Free Republic

Bishop Joseph Williams of the Diocese of Camden, covering southern New Jersey and its Philadelphia suburbs, announced the settlement Tuesday in a letter. A New Jersey Catholic diocese this week agreed to a $180 million settlement to resolve allegations of clergy sexual abuse, a figure far exceeding agreements in some large dioceses but still dwarfed by other massive settlements. Bishop Joseph Williams of the Diocese of Camden, covering southern New Jersey and its Philadelphia suburbs, announced the settlement Tuesday in a letter.

Been getting a lot of 500 errors and other issues, as many have noted, and site slowing down notably. Please reboot the server!

President Trump on Saturday offered the remaining Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps the chance for “immunity” after a joint US-Israeli military operation wiped out Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and top Iranian leaders. Trump said the ayatollah’s supporters should back down now — or else they’d suffer grave consequences later. “We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us,” Trump said in a social media post. “As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!'”

Crowds of Iranian-Americans took to the streets of Westwood on Saturday to celebrate the U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and the reported formation of a provisional government by opposition groups, marking a moment many said they never expected to witness in their lifetimes. Celebrations spilled into the streets near Persian Square with people waving Iranian flags, honking car horns and chanting in joy. Some danced in the streets, expressing hope for a freer Iran. Shab Snyder, an Iranian-American and former refugee whose family still lives in Iran, described the moment as almost unreal. “I never thought I’d see this...

Warning: Story contains disturbing details MIAMI — Miami police say a group of boys took a 12-year-old girl to a community garden in the city’s Overtown neighborhood as one of them raped her for 30 minutes. Authorities said Jusiah Jones, 12, shoved rocks in the girl’s mouth so she couldn’t scream while Nelson Nunez, 13, sexually assaulted her. A third boy, Xavier Tyson, is accused of participating as well; he was 14 at the time. While police arrested them on juvenile charges the next day, all three are now charged as adults following a grand jury indictment issued on Wednesday....

On Friday it was announced that songwriter Neil Sedaka had passed away at 86 years old. Sedaka was responsible for a great number hits through the '60s and '70s, including "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do," "The Diary," "Oh! Carol," "Laughter in the Rain" and more. "Our family is devastated by the sudden passing of our beloved husband, father and grandfather, Neil Sedaka," his family said in a statement. "A true rock and roll legend, an inspiration to millions, but most importantly, at least to those of us who were lucky enough to know him, an incredible human being who...

Saturday’s major military attack on Iran by U.S. and Israeli forces is impacting everything from international diplomacy to the game of soccer. The move by President Trump to strike multiple targets in Iran comes just months before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the U.S., Canada and Mexico. All three nations automatically qualify as hosts. Iran also qualified for the World Cup. One of the best teams in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), the Iran National Team finished atop Group A in the AFC World Cup Qualifying competition, sending them through at the first time of...

Dubai’s iconic five-star Burj Al Arab hotel was struck by an Iranian drone on Saturday evening. The US and Israel conducted military strikes on Iran on Saturday morning. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the military strikes. Iran launched retaliatory strikes toward Israel and Dubai. Dubai’s iconic Burj Al Arab was hit by an Iranian drone. Additional Iranian drones were intercepted near Dubai’s iconic skyscraper Burj Khalifa. “Internationally acclaimed for its visionary architecture, Jumeirah Burj Al Arab defines Jumeirah’s exclusive Jumeirah Icons Collection – a celebration of properties renowned for their design, prestige, and extraordinary guest experiences....

Days after we broke the story that prominent Pentecostal pastor and evangelist Ted Shuttlesworth Jr. has stepped down from ministry (at least temporarily) after revealing that he’s been cheating on his wife and having “inappropriate conversations” with other women, his church has also closed down. While the church’s social media pages haven’t been updated in a while, a banner at the top of Miracle Word Church in West Palm Beach, Florida reads that the church is closed. According to our sources, Shuttlesworth was actually outed several months ago but waited until now to tell ministry partners about the sexual misconduct....

By Dr. John BergsmaThis Sunday we are only eleven days into Lent, still very early along on our Lenten pilgrimage. The readings share the theme of beginning the journey of faith, even while giving us a glimpse of our final destination. In all three years of the lectionary cycle (A, B, C), the readings for the Second Sunday of Lent always pair a key pericope from the Abraham narrative (Genesis 12—22) with an account of the Transfiguration from one of the Synoptic Gospels. This is because, in all the Gospels, the Transfiguration marks “the beginning of the end” of Jesus’...

***Operation: Roaring Lion / Epic Fury*** In the joint military operations launched on 28 February 2026 (codenamed "Operation Epic Fury" by the US and "Roaring Lion" by Israel), the two nations focused on distinct but overlapping target sets to dismantle Iran's security apparatus and nuclear capabilities. The United States Targets: The US military focused on strategic infrastructure and high-level military capabilities: Nuclear Facilities: Primary targets included major sites like the Fordow Uranium Enrichment Plant, Natanz, and the Isfahan Nuclear Technology Center. Ballistic Missile Infrastructure: Broad strikes were aimed at missile production, storage, and launch sites to prevent counterattacks against US...

A fire station in Rapid City, South Dakota, has opened the state’s first Safe Haven Baby Box. Communities in South Dakota have discussed bringing baby boxes to the state for years — a push that increased after the body of baby Gabriel was found at a Sioux Falls recycling center in 2024, KELO reported. “That same week after baby Gabriel was found there was another phone call that came into Safe Haven looking for a box in South Dakota. So, there was a second baby where the mother was looking to surrender the baby and there was no box for...

Discovered in 2012 more than 300 metres below the sea, the Aléria 1 wreck has since been the subject of several studies which have generated a wealth of information about the cargo.A stamp to date the wreckThe cargo associated with the wreck comprised thousands of oil lamps and pieces of crockery, as well as mortars from the region around Rome and amphorae from all over the Mediterranean. The letters LMVNPHILE stamped on an oil lamp recovered in 2013 were a significant chronological reference. They indicated that the lamp was made in Rome by Lucius Munatius Phile between AD 90 and...

Video: Iranians tear down statue of the Ayatollah Khamenei in Galleh Dar, Iran

What if a robot could move, smile, and react just like a real human? 🤯 Meet Moya, China’s first biomimetic AI humanoid robot that copies 90% of real human movement and facial expressions. Built by Droidup, this ultra-realistic robot is going viral for looking almost alive. From natural walking posture to subtle eye contact and warm skin temperature, Moya doesn’t feel like a machine anymore — it feels human.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday encouraged actor Robert De Niro to leave the country a day after the two-time Oscar winner widely criticized his administration during a “State of the Swamp” event. Trump made the suggestion in a Truth Social post where he also urged Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashia Tlaib of Michigan -- both Muslim Democratic congresswomen -- to be “sent back from where they came.” “They should actually get on a boat with Trump Deranged Robert De Niro, another sick and demented person with, I believe, an extremely Low IQ, who has absolutely no idea what...

OBSTACLES "For a long time it had seemed to me that my life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in my way, something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles WERE my life." Fr. Alfred D Souza

Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar was blasted after wrongly claiming the US has previously attacked Islamic countries during Ramadan. Omar, 43, belligerently ranted on X on Thursday evening ahead of the attacks on Iran. She claimed the US bombed Iraq in 1990 during Ramadan. 'And it's sickening to know that the US is again going to attack Iran during Ramadan,' Omar, who is Muslim, wrote.

Join with fellow FREEPERS to pray for AMERICA: For those in Authority in Government, Family, Military, Business, Healthcare, Education, Churches, and the Media. 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. ~ 1 Timothy 2:1-2 Religion Forum Threads labeled [Prayer] are closed to debate of any kind.

Forbes Breaking News. Feb 28, 2026. Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon speaks at a UN Security Council meeting following the U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSnwleH5DzE >> Mr. President, for 47 years, the Islamic regime in Iran has led crowds in chanting Marjbar Israel Marjbar America. do you want to translate these chants? Your leaders have been chanting it for years in public events in your parliament. Marjbar Israel Marjbar America. They mean death to Israel, death to America. Israeli and American flags were painted on roads so they could be trampled. Our flags were burned in public squares. LThis is...