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Catholic officials say a deal is in the works that would defuse a core dispute between the Holy See and China’s Communist leaders: the fate of eight bishops the Vatican views as illegitimate. But the talks face internal resistance on both sides.HONG KONG/BEIJING – Pope Francis is leading a determined push to fundamentally alter the relationship between the Vatican and China, which for decades has been infused with mutual suspicion and acrimony. Interviews with some two dozen Catholic officials and clergy in Hong Kong, Italy and mainland China, as well as sources with ties to the leadership in Beijing, reveal...

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WASHINGTON, D.C.—Growing anxious that the Senate would not approve previous nominee Judge Merrick Garland, President Barack Obama announced Thursday that he would be pushing through newly selected nominee Molech of Canaan to be the nation’s 113th Supreme Court justice. “Molech, the fiery devourer of the young, is more than qualified for the position,” Obama said in a White House press conference at which he introduced the idol. “Furthermore, he has proven his advocacy for women’s rights by calling for the barbaric sacrifice of babies—any time, for any reason—as acceptable and appeasing offerings. He’ll fit right in on the bench.” The...

Bishop Miguel Ayuso Guixot, the secretary of the Pontifical Council for Inter-Religious Dialogue, will travel to Egypt soon to meet with leaders of Al Azhar University, the Vatican announced on July 12. The visit will follow up on the May meeting in Rome between Pope Francis and Sheik Ahmad al-Tayyib, the head of Al Azhar University. The purpose of the bishop's visit to Cairo, the Vatican said, will be to explore ways to resume official dialogue between the Vatican and the Egyptian institution. Al Azhar, which is generally recognized as the foremost institution in the Sunni Muslim world, had engaged...

If all Church doctrine must be read in light of Amoris Laetitia, then all Amoris Laetitia must be read in light of Church doctrine, Cardinal Carlo Caffarra, archbishop emeritus of Bologna and a former member of the Pontifical Council for the Family, said in a wide-ranging interview. Caffarra addressed the widespread confusion within the Catholic Church over the nature of marriage and the proper response lay Catholics should have to the confusion. “To Catholic faithful who are confused about the Doctrine of the Faith concerning marriage, I simply say: ‘Read and meditate upon the Catechism of Catholic Church nn.1601-1666,’” Caffarra...

You might say—many commentators have said—that with the quick Vatican smackdown of Cardinal Sarah's proposal for ad orientem worship, Rome has spoken and the case is closed. I disagree. On the contrary, Cardinal Sarah has reopened a much-needed discussion about how to increase reverence in the liturgy. His address to a conference in London caused what that city's Catholic Herald is describing in this week's cover headline as A liturgical earthquake. Ten days ago no one was talking about celebrating Mass ad orientem. Now that option is being widely discussed, even in secular media outlets. Cardinal Sarah was not issuing...

I rarely write about American politics. Here in Israel, existential national threats prevent me from dwelling on America’s problems. In Israel, Arabs butcher our thirteen-year-old daughters in their bedrooms and gun down our brothers and fathers, and the impotent leadership responds in typical fashion— with powerful speeches to comfort the bereaved. So naturally the demise of America cannot take up much of my time. But that doesn’t mean I’m disinterested. I am concerned with America’s welfare. As a Jew with a sense of history, I appreciate the haven America provided us throughout the last few centuries, when most countries offered...

A pastor ousted by his megachurch in South Carolina over problems that included alcohol use has been a close friend of Elevation Church pastor Steven Furtick and has served on the board of overseers at the Charlotte church. As recently as 2014, Perry Noble – removed July 1 by the board at NewSpring Church in Anderson, S.C. – was described as the longest serving member of the Elevation board. Elevation officials did not respond Tuesday to requests for comment on whether he was still on the board. Elevation, started in 2006, is one of the fastest growing evangelical churches in...

A day after the Anglican Church of Canada narrowly voted not to authorize gay unions, questions about the integrity of the voting process emerged Tuesday, leading to a reversal of the result with the church approving the measure.More than 200 delegates attending the six-day General Synod 2016 narrowly rejected the resolution Monday night after hearing from more than 60 speakers, most of them in favor of gay marriage. However, on Tuesday — the last day of the triennial conference — some members stood up to say their ballot had not been recorded during voting late Monday, when the resolution failed...

The world’s largest Bible publisher-- located in Jiangsu, China-- has printed 150 million Bibles since its founding in 1988, according to the Vatican newspaper and the Beijing-based China Christian Daily. The Amity Printing Company’s Bibles are printed in 90 languages and are sold in 70 countries. In twenty-eight years 150 million Bibles (L’Osservatore Romano, p. 9)150 Million Bibles to Be Printed in China (China Christian Daily)

Brian Bergkamp, aged 24, has been missing since SaturdayBrian Bergkamp, a seminarian from the Diocese of Wichita who was studying at a Maryland seminary, is believed dead after saving the life of a woman who fell into the Arkansas River on Saturday. By mid-day yesterday, he remained missing. Friends and family members remember were holding vigils to pray for the recovery of his body. Bergkamp, 24, was among five people travelling in separate kayaks when all got caught in turbulent waters. According to The Wichita Eagle newspaper, Bergkamp jumped from his kayak to save the woman before getting pulled under...

"Our country is in a huge mess. Shootings, riots, and protests now claim the headlines about America, and that’s heartbreaking. We are in desperate need of Divine intervention. We need healing. Prayer is what can make a difference in America. One week from today—Monday, July 18, at 12:00 Noon Eastern—I’m asking you to pray with me live on Facebook just before the Republican National Convention opens." ... "Then the following Monday, July 25, before the opening of the Democratic National Convention, we will pray together again. Ask your friends to join us as well—we need the whole nation praying."

Minya (Agenzia Fides) - An appeal to ask the police to enforce the law protecting citizens from any sectarian discrimination was launched yesterday by Anba Makarius, Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of Minya, after the series of incidents which in recent weeks have again recorded a sharp rise in cases of violence suffered particularly by Egyptian Christians. Now – highlighted Coptic Orthodox Archbishop - such violent attacks from the assault on homes to targeted kidnappings for ransom, are continuing at an average of one every ten days. In recent times the assault on homes of Christian families perpetrated in the village of...

In a press release issued today, an international group of “Catholic academics and pastors” states that they have petitioned Rome to address serious theological problems with the post-synodal Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia. Among the 45 signatories are Catholic prelates, scholars, professors, authors, and clergy from various pontifical universities, seminaries, colleges, theological institutes, religious orders, and dioceses around the world. They have asked the College of Cardinals, in their capacity as the Pope’s official advisers, to approach the Holy Father with a request that he repudiate “the errors listed in the document in a definitive and final manner, and to authoritatively...

The United Reformed Church has voted overwhelmingly to allow same-sex couples to marry in its buildings. Members of the URC's ruling general assembly voted in favour at a meeting in Merseyside, although individual churches will not be forced to comply. The URC becomes the largest Christian organisation in Britain to offer same-sex weddings in its churches. The Church, which has about 60,000 members, is a Protestant Church with roots in Presbyterianism. The assembly, meeting in Southport, voted to allow individual congregations to register churches as venues for same-sex marriage services immediately if they wish. Church officials think the first weddings...

The Ark Encounter, a full-scale, 510-foot long model of Noah's Ark, has opened to the public in Grant County, Kentucky.  It is the largest timber frame structure in the United States and the largest free-standing timber frame structure in the world. I find this fascinating in light of biblical prophecy, specifically 2 Peter 3:3-10: Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But...

Some Thoughts on Recent Tragedies and Racial Tensions Msgr. Charles Pope • July 10, 2016 • For some twenty-four of my twenty-seven years as a priest I have lived in and ministered to largely African-American parishes and communities. It has been a great blessing to me spiritually, liturgically, and personally.As you may imagine, I get a lot of questions from people when racially charged events appear in the news. I’m asked what my parishioners think as well as what I think.This past week began with the death of two African-American men, Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, in interactions with...

I read about 100 articles a month, and my favorite piece last month was Girl in The Picture, by Emily Thomes. Originally posted on The Gospel Coalition, Thomes shares her inspiring story of lesbianism to follower of Christ. Today, Thomes stops by the site to share more of her story and give advice to Christians ministering to those who identify as LGBT. You can read the full interview below. Emily, thank you for taking time to stop by the site. I’ll start broadly. Tell us a little about your life before God saved you. Before God saved me, I was...

With the Republican National Convention less than two weeks away, moderate Republicans are drafting an amendment that would soften the GOP's official position on gays and lesbians, CBS News has learned. The party's official stance on LGBT issues will be debated during next week's meeting of the RNC's platform committee, a 112-member group of Republican activists from around the country. ... Currently, the language adopted during the 2012 platform calls the "redefinition of marriage" by state courts an "assault on the foundations of society." It's unclear whether or not this language will be eliminated. But the compromise that some delegates...

Pastor J.D. shares what the Lord ministered to him in light of the many disturbing events of the last week, from the FBI Director James Comey’s announcement, to the assassination of Police officers in Dallas, and everything in between.