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One thing that that has puzzled a lot of people since the selection of Pope Francis two years ago is how a left-leaning Pope could succeed two very serious conservative Popes—John Paul II and Benedict XVI—who you would have thought had stacked the ranks of the Cardinals with clergy that would perpetuate their theological and philosophical outlook. Was Benedict hounded out of office by some kind of internal Vatican scandal perhaps? Was there some ecclesiastical version of a coup?There’s no evidence that I’m aware of—until now. Three days ago the National Catholic Register ran a very curious article about...

UNITED NATIONS: Pope Francis on Friday threw his support behind Iran's accord with major powers as he backed a goal of global abolition of nuclear weapons. The Iran agreement "is proof of the potential of political goodwill, exercised with sincerity, patience and constancy," Francis said in an address to the United Nations. "I express my hope that this agreement will be lasting and efficacious, and bring forth the desired fruits with the cooperation of all the parties involved," he said. Francis made his remarks a day after a friendly welcome at the U.S. Congress, where many Republican lawmakers have vehemently...

A very high profile anti-Capitalist from Canada named Naomi Klein has been invited by Pope Francis to join forces with Climate Change activist and senior aide to the Pope, Cardinal Peter Turkson. Together they will lead a prominent conference on the environment with churchmen, scientists, and activists. The conference will exclude climate change doubters and moderates. The Pope had walked back some of his comments on the economy which were anti-Capitalist but Klein says he got it right the first time – we need to overturn Capitalism. Klein spoke at Occupy Wall Street, is, according to the guardian, is a...

Pope Francis will spread his message of hope, faith and unity this November with a new rock LP titled 'Wake Up!' As Pope Francis embarks on his historic visit to the United States, His Holiness will spread his message of hope, faith and unity in the form of a prog-rock-infused album titled Wake Up! this November. The Vatican-approved LP, a collaboration with Believe Digital, features the Pontiff delivering sacred hymns and excerpts of his most moving speeches in multiple languages paired with uplifting musical accompaniment ranging from pop-rock to Gregorian chant. Wake Up! arrives November 27th, with the iTunes pre-order...

Luke 8:16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light. How does the head of the Catholic Church come to the center of the Western World and not mention Jesus Christ and how he saves you from sin? This is what happens to everyone who promotes the cult of Marxism, they are overwhelmed and everything else is placed in a lesser position which includes God. It is really pretty sad what has happened to...

"We planned to do this from the moment we learned he was coming to the States," If Sophie had been unsuccessful in Washington attracting the pope's attention, Gutierrez said, she would have traveled with the group to New York and then Philadelphia to try again. .

Pope Benedict spoke honestly about Islam. Now it has come to light that he was being undermined by a shadowy cabal that wanted to install Cardinal Bergoglio — the present Pope Francis — as Pope and “modernize” the Catholic Church. One thing they’ve certainly succeeded in doing is ending all resistance to the global jihad that has victimized hundreds of thousands of Christians. The Church leadership is betraying its own people...

A congressman stole the water glass Pope Francis was drinking out of during his address at the White House on Thursday. Representative Bob Brady, a devout Catholic and Democrat from Pennsylvania immediately made his way to the podium after Pope Francis finished speaking and grabbed the glass that was still filled with water. He then drank the water, gave some of the water to his wife Debra, and saved the rest for his grandchildren. Representative Brady took photos as well, and had his staff send them out to the press.

The greatly heralded Pope Francis, beneficiary of 24 hour news coverage from all news networks, has once again given us insight into his inner self in a sermon at St Patrick's Cathedral in New York City (Transcript of Sermon) . After starting the service, Pope Francis gave a heart warming shout-out to his "religion of peace", “Muslim brothers and sisters” when he said this: “I would like to express two sentiments for my Muslim brothers and sisters: Firstly, my greetings as they celebrate the feast of sacrifice.” The Pope clearly understands that for the last 1400 years, Islam has held...

What's the fastest way to digest the week's biggest stories? USA Transnational Report gives you a 55-minute podcast of world events from the American conservative perspective. USA Transnational Report 9-26-2015 • The Papal Visit to the United States • John Boehner’s Resignation – Who could replace him? • U.N.’s “New Universal Agenda” for Humanity • Scott Walker’s Comments on Donald Trump • Germany’s car industry in turmoil because of the EPA • Middle East Update Listen here: http://www.spreaker.com/user/jjmccartney/usa-transnational-report-9-26-2015

The Clinton Foundation invited everyone from Pope Francis and Leonardo DiCaprio to Bill de Blasio and Janet Yellen to its showcase gathering starting Saturday in New York City, according to multiple sources familiar with the planning. But those invitations were among the dozens turned down by all manner of celebrities, dignitaries and donors, according to the sources, who said the controversies swirling around the foundation and Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign have made some bold-faced names and donors wary of the foundation. The glitzy Clinton Global Initiative gathering in New York, which has the lofty title “The Future of Impact,” was...

Pope Francis is unquestionably a man of ­uncommon personal grace, the possessor of a genuinely beautiful soul. But that’s not exactly the guy who showed up Friday at the United Nations. That pope endorsed the Iran deal, the UN’s environmentalist goals and what amounts to a worldwide open-borders policy on refugees — and ­offered a very specific view of how to promote development in the Third World that’s straight out of a left-wing textbook.

1] The Roman Pontiff claims for himself [in the first place] that by divine right he is [supreme] above all bishops and pastors [in all Christendom]. 2] Secondly, he adds also that by divine right he has both swords, i.e., the authority also of bestowing kingdoms [enthroning and deposing kings, regulating secular dominions etc.]. 3] And thirdly, he says that to believe this is necessary for salvation. And for these reasons the Roman bishop calls himself [and boasts that he is] the vicar of Christ on earth. 4] These three articles we hold to be false, godless, tyrannical, and [quite]...

The repeated use of the term "dialogue" was irritating. It's a buzzword among today's technocrats. They use it as a softening word, one that signals that they're are not coming to dominate us, but instead to "listen" and play the role of "honest brokers." At the end of the speech, Francis appealed to a spirit of solicitude for the well being of the family. But, again, he steered clear of specifics, making no mention of no-fault divorce or same-sex marriage. He called for the abolition of the death penalty. This has been a priority for the Church going back to...

We must struggle every day so that this love of humanity becomes a reality. — Che Guevara... ...Deference to a pope comes readily to Catholics. We are groomed for it. Within legitimate bounds, there is grace in that. But the boundaries are not totalizing. Outside of them, obeisance falls prey to forces that do not serve the church. Neither do they lend succor to a civilization painfully wrought from endemic tyrannies and universal poverty. Far, far from it. There comes a moment when deference glides into collusion. At that point, we all become Good Germans. Fascist-friendly. Trust in respected authority...

ED. NOTE: As this article is posted, Pope Francis begins his visit to the United States. In his encyclical released in June of this year, the pope singled out air conditioning as being a "harmful habit" that is a symbol of rampant capitalism that is blind to the plight of the poor and disadvantaged. These comments by Matt Michel, CEO of Service Roundtable, serve as a timely response. ————— Since becoming pontiff, Pope Francis has repeatedly made the news for his criticism and condemnation of capitalism and free markets. Worse, in his encyclical, he singled out air conditioning as particularly...

Philadelphians and visitors to the city woke up on Friday morning to a world of barricades and tight security measures as authorities prepare for Pope Francis' weekend arrival. Fencing blocked off areas starting just east of City Hall, requiring people in that area to walk north to Cherry Street, where security checkpoints were set up, if they need to get inside the perimeter. Maureen Shaeffer and Ruth Schanbacher, who both came from the suburbs to go to work, didn't know each other before Friday morning. But they bonded over the tricky security measures. "We've been brought together through adversity," Shaeffer...

On September 24, Pope Francis scolded Congress for guns and weapons which are manufactured in America and sold around the world.He said he was determined “to minimize and, in the long term, to end the many armed conflicts throughout our world,” as he addressed the billion-dollar sales from American companies that he sees as a contributing factor to conflicts abroad. According to The Intercept, Pope Francis said: Here we have to ask ourselves: Why are deadly weapons being sold to those who plan to inflict untold suffering on individuals and society? Sadly, the answer, as we all know, is simply...

While delivering the first address from a pontiff to a joint meeting of Congress on Thursday, Pope Francis touched on topics ranging from the plight of immigrants to climate change and the death penalty. Many of his comments were lightly delivered and unlikely to elicit much controversy, though the reaction might be different if they were given by another world leader.

Republican White House hopeful Donald Trump said Thursday he thinks Pope Francis is wrong on climate change. The pontiff, in the midst of a historic visit to the United States, expressed solidarity Wednesday with President Barack Obama about the need to act to prevent global warming, and said climate change is "a problem which can no longer be left to a future generation