Free Republic

THE religious group that condemned Heath Ledger to hell for his role in Brokeback Mountain, is back – this time attacking the victims of the Victoria fires. The Westboro Baptist Church – founded by Reverend Fred Phelps in Topeka, Kansas - claims that sinning Australians are the cause of the bushfires that raged across Victoria, and plan to picket the national day of mourning on February 22. In a statement, the group says “God hates Australia” and “thank God for the fiery deaths of hundreds”. “The guilty Australians will not repent of their national sins of the flesh … even...

It has been said throughout the ages that it is best not to discuss religion or politics. Yet, here I am on a political forum posting under the topic of Religion. It's been said that I like to play with fire. So it seems when I ask the basic question, "What are your spiritual beliefs?" or "Tell me about your religion." There are so many threads that say "my religion is better than your religion" that it gets exhausting. Can we talk about the positives? What do you like about your religion? Talk about a prayer. A hymn. Share a...

It is my opinion that we need to pray for our leaders this election. Many Conservative are disappointed with the selection of Senator John S. McCain. But in one sense, he is the true conservative in values -- he has fought for campaign finance reform -- getting big money out of politics. This should allow the little guy (or gal) more voice in what this country is doing. In some religions, it is part of the church service to pray for the leaders of a country (Ukrainian Catholic, for example). We must pray for our leaders and pray that the...

Just weeks after publicity over his controversial sermons rocked Sen. Barack Obama's presidential campaign, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright will preach three guest sermons at Houston's Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church. Wright, who until February was minister of Obama's church, Chicago's Trinity United Church of Christ, will preach Sunday, March 30. Wheeler pastor, the Rev. Marcus Cosby, could not be reached for comment Friday. A spokesman for the church said Wright, who has offered sermons at Wheeler annually for the past 15 years, had been scheduled as part of the church's regular speaker's program.

NEARLY half the British think that religion is harmful, according to a poll carried out by YouGov. Yet more than half also believe in God “or something”. The YouGov poll commissioned by John Humphrys, the broadcaster and writer, found that 42% of the 2,200 people taking part considered religion had a harmful effect. “One reason might be the publicity attracted by a handful of mad mullahs and their hate-filled rhetoric,” writes Humphrys in his new book, In God We Doubt, an extract of which appears in today’s Sunday Times News Review. Only 16% of those polled called themselves atheists; 28%...

Does it matter that Mitt Romney is a Mormon? To some extent--but it shouldn't. Since 1960, when John F. Kennedy settled the issue of whether a Catholic could be president, there's been general public agreement a candidate's religion shouldn't matter.

A top leader in the Southern Baptist Convention predicted that former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani would not succeed in winning the votes of Southern Baptists if he were to become the Republican nominee for president in 2008. In brief comments after a chapel service at the North Carolina legislature on Wednesday, Richard Land, the president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission, said former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich would likely fail for the same reason. "Three is one marriage too many for them," said Land, referring to the 16.4 million members of the Southern Baptist...

Everybody loves to beat up Rudy Giuliani for his liberal positions on abortion and marriage. Most "experts" believe he has virtually no chance of winning the Evangelical vote. They may be right, but look what the Brody File found. In 2001, Giuliani came to the defense of Jesus (not that he needs it). Read the paragraph below from BBC News from February of 2001: A photograph depicting Christ's last supper, which features Jesus ...

Moves Closer To Full-Fledged Presidential Run (CBS/AP) WASHINGTON -- Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Monday defended the Iraq war and criticized Al Gore's global-warming movie. As for his presidential ambitions, Giuliani coyly inched closer to a formal announcement. "I am 100 percent committed," he said. "That official part, I still have to do a formal announcement. But we'll figure out how to do that. My idea is that I'm going to try to announce this in 100 different places." Giuliani, a Republican, said he supports efforts to move California's 2008 presidential primary from June to February, a...

Today Peggy Noonan makes a glancing reference to something I've been meaning to write about for a while with respect to Rudy Giuliani: On 9/10/01 he was a bum, on 9/11 he was a man, and on 9/12 he was a hero. Life can change, shift, upend in an instant. Noonan is over dramatizing for effect, of course, but a while back I got an email from a self-described liberal in NYC saying much the same thing - namely, that in the mythical afterglow of Rudy's performance on 9/11 people have forgotten that (to paraphrase my emailer's formulation) "on September...

'THAT WAS A PRESIDENT... McCAIN ON MTP WAS A SENATOR... AND HILLARY IS A MONSTER'(Dick Morris on Giuliani) by Mia T, 2.05.07 Will be posting the Giuliani interview here shortly...

On right now...

IT'S NOW A RUDY ROMP By DICK MORRIS & EILEEN MCGANN Giuliani: Managing to assuage righty fears. February 5, 2007 * A Fox News poll of Jan. 30-31 shows the former mayor jumping out to a significant lead among Republicans - 34 to 22 percent. * A Gallup poll taken Jan. 25-28 shows Giuliani is better liked by Republicans than McCain -74 to 21 percent and more trusted to handle a crisis (68-20). Some 60 percent say Giuliani "better understands the problems of the average person," against 33 percent who pick McCain. By 58-34, America's Mayor is seen as the...

For this reason, contrary to conventional wisdom, a victory by Rudy Giuliani would strengthen even the socially conservative agenda in the long run. As the new Fox Dynamics Poll shows, 65 percent of Americans would be “comfortable” with a Rudy Giuliani administration. Being comfortable is a major step in the right direction. Americans might actually listen to him when gives the State of the Union (without a teleprompter no less, as he usually speaks with note cards or does so extemporaneously). A Giuliani administration that would focus on fighting the Islamic Extremists, reducing the size and scope of government, handling...

More voters say they would be comfortable with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani as president than other top 2008 contenders, though majorities would also be comfortable with other leaders from both parties, according to the latest FOX News Poll. In addition, of all the 2008 hopefuls — announced or frequently mentioned as a possibility — voters want to hear more from one candidate specifically: Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. Opinion Dynamics Corporation conducted the national telephone poll of 900 registered voters for FOX News from January 30 to January 31. The poll has a 3-point error margin.

Nussle on Giuliani   [Rich Lowry] Here’s a pro-Giuliani bit from Jim Nussle that I pass along for what it’s worth: Dear Rich, I wanted to share with conservatives why I'm supporting Mayor Giuliani.  As a proud and consistent conservative Republican, I want our Party and our ideas to have a voice.  Even more importantly, I want our Party and our ideas to achieve meaningful results. “Perfect” has become the enemy of the “good”, and we saw that borne out during this past November’s elections. I am hopeful that our Party will avoid needless debates over a non-existent perfect candidate. It...

Like a stack of scratched records, pundits repeatedly dismiss Rudolph W. Giuliani’s presidential prospects because of his “social liberalism.” True, the former New York mayor’s views on abortion, guns, and gays (despite his opposition to same-sex marriage) clash with those of many socially conservative Republican primary voters. However, socio-cons care about more than just these three important matters. On school choice, welfare reform, adoption, and quality of life, evangelicals cannot quibble with Giuliani’s achievements. His Bush-like immigration proposals are no more liberal than the president’s. Socio-cons also like to see violent criminals incarcerated and terrorists incinerated. No Rightist calls Giuliani...

There is only ONE truth which says that there is only ONE GOD. Apparition photos of the Holy Mother of Christ presenting a tablet with her son's image as a blessing into our home on 24 Jan 2005. Believe in the one Lord, Jesus Christ.

Theologian Ilaria Morali Responds ROME, JAN. 15, 2006 (ZENIT.org).- If it is enough to seek peace with good will to be saved, of what use is Christianity? This is the question posed after Benedict XVI's address during the Nov. 30 general audience, in which he spoke about the possibility of salvation for non-Christians. In Part 1 of this interview with ZENIT, theologian Ilaria Morali, a professor of theology at the Gregorian University, and a specialist on the topic of grace, explains the Pope's words, and the Church's magisterium on the subject. Q: The Pope said in that general audience that...

Archbishop of Serbian Orthodox Church Sentenced to Prison in Macedonia Posted: Saturday, June 25 , 2005, 21:33 (UK) Archbishop of Serbian Orthodox Church, Jovan (Zoran Vranisskovski) of Ohrid was sentenced to 18 months in prison by the Macedonian Court of Appeal, Forum 18 has reported. Archbishop Jovan was charged of "inciting national, racial and religious hatred, schism and intolerance." The Archbishop commented on the situation: "When they imprisoned an archbishop of a church in the 21st century - merely for serving his people - what else can you say about the system and the state?" The archbishop is due to...