Tag: Catholic Church

FBN’s Gerry Baker interviews Cardinal Timothy Dolan about the important role religion plays in politics. When it comes to mixing politics and religion, New York's most prominent Catholic leader says it's a must. “A public square where religious values are absent is perilous,” Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York told "WSJ at Large" host Gerry Baker on FOX Business on Friday. As we move closer to the 2020 presidential election, political and religious controversies dominate headlines. From gay marriage, abortion and contraception, to divorce and the sanctity of marriage, many in the U.S. find the Church’s position irrelevant or harmful and offensive. But Cardinal Dolan believes that those negative perspectives are "caricatures of the Church” which need to be replaced by a more affirmative view. "That’s a Catholic value, it’s also a very American value.” This becoming ever more prevalent as political discourse takes on more theological overtones. Democratic presidential contender Pete Buttigieg, an openly-married gay man, who was baptized Catholic but is now an Episcopalian, frequently references faith in his campaign and criticized Vice President Mike Pence's cultural and religious conservatism a “fanatical” ideology. It is no surprise that there is very little consensus on how religion should be integrated with politics. A new survey suggests Americans are rejecting religion in their own lives at a record pace.

“We are the only party to give Christian and Messianic candidates parity in the candidates’ list,” said Avi Lipkin, the Orthodox Jewish head of the Bible Bloc Party, known as Gush Hatankhi in Hebrew. “For the first time in 2,000 years, Jews and Christians are … brethren and allies.” In Israel’s proportional system, a party must claim at least 3.25 percent of the nearly 6.4 million eligible voters—so roughly 200,000 votes total—in order to enter parliament. The Bible Bloc only won 367. 4 was a Messianic Jew; No. “Our goal is to establish a strategic Jewish-Christian alliance to stand up for all Jews and Christians around the world who are facing the threat of terrorism,” said the Bible Bloc ad, “as well as to preserve Judeo-Christian culture around the world and in the State of Israel.” Lipkin identified roughly 520,000 potential voters for his party, drawn from Israel’s Russian, Arabic Christian, and Messianic Jewish communities—and the Christians who have married into them. He also hoped their Arab candidate could better represent Christians. And CT reported in 2015 how 75 percent of evangelical leaders identified as “Arab Israeli,” rather than “Palestinian.” But Arab Christian support for the Bible Bloc is nil, said Botrus Mansour, co-chair of the Lausanne Initiative for Reconciliation in Israel/Palestine, citing other recent research showing Christians, like Muslims, oppose Israeli policies that divide the Arab community on the basis of religion. A Haaretz poll found 27 percent of Israelis support full annexation also of the West Bank; 42 percent support some annexation, and only 28 percent oppose integrating any Palestinian territory into Israel proper. Critical of Netanyahu’s government, Cowen is a member of the Yesh Atid party, which merged with Gantz’s Blue and White. “Messianic Jews and Arab Christians should get involved in politics but join broader-based and more popular parties,” he said.

Parishioners show their support, he says, by filling the pews, knowing the attacks tapping into the worldwide sex-abuse scandals rocking the Roman Catholic Church come from Maduro loyalists intent on discrediting him. “They have nothing to grasp onto,” Lunar said. “We’re holding firm and pressing forward with this fight, because this country has to change.” The conflict playing out in Petare, one of Latin America’s largest slums, underscores the critical role played by the Catholic Church as Venezuela’s political crisis crescendos. It also highlights divisions between local clergy and the Vatican on how best to confront Maduro. While Venezuela’s bishops have been leading a charge for Maduro’s removal, urging a boycott of what they call an “illegitimate” presidential election last year and denouncing the government’s human rights abuses, the Vatican has pursued a softer approach, with Pope Francis surprising many by sending an emissary to the socialist president’s inauguration that dozens of countries shunned. This unfolds as Venezuela’s deepening political and economic collapse nears a breaking point. Sending a representative from the Vatican to Maduro’s inauguration was seen by many as a goodwill gesture aimed at maintaining an open relationship with the government — in case the church could play a role in resolving Venezuela’s crisis. “They’re going to kill everyone, God forbid.” The derogatory graffiti shaming Lunar was painted on the front of the church and along one side. Lunar was first to pick up the roller brush, applying a light coat over the dark red letters. “If they come to paint again,” Teran said, “we’ll cover it up again.” ___ Scott Smith on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ScottSmithAP

In this Feb. 9, 2019 photo, Monsignor Hector Lunar delivers his homily during a Mass in the Dulce Nombre de Jesus church, in the Petare slum of Caracas, Venezuela. Monsignor Hector Lunar, a beloved priest in one of Latin America's largest slums, has fallen under attack by loyalists of President Nicolas Maduro for using the pulpit to hold the embattled socialist leader responsible for suffering among his poor parishioners. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) CARACAS, Venezuela – Salsa music and long tirades blasted through loudspeakers for days at a colonial church in one of Venezuela's toughest slums aimed at drowning out Monsignor Hector Lunar — an outspoken priest who isn't shy about criticizing President Nicolas Maduro, even from the pulpit. The conflict playing out in Petare, one of Latin America's largest slums, underscores the critical role played by the Catholic Church as Venezuela's political crisis crescendos. While Venezuela's bishops have been leading a charge for Maduro's removal, urging a boycott of what they call an "illegitimate" presidential election last year and denouncing the government's human rights abuses, the Vatican has pursued a softer approach, with Pope Francis surprising many by sending an emissary to the socialist president's inauguration that dozens of countries shunned. Sending a representative from the Vatican to Maduro's inauguration was seen by many as a goodwill gesture aimed at maintaining an open relationship with the government — in case the church could play a role in resolving Venezuela's crisis. The Vatican expended its institutional prestige in 2016, attempting to mediate a dialogue that the pope later said "went up in smoke," placing blame on Maduro. Lunar was first to pick up the roller brush, applying a light coat over the dark red letters. "God is great," he said in a booming voice as he handed the brush to parishioners who took turns painting. "If they come to paint again," Teran said, "we'll cover it up again."

According to a top Catholic cardinal in Munich, files that may have contained proof of abuse in the Catholic church may have been intentionally destroyed. #CNN #News

As of now, the atheist government in Beijing and the bureaucrats in the Vatican are acting as if they were allies, having signed a deal last September that neither the Vatican nor the communists have released to the public, and that will govern how Catholic bishops are appointed in China. Does China's atheist regime try to force Catholics to act in ways that are contrary to their faith? The State Department said last May: "The CPA does not recognize the authority of the Holy See to appoint Catholic bishops. So, a man appointed as a bishop in China's "official" church could only qualify for that position if he were to pledge support for a party that demands its members be atheists. Yet last Sept. 22, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican secretary of state, announced that the Holy See had signed a "Provisional Agreement between the Holy See and the People's Republic of China Concerning the nomination of Bishops." He also indicated that the bishops in China's "official" church had been legitimized. But the Vatican did not release the text of the agreement or explain in detail what is in it. Nor did they tell Cardinal Zen or other faithful Chinese Catholics. "Candidates will be chosen at the diocesan level through the 'democratic election' system that the Chinese authorities introduced in 1957, whereby the priests of the diocese, together with representatives of women religious and laypeople, vote from among the candidates presented by the authorities that supervise church affairs," said America Magazine. That is all he can do," said Cardinal Zen.

What We’re Following Today It’s Thursday, February 14. (Here’s a refresher on the legal showdown that might result.) Here’s what else we’re following: “A Deliberate Liar”: Andrew McCabe writes in an exclusive book excerpt for The Atlantic that “the president and his men were trying to work me the way a criminal brigade would operate.” The former acting FBI director describes interactions with Trump himself—including when the president called him on an unsecured phone line to talk about his firing of former FBI Director James Comey—and his conversations with deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein about protecting ongoing investigations into Russian interference. One Year After Parkland: How have students tried to recover from the trauma of a mass shooting, while still keeping the memory of their classmates alive? And although schools across the country have worked to improve security, administrators can only do so much to prevent another attack, Adam Harris reports. Acevedo has been consistently critical of Trump. How the Parkland Shooting Changed My Life (Sarah Lerner) “I went to school the morning of February 14, 2018, to give a quiz to my senior English classes. Later that day, 20 minutes before school ended, my world changed forever. Which makes our current backsliding even more frustrating.” ? Read on. What Will Trump Do If He Realizes He’s Lost the Shutdown Fight?

Video SPOKANE, Wash. - The leader of Spokane's catholic church is speaking out against recent policy changes which expand access to abortion. Bishop Thomas Daly sent a letter to the Diocese of Spokane Friday, in which he reacts to a law recently passed in New York. The Reproductive Health Act, signed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on Jan. 22, allows abortions after the 24th week of pregnancy if there is "an absence of fetal viability, or the abortion is necessary to protect the patient's life or health." In the letter, Daly calls the new law 'evil,' and condemns Cuomo for supporting it despite his previously publicized Catholic faith. Daly goes on to say any Catholic politicians who support access to abortion are "scandalous," and should not be allowed to receive communion unless they are "reconciled to Christ and the Church." The Church’s commitment to the life of every human person from conception until death is firm. God alone is the author of life and for the civil government to sanction the willful murder of children is unacceptable. Daly is not the only Catholic leader denouncing politicians who support pro-choice legislation. Get your weather forecast from people that actually live in your community. We update with short, easy-to-use video forecasts you can watch on your phone every day.

The UK coach said he discusses current events and political issues with his team. Bilas favors UK ESPN analyst Jay Bilas all but picked UK to beat Duke. “We’ll see what happens, but I think Kentucky is the better team to start (the season),” he said. But Kentucky’s got more talent one through 10.” ‘More of a unit’ Another ESPN analyst, Jay Williams, compared season’s Kentucky team favorably compared to the 2017-18 edition. And maybe the exhibition opponents were better on the drive, he added. “There’s never been a player like him in college basketball,” Bilas said. “He’s way bigger,” Bilas said of Williamson. Even with Barrett, Reddish and Williamson, Williams saw another freshman as the key player for Duke: point guard Tre Jones. Calipari likes to say that every opponent views a game against Kentucky as its Super Bowl. 4 Duke is Kentucky’s first ranked opponent in an opening game in more than 20 years.

As the embattled Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, addressed the Catholic Church's clergy sexual abuse scandal, one Catholic yelled 'Shame on you!' while another turner her back on Wuerl in protest. CNN's Rosa Flores reports.