Free Republic

A worship center for evangelical churches has commenced construction in Qatar, marking a significant spiritual milestone in the history of evangelicals in the country. The project, costing $33.35 million, is expected to be completed in April 2028. Evangelical Churches Alliance Qatar (ECAQ) made this announcement at the General Assembly of the World Evangelical Alliance (WEA) held at the end of October in Seoul... The ECAQ stated that the worship center is not merely a building but a base for spreading Christ's message in the Middle East. It will serve as a place for spiritual formation, denominational unity, and worship, testifying...

High-profile conversions from figures like Shia LeBeouf, Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Russell Brand followed by findings--church attendance picking up has led to stunned reaction from the commentariat press. In Britain, for example, Pentecostalism and Catholicism have been found to have reversed decades of decline and grown remarkably from 2018 to 2025 – drawing intrigue from the likes of the Guardian and Reuters. In France, since 2020, the bishops’ conference (typically assiduous in collecting and releasing data) have confirmed consistently remarkable and accelerating year-on-year increases in the number of adult converts they are drawing in and baptising – many from irreligion...

The story of the Egyptian Copts is a haunting chronicle of endurance in the face of historical upheaval, systemic marginalization, and cultural erasure. Once the majority population under Byzantine rule, the Copts now constitute a vulnerable Christian minority in a predominantly Muslim Egypt. Their long and painful journey—from spiritual pre-eminence in ancient Alexandria to their present status as a marginalized community—reveals both the tragic consequences of Islamic conquest and remarkable resilience of Christian communities under duress. In antiquity, Alexandria stood out as an academic powerhouse of early Christianity—arguably one of the most influential intellectual capitals of the Christian world. Founded...

US (Catholic) parish places 'ICE was here' sign in cribSt Susanna Parish in Denham, Massachusetts, USA is an active Pax Christi parish. For this year's outdoor Nativity scene, the figurines of the Holy Family are not displayed - instead, the parish placed a sign: "ICE was here."When contacted by a Boston Globe reporter who asked if the photo was authentic and if ICE actually had visited the church, St Susanna's pastor Fr Steve Josomo confirmed the veracity of the image and wrote the following response:"Each year our Peace and Justice group (Pax Christi) tries to hold a mirror up to...

“Nostra Aetate, 60 Years On: Perspectives on Catholic–Muslim Dialogue”Meeting of the Section for Interreligious Dialogue of the CCEE Commission for Evangelisation and CultureOver thirty participants, representatives of European Bishops Conferences, theologians and witnesses, from 20 European countries gathered in Augsburg, the historic city of peace, for a meeting of the CCEE Section for Interreligious Dialogue from 26 to 28 November. The theme of the meeting was: “Nostra Aetate, 60 Years On: Perspectives on Catholic-Muslim Dialogue”. In welcoming those gathered, H.E. Msgr. Bertram MEIER, Bishop of Augsburg quoted Nostra Aetate, n. 5: “We cannot truly call on God, the Father of...

Dear friends, two thousand years ago, Simeon was "waiting" for His Savior's first advent (Luke 2:25)! This same word "waiting" is used in (Titus 2:13), “Looking" for the blessed hope! Simeon was "waiting" with all eager anticipation and expectancy, "looking" for the Messiah to come, longing for the Messiah to come, eagerly expecting His first coming! Oh dear friends, how many believers in this same Jesus today look with all eager anticipation and expectancy like Simeon did 2000 years ago, not for Messiah's first coming but for His return for His Body in the clouds? Tragically, not too many. Simeon...

Daily Readings from the USCCBMemorial of Saint Francis Xavier, PriestAt that time: Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, went up on the mountain, and sat down there. Great crowds came to him, having with them the lame, the blind, the deformed, the mute, and many others. They placed them at his feet, and he cured them. Matthew 15:29–30Why did Jesus perform so many miracles when He walked the earth? The Church Fathers and saints offer various insights. His miracles were personal acts of compassion, expressions of divine love welling up within His human Heart. They were also testaments to...

🇺🇸Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem 🇮🇱(12/3/25)[Prayer]The Scriptures in Handel’s “Messiah”Psalm 24:7-107 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.Holy Bible, The King James Version________________________

3 December 2025 Saint Francis Xavier, Priest on Wednesday of the 1st week of AdventBasilica of St. Francis Xavier, Dyersville IowaReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: White. Year: A(II).Readings for the feriaReadings for the memorialThese are the readings for the feriaFirst readingIsaiah 25:6-10The Lord will prepare a banquet for every nationOn this mountain,the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoplesa banquet of rich food, a banquet of fine wines,of food rich and juicy, of fine strained wines.On this mountain he will removethe mourning veil covering all peoples,and the shroud enwrapping all nations,he will destroy Death for ever.The Lord will wipe...

“He spoke many things to them in parables” (Matthew 13:3). The parable was one of the staple teaching tools the Lord Jesus used to convey spiritual truth in an understandable way. The word parable contains the idea of placing something alongside something else to make a comparison. In this way, Jesus would place a moral truth alongside a physical example that people could more easily grasp. By this common form of Jewish teaching, He used a common object or practice to elucidate an intangible truth or principle. From His earliest teaching sessions, Christ used graphic analogies to instruct on divine...

A New York pastor surprised churchgoers with the extraordinary revelation that he is transitioning into a woman and will now use she/her pronouns. Reverend Phil Phaneuf, 51, who was born male, shared that she has been undergoing a gender transition with her congregation at North Chili United Methodist Church (UMC) during Sunday service. 'I get to announce with joy that I am transitioning. I am affirming and saying to all of you that I am transgender,' the veteran pastor, wearing a rainbow stole, declared this past Sunday. 'The best way to put this is that I'm not becoming a woman,...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Agri-Business; End to Sex Slavery; Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14) I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone: for kings and all those in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Religion Forum Threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to...

[Catholic / Orthodox Caucus] Pope Leo XIV issues joint blessing with Orthodox Patriarch BartholomewPope Leo concluded his two-day trip to Turkey with a shared blessing alongside Patriarch Bartholomew I before flying out to Beirut, Lebanon.As part of the last public act of his apostolic journey to Turkey, Pope Leo XIV imparted an ecumenical blessing together with the Eastern Patriarch Bartholomew I.On November 30, Pope Leo XIV and Patriarch Bartholomew I appeared on the square of the Church of Saint George in Constantinople to bless the crowd in turn, in Latin and in Greek, respectively. Afterward, they took each other by...

It’s Time to Reevaluate Interreligious DialogueI do not have a single problem in having interreligious dialogues and encounters if they are geared to drawing Muslims (and other non-Christians) to embracing the fullness of who God is as taught by the Catholic Church.Pope Leo XIV made his first official papal visit to Turkey last week, where he encouraged the small Catholic community to find strength in Christ. He also recited the original Creed promulgated by the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325—in an effort to bolster unity with representatives from the Apostolic Alexandrian, Antiochian, Armenian, and Chaldean Churches, which separated from...

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media.This is the confidence we have in approaching God: That if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. (1 John 5:14)Religion Forum threads labeled *Prayer* are closed to debate of any kind.1 John 5:20 "And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true...

[Catholic Caucus] Tucho's Marian Kerfuffle - by Roberto de MatteiThe Consequences of the Marian Note of Cardinal Fernandezby Roberto de Matteifor Corrispondenza RomanaOn November 4, 2025, the doctrinal note Mater Populi Fidelis was published, with which the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith sought to clarify the meaning and limits of certain Marian titles referring to Mary's cooperation in the work of salvation. The statement caused dismay and consternation among the faithful, but also among Mariologists, because it represents an objective diminution of the privileges traditionally reserved for Our Lady by the Tradition of the Church. One wonders now...

2 December 2025 Tuesday of the 1st week of Advent Santa Bibiana, RomeReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 11:1-10A shoot springs from the stock of JesseA shoot springs from the stock of Jesse,a scion thrusts from his roots:on him the spirit of the Lord rests,a spirit of wisdom and insight,a spirit of counsel and power,a spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.(The fear of the Lord is his breath.)He does not judge by appearances,he gives no verdict on hearsay,but judges the wretched with integrity,and with equity gives a verdict for the poor of the...

Where ever you go now during this "holiday" season, Christmas music is playing and many of the Christmas songs have a sound Biblical message of salvation. What Child is This?, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, O Holy Night, O Come Emanuel, Go Tell it on the Mountain, O Come all Ye Faithful, The First Noel, Angels We Have Heard on High, O Come Let Us Adore Him, Joy to the World etc.. are all screaming the wondrous TRUTH that a Savior is born! However... as these songs play with their saving message they sail far...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike.” Luke 10:23–24We rejoice over many things in life. We might rejoice if we win a game, do well on a test, complete some task at home or work, or attend a celebration or party. Though rejoicing is an emotion tied to our human nature, true joy is spiritual in nature, a gift that overflows into human emotion. Try...

🇺🇸Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem 🇮🇱(12/2/25)[Prayer]The Scriptures in Handel’s “Messiah”Psalm 16:1010 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.Holy Bible, The King James Version________________________