Free Republic

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA), one of the United States’ leading Protestant denominations, has voted to allow its pastors to perform “any such marriage they believe the Holy Spirit calls then to perform, where legal by state law.” The motion, which passed by a 61%-39% margin, takes effect immediately. By a 71%-29% margin, the assembly also recommended that the church’s Book of Order be amended to describe marriage as a “unique commitment between two people, traditionally a man and a woman.” This change will go into effect when it approved by the majority of the church’s presbyteries....

The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)'s highest governing body voted Thursday to allow ministers to perform same-sex marriages. Presbyterian clergy can now marry gay and lesbian couples wherever same-sex marriage is legal. The Presbyterian Lay Committee released a statement repudiating the action of the PCUSA General Assembly. "The Presbyterian Lay Committee mourns these actions and calls on all Presbyterians to resist and protest them ... God will not be mocked and those who substitute their own felt desires for God's unchangeable Truth will not be found guiltless before a holy God." The PCUSA's 221st General Assembly, which is meeting in Detroit this...

The largest Presbyterian denomination in the U.S. will allow pastors to preside at gay weddings in states that recognize same-sex marriage. The Presbyterian General Assembly voted 61 percent to 39 percent in favor of allowing ministers to decide whether to perform the ceremonies. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia recognize gay marriage.

Pope Francis has told the Archbishop of Canterbury that although unity is distant it is still their goal, during a meeting at the Vatican today. The Pope and Archbishop Justin Welby prayed together in one of the Vatican chapels following their second private meeting since the Pope’s election. The Archbishop of Canterbury and the Pope also reiterated their committment to fight modern slavery and human trafficking. During his address to Archbishop Welby, Pope Francis said: “We cannot claim that our division is anything less than a scandal and an obstacle to our proclaiming the Gospel of salvation to the world.”...

1.) Fight for the rights of the unborn. 2.) Think no less of a baby/infant/child brought to you without any parent, without any Godparents, as you do not know the future. Which to you is better: baptizing a baby brought to you by good RC parents,that God knows will grow up to deny your faith and be a hell-raiser, or one that asas no one there with him/her or born out ofof wedlock to lapsed parents that God knows will turn out to be righteous?. Who cares about then and there? God told Samuel that He can see what no...

It’s a big pain that the hard-won basic text for justification is not mentioned by the EKD. Berlin (kath.net / KNA) The former Vatican Ecumenical Head Cardinal Walter Kasper has criticized the statement of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) on the doctrine of justification. The “basic text published in May didn’t mention a single word on the pact singed in 1999 by Catholics and Lutherans "Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification" (GER), said Kasper this weekend in Berlin. "I could not believe it, it hurt me," said the retired German Cardinal. For the upcoming anniversary of the Reformation...

As the biannual general meeting of the Presbyterian Church (USA) begins this week in Detroit, Jewish human rights group The Simon Wiesenthal Center said they have severed all relations with the controversial church. The group also called on PC (USA) members to vote down the anti-Israel agenda that has been praised by David Duke, a former Grand Wizard of the Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, and Press TV, a semi-official Iranian government news channel.

Have you ever been to this website? If so, what is your opinion of it? All opinions are welcome. Does this website like Benny Hinn, TD Jakes, Charismatics, Billy Graham, Pope Francis, and others all at the same time? I am not absolutely sure of this, but it seems to. Link to Charisma Magazine below. My opinion of Charisma Magazine? Babylon.

Rep. Louie Gohmert, in a congressional hearing, challenged a minister who is president of the Americans United for Separation of Church and State, to clarify his Christian beliefs — especially because the group is frequently at the heart of atheist-type attacks on public shows of faith. “I’m curious, in your Christian beliefs, do you believe in sharing the good news that will keep people from going to hell, consistent with the Christian belief?” Mr. Gohmert asked the Rev. Barry Lynn, during a House Subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Justice hearing, The Blaze reported. Mr. Lynn’s reply: “I wouldn’t agree...

I "AM" your Paradise search no further for truly if the Israelites realized this in the desert I would have been their Canaan as wholeheartedly as they would have received me even then and so it is for you even now for I AM The Wind of Fire and Breath of Tongues for you even unto forever and not just on a day (Pentecost) for I AM ~abiding~ in your WellSpring , so simply let Me "Rise Up" for your Testimony of ME "IS" the spark that starts the FIRE and I AM your Burning Bush and VOICE ! Joshua...

(CNS photo) Forty years ago, as the falloff in Sunday Mass attendance by American Catholics was becoming too obvious to ignore, Catholic voices began to be raised here and there saying it didn’t really matter. “You aren’t a good Catholic just because you go to church,” these people seemed to enjoy telling us. “What counts is what you do outside church.” Two responses, which too seldom were offered at the time, were relevant to that. One was that evidence was lacking to show that most Catholics who skipped Mass had found other ways of expressing their presumed religious fervor....

Frightening article in the Telegraph: Gay Danish couples win right to marry in church. The country's parliament voted through the new law on same-sex marriage by a large majority, making it mandatory for all churches to conduct gay marriages. .... Under the law, individual priests can refuse to carry out the ceremony, but the local bishop must arrange a replacement for their church. I am sure at first most Catholic clergy will refuse and bishops will not comply but down the line, in two or three years, what will happen, and if this law were introduced into England, or the...

I believe that the show "19 Kids and Counting" is a very wholesome show, and more than worthy of watching. This said, after the book, "Growing Up Duggar" came out, and after perusing it, I do believe that parts that talk abut hair lengths, clothing choices, etc, do perhaps need some discussion, given that there are some scriptural references stated within the book. And in reply: 1.) 1 Peter 3: 3-13 says: "Whose adorning let it no be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold or of putting on of apparel. But let it be...

A Gallup poll released May 30 showing large majorities of Americans now agree that homosexual relations, contraception, divorce, and fornication are "morally acceptable” highlights the need for strong preaching on moral issues, says the president of Human Life International. “The acceptability of these evils is a direct result of people not being engaged in public debate against those trying to force us to accept these issues,” Father Shenan Boquet told LifeSiteNews. “That’s why it’s so important for faith leaders to speak out and find new ways to help the public understand moral teachings on controversial issues.” Father Shenan Boquet, president...

Based on the findings of a recent Gallup poll released on May 30, Americans are becoming more accepting of a number of controversial issues. At the top of Gallup’s list of 19 issues was contraception, of which 90 percent of Americans approve, followed by divorce at 69 percent and premarital sex at 66 percent. Others making the top ten were embryonic stem cell research (65%), childbirth outside of marriage (58%), same-sex unions (58%), euthanasia (52%) and abortion (42%). These numbers shouldn’t surprise us; after all Americans have been steadily rejecting a Judeo-Christian morality in favor of secular relativism for decades....

Calvin, Aquinas and a Whopper with Cheese "Be Your Way!" The new slogan sums up the philosophy that drives our public debate on morality “Have It Your Way!” You’ve heard it thousands of times. That’s because Burger King has been drumming it into our heads for forty years. But you’re not going to hear it any more. Burger King no longer wants you to “Have It Your Way!” That’s not good enough for you. From now on, “Be Your Way!” According to Associated Press, Burger King wants to communicate that customers, “can and should live how they want anytime. It’s...

In a sign of the precarious state of Presbyterian-Jewish relations, the rabbi who heads the largest branch of Judaism in North America will appeal directly to the Presbyterian Church (USA) to step back from a series of critical resolutions aimed at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Invited to address the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Detroit, which begins next week, Rabbi Rick Jacobs said the Presbyterians have the choice of making things worse, or better. “It’s a critical moment,” said Jacobs, head of the Union for Reform Judaism, representing about 1.9 million Jews. “Much is at stake.” At issue...

(Reuters) - The Church of England may dismiss clergy if they back political parties promoting the "sin of racism", its bishops agreed on Tuesday in an unprecedented move by the mother church of the world's 80 million Anglicans. William Fittall, secretary general of the Church's General Synod, said they would be disciplined if they joined or sought support for the British National Party or National Front, whose views the Church considers incompatible with its teachings. It was the first time Church of England clergy have been banned from joining a political party. The move is likely to be welcomed by...

Bradford’s acting bishop has spoken out against the “disgraceful behaviour” of a far-right group at mosques in the district and at the Keighley home of the Lord Mayor. Britain First members entered the places of worship on March 10, handing out Bibles and urging worshippers to renounce Islam, as well as visiting the home of the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Khadim Hussain. Bishop Tom Butler, Acting Bishop of Bradford, has condemned the group’s actions. He made the comments at a special civic service at Bradford Cathedral, attended by Coun Hussain. In his address, Bishop Butler said: “Mr Lord Mayor,...

Will the United Methodist Church soon have to drop the “United” part of its name? A group of 80 pastors, including at least two from North Carolina, says the nation’s second-largest Protestant denomination faces a split because of an inability to resolve long-standing theological disputes about homosexuality and church doctrine. But more than lamenting the divisions, the pastors indicated there is little reason to think reconciliation – or even coexistence – could be found. Like a couple heading to divorce court, the pastors cited irreconcilable differences that can’t be mended.