Jesuit appointed head of US religious freedom commission
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has a new chairman, and for the first time, the position will be held by a Catholic priest.
Jesuit priest Father Thomas Reese was first appointed to a two-year term as a member of the commission by President Barack Obama in 2014, and re-appointed in 2016.
Now he will take over as the chair of the organization, an independent, bipartisan commission that monitors and reviews religious freedom violations around the world, and makes policy recommendations to the Secretary of State, Congress and the president. Continue reading…
Francis: Christians must apologize to gay people for marginalizing them
ABOARD THE PAPAL FLIGHT TO ROME The Catholic church and other Christian communities must apologize to gay people and to many groups they have let down or offended throughout history, Pope Francis has said.
In a press conference Sunday on the flight back to Rome after his weekend trip to Armenia, the pontiff said bluntly: “The church must say it’s sorry for not having comported itself well many times, many times.”
“I believe that the church not only must say it’s sorry … to this person that is gay that it has offended,” said the pope. “But it must say it’s sorry to the poor, also, to mistreated women, to children forced to work.” Continue reading…
Rollercoaster crash: Children among 10 hurt at M&D’s theme park
Eight children and two adults have been injured after a rollercoaster derailed and crashed at a theme park in North Lanarkshire in Scotland.
Police said the injured were all being treated at local hospitals.
Six ambulances and six fire engines were at the M&D’s park near Strathclyde Park, Motherwell, after being called at 15:37. It was evacuated shortly after.Continue reading…
Obama Invites 18.7 Million Immigrants to Avoid Oath of Allegiance, Pledge to Defend America
It’s not only illegal aliens who are escaping enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws.
Under the Obama administration’s expansive interpretation of executive authority, legal immigrants seeking citizenship through the nation’s Naturalization process are now exempt from a key part of the Oath of Allegiance. Continue reading…
EU leaders call for UK to leave as soon as possible
The EU’s top leaders have said they expect the UK to act on its momentous vote to leave the union “as soon as possible, however painful that process may be” and that there will be “no renegotiation”.
The presidents of the European council, commission and parliament – Donald Tusk, Jean-Claude Juncker and Martin Schulz respectively – and Mark Rutte, the prime minister of the Netherlands which holds the EU’s rotating presidency, said any delay to Britain’s exit would “unnecessarily prolong uncertainty”. Continue reading…
Watch related video: Is the Brexit the beginning of the end for the EU?
Are Christians Looking for a Political ‘Savior’ in a President?
Evangelicals are an important voting block in most elections. However, in the 2016 Presidential race, their vote may be more critical than ever. So, they are being courted – especially by presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump.
One thought up for debate after Trump’s meeting with evangelical leaders this week is whether or not Christians are out of focus when it comes to expecting spiritual leadership from whoever occupies the White House. Continue reading…
Nearly 50 die in Central Java landslides, authorities warn of more rain
Indonesian authorities raced on Monday to rescue victims of landslides and flash floods caused by torrential rain at the weekend that killed nearly 50 people and left many missing in the main island of Java.
Search and rescue teams used earth movers and bulldozers to clear debris in several locations in Central Java province after heavy rainfall damaged thousands of homes and forced residents to evacuate. Continue reading…
Cataclysmic tornado kills 78 people in China (pictures and videos) – like the end of the world
A cataclysmic tornado in Jiangsu province has destroyed buildings, left roads blocked and killed at least 78 people near Yancheng, China.
Nearly 500 people were injured, 200 of them critically, when the storm hit a densely populated area of farms and factories. Continue reading…
Schools Secretly Indoctrinating Children With LGBT Agenda
This week, about 38,000 pupils across the United Kingdom will be required to take part in the first ever “School Diversity Week” to combat “homophobic bullying” in the classroom.
The initiative is organized by the charity Just Like Us, whose aims are to “empower and support young LGBTQ+ people to become active agents of change in making schools LGBTQ+ friendly places.”
A special reception was hosted by the Speaker of the House of Commons, John Bercrow, to mark the launch of the initiative on Tuesday, June 14. The event was attended by Education Secretary Nicky Morgan, campaigner Peter Tatchell, MPs and selected school pupils and teachers. Continue reading…