Free Republic

A married Roman Catholic priest from Burnley has said he believes the church is correct to prefer single celibate clergy in their parishes. Father Paul Blackburn is the most recently ordained priest into the Salford Diocese. He is married with three children. A former Anglican minister, Father Paul embraced Catholicism after growing dissatisfied with the direction the Church of England was taking on some moral issues. He said single priests are better placed to serve God by giving their entire life to his ministry. "Whatever the church decides about the future shape of ministry there will always be a need...

What counsel would you offer on stem cells? Embryonic stem cell research incites the passions of people both in favor and opposed to the idea of using those cells for scientific research. The debated stem cells in question are usually "extra" fertilized eggs, frozen by couples trying to conceive.Supporters tout possible scientific breakthroughs such as cures for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease that could result from the research. Opponents say life begins at conception, and, therefore, using fertilized eggs for scientific research destroys human life and crosses serious ethical and moral lines. Although widely publicized and politicized, the issue is, at...

89 are indicted in online porn case East Texas man accused of setting up Web site; 7 other Texans indicted 03/19/2002 By MICHELLE MITTELSTADT / The Dallas Morning News WASHINGTON - Clergy members, Little League coaches and a teacher's aide are among the 89 people charged with participating in an Internet site where hard-core child pornography was traded, federal authorities said Monday. Forty arrests in 20 states had been made as of Monday, among them that of an East Texas man alleged to have set up the "Candyman" site visited by more than 7,000 people until its shutdown last...