blessed and successful as America is still vulnerable in a way that can totally disrupt our comfortable world. But wakeup calls can be beneficial. They get us all off autopilot and force us to look at our own habits and needed changes to fight any crisis. A byproduct...

Rush has served the conservative cause will. he has lung cancer and needs all of our prayers. So lets all give him our prayers and maybe tell every one what this mans radio show has meant or how something he has said has helped you in the past.

“God...has blessed us with every spiritual blessing” (Eph. 1:3, emphasis added). As a Christian, you possess every spiritual resource you need to fulfill God’s will for your life. The story is told of a wealthy London businessman who searched many years for his runaway son. One afternoon he was preparing to board a train to London when he spotted a man in ragged, dirty clothing begging money from passengers along the station platform. His first impulse was to avoid the beggar but there was something strangely familiar about him. When the beggar approached and asked if he could spare a...

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us” (Eph. 1:3). When we bless God, it is with words of praise; when He blesses us, it is with deeds of kindness. Paul's brief doxology identifies God the Father as the ultimate recipient and source of blessing—the One to whom blessing is ascribed and the One who bestows blessings on those who love Him. “Blessed” translates the Greek word eulogeō, from which we get eulogy. To bless or eulogize God is to praise Him for His mighty works and holy character. That should be the...