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Little Sisters of the Poor at the Denver, Colorado house. Credit: El Pueblo Catolico/James Baca. Washington D.C., May 16, 2016 / 08:53 am (CNA).- In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court sent the Little Sisters of the Poor HHS mandate case back to the lower courts on Monday, in light of new developments in the case.“We are very encouraged by the Court’s decision, which is an important win for the Little Sisters. The Court has recognized that the government changed its position,” said Mark Rienzi, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and lead attorney for the Little...

In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court on Monday vacated lower court rulings against religious non-profits objecting to Obamacare’s “contraceptive mandate.”The court did not rule on the merits of Zubik v. Burwell, a closely-watched case that included the Little Sisters of the Poor, several Catholic dioceses and colleges and Priests for Life. But in the unsigned decision, the eight justices said the government may not fine the non-profits involved. The court sent the case back to the lower courts, saying the parties to the case “should be afforded an opportunity to arrive at an approach going forward that accommodates petitioners’ religious exercise while at the same time ensuring that women covered...

Writing in Forbes last year, Steve Moore, a Catholic, asked: “What is the theological case for telling those in the poorest villages of the planet where people still live at subsistence levels, that they have a moral obligation to save the planet by staying poor and using less fossil fuels, less energy and electricity?” Three months later, Vatican Radio ran the telltale headline: “Pope: Christians Should Kneel Before the Poor.” The article cited Pope Francis’ assertion that “poverty is the great teaching” Jesus gave us, and that “the poor are not a burden but a resource.” He capped his homily...

Two Vatican officials downplayed speculation occasioned by Pope Francis’s call for the establishment of a commission to study women deacons-- “above all with regard to the early days of the Church,” as the Pope said during a question-and-answer session with women religious superiors on May 12. In examining the Pope’s remarks, “we need to be honest” said Father Federico Lombardi, the director of the Holy See Press Office. “The Pope did not say he intends to introduce the ordination of female deacons, and even less did he talk about the ordination of women as priests.”

"Human sacrifice! Dogs and cats living together! Mass hysteria!" That line, spoken by Bill Murray in the movie "Ghostbusters" is incredibly not very far from the truth these days. Keep in mind, it has been only 10 1/2 months since the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, and the complete breakdown and degeneration of society here and abroad is now in full force. John has had enough, and he shares his anger and frustration during this week's update entitled "Fighting God". In an unusually harsh rebuke of our elected officials and world leaders, John takes them to task on heir...

Pastor J.D. addresses the breakneck speed with which prophetic events are revving up specifically concerning Israel and the United States, vis-à-vis Iran.

Top cardinal Pietro Parolin and two close associates of Pope Francis have sidestepped giving evidence in the controversial and increasingly embarrassing Vatican trial of five people accused of leaking classified Holy See documents. Vatican number two Parolin, fellow cardinal Santo Abril y Castello and Archbishop Konrad Krajewski had all been asked to give evidence on behalf of one of the accused, PR consultant Francesca Chaouqui. The three clerics invoked an article of the Vatican's penal code which allows them to decline to testify for professional reasons. Parolin said in a statement to the latest hearing in the case on Saturday...

ROME, May 11, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) -- Cardinal Raymond Burke stated on the weekend that faithful Catholics must “resist” a perspective within the Church that seeks to undermine the truths of the Catholic faith regarding the indissolubility of marriage and the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The general theme of the talk was “Martyrdom for the Faith in Our Times. “Of particular concern to me is a growing mundane perspective, a man-centered and world-centered perspective, especially in the Church,” he said, adding that the perspective expresses itself in a “secular understanding of the divine realities.” He was speaking to pro-life...

The Swedish government is taking an extremely bizarre commitment to fighting climate change by spending large sums of taxpayer money to develop 'meat' made from mealworms and crickets. Vinnova, the Swedish government agency that distributes money for research and development, is spending some 2.7 billion kronor ($261 million) to replace conventional meat with 'climate-friendly' insect 'meat' and other strange alternatives. Yum… Breitbart News reports: Green activists and the United Nations are behind such political initiatives as 'Meat Free Mondays' — a gateway to full vegetarianism — which are based on the premise that meat consumption is driving man-made climate change....

Moscow, May 13, Interfax - Boosting religious intolerance in certain Western countries and crisis of securing religious freedoms in zones of military conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa requires immediate reaction, the Kremlin official believes. The president's website informs that they talked about it at a session of the Council for Interaction with Religious Associations chaired by the head of the Kremlin administration Sergey Ivanov. Ivanov in his speech reminded that "today crisis in providing religious freedoms is seen in zones of military conflicts and on the territories controlled by terrorist groups in the Middle East and North...

ROME, May 11, 2016 (LifeSiteNews) -- Cardinal Raymond Burke stated on the weekend that faithful Catholics must “resist” a perspective within the Church that seeks to undermine the truths of the Catholic faith regarding the indissolubility of marriage and the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The general theme of the talk was “Martyrdom for the Faith in Our Times".“Of particular concern to me is a growing mundane perspective, a man-centered and world-centered perspective, especially in the Church,” he said, adding that the perspective expresses itself in a “secular understanding of the divine realities.” He was speaking to pro-life...

MOUNT POCONO -- Police in part of Monroe County are looking for the person who spray-painted "Trump" outside a church. The name of presidential hopeful Donald Trump was painted on a sign that sits outside St. Mary of the Mount in Mount Pocono. The church closed last year, and neighbors say since then there have never been any problems until now. People who live nearby cannot believe someone would vandalize such a sacred place. "I think it's disgraceful. It has nothing to do with politically or what my party affiliation is but just to deface any property like that is...

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. (ChurchMilitant.com) - Police are investigating acts of vandalism and subsequent threats levied against a Catholic church in Florida. According to reports, Our Lady Queen of Peace Church in Delray Beach, Florida was defaced Tuesday night by unknown vandals who spray painted satanic symbols and other imagery on multiple statues and the sides of church buildings. An office administrator, who first discovered the crimes Wednesday morning, asserts pentagrams and other "satanic" signs were painted on the walls. Additionally, three statues had black masks and capes spray painted on them. "It was awful to look at," the church employee,...

In this author's humble opinion these are the 20 clearest signs that the end of the age is quite literally imminent: 1. In a technical sense the Gospel has now been preached to every nation on earth in fulfillment of Mark 13:10.  Some scholars argue that we must interpret the Greek word for "nation" strictly as an individual ethnic group, but even if that is the correct interpretation, this prophecy was likely fulfilled sometime toward the end of the 20th century or the beginning of this century.  There are certainly still several isolated tribes where the Gospel has not been...

He is currently serving as Pastor of the Saint Mary Catholic Center at the University of Texas A&M campus in College Station, TX. Anybody know him?

Unearthed in the central Turkish region of Cappadocia, the unique church contains remarkable frescoesLast February, archaeologists unearthed a unique rock-carved underground church in Nevsehir, in the central Turkish region of Cappadocia. The church was decorated with never before seen frescoes depicting JesusÂ’ Ascension, the Final Judgement, Jesus feeding the multitudes, and portraits of saints and prophets. The discovery, made during excavations and cleaning operations in an underground city recently uncovered as part of an urban project in Nevsehir, is located within a castle that might date back to the fifth century. Authorities expect it will make Cappadocia an even more...

A new study reveals that one-fourth of unborn children around the world are murdered - a staggering 56 million children per year.  The study reveals that the number is actually significantly higher than previously thought. From the BBC: One in four pregnancies ends in an abortion each year, global estimates from the World Health Organization and Guttmacher Institute suggest. The report in the Lancet said 56m induced abortions take place annually - higher than previously thought. Researchers acknowledge rates have improved in many rich countries but warn this masks no change in poorer areas over the past 15 years. Experts...

Of all the dozens and dozens of signs pointing to the imminent return of Christ, two clearly stand above the rest: 1. In a technical sense the Gospel has now been preached to every nation on earth in fulfillment of Mark 13:10.  Some scholars argue that we must interpret the Greek word for "nation" strictly as an individual ethnic group, but even if that is the correct interpretation, this prophecy was likely fulfilled sometime toward the end of the 20th century or the beginning of this century.  There are certainly still several isolated tribes where the Gospel has not been preached,...

Italy's lawmakers has approved a bill that gives legal recognition to civil unions. By an overwhelming vote of 372 to 51, with 99 abstentions, the lower house of the Italian parliament approved the government's plan to establish civil unions. News of the result drew applause on the floor of the legislature and from a crowd waiting outside the building. The law-- which gives same-sex couples the same legal standing as married couples, but does not recognize same-sex marriages-- brings Italy into line with every other country in western Europe, in giving legal recognition to same-sex unions. Civil unions become law...

UPPER SANDUSKY — One or more vandals discharged a fire extinguisher inside Transfiguration of the Lord Catholic Church on Thursday night, the Upper Sandusky Police Department reported. A scheduled Mass was canceled because of the “massive cleanup” required, police said. The damage was discovered Friday morning by a parish employee. No arrests had been made by Friday night. The church, at 225 N. Eighth St., was previously known as St. Peter’s Catholic Church. A fire extinguisher, which hangs on a church