Free Republic

Gwinnett County State Senator and chairman of the Health and Human Service Committee Renee Unterman openly admitted to holding 'Haleigh's Hope', HB 885 sponsored by Representative Allen Peake, hostage until the State House will consider bills that she has authored. WSB reporter Lori Geary asked Unterman point blank if this were the case, and to Unterman's credit, she did not deny it and was very candid in saying that she was. But then she went on to state that the parents of the kids who can benefit from the legalization of medicinal cannabis didn't understand how it works in the...

Students and parents rejecting costly college loan burdens Higher education accompanied by student debt is losing its appeal for many college-age Americans and their parents. The result could be a move by many colleges and universities to find ways to cut costs and even offer tuition discounts.

Q1: I’m Catholic and my fiancé is from a devout Lutheran family. They weren’t too pleased when I told them our wedding has to take place in a Catholic church…. Is it permissible for us under canon law to have a wedding ceremony in my parish church, and have his Lutheran minister “co-marry” us there, alongside the Catholic priest? I asked my pastor and he said no, but I couldn’t tell if he refused because that’s actually the law, or if he just didn’t like the idea. –Christina Q2: My Jewish girlfriend and I want to get married, and both...

...This result nullifies the Democrats’ one-seat gain in the House of Delegates in Virginia’s 2013 general election...

The cultural chasm between religious individuals and American society is swelling. On a personal level, I feel distant from the current trends in politics, television, movies, and music. It’s becoming harder for individuals with Catholic sensibilities, for instance, to tune into the Grammys or scan across Yahoo’s headlines without feeling lost. Amidst the vast difference between my own beliefs and the accepted principles of secular culture, I have been contemplating how we can dialogue with people on the other side. How do we avoid hiding in our own little clique of likeminded individuals? How do we cut through all the...

Q: What does canon law say about Catholics eloping? I understand the issue from the perspective of the sacramental theology of the Church, but was wondering if canon law had anything to say about it. –David A: When we speak of “elopement” today, we usually envision a young couple running away in the middle of the night to be married in secret, and without the consent of their parents—usually by a justice of the peace in a civil wedding ceremony. Is it ever possible for a Catholic couple (or a couple including only one Catholic) to marry under such circumstances?...

A sermon on Ecclesiastes by St Gregory of Nyssa We shall be blessed with clear vision if we keep our eyes fixed on Christ, for he, as Paul teaches, is our head, and there is in him no shadow of evil. Saint Paul himself and all who have reached the same heights of sanctity had their eyes fixed on Christ, and so have all who live and move and have their being in him. As no darkness can be seen by anyone surrounded by light, so no trivialities can capture the attention of anyone who has his eyes on Christ....

Americans wondering if assaults, breaking and entering and robberies are happening in their neighborhood do not have to wait for the local news sources to keep them up to date. Real time information is available at no cost to them with a map showing exact locations of where and what crimes have taken place.

If you like your radio talk show don’t be surprised if you can’t keep it. Obama’s Federal Communication Commission wants to place monitors in news rooms to decide which stories are selected, station priorities, content production, population served, perceived station bias and perceived percent of news dedicated to each of the “critical information” needs of a community.

The commentary on Proverbs by Procopius of Gaza Wisdom has built herself a house. God the Father’s Power, himself a person, has fashioned as his dwelling-place the whole world, in which he lives by his activity; and has fashioned man also, who was created to resemble God’s own image and likeness and has a nature which is partly seen and partly hidden from our eyes. And she has set up seven pillars. To man, who was made in the image of Christ when the rest of creation was completed, Wisdom gave the seven gifts of the Spirit to enable him...

Notre Dame of Maryland University has announced the names of the three finalists who are vying to lead the Baltimore institution. The finalists are Dr. Andrea Chapdelaine, provost and vice president for academic affairs at Albright College in Reading, Pa.; Dr. Sara Thompson, associate provost for new program initiatives and dean of the Metropolitan School of Professional Studies at The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C.; and Dr. Marylou Yam, provost and vice president for academic affairs at St. Peter’s University (formerly St. Peter’s College) in Jersey City, N.J. The Feb. 19 announcement follows a comprehensive nationwide search and...

From a sermon by Saint Bernard, abbot Let us work for the food which does not perish – our salvation. Let us work in the vineyard of the Lord to earn our daily wage in the wisdom which says: Those who work in me will not sin. Christ tells us: The field is the world. Let us work in it and dig up wisdom, its hidden treasure, a treasure we all look for and want to obtain. If you are looking for it, really look. Be converted and come. Converted from what? From your own wilfulness. “But,” you may say,...

As neuroscientists from around the world continue to unravel brain processes they include a multidisciplinary approach that goes beyond the brain cells. New research has used neurobiology and nano-scale engineering to study neural circuits and their link to behavior.

The annual Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue arrives on newsstands Tuesday. It features three semi-nude babes on the cover. The issue is eagerly awaited by much of SI’s readership. However, let those of us who are Christ followers not deceive ourselves: the magazine’s swimsuit issue is nothing more than softcore pornography. Indeed, SI’s cover, celebrating the 50th anniversary of its swimsuit issue, actually is more sexualized than the cover of the latest issue of Playboy, which marks the skin magazine’s 60th anniversary, and which features the model Kate Moss in a bunny costume. What particularly offends about SI is its hypocrisy....

From a sermon by Blessed Isaac of Stella, abbot Why, my brethren, are we so little concerned with finding opportunities to advance each other’s salvation, responding to greater need with greater help and bearing each other’s burdens? This is what St Paul advised: Bear one another’s burdens and so fulfil the law of Christ – or, again, forbearing each other in love. For that is most definitely the law of Christ. When I notice something wrong in my brother that cannot be corrected – either because it is inevitable or because it comes from some weakness of his in body...

St Augustine's Exposition on Galatians St Paul says, Be like me – who, though I was born a Jew, have learnt through spiritual insight to look down on things of the body – as I have become like you – that is, I am a man. Next he very properly reminds them of his love for them, so that they should not think that he is their enemy. My brethren, hear me: you have never done me harm – implying, ‘do not therefore think that I mean to do you any harm’. My children, he adds – so that they...

Vatican II, 'Gaudium et Spes' Just as it proceeds from man, so human activity is ordered toward man. For when a man works, he not only alters things and society, he develops himself as well. He learns much, he cultivates his resources, he goes outside himself and beyond himself. Rightly understood, this kind of growth is of greater value than any external riches which can be obtained. A man is more precious for what he is than for what he has. Similarly, all that men do to obtain greater justice, wider brotherhood, a more humane disposition of social relationships has...

From an account of the martyrdom of Saint Paul Miki and his companions, by a contemporary writer The crosses were set in place. Father Pasio and Father Rodriguez took turns encouraging the victims. Their steadfast behaviour was wonderful to see. The Father Bursar stood motionless, his eyes turned heavenward. Brother Martin gave thanks to God’s goodness by singing psalms. Again and again he repeated: “Into your hands, Lord, I entrust my life.” Brother Francis Branco also thanked God in a loud voice. Brother Gonsalvo in a very loud voice kept saying the Our Father and Hail Mary. Our brother, Paul...

A little girl selling Girl Scout cookies was once a symbol of an organization trusted by parents. That became tarnished as the focus changed and now provides an environment that is said to be in conflict with the morality it once promoted.

From a homily on Saint Agatha by Saint Methodius of Sicily, bishop My fellow Christians, our annual celebration of a martyr’s feast has brought us together. She achieved renown in the early Church for her noble victory; she is well known now as well, for she continues to triumph through her divine miracles, which occur daily and continue to bring glory to her name. She is indeed a virgin, for she was born of the divine Word, God’s only Son, who also experienced death for our sake. John, a master of God’s word, speaks of this: He gave the power...

Nothing is more unrealistic, unfeasible, and completely preposterous than the idea of income equality. There is no way that all individuals with varying talents and abilities could ever be equal. Furthermore, there's no reason they should be. If you believe this, it doesn't make you cold-hearted, callous, or evil. What it makes you is rational and highly reasonable. Unfortunately, the world of politics is rarely rational or reasonable. Income inequality is an unsolvable issue. Rather than accepting it as inevitable or natural, politicians describe it as a problem. This problem of income inequality is vague and wide reaching. It becomes...

Auxiliary Bishop Denis J. Madden of Baltimore and Catholic Charities of Baltimore Executive Director William J. McCarthy joined more than 30 Maryland officials, anti-poverty advocates and religious leaders Feb. 3 to support an increase in the state’s minimum wage. “In gathering as a faith community today, we speak on behalf of all those who come to us for food, clothing and shelter,” Bishop Madden said. “Even as we embrace them in their need, we join them in their struggle to secure financial independence through an honest day’s work. These workers deserve the comfort of knowing their hard work will enable...

From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop The Word of God became man, the Son of God became the Son of Man, in order to unite man with himself and make him, by adoption, a son of God. Only by being united to one who is himself immune could we be preserved from corruption and death, and how else could this union have been achieved if he had not first become what we are? How else could what is corruptible and mortal in us have been swallowed up in his incorruptibility and immortality, to enable us to receive...

This is inspired by a flurry of Facebook posts and comments: Lot's of potshots are being fired over the Super Bowl ad presented by Coca Cola on Sunday night. Those who were offended at hearing a patriotic song about America sung in foreign languages, are being labeled racist. And those who embrace multi-culturalism are being call unpatriotic. While it is probably somewhere in the middle of both, I am one who felt slighted by the ad. Facebook is ablaze with the debate and I will add that while I agree with this comment somewhat: "I loved the ad.... Can anyone...

From a treatise on the psalms by Saint Hilary of Poitiers Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell in unity! It is good and pleasant for brothers to dwell in unity, because when they do so their association creates the assembly of the Church. The term “brothers” describes the bond of affection arising from their singleness of purpose. We read that when the apostles first preached, the chief instruction they gave lay in this saying: The hearts and minds of all believers were one. So it is fitting for the people of God to be brothers...

Could the United States be rid of President Obama before his term expires in January, 2017, thus saving years of his ruinous policies? Rand Simberg, who usually writes about aerospace subjects, seems to think so. He makes the following modest suggestion. If, at a point, the president's popularity becomes sufficiently low, the Republicans should run for the 2014 midterms on the promise that should they take over the senate, they will impeach and remove both Barack Obama from the presidency and Joe Biden from the vice presidency, making the speaker of the house president.

Insurgent conservatives seeking to pull the Republican Party to the right raised more money last year than the groups controlled by the party establishment, whose bulging bank accounts and ties to major donors have been their most potent advantage in the running struggle over the party’s future, according to new campaign filings and interviews with officials. Baby Newt The shift in fortunes among the largest and most influential outside political groups could have an enormous impact in the 2014 election cycle, as the warring Republican factions prepare to square off in a series of Senate and House primaries around the...

From the pastoral constitution on the Church in the modern world of the Second Vatican Council In the face of death the enigma of human existence reaches its climax. Man is not only the victim of pain and the progressive deterioration of his body; he is also, and more deeply, tormented by the fear of final extinction. But the instinctive judgement of his heart is right when he shrinks from, and rejects, the idea of a total collapse and definitive end of his own person. He carries within him the seed of eternity, which cannot be reduced to matter alone,...

From a sermon by John the Serene, bishop The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? How great was that servant who knew how he was given light, whence it came, and what sort of man he was when he was favoured by that light. The light he saw was not that which fades at dusk, but the light which no eye has seen. Souls brightened by this light do not fall into sin or stumble on vice. Our Lord said: Walk while you have the light in you. What other light did he mean but...

“OMG! Call Sam and Dean Winchester!”, was the comment on a YouTube video about the Illuminati and the music business. I thought this was funny! I watch the CW show “Supernatural”, where the Winchester brothers fight evil monsters and demons with the help of sometimes flawed angels. But we all know that demons (and the Illuminati) are not real, don't we? Many news services are beginning to rethink that. A story is circulating through the news outlets about a haunting and possession in Gary Indiana. The report tells of an single mother and two of her children who have been...

Worried by a wave of popular outrage at Obamacare, the activists of President Barack Obama's community organizing arm, Organizing for Action, are urging members to share positive stories about the president's flagship domestic policy. In an email to volunteers in Los Angeles, organizers note that "we are making a big effort to document the stories of people who have benefited from Obamacare" to counter negative stories.

MSNBC keeps getting itself into trouble. This time the far-left TV network decided to use Twitter as its vehicle to offend the masses. “Maybe the rightwing will hate it, but everyone else will go awww: the adorable new #Cheerios ad w/ biracial family,” MSNBC wrote on Wednesday night, linking to the new ad.

11 year old Chloe Stirling got some great accolades from her local newspaper for the cupcake business she had started out of her parents' kitchen. Unfortunately the local health department took another view and shut her down. The sticking point was that not only did she lack the proper permits and licenses to run a food business, but according to local and state law she would have to either own her own bakery or have a kitchen separate from that of her parents to continue cooking cupcakes for money. Since this was clearly impossible, Stirling is no longer able to...

It is often pleasant to wish ourselves to a magical world where all is good. It's our "happy place" and I'm sure we all have one. Mine used to include music and I would anticipate "music's biggest night" as a high point in the year. At one time the Grammys was about music. But like MTV, it is not about music anymore, but rather theatrics and agenda. There is a controversy over this year's broadcast about whether it was offensive to Christians. Not that anyone in the Academy of Recording Arts or the industry cares about offending anyone. Christians were...

"...The timed sales aspect is an impetus to get consumers to act more quickly but that alone is not what makes Groupon successful. It is a necessity more than anything and not the reason why consumers are there in the first place. What I believe is the key to Groupon's success is that many consumers, myself included like ..." (continued)

From a sermon on the Song of Songs by Saint Bernard, abbot Where can the weak find a place of firm security and peace, except in the wounds of the Saviour? Indeed, the more secure is my place there, the more he can do to help me. The world rages, the flesh is heavy, and the devil lays his snares, but I do not fall, for my feet are planted on firm rock. I may have sinned gravely. My conscience would be distressed, but it would not be in turmoil, for I would recall the wounds of the Lord: he...

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz. was recently censored by Arizona Republicans for being too much of a RINO and a generally irascible fellow. Sarah Palin has taken to her Facebook page to rally to the venerable war hero's defense.

Watching movies are one of my favorite pastimes. Our favorite movies say a lot about us… although I’m not exactly sure what. My top five (in no particular order) are Gladiator, Valley Girl, Galaxy Quest, Lost in Translation and probably Tombstone. Movies are a unique form of entertainment because they are touchstones, shared experiences which so many Americans have in common. Lines like “I’m walking here!” or “You had me at hello” or “Make my day, punk” have made it into the American lexicon and are often used in our everyday lives in order to call up certain shared understandings...

From a conference by Saint Thomas Aquinas, priest Why did the Son of God have to suffer for us? There was a great need, and it can be considered in a twofold way: in the first place, as a remedy for sin, and secondly, as an example of how to act. It is a remedy, for, in the face of all the evils which we incur on account of our sins, we have found relief through the passion of Christ. Yet, it is no less an example, for the passion of Christ completely suffices to fashion our lives. Whoever wishes...

Webster’s defines a dupe as “one who is easily deceived.” But a misperception prevails among most people. They think of dupes as ignorant people only. On the contrary, there are large amounts of intelligent dupes in all societies. Brains are no protection against dupery. In fact, I would classify dupery as one of the deadly sins that curse all men and women no matter what level of class and smarts they possess. Dictatorships depend upon dupery to perpetuate themselves – especially dupery among the intelligentsia. There are, in this writer’s opinion, three forms of dupery afflicting the human race, or...

It was famously said "All politics are local". And there was some truth to that statement in the not-so-distant past. But leftists have changed it to the philosophical opposite. The democrats have always been a collection of diverse pressure groups each with a distinct, though occasionally overlapping, ''cause". These groups were often at odds to some degree with each other in their interests or pursuits, but they remained silent when another pressure group within the Democrat party is pursuing its interest. That is where the great change has occured. The leaders/organizers of these various groups have learned that by supporting...

Dan from Squirrel Hill's Blog Obama supporters will go hysterical over this well sourced list of 545 examples of his lying, lawbreaking, corruption, cronyism, etc. By Dan from Squirrel HillPosted on August 15, 2013. Updated on January 27, 2014.As the author of this blog post, I place it into the public domain. Anyone may freely copy it in any part or in its entirely, without asking my permission, and without paying any money. I do ask you please cite a link to http://danfromsquirrelhill.wordpress.com/2013/08/15/obama-252/I ask you to please show this list to as many people as possible – and especially, to please...

Vatican II, "Gaudium et spes" A man and a woman, who by the marriage covenant of conjugal love ‘are no longer two, but one flesh’, render mutual help and service to each other through an intimate union of their persons and of their actions. Through this union they experience the meaning of their oneness and attain to it with growing perfection day by day. As a mutual gift of two persons, this intimate union, as well as the good of the children, imposes total fidelity on the spouses and argues for an unbreakable oneness between them.

VIDEO: HEAR Judge Jeanine hammer Obama for the blatant contradictions between his rhetoric and his policies.

Just when you thought that the Wendy Davis phenomenon could not get crazier, Twitchy reports that rise of the "wheelchair truthers" which is to say people who actually think that Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is faking being paralyzed. There have been some weird conspiracy theories in American history, ranging from the vast (9/11 was an inside job, the Apollo moon landings were faked) to the petty (Sarah Palin wasn't really pregnant with her younger son, Trig.) The idea that a man would fake being paralyzed successfully for decades, presumably for sympathy and for the money, is the most bizarre...

In spite of their advances in education and the workforce anxiety disorders are replacing happiness for American women. Sexual liberation was supposed to bring equality for females that expected fulfillment with the freedom to pursue lust without expecting committed relationships.

Legendary liberal activist Michael Moore has teamed up with Secretary of Sate John Kerry (did you know he served in Vietnam?) to combat racism. We spoke with Mr. Moore & Mr. Kerry recently about this groundbreaking idea. Mr. Moore stated to us he came up with a revolutionary way to fight racism using technology.

Q: I have been discerning my vocation, trying to determine whether or not I am called to be a priest. I happened to find a commentary on canon law in my school library… it says that a person is barred from being a priest, permanently, if they have ever been a heretic, apostate, or schismatic. I was baptized outside the Church (Lutheran), and professed agnosticism for a time before converting to Catholicism around the time I was 17. Does that make me incur the irregularity? –Alex

From The Introduction to the Devout Life by Saint Francis de Sales, bishop When God the Creator made all things, he commanded the plants to bring forth fruit each according to its own kind; he has likewise commanded Christians, who are the living plants of his Church, to bring forth the fruits of devotion, each one in accord with his character, his station and his calling. I say that devotion must be practised in different ways by the nobleman and by the working man, by the servant and by the prince, by the widow, by the unmarried girl and by...

As Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper finishes the last segment of his historic visit to the Middle East, the measure of success is clearly evident in the reaction. Harper, long a vocal supporter of Israel, was welcomed to the Jewish state as ‘a great friend of Israel’. The pomp and circumstance upon the arrival of the Canadian delegation was impressive to say the least, and spoke to the often overlooked bond between the two nations.