Free Republic

Every now and then I’m reminded of just how clever Satan can be, especially during Lent.Consider, for example, a pernicious little sin that seems to have taken root and grown in the age of social media: detraction. I’ve been seeing it more and more. Nobody really talks about it or the harm it inflicts — though the pope has stressed, often, the inherent evil of its close cousin,  gossip. (The pontiff has even compared gossip to terrorism.)So what’s the big deal? Let me count the ways.First, the catechism teaches that detraction is a sin against the eighth commandment: 2477 Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and...

Ben Carson and his closest advisers are going nuclear against Ted Cruz and his campaign for spreading false rumors that he intended to drop out ahead of the Iowa caucuses. Carson's close friend and adviser Armstrong Williams told The Hill in an interview on Wednesdaythat the Cruz campaign’s tactics were 'nasty, brutal and deceitful.' 'We've been told all along that Cruz's operatives play dirty and were capable of this stuff, but Dr. Carson never believed it, he felt like they had a respectable operation,' Williams said. 'Now we see firsthand that having integrity just doesn't matter to them. It's about...

World Exclusive! Charlie Sheen Is HIV Positive — Inside His Shocking Diagnosis Decades of debauchery have finally caught up to Charlie Sheen. In a bombshell world exclusive, The National ENQUIRER can reveal that the bad boy actor has been hiding an explosive secret from the world: He is HIV positive.

HOLLYWOOD was gripped with fear last night after a womanising A-list actor was diagnosed with HIV. The superstar, who The Sun is choosing not to name, has had a host of high-profile sexual partners. His lawyers are believed to be aware of the situation and preparing for a raft of potential legal claims from previous lovers. The actor’s list of exes includes an award-winning actress, a religious movie star, a top Hollywood personality with a controversial past, a TV star, a media personality and a glamour model.

Bill Cosby had his only son murdered after the boy threatened to reveal disgusting details of the comic’s sordid sex life! That’s the shocking claim in an explosive book manuscript exclusively obtained by The National ENQUIRER. The tell-all, titled “Cosby’s Love Child,” was written by Jewel Star, the aunt of Cosby’s illegitimate daughter Autumn Jackson.

Megan Fox and Brian Austin Green have reportedly separated after five years of marriage. Gossip Cop has reached out to reps, but did not immediately hear back. Us Weekly quotes an “insider” as saying, “Megan has separated from Brian.” The source further says, “They decided on it six months ago.” The magazine does not give a reason for the reported split, but cites another tipster, who claims “things have been rocky.”

Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were apparently huge cry babies on the set of Full House, and John Stamos says he tried to get them fired for it. “It’s sort of true that the Olsen twins (who were 18-months-old) cried a lot,” Stamos said at the Television Critics Association’s semi-annual press tour in Beverly Hills. He added that the twins made shooting Full House “very difficult” and he requested to “get them out!”

HILLARY CLINTON kept close tabs on her wandering-eye hubby, according to emails obtained by The ENQUIRER; she also discussed a health crisis and had a lesbian encounter with a reporter! One email from Nov. 26, 2012 revealed how the former Secretary of State made sure Bill was actually at home. A footnote at the bottom of the missive read: “HRC RON Washington D.C. WJC RON Chappaqua, N.Y.” HRC, of course, means Hillary Rodham Clinton. WJC refers to her husband, William Jefferson Clinton. RON translates to “remain overnight,” sources disclosed to The ENQUIRER. Another humiliating email revealed the Secretary of State...

They lost sleep, risked their reputations, cried on network television — all for a chance to work with him. But now that their dream boss has stepped onto the political stage, former stars of Donald Trump’s “The Apprentice” say they aren’t ready to vote for him. “I’m a die-hard Hillary Clinton supporter,” says Omarosa Manigault, a three-time contestant on the show. After her caustic boardroom behavior in the first season made her a world-class reality TV villain, the former D.C. resident was the only original cast member invited back to participate in not one but two seasons of “Celebrity Apprentice.”...

[caption id="attachment_1211" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Image credit: Washington Post[/caption] Many people have been hoping for this day for years.  The day when the Duggars fell.  Today they got their wish. By “the Duggars” I mean any member of the Duggar extended family—the ones “as seen on TV” in their hit show “19 Kids and Counting.”  And by “fell” I mean not just dipping below the sainted status conveyed by their television persona, but really falling in a public, humiliating and tragic way. Josh Duggar publicly confessed that accusations of his being investigated for child abuse 12 years ago are true. "Twelve...

Hillary Clinton isn’t just caught in a political scandal over her missing emails from her stint as secretary of state – she’s also terrified of personal revelations about a secret lesbian lifestyle! Now a world-exclusive investigation by The National ENQUIRER reveals that some of the presidential candidate’s famously “deleted” emails are packed full of lesbian references and her lovers’ names. “I don’t think she’s so concerned about emails referring to her as secretly gay,” said a Clinton insider. “That’s been out for years – her real fear is that the names of some of her lovers would be made public!”...

When Taylor Swift throws shade, you know it. Yet, the Internet had a field day when the "Shake It Off" singer was seated next to Sarah Palin Sunday during the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Show. But, despite multiple accusations of eye rolling and/or serious side eye directed at the former vice presidential hopeful, Taylor didn't cast any devious glances in studio 8H. If you look at a wider audience shot, you'll see that Taylor (and almost every other individual seated in the area surrounding her) was looking up at the monitors showing what viewers at home saw of Dakota...

Cops tell us Screech allegedly stabbed a guy after getting into an argument late Christmas evening that quickly escalated-- the bar owner says it was over pics they were taking of Diamond -- and then the actor bailed from the bar. According to court docs ... the victim suffered a 1/2 inch wound under his armpit and bled heavily -- but he didn't notice it had even happened until moments later. Officers located Dustin and his girlfriend in his car not long after ... and the knife was in his ride. Dustin's girlfriend was booked on a disorderly conduct charge.

It’s her own fault she can’t carry a tune. But sources close to Mariah Carey’s widely panned NBC tree-lighting performance at 30 Rock believe disgruntled techies are to blame for leaking a vocals-only recording of her woeful Wednesday night appearance. Their motive? Revenge! As Confidenti@l reported Thursday, production workers attached to the NBC broadcast were upset that Carey kept them waiting three hours in the winter cold Tuesday night, and ultimately failing to show for a taping of her Christmas performance. That number was supposed to air on Wednesday’s broadcast. The network and the diva were left with no choice...

A communications director for a GOP congressman has apologized for saying the first daughters weren’t showing “class” and were wearing clothes fit for a “spot at a bar” during this week’s turkey pardoning ceremony.

A GOP staffer has accused First Daughters Malia and Sasha Obama of classlessness, lashing out at their attire and attitude at the White House turkey pardon. The girls, aged 16 and 13, prompted playful criticism after scowling at their father, President Barack Obama, as he gave his annual Thanksgiving address on national television. But Elizabeth Lauten, once a media director for the Republican National Committee, went a step further to call the girls 'classless' and take aim at their short skirts which 'deserve a spot at a bar'

Klingenmeyer told police he was considering filing charges and was "angry that the Palins had showed up and were causing problems," according to the report. He told police he had asked Bristol to leave and she responded, "Who the f*** are you?" Klingemeyer told her he owned the home and Bristol said she didn't believe him and "she will kick his a**," the police report states. Klingenmeyer said that's when Bristol first punched him and he then said he told her to hit "him again if it makes her feel better and she does," according to the document. After five...

Prosecutors won't proceed with charges in a brawl that involved several members of the Palin family, Anchorage police said Thursday. The news comes as Anchorage police released reports Thursday morning outlining witness statements in the fight. Police were called to South Anchorage regarding a brawl involving about 20 people that had broken out at Korey Klingenmeyer's house on the evening of Sept. 6. The event was a birthday party for brothers Marc and Matthew McKenna and Klingenmeyer’s son. Five police officers wrote up police reports on the scene. More than 15 witnesses were interviewed, and the statements offer conflicting information...

Ever since David Muir was tapped to replace Diane Sawyer when she leaves ABC World News in September, gossip about his sexual orientation has gone into overdrive. Kenneth in the 212 reports Muir is allegedly “openly gay in his day-to-day life.” Another juicy rumor claims that he and field reporter Gio Benitez are an item. Neither of these men are openly gay, but have been linked together after a series of coincidental appearances on ABC World News. Eagle-eyed viewers claim that Gio usually files his reports to Diane Sawyer from the field. But when Muir fills in as anchor, Benitez...

NBC29 ‏@NBC29 23m BREAKING: Gil Harrington tells @HenryGraff a forensic link has been made between #JesseMatthew and Morgan.