Free Republic

Vermont has agreed to a policy change that allows Christian foster parents to care for children without being forced to endorse gender ideology. The state’s decision comes after a lawsuit essentially forcing it to back down from revocation of foster-care licenses for families holding traditional religious beliefs on sex and gender. The decision made it difficult for Christian foster parents to adopt children while staying true to Christian and normal biological views that boys and girls are different. The settlement in Wuoti v. Winters and a related case finalized today comes after the Department for Children and Families (DCF) revised...

[Catholic Caucus] German bishops elect new leader who rejected Church teaching on homosexualityBishop Heiner Wilmer, a supporter of the Synodal Way, voted in favor of documents falsely claiming that homosexual activity is ‘not a sin’ and calling for ‘blessing’ homosexual unions.German Catholic bishops The German Bishops’ Conference has elected Bishop Heiner Wilmer as its new leader.On Tuesday morning, Wilmer, the bishop of Hildesheim, was elected by the 56 bishops attending the spring plenary assembly as the successor of Bishop Georg Bätzing of Limburg.Wilmer is known as a heterodox prelate and supporter of the heretical German Synodal Way. He regularly voted...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo-appointed bishop calls same-sex ‘blessings’ a ‘step forward’ for the Church'Being homosexual is not a sin. Indeed, it is not,' said Bishop Satué. 'The blessing of people who have a same‑sex relationship project is, in my view, a step forward.'MALAGA, Spain (LifeSiteNews) — A bishop appointed by Pope Leo XIV said that being homosexual “is not a sin,” supported blessings for same-sex “couples,” and called for expanded governing roles for women in the Church.On February 15, in the local newspaper Málaga Hoy, Bishop José Antonio Satué addressed questions concerning homosexuality and same-sex blessings. He also outlined his...

24 February 2026 Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent St. Matthias Catholic Church Sterling Heights, MI Readings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingIsaiah 55:10-11The word that goes out from my mouth does not return to me emptyThus says the Lord: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word that goes from my mouth does not return to me empty, without carrying out my will and succeeding in...

[Catholic Caucus] Bishop Schneider urges Pope Leo XIV: Grant ‘the episcopal consecrations of the SSPX’Vatican correspondent Diane Montagna publishes Bishop Athanasius Schneider's ‘Fraternal Appeal’ to Pope Leo, urging permission for the planned SSPX consecrations for the unity of the Church.Editor’s note: The following text is the full Fraternal Appeal of Bishop Athanasius Schneider to Pope Leo XIV on Vatican relations with the Priestly Society of Saint Pius X, originally published by Diane Montanga on February 24, 2026.(LifeSiteNews) — The current situation regarding the episcopal consecrations in the Priestly Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) has suddenly awakened the entire Church....

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This is how you are to pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…” Matthew 6:7–8Prayer is so essential to our spiritual lives that we should strive to live in a state of constant prayer, all day, every day. However, saying prayers is very different from truly praying. Jesus begins by teaching that...

🇺🇸Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem 🇮🇱(2/24/26)[Prayer]A New Study For A New Year: PersonalitiesGenesis 29:1-15 29 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. 2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. 3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon...

A A Reset "We have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding" (Col. 1:9). Godly living results from being controlled by the principles of God’s Word. Paul's prayer for the Philippians (Phil. 1:9-11) is closely paralleled by his prayer for the Colossians (Col. 1:9-12). Both epistles were written from the same Roman prison at about the same time in Paul's life. Both prayers focus on godly living, but each approaches it from a slightly different perspective. The Philippians were gracious people...

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Leo XIV appoints bishop who attended Masonic lodge opening in ItalyBishop Francesco Antonio Soddu, who attended a Masonic lodge inauguration in 2022, was named Metropolitan Archbishop of Sassari by Pope Leo on February 21.Pope Leo XIV has appointed a bishop who participated in the opening ceremony of a Masonic lodge as Metropolitan Archbishop of Sassari, Italy.The Holy See announced the decision to promote Monsignor Francesco Antonio Soddu to his new position in its daily bulletin on February 21. Soddu, who was originally appointed as bishop of Terni-Narni-Amelia by Pope Francis in 2021, caused a scandal in September...

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...

Pastor Scott Thomas is the pastor of Free Life Chapel in Lakeland, Fl who was recently invited to speak at Fellowship Church’s 2026 Creative Marriage Conference in Grapevine, Tx. During a spirited sermon illustration with a wedding cake, he slammed it onto the table, not realizing there were skewers holding it together. He explains what happens next: “Cindy and I spoke on “Building A Marriage” and used a wedding cake for our illustration. To close the teaching, we stressed that if we build our marriages outside of God’s order… the whole cake (marriage) crashed! All went well… until I slammed...

Earlier this month (Feb. 7), the board of trustees for Providence Christian College (PCC) in Pasadena, California, voted to close the Reformed liberal arts school at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. The president’s announcement cites declining enrollments, rising operational costs, heightened accreditation expectations, and the loss of federal funding. “Being mindful of stewarding God’s resources well,” said Dr. Steven B. Kortenhoeven in his announcement, “and after exhausting a number of different options to decrease operational expenses, recruit additional students, and even change the campus location, the board felt that this was the only option remaining.” In 2023, PCC...

Florida State Sen. Don Gaetz (R) is pushing legislation to allow churches to use volunteer security rather than being required to pay to hire licensed security personnel. FOX News reported that Gaetz’s legislation is Senate Bill 52, which has already passed the state’s Senate and will now be weighed by the House. FOX 13 noted, “Supporters say…[the bill is] aimed at cutting costs while keeping people safe in places of worship.” Triumph Church of Tampa pastor Elvis Piggott pointed out that “it can get very costly” under the current requirement for licensed security. He said, “Just for myself at an...

23 February 2026Monday of the 1st week of Lent (optional commemoration of Saint Polycarp, Bishop, Martyr)Saint Polycarp Catholic Church, Stanton, CAReadings at MassLiturgical Colour: Violet. Year: A(II).First readingLeviticus 19:1-2,11-18Only pass judgement on your neighbour according to justiceThe Lord spoke to Moses; he said: ‘Speak to the whole community of the sons of Israel and say to them: ‘“Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy. ‘“You must not steal nor deal deceitfully or fraudulently with your neighbour. You must not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God. I am the Lord. You must...

Daily Readings from the USCCBJesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:31–32Throughout history, rulers have vied for power, and countless wars have been fought over ambitions for political control. Even in modern democracies, there is constant strife over who should lead. Yet, in the end, there will be only one King Who will...

The Bible presents Israel as having twelve tribes from both northern Israel and southern Judah. In older northern lists, however, the southern tribes do not appear, and the full list seems to have developed in Judah, after the destruction of Israel. Moreover, the idea that the tribes are descended from Jacob developed even later. The depiction of the twelve tribes comprising Israel is central to Genesis through Kings. Nineteen of the roughly twenty-six complete or nearly complete lists of the tribes in biblical literature appear in these books.[1] Until the 1980s, most scholars assumed that the descriptions of this twelve-tribe...

🇺🇸Pray For The Peace of Jerusalem 🇮🇱(2/23/26)[Prayer]A New Study For A New Year: PersonalitiesGenesis 28:11- 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it. 13 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am...

In Zoroastrianism, the dog is regarded as an especially beneficent, clean and righteous creature, which must be fed and taken care of. The dog is praised for the useful work it performs in the household, but it is also seen as having special spiritual virtues. A dog’s gaze is considered to be purifying and to drive off daevas (demons). It is also believed to have a special connection with the afterlife: the Chinwad Bridge to Heaven is said to be guarded by dogs in Zoroastrian scripture, and dogs are traditionally fed in commemoration of the dead. Ihtiram-i sag, “respect for...

Saint of the Day – 21 February – St Peter Mavimenus (Died c737) Martyr and probably the Bishop of Damascus. The Roman Martyrology reads today: “At Damascus, St Peter Mavinemus, who was killed by some Arabs who visited him in his sickness because he said to them “Whoever does not embrace the Christian and Catholic Faith is lost, like your false prophet, Mahomet.” Peter was Martyred in Damascus (in modern Syria) by the Muslims who, visiting him when he was on a sickbed, had openly said to them : “Whoever does not embrace the Christian and Catholic Faith is lost,...

Please join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media.1 Timothy 2:1-2 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.Religion Forum threads labeled “Prayer” are closed to debate of any kind.