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[Catholic Caucus] Badilla: Catholics Are Not Obligated to Agree with Francis' ScandalsSince his formation as a Jesuit in Chile in 1963, Father Jorge Mario Bergoglio "has always been associated with his erratic, contradictory and even discombobulated behaviour", writes Vatican journalist Luis Badilla in a commentary.In this context, a phrase about Francis' behaviour printed in numerous books is memorable: "Bergoglio puts the blinker to the left, but then turns right, or vice versa".Badilla notes, however, that a driver who sends ambiguous and incoherent messages to other road users causes "great disorientation".He mentions Francis' recent "surprise" when he stopped at the luxurious...

[Catholic Caucus] A History Without Apologetics? A Commentary on the Pope’s LetterTrue Church history should not be an exercise in repentance and moral condemnation of the institution founded by Jesus Christ. Instead, it must testify to the triumph of divine truth in human history.The Holy Father’s Letter of November 21, 2024, on the renewal of Church history studies offers interesting insights but also raises serious concerns. Pope Francis presents methodological and purpose-driven questions that merit attention, yet his conclusions risk paving the way for dangerous misinterpretations regarding the Church’s mission in history. The call to study primary sources such as...

Our Troops Rock! Thank you for all you do! For the freedom you enjoyed yesterday... Thank the Veterans who served in The United States Armed Forces. Looking forward to tomorrow's freedom? Support The United States Armed Forces Today! ~ Hall of Heroes ~ The Berlin Airlift Part 1: The Beginning All info and photos from this website. The Berlin Airlift PRELUDE TO CONFLICTAt the end of WWII, a defeated Germany was divided amongst the victors, the United States, the Soviet Union, Great Britain, and France. The Soviet Union took control of the Eastern half of Germany, the Western half was...

President Joe Biden has granted a pardon Sunday to his son, Hunter Biden, sparing him from a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions...

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden pardoned his son, Hunter, on Sunday night, sparing the younger Biden a possible prison sentence for federal felony gun and tax convictions and reversing his past promises not to use the extraordinary powers of the presidency for the benefit of his family members.The Democratic president had previously said he would not pardon his son or commute his sentence after his convictions in the two cases in Delaware and California. The move comes weeks before Hunter Biden was set to receive his punishment after his trial conviction in the gun case and guilty plea on...

Joe Biden announced a presidential pardon for his troubled son Hunter on Sunday night, calling his prosecution 'selective' and 'unfair.' It goes against what Biden has said as recently is June, directly saying 'I will not pardon him.' 'From the day I took office, I said I would not interfere with the Justice Department's decision-making, and I kept my word even as I have watched my son being selectively, and unfairly, prosecuted,' Biden said in a statement. He claimed that people are 'almost never brought to trial on felony charges solely for how they filled out a gun form.' 'It...

The pendant imitates a Roman coin called a solidus, a type of gold coin introduced by the emperor Constantine in the fourth century A.D. It was discovered in January 2023 near the town of Attleborough in Norfolk, England, and dates to the late fifth to early sixth century. The piece of jewelry copies the imagery and inscriptions found on coins from the time of emperor Honorius, ruler of the Western Roman Empire from A.D. 393 to 423.The obverse shows a bust of Honorius wearing a pearl diadem and a cuirass, or chest armor, while the reverse depicts a draped standing...

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence,[note 1] promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

BETHLEHEM, West Bank (Reuters) - For a second year running, there is no Christmas cheer in Bethlehem, with tourists shunning the Palestinian city and many residents seeking a way out as the Gaza war grinds on. Bethlehem's Manger Square in front of the Church of the Nativity is largely deserted and souvenir shops are shuttered. Once again, there are no plans to put up the traditional light-festooned Christmas Tree in the ancient settlement that is venerated by Christians as the birthplace of Jesus and now sits in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. "During these difficult times that our Palestinian cities are...

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden has decided to issue a pardon for his son Hunter and is expected to announce it Sunday night, according to a senior White House official with direct knowledge of the decision. The decision marks a reversal for the president, who has repeatedly said he would not use his executive authority to pardon his son or commute his sentence. The pardon comes ahead of Hunter Biden’s Dec. 12 sentencing for his conviction on federal gun charges. Hunter Biden also is set to be sentenced in a separate criminal case on Dec. 16, after pleading guilty in...

If I had to offer one piece of advice to Catholics, it’s getting Advent right. Advent is a time of preparation, not a time of anticipation. The problem with the “anticipation” approach is that December 25–Christmas–ends the holiday rather than begins it. All the important “holiday stuff” is stuffed into the first 24 days of December. Even “Christmas movies” (except on the Hallmark Channel) peter off during the week between Christmas and New Year. And whatever “holiday” spirit might still be coasting on celebratory gases can count on extinguishment by about 4 am January 1. This is not the Catholic...

Last month, The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), citing intelligence and undisclosed sources, reported a grim milestone: about one million Ukrainians and Russians have been killed or wounded since the war began. According to government figures, in the first half of 2024, three times as many people died in Ukraine as were born, the WSJ reported. Population loss is one of the reasons why Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has refused to mobilise men aged 18-25, as most of them have not had children yet... The eligible age range for Ukraine’s military is 25 to 60. Joachim Giaminardi, NRC’s advocacy manager in...

Meghan Trainor has some regrets over getting Botox after she opened up about her experience on her podcast. During the November 20 episode of 'Workin' On It with Meghan Trainor & Ryan Trainor' podcast, Meghan says that she got too much Botox, to the point that she "cannot smile" while speaking. "I got too much Botox and I need help," Meghan stated while laughing. "I messed up. I've had Botox, like, a handful of times ... just my forehead. "Someone convinced me with my little lips that if you did a lip flip, you put filler right above your upper...

Malcolm Smith, the motorsports legend and founder of Malcolm Smith Motorsports in Riverside, has died at the age of 83. Smith died Tuesday at his Riverside home of complications from Parkinson’s disease, according to his company’s Facebook page.

Social media/X is abuzz with questions and speculation about what the pardon process might be for persons convicted for their actions on January 6. These questions were supercharged last week by a comment attributed to an unnamed “transition official” stating that all convictions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, throwing a wet blanket on the expectations/demands by some that pardons be given to everyone convicted of any crime. The transition official’s comment leaves open the possibility that some who have been convicted – or maybe even some who have not yet had a trial – might not receive any...

The election is being stolen in California. With November almost over, there are still 90,000 ballots to count and 100,000 ballots with issues Beyond flipping House seats, California Dems are trying to flip the popular vote so that they can argue that Trump doesn’t really have a mandate. While California alone won’t do it, it helps eat away at the popular vote total. And media voices are already pushing this narrative. The 2024 presidential election was close, not a landslide – ABC News Donald Trump Has Not Won a Majority of the Votes Cast for President – The Nation As...

There are few treatment decisions more difficult for families and loved ones to make than those surrounding the use of artificial nutrition and hydration in the seriously or terminally ill person:“Should nutrition be given intravenously if my wife’s gut isn’t working right?”“Should intravenous fluids be given to my father when he stops drinking and becomes dehydrated?”“Should a feeding tube be placed if my mother can’t swallow without choking?”Family members agonize over these questions, especially if they are not given clear explanations about the effectiveness or lack of effectiveness of various available treatments, and what kind of burdens, side effects and...

The late Martin Anderson, one of Ronald Reagan’s long-time senior policy advisers going all the way back to the 1976 campaign, once told me a story to illustrate Reagan’s unappreciated cleverness. When Anderson published his favorable chronicle of the Reagan years called Revolution: The Reagan Legacy in early 1988 (while Reagan was still in office), he called the president to ask the favor of a dust jacket blurb. Reagan kindly explained that much as he would like to, the White House counsel and other advisers told him sitting presidents can’t (or shouldn’t) make commercial endorsements of any kind. .... This...

Can you guess how many illegal aliens live in this 'sanctuary county'? Eight percent of Los Angeles County is illegal. This is where 800,000 illegal aliens out of an estimated 3 million statewide (the real numbers are likely much higher) have been harbored. And that may be about to change. In no county and state has the political power of the Democrats been as closely tied to open borders as in Los Angeles County and California. Flipping California convinced the Democrats to tie their national fortunes to mass migration and for a while it seemed to be working. Biden’s open...

The Beatles are rightly considered one of the most progressive rock bands of all time. So it is easy to look back at their salad days and point out John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr as the early 1960s version of a boy band. After all, the group were well-marketed and hit the top of the charts with startling consistency. But, within a few years, they were already changing the game. After their album Rubber Sul, the group confirmed themselves as the rock icons they are now revered as. Not only did they begin expanding their counterculture...