Free Republic

Between Luther and PelagiusWhen it comes to our role in salvation, St. Augustine sits squarely between the heretical extremes of Luther and Pelagius.Editor’s Note: This is the ninth in a series of articles on St. Augustine, one of the greatest of Church Fathers, and how his writings still apply today.A large mug arrived in the mail the other day, around which I counted twenty or so apothegms written by St. Augustine. It was a gift, anonymously sent by someone who obviously thought I wasn’t getting enough to read from the celebrated Doctor of Grace—or, that being already familiar with Augustine,...

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) recently criticized President-elect Trump’s pick of former Florida attorney general Pam Bondi to lead the Justice Department, calling her a “massive election denier” and “Trump apologist.” “Pam Bondi was the attorney general of the state of Florida for eight years, and so she does have the requisite experience. But she comes with the heaviness of having been a massive election denier,” Wasserman Schultz told CNN’s Jake Tapper in a Friday interview on “The Lead.”

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer characterized Russian objections to having British Storm Shadow missiles fired deep into their country as "irresponsible rhetoric that will not deter us from supporting Ukraine. Putin's talk of a lowered threshold for a nuclear strike is a bluff that I'm calling right here and now." Not to be outdone by Starmer, the addled occupant of the White House authorized Ukraine to fire powerful long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) into Russia. "We need to Trump-proof the investment we've already made in this war so it can't be squandered by the incoming administration," Biden said. "This...

The former leader of the Ukrainian Armed Forces declared that World War III has already started, as tensions rise amid escalating strikes from both sides of the European conflict. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who served as Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief until being sidelined earlier this year by President Zelensky: “I believe that in 2024 we can absolutely believe that World War III has begun.”

Republican Senators should vote this nomination down. A co-sponsor of the Pro-Act as Labor Secretary? Absolutely not. ... The PRO Act makes it illegal to be an independent contractor. Democrats want a union between every American worker and the government so it can inflict things like DEI on every single business/contractor. ... The PRO act is one of the worst pieces of legislation ever conceived. It is anti-opportunity. It would significantly drive up cost. ... The only questions will be (a) when she walks it badk and (b) how far she walks it back and (c) whether enough GOP Senators...

[Catholic Caucus] “We do not want to separate ourselves from Rome, we belong to the Church” - Interview with Fr Pfluger SSPX on new episcopal consecrations The following excerpt is translated from InfoCatolica; the original in Spanish, published on November 22, 2024, may be found hereThe FSSPX will in the future negotiate with Rome for authorization to ordain new bishopsFr. Stefan Pfluger, superior of the German district of the Priestly Fraternity of St. Pius X (FSSPX), gave an interview to the Catholic weekly Die Tagespost on the relationship of his fraternity with the Apostolic See. After the death of Bishop...

A girl almost strangled by her father in an alleged 'honor killing' claims he threatened to murder her several times and abused her at home. Ihsan Ali, 44, and his wife Zahraa Subhi Mohsin Ali, 40, were charged with attempted murder, attempted kidnapping, and assault after the attack on October 18.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for the nation’s top health post, has vowed to “get the chemicals out” of America’s food amid mounting concerns over the health effects of additives. These chemical ingredients - designed to enhance the flavors, textures, colors and shelf life of ultra-processed foods - are in many of the foods that Americans eat. But who determines whether they are safe? Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. In many cases, it’s not the Food and Drug Administration that decides if chemical additives are...

His election has communities of trans people and their allies fearful of widespread discrimination and a loss of health care access. Polls show that more than 60 percent of Americans support protecting transgender people from discrimination. But they have also found that 55 percent believe support for trans rights has — quote — "gone too far." We spoke with three Americans, a parent of a trans daughter, the executive director of a trans crisis hot line, and a two-spirit activist and parent to a two-spirit kid. That's a term used by indigenous people that acknowledges the diverse nature of gender...

20-year-old Jesus Alberto Pereira Castillo was arrested and charged for raping a minor teen girl in Denver as Mayor Johnston declared war on Trump’s plan to deport aliens like Castillo.

What started as a Texas farmer’s love for exotic chickens has led to armed federal agents storming her farm, killing her prized birds, and a possible 20-year prison sentence for bringing rare eggs into the country. Jennifer Mayo, who owns a chicken farm in South Texas, has found herself at the center of a federal smuggling case that has destroyed her business and left her fighting for her freedom. The farmer’s story begins with a passion project that grew into a flourishing business enterprise. She started with nine birds about five years ago. Her collection eventually expanded into 39 different...

The political landscape erupted Thursday evening as President Donald Trump announced Pam Bondi, former Attorney General of Florida and a staunch Trump ally, as his nominee for the next Attorney General of the United States. Bondi’s nomination follows Rep. Matt Gaetz’s withdrawal, a decision that shocked many in the conservative base. In his official statement, President Trump lauded Bondi’s impressive record as a prosecutor and her leadership as Florida’s first female Attorney General: “I am proud to announce former Attorney General of the Great State of Florida, Pam Bondi, as our next Attorney General of the United States. Pam was...

America must stand with Israel against the ICCAs Israel defeats its enemies on the battlefields in Gaza and Lebanon, the intifada has gone global. The fronts of the war against the Jewish state encompass America's cities, the United Nations, the U.S. Senate, and the International Criminal Court. Marches, resolutions, embargoes, arrest warrants—these are the tactics by which Hamas sympathizers worldwide intend to isolate Israel diplomatically, undermine Israel's war against terrorism, and intimidate the Jewish people.Only one response is appropriate. America must stand in the breach. America must provide Israel with the cover and support it needs to cripple Hamas and...

DONALD J. TRUMPPresident, Commander-in-ChiefJ.D. VANCEVice-President, President of the SenateSUZIE WILES Chief of Staff WILLIAM McGINLEY White House Counsel STEPHEN MILLER Deputy Chief of Staff MICHAEL WALTZ National Security AdvisorPETE HEGSETHSec. of DefenseMARCO RUBIOSec. of StateELISE STEFANIKAmb. to United NationsMIKE HUCKABEEAmb. to IsraelSTEVE WITKOFF Middle East Envoy KRISTI NOEMSec. of Homeland SecurityTOM HOMAN Border CzarJOHN RATCLIFFE CIA Director ELON MUSKCo-Sec. of Govt. Efficiency VIVEK RAMASWAMY Co-Sec. of Govt. Efficiency PAM BONDI Attorney General LEE ZELDIN EPA Administrator TULSI GABBARD Dir. of National Intelligence JOHN SAUER Solicitor General ROBERT F. KENNEDY Jr. Sec. of Health & Human Services DOUG COLLINS Sec. of...

The left’s autopsy of its very predictable electoral defeat has become a comedy show. Joe Scarborough is on bended knee, licking the boots of an incoming president he has likened to Hitler. Nancy Pelosi, who first defended Biden’s mental capacity before coldly whacking him, is now blaming him for Kamala Harris’s loss. Activist “journalists” claim that Harris ran a “perfect” campaign and blame voters “who gave up on democracy.” Self-preening typifies much of what’s wrong with the contemporary American left. It’s a culture driven by its own self-exaltation and social credit scores rather than self-examination. Moral condescension and virtue signaling...

President-elect Donald Trump wasted little time selecting another candidate for attorney general after Matt Gaetz dropped his bid amid sexual misconduct allegations. Pam Bondi, Florida's attorney general for eight years, was part of Trump's defense team during his first impeachment trial and supported his false claims of fraud following the 2020 election. She's remained in Trump's orbit since then, continuing to advise him on legal matters. Despite the shake-up, Bondi seems easily positioned to pick up the mantle on Trump's goal of overhauling the Justice Department and his pledge for retribution against political opponents. "For too long, the partisan Department...

An elected official in Chicago was arrested Sunday after crashing her car while drunk and reportedly questioning a police officer over the size of his penis. Samantha Steele, a 45-year-old Commissioner of the Cook County Board of Review, was arrested around 8:50 p.m. in the 5000 block of North Ashland Avenue, near the Winnemac and Wolcott Gardens neighborhoods of Chicago, police confirmed to Newsweek. She was charged with a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence of alcohol. The Democrat told police that she crashed her Dodge Charger into a parked Subaru Forester while making a wide right turn, according...

The culture wars have spilled over from the political arena into the automotive industry, as two legacy carmakers recently released ads that garnered attention on social media—one generating widespread praise, the other sparking controversy. Earlier this week, Jaguar Land Rover launched a new marketing campaign for the rebranding of Jaguar, the 100-year-old British luxury carmaker once known for making some of the most beautiful sports cars in the world. A 30-second video posted to social media showcased a diverse group of (human) models in colorful outfits, revealed a new sans-serif logo—dropping the iconic big cat emblem—and, notably, did not feature...

Former national security adviser John Bolton slammed Sebastian Gorka as a “con man” on Friday, after President-elect picked Gorka to lead counterterrorism efforts in his second term. “Well, Sebastian Gorka is a con man. I wouldn’t have him in any U.S. government,” Bolton told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins when asked about the choice. “Fortunately, it’s not the highest position he had been mentioned for. But I don’t think it’s going to bode well for counterterrorism efforts when the [National Security Council’s] senior director is somebody like that.” “And this is why, obviously everybody is now focusing on the top jobs,” he...

WASHINGTON—During his first term, Donald Trump would sometimes interrupt meetings on military or veterans’ issues to call Pete Hegseth, a Fox News host who impressed the president with a blunt style that mirrored his own. Hegseth railed against Pentagon leaders on television and pushed pardons for soldiers convicted of war crimes, a contrast to the cautious career officials who frustrated Trump. For his second administration, the president-elect has nominated the telegenic 44-year-old Army veteran to be his defense secretary, despite—or because of—a résumé thin on government experience. “President-elect Trump might look at Pete Hegseth as someone who will carry out...