Free Republic

HARRISBURG — The new session of the Pennsylvania Senate got off to a chaotic start Tuesday, with Republicans refusing to seat a Democratic senator whose election victory has been certified by state officials. Amid high emotions and partisan finger-pointing, Republicans also took the rare step of removing the Democratic lieutenant governor, John Fetterman, from presiding over the session. They apparently did so because they did not believe Fetterman was following the rules and recognizing their legislative motions. Democrats, in turn, responded by refusing to back Sen. Jake Corman (R., Centre) from assuming the chamber’s top leadership position — an unusual...

President Bush's call to allow Americans to take a portion of the money they pay as Social Security taxes to set up private retirement accounts has to be a good idea. Why? The more of what a person earns that's in his pocket and under his control, the better off he will be. At a later date, when the details of the president's plans are known, I'll address the various reform plans under debate. For now, let's look at some of the gross political deceit, lies and unkept promises that have become a part of Social Security. Here's what a...

Whistleblower Coming In Cold From the F.B.I. by Gail Sheehy Sibel Edmonds says she was shocked at the lack of security in the F.B.I.?s counterintelligence squad when she went to work there shortly after Sept. 11. But when she spoke up, she was canned. Gail Sheehy tells her story.

Patron Saints of Desperate, Forgotten, Impossible or Lost Causes Saint Philomena Little is known of her life, and the information was have was received by private revelation from her. Martyred at about age 14 in the early days of the Church. In 1802 the remains of a young woman were found in the catacomb of Saint Priscilla on the Via Salaria. It was covered by stones, the symbols on which indicated that the body was a martyr named Saint Philomena. The bones were exhumed, cataloged, and effectively forgotten since there was so little known about the person. In 1805 Canon...

ST. LOUIS - A defrocked Roman Catholic priest was convicted Thursday of exposing himself to three boys while serving as an elementary school counselor. James Beine, 61, was found guilty of four felony counts of sexual misconduct involving a child. Jurors recommended four years in prison on each count; sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 28. Beine earlier this month was sentenced to four years and nine months in federal prison on charges he possessed child pornography. Beine was dismissed from the priesthood in 1977. In the mid-1990s, the Archdiocese of St. Louis paid $110,000 to settle two lawsuits that alleged...