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Cardinal Timothy Dolan recently addressed the new document approved by the Vatican regarding the church's relation to Catholic divorcees, gays and married gays, and expressed his admiration for Pope Francis during the segment. In an interview with ABC News George Stephanopoulos Dolan concurred that the Pope's recent statements on homosexuality at this month's Synod represent an 'evolution,' not a 'revolution' within the Catholic Church. "Pope Francis never ceases to surprise us," said Dolan to ABC News. "Just when you think you might have him figured out, he offers another fresh innovative way of looking, that talk to which you just...

October 22, 2014Wednesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Eph 3:2-12 Brothers and sisters:You have heard of the stewardship of God’s gracethat was given to me for your benefit,namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation,as I have written briefly earlier.When you read thisyou can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,which was not made known to human beings in other generationsas it has now been revealedto his holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit,that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same Body,and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus...

After Pope Francis published his Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, which, in part, attempted to highlight the concern that the rich should have for the poor and the marginalized, he became known in conservative circles as the Pope of the Redistribution of Wealth; to which, liberals would have preferred a more fun title – Pope of Economic Justice. Nevertheless, due to the Pope’s interest in governments and corporations sharing their booty he was compared to President Barack Obama. Perhaps, to a very limited degree, Pope Francis and Barack Obama do have a common interest in economic justice, but what everyone has...

Rabbi Mark Kula and Imam Khalid Salahuddin are looking forward to attending church Sunday. Yes, church. The pair are two of several religious leaders who will take part in an interfaith service at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Coral Gables Congregational Church, across from the Biltmore Hotel, at 3010 De Soto Blvd. The fourth annual service, organized by MCCJ, formerly known as the Miami Coalition of Christians and Jews, is themed, “Pursuing Peace: A Common Path.” “What we see, what we believe, affects the way we interact with people,” said Kula, of Bet Shira Congregation, a Conservative congregation in Pinecrest....

Sharpen Your Skills Today's Scripture "Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings…" (Proverbs 22:29, NIV) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Too often, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, doing the same thing the same way over and over every day. But if we are going to live at our absolute best, we should constantly be growing and sharpening our skills. We should strive to learn and grow every single day because when we stop learning, we stop growing. When we stop growing, we stop living. What are you doing to...

Impulsiveness or Discipleship? " But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith . . . —Jude 20 " There was nothing of the nature of impulsive or thoughtless action about our Lord, but only a calm strength that never got into a panic. Most of us develop our Christianity along the lines of our own nature, not along the lines of God’s nature. Impulsiveness is a trait of the natural life, and our Lord always ignores it, because it hinders the development of the life of a disciple. Watch how the Spirit of God gives a...

Brittany Maynard, a 29 year old newlywed with a diagnosed terminal illness is choosing to end her life in a dignified manner. Since then, there have been an overwhelming response from my fellow Christians decrying this decision, an Open Letter from Kara Tippetts hosted by wildly popular author Ann Voskamp, as well a letter from renowned evangelical influencer, Joni Eareckson Tada. I don't face a terminal illness diagnosis, but I am drawn to this conversation because I believe the brutality of such an impossible decision owns potential for profound beauty. To consider how to die is a tandem reflection on...

- "Hanna Rosin is the founder of DoubleX and a writer for the Atlantic. She is also the author of The End of Men. Follow her on Twitter. I had an abortion. I was not in a libertine college-girl phase, although frankly it’s none of your business. I was already a mother of two, which puts me in the majority of American women who have abortions. Six out of 10 are mothers, which makes sense, because a mother could not fool herself into believing that having another baby was no big deal. I start the story this way because Katha...

Wendy Alec, the co-founder of the international television network GOD TV, has revealed that her husband and ministry partner of over 20 years has left her for a divorced singer in Austria. Her comments came after the TV channel confirmed last week that Rory Alec would be stepping aside as chairman and chief executive with immediate effect following an undisclosed "moral failure". In a lengthy statement broadcast live on GOD TV, Wendy said Rory had been having an affair and that he is currently staying on the farm belonging to the woman's father in South Africa. She also stated that...

Few realized when Small is Beautiful was published that E.F. Schumacher’s economic theories were underpinned by solid religious and philosophical foundations, the fruits of a lifetime of searching. In 1971, two years before the book’s publication, Schumacher had become a Roman Catholic, the final destination of his philosophical journey.

Sing with All the Saints in Glory Lyrics: William Irons Music: Ludwig von Beethoven; arr. by Edward Hodges Tune: HYMN TO JOY, Meter: 87.87 D 1. Sing with all the saints in glory, sing the resurrection song! Death and sorrow, earth's dark story, to the former days belong. All around the clouds are breaking, soon the storms of time shall cease; in God's likeness we, awaking, know the everlasting peace. 2. O what glory, far exceeding all that eye has yet perceived! Holiest hearts, for ages pleading, never that full joy conceived. God has promised, Christ prepares it, there on...

Full Title: Hillsong Church, Relevance & Pariahs. Hillsong's pastor, stressing the church's need to stay relevant, declined to give the church's position on same-sex marriage There’s a good piece by Andrew Walker in First Things on a popular international church network called Hillsong’s apparent equivocation on marriage. At a recent New York press conference, the ministry’s leader, Brian Houston, declined to answer whether the ministry affirms the biblical position. Instead, he stresses the church’s need to stay “relevant.” Earlier this year the pastor of Hillsong’s New York’s congregation, the ultra hip Carl Lentz, shared similar views with CNN. His wifeadded:...

50. Homosexuals have gifts and qualities to offer to the Christian community: are we capable of welcoming these people, guaranteeing to them a fraternal space in our communities? Often they wish to encounter a Church that offers them a welcoming home. Are our communities capable of providing that, accepting and valuing their sexual orientation, without compromising Catholic doctrine on the family and matrimony? Language from the Relatio rejected by the Synod. Over at the blog That the Bones You Have Crushed May Thrill, that is a mouthful, brings news of this latest development: London’s Catholic Churches are already undergoing a...

When: September 18, 2014 @ 7:30 pm - 9:00 pmWhere: Albrecht Auditorium Claremont Graduate University The Claremont Colleges,925 North Dartmouth Avenue,Claremont,CA 91711 USA Title: “Zombies, Vampires, and the Book of Mormon” Abstract: Zombies and vampires bend the rules of time. Death arrives for them but, even after its arrival, their lives continue. They die but, rather than passing on to the next world, they continue in this one. In this sense, zombies and vampires model an important aspect of Christian life: the Christian’s preemptive abandonment of their own life (their willingness to be crucified with Christ), in order to begin...

October 21, 2014Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time    Reading 1 Eph 2:12-22 Brothers and sisters:You were at that time without Christ,alienated from the community of Israeland strangers to the covenants of promise,without hope and without God in the world.But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far offhave become near by the Blood of Christ. For he is our peace, he made both oneand broke down the dividing wall of enmity, through his Flesh,abolishing the law with its commandments and legal claims,that he might create in himself one new person in place of the two,thus...

"No zeal for the lost, no hunger for the Word, no burden to pray...strangers to holiness." This describes a large number of the people who sit in our church pews today. This is the result of our man-centered gospel which is being served up in our pulpits. We have multitudes of lukewarm Christians with a false sense of security regarding their salvation. This man-centered gospel also has a massive casualty rate. It's producing 90 backsliders per 100 decisions. These people are not really backsliders. I would like to suggest they have never slidden forward. These people have not been warned...

The Southern Baptist Convention withdrew a California church known for its "third way" on gay unions and homosexuality from its church membership, officials announced Tuesday.New Heart Community Church of La Mirada was removed by SBC's Executive Committee by a unanimous vote.

He Satisfies You Today's Scripture "They shall not be put to shame in the time of evil; and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied." (Psalm 37:19, AMP) Today's Word from Joel and Victoria Are you expecting to see God supernaturally show up in your life? Are you expecting increase and abundance? Notice this verse tells us that the righteous, those who follow God’s commands, will be satisfied even in times of famine. Even when it looks like resources are slim, God has a plan to provide for His people. God always shows Himself strong on behalf...

Is God’s Will My Will? " This is the will of God, your sanctification . . . —1 Thessalonians 4:3 " Sanctification is not a question of whether God is willing to sanctify me— is it my will? Am I willing to let God do in me everything that has been made possible through the atonement of the Cross of Christ? Am I willing to let Jesus become sanctification to me, and to let His life be exhibited in my human flesh? (see 1 Corinthians 1:30). Beware of saying, “Oh, I am longing to be sanctified.” No, you are...

Two ordained Christian pastors in Idaho have filed a federal lawsuit and a motion for temporarily restraining Coeur d'Alene city officials from forcing them to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies or face prosecution for violating "non-discrimination" laws. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed the lawsuit and the motion on behalf of Donald Knapp and his wife, Evelyn, who run Hitching Post Wedding Chapel and have been required by city officials to perform gay ceremonies or face months in jail and/or thousands of dollars in fines. The city says its non-discrimination ordinance requires them to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies because the courts have...