Free Republic

Like most of you, I was stunned when the presidents of three of America’s leading universities—UPenn, Harvard and MIT—testified before a congressional committee investigating antisemitism on college campuses. On their campuses, raucous pro-Palestinian protestors chanted, “From the river to the sea,” effectively calling for the elimination of the Jewish state and the genocide of the Jewish people. When New York Rep. Elise Stefanik asked if “calling for the genocide of Jews” violated student codes of conduct, the presidents dodged the yes-or-no question and refused to take a position. Can you imagine? The leaders of some of the most prestigious educational...

Can the Pope be a Heretic? The Traditional Catholic Answer In a homily on May 7, 2005, Pope Benedict XVI made one of the important statements regarding the authority of the Pope. The following words, in particular, have remained in my mind:“The pope is not an absolute monarch whose thoughts and desires are law. On the contrary: The pope’s ministry is a guarantee of obedience to Christ and to his Word. He must not proclaim his own ideas, but rather constantly bind himself and the Church to obedience to God’s Word, in the face of every attempt to adapt it...

VATICAN CITY, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Pope Francis said in an interview published on Monday that Africans were a "special case" in the opposition of bishops and many other people in the continent to homosexuality. But he said he was confident that, except for Africans, critics of his decision to allow blessings for same-sex couples would eventually understand it. Blessings were allowed last month in a document called Fiducia Supplicans (Supplicating Trust), which has caused widespread debate in the Catholic Church, with particularly strong resistance coming from African bishops. "Those who protest vehemently belong to small ideological groups," Francis told...

Of all the things Pope Francis has on his plate -- from an apparent pervert in the Grand Inquisitor's chair, to looming schisms, to dioceses bankrupted by sex scandal payouts, banking scandals, lavender mafias, and empty churches save in Africa, dialogue with avowed Marxists seems like something that ought to be very low on the papal to-do list. But here we are, the pope suddenly in 'dialogue' with members of the world's biggest failed philosophy, holding a mano-a-mano as if the two were equals, and that includes a pep talk. According to LifeSiteNews: VATICAN CITY (LifeSiteNews) — Hosting a Marxist-Christian...

A Catholic church in Lexington, Kentucky, hosted a “blessing” of a same-sex couple that had been civilly “married” for 22 years, citing the Vatican’s heterodox declaration Fiducia Supplicans. The Saint Paul Catholic Church parish posted a picture of the “blessing” on their official Facebook page, showing the parish priest Fr. Richard Watson wearing a rainbow stole and extending his hands for a “blessing” over the lesbian couple close to the altar inside the church. “History was made Sunday at Historic Saint Paul Catholic Church,” the text accompanying the photo read. “This same-sex couple, civilly married for 22 years, asked for...

Stanley has always been a controversial figure, but it wasn’t until the last two years that he has been in the headlines quite a bit over the last year or so over his capitulation to the LGBTQ movement and his acceptance of it. Stanley’s theology is aberrant and he has often made comments that do not align with biblical orthodox Christianity. But whether it’s his open mockery of expository preaching, his trashing of biblical authority, or his promotion of homosexuality in the Church, it’s clear that Andy Stanley’s dangerous views stem from one thing—a lack of understanding of the gospel....

The Methodist Church in Great Britain released an "Inclusive Language Guide" this month advising Methodists to avoid using gendered terms such as "husband" and "wife" because such allegedly assumes what is not "the reality for many people." "As Christians, we need to have the courage for conversations that can sometimes be difficult, to recognize that we sometimes exclude people, to listen with humility, to repent of any hurtful language and to take care with how we listen and what we say or write, in the Spirit of Christ," says the guidance, which will be updated every six months. The guidance...

Israel's Chief Rabbi David Lau addresses letter to Pope Francis after Pope accuses Israel of engaging in terrorism just like Hamas.Chief Rabbi of Israel David Lau addressed a letter today (Sunday) to Pope Francis in which he called on the Pontiff to retract comments made during a conversation with President Isaac Herzog last month in which he appeared to accuse both Israel and Hamas of “terrorism” in the ongoing war that started with the Hamas massacre of over 1,200 people in southern Israel on October 7. During the conversation, Pope Francis said that it is “forbidden to respond to terror...

People can use the bible to justify any position they want when they take words out of context, or read into the text what is not there. On April 22, 2014, a new attack on the reliability and perspicuity of Scripture was released. “God and the Gay Christian” was a book that sought to teach readers that the Bible condones living a monogamous homosexual lifestyle. That attack continues today in the church. The author was Matthew Vines, openly homosexual man and a professing Christian. Being an openly practicing homosexual and claiming to be a Christian often means the person has...

ROME—Pope Francis removed Bishop Joseph Strickland, one of the pope’s most vocal critics in the U.S. hierarchy, the Vatican said Saturday.The Vatican said that the pope had “relieved [the bishop] of the pastoral governance of the Diocese of Tyler,” Texas, and appointed Bishop Joe Vázquez of Austin as “apostolic administrator,” or acting bishop, of Tyler.“I’m saddened for the harm to the faithful but at peace in His Truth, stay Jesus Strong,” Strickland wrote via email on Saturday, in response to a request for comment. Asked about his plans, he replied: “Just praying for now.”Strickland’s firing follows a Vatican investigation this...

Pope to address UN climate conference, inaugurate 'Faith Pavilion'Pope Francis will travel to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates Dec. 1-3 to address the U.N. climate conference and to help inaugurate the Faith Pavilion where religious leaders and organizations will meet to share information and strategies for convincing governments to take real steps to protect the environment.The conference, commonly known as COP28, "can represent a change of direction, showing that everything done since 1992 (with the adoption of the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change) was in fact serious and worth the effort, or else it will be a great...

Welcoming thousands of children to the Vatican on Monday, Pope Francis fielded selected questions and heavily focused on imparting his support for “climate change” talking points to them. In a meeting organized by the Vatican’s Dicastery for Culture and Education, Pope Francis hosted around 7,000 children in the Paul VI Audience Hall for an encounter on the theme “Let’s Learn from Boys and Girls.” The pinnacle of the event was Francis’ presence in the Audience Hall with the children, where he fielded a series of pre-approved questions, and read back his answers. Yet while the event was themed “Let’s Learn...

Francis’ New Book Hails Islam as a ‘Religion of Peace’Pontiff claims Islamic State terrorist outfit is a creation of the West In a new book recounting the last 10 years of his pontificate, Pope Francis is defending Islam as a "religion of peace" and suggesting the possibility of making celibacy optional for Latin rite priests. Non Sei Solo: Sfide, Risposte, Speranze (You Are Not Alone: Challenges, Answers, Hopes), published in Italian and released Tuesday, is a series of dialogues with journalists Sergio Rubin and Francesca Ambrogetti. The pontiff calls upon Europe to integrate Muslim migrants, insisting that "radical Islam is...

There’s never been a more urgent need for pastors to proclaim Israel’s right to the Land. The war in the Middle East has exposed the cancer of anti-Semitism, and we must not keep silent. The massive influx of people from Muslim nations explains the anti-Semitic demonstrations in major cities across Europe and the U.S., but why the intense hatred, such as at Cornel University in New York, where Jewish students are forced to hide from danger? As I explain in Prophetic Observations of the Massacre in Israel, Satan is most certainly the culprit behind the murderous anger directed at Israel...

[Catholic Caucus] The Synodal Way Won Me OverI have not written on matters of faith in a long time. “Why?” I’m sure no one has asked. I will inflict an answer upon you regardless. It’s simple. I’ve been undergoing a spiritual transformation. I have received a re-catechization and am now awakened. No longer burdened by traditional ideologies, I am forever changed, and it is my wish to pass on this possibility to all. Whoopee? you might say. To which I reply, Whoopi!That is correct. I have been forever improved and perfected by the Vatican’s synodal way. It has been a...

Nearly 100 congregations in Ohio have left the United Methodist Church amid the denomination's ongoing debate over homosexuality, joining thousands of other churches in the United States that have done the same.At a special session of the UMC West Ohio Conference held last weekend, 96 churches were granted their request to disaffiliate from the mainline Protestant denomination. The session was held at Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church in Tipp City, with around 800 clergy and laity in attendance. Bishop Gregory V. Palmer presided over the gathering. In addition to the 96 disaffiliations, the session also dealt with budgetary issues, recommending the...

A Synodal Swampy MessWhile addressing a South American youth gathering in 2015, Pope Francis defined his pontificate when he told them to go out and “make a mess.” And a mess is what he has emanating from the Vatican.Enter the Synod on Synodality where barrels of ink have been spilled leading up to its initiation that is now underway in the Eternal City. And if the recycle dumpster is to be believed, much that has been written on the synod has been deposited unopened. Many baptized Catholics have no idea what a synod is or even care.The growing progressive wing...

[Catholic Caucus] Kenyan bishop condemns homosexual unions after Pope Francis promotes same-sex ‘blessings’‘It is something incomprehensible that you and I were born in a family and some people with perverse ideologies want us to do and live contrary to what God gifted us,’ said Bishop Hieronymus Joya.NAIROBI, Kenya (LifeSiteNews) — A bishop from Kenya has spoken out against same-sex relations in response to Pope Francis’ suggestion that priests may decide to “bless” homosexual couples. During his homily at the ordination Mass of Consolata Missionaries in Nairobi on October 6, Bishop Hieronymus Joya said “The issue that very many people are...

We’ve witnessed in recent years a surge of hyper-emotional events masquerading as expressions of genuine Christian faith. These gatherings, such as the Passion Conference, Hillsong concerts, and other events connected to the charismatic, word of faith, and prosperity gospel movements, claim to be fueled by the Holy Spirit. Yet, the truth of the matter is, what’s happening at these events is far removed from Biblical worship. The atmosphere at these events is emotionally charged—highly orchestrated music, impassioned speakers, and provocative visuals often lead participants to believe they are experiencing the Holy Spirit. However, what they’re actually experiencing is emotional manipulation,...

Frankly, Bethel Church in Redding California is no church at all. It is a blasphemous, idolatrous organization ran by gospel-distorting men and women who do nothing more than lead people right into the hands of the enemy. From its faux signs and wonders to its rank heretical prosperity gospel, it can safely be concluded that Bethel Church should be marked and avoided at all costs. Yet, much of its musical trash is still spread throughout mainstream denominations and independent churches around the world. Some who would even be considered “doctrinally sound” churches have turned a blind eye to the apostasy...