Free Republic

Cuba is scheduled to build its first Roman Catholic church since the Communist Revolution 55 years ago. The project's main sponsor is Saint Lawrence Parish in Tampa, Florida, where most of the members are Cuban exiles or descendants of exiles. The news comes right after a recent report of persecution against another church in Cuba. The Voice of the Martyrs reports that in July, government agents demolished a house church on the island.

While this is definitely a "what could go wrong" story what with an atheist government creating a theology fit for its population, there's definitely a sign of hope here. Atheist China, worried about the rapidly growing number of Christians, is constructing a "theology" in order to attempt to control this whole Christian thing. Funny, I think the Romans tried to control Christianity as well. How'd that work out? The South China Morning Post: China will construct a "Chinese Christian theology" suitable for the country, state media reported on Thursday, as both the number of believers and tensions with the authorities...

Pressured by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), Mary’s Gourmet Diner in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has terminated its offer of a 15% discount for customers who would pray publicly as they ate. Once the FFRF learned of the restaurant’s discount, its attorney Elizabeth Cavell threatened the diner with a complaint in an August 4 letter. Co-owner Mary Haglund immediately capitulated, emailing Cavell on August 6, "I am notifying you & the FFRF that as of today we are no longer offering the 15% discount for Praying in Public."

Sr. Simone Campbell A Catholic social justice activist who promoted a bus tour to encourage income equality is this year's recipient of the Pacem in Terris Peace and Freedom Award, it was announced Wednesday.Sister Simone Campbell is the executive director of NETWORK, a nonprofit Catholic social justice lobby based in Washington, D.C. She will receive the award at 3 p.m. Sept. 21 at Christ the King Chapel on the campus of St. Ambrose University in Davenport.Campbell and the "Nuns on the Bus" tour for social and economic justice drew national attention. In Iowa, the tour was active during 2012...

It is simply astonishing how much our daily lives are still so closely linked to the First World War -- and even more so those of our dear Christian brethren in the Middle East. In 1915, during the war, Muslims in Anatolia would join hands to effect the first major genocide of the 20th century, as over 1 million Armenians, Assyrians, and Hellenic Pontic Christians were killed, and a good number were expelled to make room for the 99%-Muslim Turkish Republic we know today. As it can be seen above, Aleppo, Mosul, Deir Ezzor, once again today brutalized by...

FULL TITLE: Iraqi Christian Refugees call upon the Vatican and the West "Come, Pope in the Vatican!" "America, you broke it." "Where are you?" There's really nothing left for us to say, other than our words in the editorial and our surprise at the Pope's silence  (except for a written statement by his spokesman) and absence from the cameras in this, one of the most dramatic days for any mostly Catholic population in decades. The mostly Catholic refugees can't understand either, and call upon the "Pope of the Vatican" to help them. But from Rome and from the United Nations Security Council...

China will establish its own Christian theology compatible with the Communist country's socialist principles, state media has reported, adding that the government will promote it in a correct manner through mass programmes. The number of Christians in China is rising rapidly but so is, according to rights groups, the simmering tension with the government. In April, one of the largest churches was demolished in the city of Wenzhou in Zhejiang province ending a standoff between members and authorities. Authorities said the 85000 square foot church was demolished because of permission issues and had nothing to do with religious persecution.The Communist...

A priest prays at St. Bahnam Church at the town of Qaraqush in the northern province of Nineveh, Iraq, in May. Pope Benedict XVI has urged Iraqi leadership to work for the swift formation of a stable government and for protection of the Christian minority in the country. (CNS photo/Thaier al-Sudani, Reuters) VATICAN CITY (CNS) — Pope Francis asked Catholics around the world to pray for tens of thousands of Christians from villages in northeastern Iraq who were forced from their homes in the middle of the night by Islamic State militants.The pope also made a “pressing appeal to the...

A recent post from Sandro Magister introduces his report on a book-length interview with Cardinal Gerhard Ludwig Müller by asking a question. This is how he poses it: “The prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith refutes the ideas of those who want to permit second marriages with the first spouse still alive. He is backed up by Cardinal Sebastián, who also disagrees with Cardinal Kasper. But whose side is Pope Francis on?” What we don’t get from Magister is an answer to his own question, so you can have one from me. Whose side is Pope...

News Analysis Brethren, Peace be with you. I'm still working on my next post on immigration. I apologize for being sidetracked by events. President Barack Obama's silence is deafening across many issues needing his often eloquent voice. Let me give you three examples: • During a "green on blue" attack, an Afghan soldier killed Major General Harold Greene in Kabul on August 5th, and a German brigadier wounded along with 13 others. The President's reaction? I'm still waiting for one. • This morning I received a communication from the Iraq and Afghanistan's Veterans of America (IAVA) focusing on the high...

American society is currently in a dysfunctional state, and like all things dysfunctional, it will implode if not addressed very soon. We live in a world that contains a vast amount of knowledge, but little understanding. The United States has not experienced extreme tyranny, but it is headed in that direction. The shift of authority from private sector to public sector has created a serious imbalance. As a country, there is great arrogance. We take for granted that we will always be the land of the free. Like all civilizations prior, we’re moving from liberty to totalitarianism and it’s...

No, the Maryknoll Sandinista priest Miguel d'Escoto Brockmann, 81, who had his suspension a divinis -- first decreed by Pope John Paul II -- removed by Pope Francis in the past few weeks did not leave his absurd statements and government positions in the past, as one might gather from various news reports of the past couple of days that repeated his statements from many years ago. He repeated such statements yesterday on Nicaraguan television, and now on a whole new unheard-of level. For those who are unaware of its real meaning in practice and behind the theological fog, this...

It is starting to feel like Groundhog Day in this country. In the past couple of years, some of the best and brightest students in America have boldly shared their stories of personal faith from the stage at their high school graduation. But instead of standing ovations, these young men and women have been met with shut off microphones, black markers, and threats of jail time. Why? Because decades of threats and attacks have left schools cringing at the thought of student religious liberty. SORRY, GRADUATE, YOU CAN’T TALK ABOUT GOD Rebekah Izzo presents the newest case of schools’ attempts...

While I was at the recent Napa Institute gathering, I got to know Kristina Arriaga, Executive Director of The Becket Fund, which defends religious freedom. They guided the Hobby Lobby decision to a good conclusion and for that we owe them a lot. I had this note from them today. It included this: [quote] Dear Friends, I grew up in a household where we were expected to pepper all tales with a bit of Cuban exaggeration. This was, after all, essential for good storytelling. So, in a way, I wish I were making this up. Within the IRS, there is,...

We here at the IFB took the liberty of adding to the list of death causalities of human history's wars the HORRIFIC EXPONENTIALLY war statistics that are yet to come as Almighty God's Word so clearly states in the Book of Revelation (Rev. 6-19). We did not add Gog's invasion based on our belief that its death totals are found somewhere here in these two wars spoken of in the Book of Revelation (Ezek 38-39). This world absolutely mocks the Bible and the revealed truths from it. Of a truth these wars will be and great world tribulation will engulf...

South Korea’s Catholic Church said Tuesday that North Korea rejected its invitation to a special mass led by Pope Francis next week, throwing cold water on the ceremony dedicated to peace and reconciliation between North and South Korea. The North’s titular Catholic association declined to attend the Aug. 18 mass, linking the refusal to Pyongyang’s opposition to annual military drills the South and the U.S. are scheduled to begin on the same day, a South Korean church spokeswoman said. The summer military exercises as well as other large-scale annual drills tend to bring strong rebukes from Pyongyang, which calls them...

Protesters display signs and carry flags during a rally in Detroit to highlight persecution of Iraqi Christians (CNS) Chaldean Catholics in the US have called on President Obama to do more to prevent the “genocide” of Christians in Iraq.Shouting slogans such as “Obama, Obama, where are you? Iraqi Christians need you!” and “Stop the violence in Iraq!” a group of about 150 protesters, most of who were Chaldeans (Christians of Iraqi descent), marched through the streets of downtown Detroit on Friday to raise awareness about the violent persecution of Christians in their native land at the hands of Islamic State...

Colin Collette, former music director at Holy Family Catholic Church in Illinois, says his partner, William Nifong, asked to “marry” him while they stood in front of St. Peter’s Basilica on a recent trip to Rome. In Illinois and Chicago, thanks to Catholic Democrat politicians, same-sex marriage is legal, so the two men planned a wedding. When Colin returned to the Chicago area, Father Terry Keehan of Holy Family Catholic Church, asked Collette to resign. Colin refused, and was subsequently fired. According to Collette, someone sent Francis Cardinal George a Facebook picture of him and his husband to be. That...

On Friday, the President of the Catholic League, Dr. Bill Donohue, spoke with TPNN’s the Voice of Reason, Tim Constantine on the issue of Christian persecution in the Arab world. Right off the bat, Constantine asked why the president was so resistant to speaking out against Christian persecution occurring in the Middle East. Dr. Donohue countered that Obama is a devout secularist. “I’ve worked with many professors in my life and I know the way they think. They’re either indifferent to religion or they’re hostile to it. But not all religions; I mean, I’ve never seen a president show more...

Pope lifts suspension of Father D’Escoto, former Sandinista official August 04, 2014 By Cindy Wooden Catholic News Service VATICAN CITY - Pope Francis has lifted the suspension of Maryknoll Father Miguel D’Escoto Brockmann, who was ordered 29 years ago to stop exercising his priestly ministry because he refused to give up his political position in Nicaragua’s Sandinista government. The pope made his decision after Father D’Escoto, 81, formally requested permission to resume priestly duties, Passionist Father Ciro Benedettini, assistant director of the Vatican press office, said Aug. 4. Vatican Radio reported that Father D’Escoto had written that he wanted to...