Free Republic

Catholicity 497. You claim that your Church has not only the marks of unity and holiness, hut also of Catholicity. What does the word Catholic mean? It is derived from the Greek language, and means universal and complete. And as Christ told His Apostles to go and teach all nations all His doctrines, the word Catholic is reserved to that Church which alone teaches all Christ's doctrines to all peoples — the Catholic Church. St. Ignatius of Antioch, about the year 110, first used the word to designate the true Church. He wrote, "Where the Bishop is, there is the...

Howard Fischer's latest screed against self-defense. I've posted the article in the Star, plus my comment. Senators favor concealed guns on college campuses By Howard Fischer Capitol Media Services Tucson, Arizona | Published: 06.28.2009 PHOENIX — State senators voted Friday to let people with concealed-weapons permits carry guns onto college and university campuses. Supporters said the move would make campuses safer. The 15-6 vote on the provision in HB 2439 came after backers said they believe that having people who are licensed by the state to have weapons should cut down on the number of massacres that occur on campuses....

In the wake of the horrific shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the country’s voice has been united in condemning such cowardly acts of hatred. The shooting, as stated by the national director for the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), “is a very sad and tragic event which reminds us, as the Museum itself does every day, in the starkest way, where the spread of hatred can lead.” President Obama rightly added, “[w]e must remain vigilant against anti-Semitism and prejudice in all its forms.” Unfortunately, the president must possess a different meaning of “vigilance” and “all its forms” than most Americans...

It's rather odd that Gregg Erickson's entire column appears in the ADN, when just a couple of weeks ago Lt. Governor Sean Parnell's column regarding a court decision was only excerpted and linked out. Oh, I'm sorry... Parnell's article was not a smear job on Governor Palin and therefore not worthy of the full treatment. Anyway, let's start:

EDITOR'S NOTE: Iranian authorities have barred journalists for international news organizations from reporting on the streets and ordered them to stay in their offices. (snip) Iranian authorities have detained several local employees of the British Embassy in Tehran, a move that Britain's foreign secretary Sunday called "harassment and intimidation" and reflected a hardening of the regime's stance toward the West. Iranian media said eight local embassy staff were detained for an alleged role in postelection protests, but gave no further details. British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said "about nine" employees were detained Saturday and that four had been released. The...

As I have done several times, an instructive way to learn about what might happen if we are so foolish as to institute a national healthcare program like the one president Obama wants is to look to those unfortunate nations that have already trod that path. To understand what could happen here we need to hear from those leaders elsewhere that once thought they had the solutions that Obama seeks. One such man is Claude Castonguay of Canada, a man that championed national healthcare for his country when that nation first began to explore the concept. It was full speed...

A smart gas station owner from Wadsworth, Illinois has given up his Citgo franchise and re-opened as a Shell station. To celebrate he posted a sign that gives Hugo Chavez a wonderful sendoff. "Adios Chavez," it reads. For the last five years I have personally boycotted any Citgo gas station. Citgo, you see, is wholly owned by Petróleos de Venezuela S.A., which itself is wholly owned by Venezuela's despotic President Hugo Chavez and his puppet government. I have written several times in the past about this fact (here, and here) and have wondered why more Americans haven't talked about boycotting...

Frequently Asked Dead Presidents Questions Which Two Presidents Died On The Same Day?? I don't know why (maybe it's on a lesson plan for schools around the country) but this little question with a quick answer (and one that is quickly found in any ready reference) has been asked of me so often that I finally decided to list the answer here. The answer is John Adams (second President) and Thomas Jefferson (third President). These two men died on the same day. But that's not all; read on....The question with an even more interesting answer is, "On which day did...

On Friday evening, we received this from the administration. Obama administration officials, fearing a battle with Congress that could stall plans to close the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, are crafting language for an executive order that would reassert presidential authority to incarcerate terrorism suspects indefinitely, according to three senior government officials with knowledge of White House deliberations.

Six states are currently looking to add an "opt out" law to their books to protect citizens from the possibility of a national healthcare plan imposed by federal fiat. Arizona started the ball rolling by introducing the Health Care Freedom Act, a voting initiative that will be put before voters on the 2010 ballot. If accepted by the majority of the voters, Arizona will be able to opt out of any federal healthcare laws passed by Washington. Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota and Wyoming are considering similar measures. The arrogance of Congress and the president worries many of these...

Go to the link and click on the button below the text "watch First Redeemer Church LIVE". The church service is starting now. He will start speaking after the worship music. Enjoy!

A DODGY accent and startling false teeth were all that was needed to turn Canadian actor Mike Myers into the British super-spy Austin Powers. In “The Simpsons”, a television show, Ralph Wiggum’s dentist scares him into brushing with the decaying snaggle-teeth of the (fictional) “Big Book of British Smiles”. And there is some truth behind the awful stereotype: the factory workers of Britain’s Industrial Revolution were fed on sugar from the colonies, and led the known world in dental caries. Early in the 20th century Americans were brushing and flossing while some British dentists still believed that chomping on hard...

isn't exactly like dancing on Neda's grave, but it's close enough to make decent people uncomfortable. Neda is -- or rather was -- Neda Agha Soltan, 26, the beautiful young student whose apparently random murder on the streets of Tehran by a regime thug was captured on video and transmitted around the world. Neda's become as much the symbol of the resistance in Iran as the young man who stood in front of the tank in Tiananmen Square in 1989 was of the democracy movement in China. http://post-gazette.com/pg/09179/980161-373.stm#ixzz0JjhTV7Qd&D

A landmark desalination project gained final approval from regulators Wednesday, bringing the promise of an entirely new supply of water to San Diego County ---- and perhaps one of many in water-short California. But opposition to the plant, including legal action, continues. And the company that wants to build the $300 million plant in coastal Carlsbad still needs to raise the money. On Wednesday, the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control board unanimously approved a permit for the plant. It had already considered the proposal twice this year. The permit approves a plan by Poseidon Resources Corp. to reduce the...

"In the beginning," says a character in a Peter De Vries novel, "the earth was without form and void. Why didn't they leave well enough alone?" When Washington is finished improving health care, Americans may be asking the same thing. Certainly the debate will compel them to think more clearly about this subject. Most Americans do want different health care: They want 2009 medicine at 1960 prices. Americans spent much less on health care in 1960 (5 percent of GDP as opposed to 18 percent now). They also spent much less -- nothing, in fact -- on computers, cell phones...

The man can only be considered a tragic figure in history. An ego a mile wide, yet insecure at the same time. His parents were both pathetic losers. He grew up seeking the adulation of others, feeding off the constant attention. Surrounding himself with people of questionable morals and values, who took advantage of him, riding his coattails as he climbed the ladder of success through superficiality. He abused drugs, as many celebrities did. He engaged in questionable acts, as those seeking fame and fortune often do. Yet people continued to enable him, telling him what he wanted to hear....

Every angler dreams of adventurous fishing opportunities. Some anglers are content to make the rounds within their own state to get their fix of fishing fever while others travel to other states. So how much fun would it be to try to fish all 50 states in the same number of days? That's exactly what Jeff Turner and his 17-year-old son, Taylor, are in the process of doing right now. "Ever since I was a small boy I've dreamed of adventure," said the elder Turner. "I'm just an average father looking at one summer left with my son with college...

The Olympic budget for Chicago has been all the buzz as of late. Daley keeps going back and forth on how much the taxpayers are going be responsible to pay for. It seems that we will be stuck with a $500 million tab for something most people I have spoken to don't really want.

The backstory on this is that this kid, rapper Hurricane Chris, is the godson of Barbara Norton (D-Shreveport) and this occurred on the last day before the session ended. She introduced him as a role model. Our celebrity worship culture has led us to this (which is another point Pundette makes). We elected a cool, celebrity president who is in turn leading us into ruin. I'm not being hyperbolic here, I don't think. It's clear to me that he's ramming health care reform, climate reform, financial reform, etc. etc., through as fast as he can because he figures by 2010...

Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) had a few choice words about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's (D-Calif.) landmark climate-change bill after its passage Friday. When asked why he read portions of the cap-and-trade bill on the floor Friday night, Boehner told The Hill, "Hey, people deserve to know what's in this pile of s--t."