Free Republic

National Urban League CEO Marc Morial said Thursday on MSNBC that the jury in the Kyle Rittenhouse case sent a message of sanctioning “vigilanteism.” Rittenhouse was acquitted of murder and other charges after he shot and killed two men and injured a third during a Black Lives Matter protest last year in Kenosha, WI.

Pope Francis railed against unjust employers Friday, saying it is hypocritical to go to church on Sunday and then exploit one’s workers. “Many Christians, even Catholics, who say they are practicing Catholics exploit people! They exploit their workers!” the pope said during his daily homily at Mass in the Casa Santa Marta Friday. They send them home at the beginning of summer to avoid having to pay benefits and then take them back again at the end, he explained. “And so many of these call themselves Catholics. They go to Mass on Sundays and then they do this. This is...

Great movie on today, Tuesday, July 29, 2014, 9 AM central time. "The Mortal Storm" with Jimmy Stewart, Margaret Sullivan, and Robert Young. Takes place in pre WWII Europe. An Austrian farmer (Jimmy Stewart) and a professor's daughter (Margaret Sullivan) flee Nazi Germany on skis. Shows what can happen when political correctness takes over a society. Great movie. Set you DVR before you go to work.

In a kind of follow up from yesterday’s blog on the call to repentance, it seems it might be helpful to list what the Bible describes as some of the more serious sins.One of the great deceptions of our time is that serious sin is a remote possibility for most people, and that it is only committed by very wicked people. And too many people assess their moral standing with unhelpful slogans such as “I’m basically a good person,” or “I haven’t murdered anybody.”We have to be more serious and mature in our discernment than this. Of course God does...

From a reader: Fr. Z I’m struggling to wrap my head around what the point of going to Mass if we’re not in the state of sanctifying grace.My understanding is when we fall from grace, any good works we do merit us nothing. Also, it only takes one mortal sin to sever our relationship with God, so committing another one by not fulfilling my Sunday obligation wouldn’t really make a difference in regards of the state of my soul. And finally, I can’t receive communion, so I don’t receive any graces from that.So in summation, I wouldn’t sever my relationship...

Featured Term (selected at random):VENIAL SIN An offense against God which does not deprive the sinner of sanctifying grace. It is called venial (from venia, pardon) because the soul still has the vital principle that allows a cure from within, similar to the healing of a sick or diseased whose source of animation (the soul) is still present to restore the ailing bodily function to health. Deliberate venial sin is a desease that slackens the spiritual powers, lowers one's resistance to evil, and causes one to deviate from the path that leads to heavenly glory. Variously called "daily sins" or...

Issue: Is the distinction between mortal and venial sin biblical? Can we "lose" our salvation by committing a mortal sin?Discussion: The Bible describes sins that are mortal (or "unto death"), and those that are not mortal, which we commonly call venial (cf. 1 Jn. 5:16-17; Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1852-54).Christians are capable of committing mortal sins, thereby rejecting the gift of eternal life, a gift that cannot be taken for granted. However, Christians who choose to persevere in faithfulness—and seek reconciliation through the Sacrament of Confession should they sin—may be confident in God’s infinite mercy and His fidelity...

Issue: Is the distinction between mortal and venial sin biblical? Can we "lose" our salvation by committing a mortal sin?Discussion: The Bible describes sins that are mortal (or "unto death"), and those that are not mortal, which we commonly call venial (cf. 1 Jn. 5:16-17; Catechism of the Catholic Church, nos. 1852-54).Christians are capable of committing mortal sins, thereby rejecting the gift of eternal life, a gift that cannot be taken for granted. However, Christians who choose to persevere in faithfulness—and seek reconciliation through the Sacrament of Confession should they sin—may be confident in God’s infinite mercy and His fidelity...

New York Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) has long been rumored as desperately seeking the democratic nomination for president in 2008. And while many political observers fully expect the power hungry former First Lady to hit the campaign trail within only a few months of being re-elected as a US Senator in 2006, US News & World report claims to have a confirmation of sorts. From USNews.Com's Washington Whispers: Hillary's in… You don't have to take it from us about Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton 's desire to run for president. Her brothers, Hugh and Tony Rodham, say it's true. Friends...

Two of the soldiers who were killed during a surprise lunchtime attack Tuesday in Mosul, Iraq, are reportedly from the Maine National Guard’s 133rd Engineer Battalion.At least 24 people are dead after the dinning hall attack at the U.S. military base in Iraq and another 60-plus are injured, with approximately 10 of the wounded reportedly being Maine guardsmen.The identities of the casualties and wounded are not known.Maj. Peter Rogers, director of public affairs for the Maine National Guard, said at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday that his office has not received any official notice of any deaths or injuries.Gov. John Baldacci was...

HOT TOPICS: Consequences of Vatican II The Confused “Clear Teaching” of the Bishops Marian T. Horvat, Ph.D. “I welcome and support the Statement made by the Bishops of the United States, ‘Catholic in Political Life,’ in which we reiterate consistent Catholic teachings on the value of human life .…” stated Cardinal Roger Mahony in a feature article in his diocesan paper, The Tidings (June 25). He couldn’t be more pleased with the USCCB statement released June 18 that essentially backed up those Bishops who permit Catholic abortionist politicians to receive Communion. As in the Protestant sects, now Catholics can...

SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 4 — Arnold Schwarzenegger was in town this week to raise money for his campaign to replace Gov. Gray Davis in Tuesday's recall election. Despite repeated suggestions that Mr. Schwarzenegger would pay his own way to Sacramento, the fund-raiser at the Fairmont Hotel was one of many he has held across the state. An accompanying news conference was more of a rarity. And the way it unfolded speaks a lot about why Mr. Schwarzenegger is considered the odds-on favorite to become California's next governor, even as he is hounded by accusations of sexual misconduct and reports that...

Palestinians fired a mortar at the Gaza Strip settlement of Neveh Dekalim Wednesday, just minutes after several hundred Palestinian prisoners were released into the Palestinian Authority. No injuries were reported in the incident. Earlier Wednesday, IDF troops arrested 14 Palestinians in the West Bank city of Jericho on suspicion of involvement in terror activity. Also Wednesday, an elite Border Police unit apprehended wanted Tanzim member, Mohammed Alawuni, in a village south of the West Bank city of Jenin. The 14 are believed to be involved in planning terror attacks against Israel and the creation of weapons to be used in...