Free Republic

In what may be the biggest firestorm set off by a Trump executive order to date, surpassing even the widespread angry response to the Trump immigration order, a draft of an executive order circulating in the Trump administration would dramatically expand the legal protections for individuals, organizations and employers on the grounds of their religious beliefs, and as the WSJ reports, would potentially allow the denial of services to gay and transgender people, and contraception coverage for employees. The draft is titled “Establishing a Government-Wide Initiative to Respect Religious Freedom.” While it hasn't been signed and may never make it...

"‘Not taking risks, please, no… prudence…’ All the commandments, all of them… Yes, it’s true, but this paralyzes you too, it makes you forget so many graces received, it takes away memory, it takes away hope, because it doesn’t allow you to go forward. And the present of a Christian, of such a Christian, is how when one goes along the street and an unexpected rain comes, and the garment is not so good and the fabric shrinks… Confined souls…

SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – An 18-year veteran of the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office has been arrested on numerous charges, including attempted murder. Sheriff Knight said allegations that Frankie Eugene Bybee, 46, was harassing a 79-year-old woman led to an investigation into the deputy’s actions. Sheriff Knight asserted Bybee took care of the elderly woman’s dog, visited her in the hospital and introduced her to his family – all in an effort to gain her trust. “His actions are a disgrace not only to this agency, but to the law enforcement profession,” said Sarasota County Sheriff Tom Knight. The initial...

Bishops in Malta have published a document on applying Amoris Laetitia, the apostolic exhortation on family released by Pope Francis last year. The bishops’ document reflects the pope’s call for more mercy and inclusion in the church, all of which is applicable to LGBT issues. In the document, “Criteria for the Application of Chapter VIII of Amoris Laetitia,” Maltese Bishops Charles Scicluna and Mario Grech primarily addressed the situation of Catholics who are divorced and civilly remarried. Yet the principles they laid out are transferable to LGBT Catholics and their loved ones, too. Released on the Feast of the Epiphany,...

The Hardening of Hearts Caused by the Deceit of Sin Msgr. Charles Pope • January 15, 2017 • Last week at daily Mass (Thursday of the First Week of the Year) we read from the Letter to the Hebrews. In it was an important admonition, especially appropriate for our times:Encourage yourselves daily while it is still today, so that none of you may grow hardened by the deceit of sin (Heb 3:12).Collectively speaking, we been hardened by the deceit of sin. Many of us who are older remember times when sins that are openly practiced (and even celebrated) today...

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. (Proverbs 6:16-20)In a world where it is increasingly difficult to truly be shocked by displays of depravity, we have to hand it to the four young African Americans in Chicago, they have pulled it off. I have to say, I am truly stunned by what they have...

Our Sinful Nature by Charles Meek The Bible makes it abundantly clear that man is sinful at our core. This does not mean that we can do no good at all, but it does mean that every aspect of our lives is touched by sin in some way. This is a fundamental understanding unique to Christianity, because it points to the absolute need of a Savior. All other religions and worldviews hold that man is basically good, and thus perfectible by law and education. An apologetic for the faith should include this instruction. Here are some examples of what the...

Pointing out the errors perpetrated against Holy Scripture and Tradition by Pope Francis has become tiresome, due to the sheer volume of examples. But one homily, given by the Pope, as reported on June 15, 2013 by News.VA, the "official Vatican network", is so scandalous in its violence against the true teachings of Christ that it bears closer examination—especially now, three years later—as many are beginning to realize the damage this pope is attempting to inflict upon the One True Church. In his homily, Francis said: >>True reconciliation means that God in Christ took on our sins and He became...

Pleased with the efforts of his demonic protégé, Screwtape nevertheless cautioned Wormwood not to waken his waffling churchgoing “patient” to “a sense of his real position.” In chapter XII of C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters, Screwtape further warns Wormwood that his patient “must not be allowed to suspect that he is now, however slowly, heading right away from the sun on a line which will carry him into the cold and dark of utmost space.” Screwtape goes on to contend that the man’s church attendance could even be used as an advantage in their demonic schemes. He explains, "As long...

One of my favorite scenes in Tolkien’s The Hobbit is the riddle-battle between Bilbo and the creature Gollum that took place in the dark, deep caverns beneath the Misty Mountains. (I can remember when I first read Tolkien’s classic and came upon the riddles. I tried not to read ahead to see if I could solve them myself.) Bilbo, having accidently fallen into the mysterious place, wanted the way out (which Gollum knew), and Gollum wanted to make a meal of the plump Hobbit. Thus a riddle challenge was issued and accepted. Toward the end, a frustrated Gollum presented Bilbo...

<p>FULL TITLE: Gay man is left stunned and hurt after Catholic pastor bans him from singing at his own grandmother's funeral because of his sexuality, insisting that it would 'cause a scandal'</p> <p>A gay man has told of his shock and disbelief after a Catholic pastor banned him from singing at his grandmother's funeral because of his sexuality.</p>

And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5)This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. ( 1 John 1:5)We have been looking at the theological proposition, God is Light and in Him is no darkness at all. The apostle John, in his ministry to those whose faith had been ravaged by false teachers, and gnostic spirituality, would restore to them the original faith, by presenting to them again the doctrine of the “only true God”in...

Among the keys that interpret Pope Francis’ pontificate is certainly his love of contradiction. This inclination of mind is made evident by the Apostolic Letter ‘Misercordia et misera’, signed at the end of the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. In this letter Pope Bergoglio, establishes that those who attend the churches officiated by the priests of the Fraternity of St. Pius X, can receive validly and lawfully, sacramental absolution. The Pope thus rectifies that which constituted the main factor of “irregularity” in the Fraternity founded by Monsignor Lefebvre: the validity of their confessions. It would be contradictory to imagine that once...

In an exclusive Register interview, he elaborates about why four cardinals were impelled to seek clarity about the papal exhortation’s controversial elements. Article main image Four cardinals asked Pope Francis five dubia questions, or “doubts,” about the apostolic exhortation Amoris Laetitia (The Joy of Love) in a bid to clear up ambiguities and confusion surrounding the text. On Nov. 14, they went public with their request, after they learned that the Holy Father had decided not to respond to their questions. In this exclusive interview with the Register, Cardinal Raymond Burke, patron of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, explains...

As predicted by this blog, the dubia questions raised by the Four Cardinals regarding the permission of accepting Adulterers to Holy Communion has been soundly rejected by the Roman Authorities. Antonio Spadaro., S.J., the Ghost Writer of Francis', and the de facto "pope" of Rome has rejected out of hand and dismissed the Four Cardinals. In this, I am not surprised, indeed, I predicted it. In no way is Francis and his manipulator, Spadaro in any way inconvenienced.

Christian author Glennon Doyle Melton — known as the “ultimate confessional writer” for her honest portrayals of her struggling marriage, addiction and eating disorder — has opened up with another big revelation. She is dating again, her new partner is a woman and that woman is celebrity soccer champ Abby Wambach.

Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard,...

Bishop Athanasius Schneider was the guest celebrant of the Traditional Latin Mass at Mater Ecclesiae Parish on Sunday, October 23, 2016. Following the Mass Bishop Schneider gave a 40 minute conference on the topic of the Kingship of Christ. A Q and A period followed his presentation, during which time he answered a wide variety of questions related to the current state of the Church and the world. Mater Ecclesiae, established in October of 2000, was the first canonically established Mission in the United States, owned by a Diocese and staffed exclusively by diocesan priests. All of its liturgies and...

SAN DIEGO — The Sunday bulletin of San Diego’s Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Oct. 16 wasn’t very different from all the others. Seven pages. A welcome to newcomers. A Mass schedule. But there, between the prayers of healing for the ill and the deployed and a reminder about a parent-child chastity luncheon for ages 11 and up, was an extra flier. On it was printed a memo, written in Spanish and English, and titled, in part, “How to vote like a Catholic.”....

This video shows a Catholic priest clearly saying that Catholics who vote for an abortion supporting Democrat are committing a sin and should not present themselves to receive Holy Communion. http://www.oann.com/priests-urge-pro-life-voters-turn-election-day/