Free Republic

Culture of Rebuke Has Taken Hold in Church Discourse COMMENTARY: The dialogue that Pope Francis often calls for is not actually taking place within the Church. Father Raymond J. de Souza The most recent rebuke — thoughtfully expressed and respectfully made — to the exercise of the magisterium by Pope Francis came from the highly respected Capuchin Father Thomas Weinandy, who served from 2005 to 2013 as the executive director of the American bishops’ Committee on Doctrine. So respected is he that Pope Francis appointed him to the International Theological Commission (ITC), the principal advisory body to the Congregation for...

Former Pink Floyd front man Roger Waters, one of the more prominent celebrity faces of the boycott Israel movement, says he has contacted Scarlett Johansson “a couple of times” over the A-list actress’s decision to represent an Israeli company that operates in a West Bank settlement ... “In the past days I have written privately to Neil Young (once) and to Scarlett Johanson (a couple of times). Those letters will remain private,” he said. “Sadly, I have received no reply from either ..."

(Reuters) - Under President Barack Obama, the United States no longer provides Israel with automatic support at the United Nations where the Jewish state faces a constant barrage of criticism and condemnation. The subtle but noticeable shift in the U.S. approach to its Middle East ally comes amid what some analysts describe as one of the most serious crises in U.S.-Israeli relations in years. Under Obama, the United States seeks to reclaim its role as an impartial Middle East peace broker which critics say it lost during the previous administration of George W. Bush. "Israel became used to unconditional support...

Note to fashion reporters: Don't ask Nancy Pelosi what she's wearing. At Tuesday's state dinner, Washington Post's Robin Givhan approached the House Speaker and, according to a pool report, asked, "Is your gown Armani?" "Pelosi shot her a disapproving stare and rolled her eyes a bit," says the pool report. She also refused to answer Givhan's follow up question, "What was that look?!"

AMMAN, Jordan - Jordan rebuked Human Rights Watch on Monday for criticizing the kingdom's arrest of four lawmakers after they paid condolences to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's family. Al-Zarqawi was killed in a U.S. airstrike north of Baghdad on June 8. The four lawmakers — members of Jordan's largest opposition group, the Islamic Action Front — attended the al-Qaida in Iraq leader's wake in his native Jordan on June 9. One described al-Zarqawi as a "martyr." Two days later, they were arrested and charged with "instigating sectarian strife" and "fueling national discord" and jailed for 15 days. The New York-based rights...

Blair rebukes Chirac in row over British rebate By George Jones, Political Editor (Filed: 10/06/2005) Tony Blair yesterday traded cross-Channel blows with Jacques Chirac, the French president, after deciding to toughen up his defence of the £3 billion-a-year rebate on Britain's contributions to the European Union's budget. In language reminiscent of the Anglo-French spats when Margaret Thatcher was prime minister, Whitehall sources said Mr Blair was not prepared to take "lectures" from France and Luxembourg, which did much better than Britain out of the EU. Tony Blair: not prepared to take 'lectures' from France Mr Blair was stung into action...

HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuban President Fidel Castro (news - web sites) criticized Forbes magazine on Thursday for the "infamy" of listing him among the world's richest people, with a net worth of $550 million. "Once again, they have committed the infamy of speaking about Castro's fortune, placing me almost above the queen of England," Castro said in a speech to top officials of Cuba's ruling Communist Party, military and police. "Do they think I am (former Zairian President) Mobutu (Sese Seko) or one of the many millionaires, those thieves and plunderers that the empire has suckled and protected?" he said...