A Sincere Priest Finds Contradictions in the Teachings of the Holy Fathers

The most desolate work of a sincere Catholic priest is the study of the Holy Fathers. He does not make a step in the labyrinth of their discussions and controversies without seeing the dreams of his theological studies and religious views disappear as the thick morning mist, when the sun rises above the horizon. Bound as he is, by a solemn oath, to interpret the Holy Scriptures only according to the unanimous consent of the Holy Fathers, the first thing which puzzles and distresses him is their absolute want of unanimity on the greater part of the subjects which they discuss. The fact is, that more than two-thirds of what one Father has written is to prove that what some other Holy Father has written is wrong and heretical.

The student of the Fathers not only detects that they do not agree with one another, but finds that many of them do not even agree with themselves. Very often they confess that they were mistaken when they said this or that; that they have lately changed their minds; that they now hold for saving truth what they formerly condemned as a damning error!

What becomes of the solemn oath of every priest in presence of this undeniable fact? How can he make an act of faith when he feels that its foundation is nothing but falsehood?

No words can give an idea of the mental tortures I felt when I saw positively that I could not, any longer, preach on the eternity of the suffering of the damned, nor believe in the real presence of the body, soul, and divinity of Christ in the sacrament of communion; nor in the supremacy of the sovereign Pontiff of Rome, nor in any of the other dogmas of my church, without perjuring myself! For there was not one of those dogmas which had not been flatly and directly denied by some Holy Fathers.

It is true, that in my Roman Catholic theological books I had long extracts of Holy Fathers, very clearly supporting and confirming my faith in those dogmas. For instance, I had the apostolic liturgies of St. Peter, St. Mark, and St. James, to prove that the sacrifice of the mass, purgatory, prayers for the dead, transubstantiation, were believed and taught from the very days of the apostles. But what was my dismay when I discovered that those liturgies were nothing else than vile and audacious forgeries presented to the world, by my Popes and my church, as gospel truths. I could not find words to express my sense of shame and consternation, when I became sure that the same church which had invented those apostolical liturgies, had accepted and circulated the false decretals of Isidore, and forged innumerable additions and interpolations to the writings of the Holy Fathers, in order to make them say the very contrary of what they intended.

How many times, when alone, studying the history of the shameless fabrications, I said to myself: “Does the man whose treasury is filled with pure gold, forge false coins, or spurious pieces of money? No! How, then, is it possible that my church possess the pure truth, when she has been at work during so many centuries, to forge such egregious lies, under the names of liturgies and decretals, about the holy mass, purgatory, the supremacy of the Pope, ect. If those dogmas could have been proved by the gospel and the true writings of the Fathers, where was the necessity of forging lying documents? Would the Popes and councils have treasuries with spurious bank bills, if they had had exhaustless mines of pure gold in hand? What right has my church to be called holy and infallible, when she is publicly guilty of such impostures.”

From my infancy I had been taught, with all the Roman Catholics, that Mary is the mother of God, and many times, every day, when praying to her, I used to say, “Holy Mary, mother of God, pray for me.” But what was my distress when I read in the “Treatise on Faith and Creed,” by Augustine, Chapter iv. 9, these very words: “When the Lord said, ‘Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come’ (John ii. 4), He rather admonishes us to understand that, in respect of His being God, there was no mother for Him.”

This was so completely demolishing the teachings of my church, and telling me that it was blasphemy to call Mary mother of God, that I felt as if struck with a thunderbolt.         Fifty Years in the Church of Rome, Capter 46

The Privilege for Medical Freedom

 

America, A Nation In Crisis

Last Trumpet  October, 2020

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

Psalm 42:11

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."

II Corinthians 1:3-4

As the clock struck midnight on January 1, 2020, revelry and mirth were seen and heard all around the world. A new year is often said to be a fresh start brimming with hope and new possibilities. Adding further to the excitement is the fact that this year is the beginning of an entire new decade, which only amplified the anticipation of good things to come. However, few could have predicted the distressing events in store for the world in 2020. Did all of these things just happen to happen, or is there an unseen force at play working to weaken and transform the United States? Even as the new year began, the Democratic Party had already set in motion an attempt to impeach American President Donald Trump. Democrats pursued these efforts despite knowing that their gambit would likely fail since the Republicans controlled the Senate and were unlikely to evict their party's leader from his residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. While politicians busied themselves with partisan projects and the President was distracted and obsessed with crafting his defense, a new virus was spreading in China, seemingly under the radar of almost everyone.

The New York Times published its very first article about the disease, now known as COVID-19, on January 6, 2020, less than one week into the new year. It hardly seemed a reason for concern at the time with the article informing its readers that "59 people in the central city of Wuhan have been sickened by a pneumonia-like illness." (1) By January 21, 2020, the first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States was reported by government officials in the state of Washington. (2) The rest, as they say, is history, and these circumstances feel as if they took place years ago.

We now come to the tenth month of 2020. The months since the pandemic began have brought lockdowns, restrictions, and regulations. The world has dramatically changed so much that it is now unusual to see a bare face in public as most folks are compelled to wear face coverings. People are constantly reminded to observe social distancing and stay six feet apart from other people who do not live in the same household. Businesses have failed. Restaurants have closed, and many of them will never reopen. In fact, the business rating and review website known as Yelp reported in September 2020 that 163,735 businesses that they list have now closed, with an astonishing 97,966 of these closures being permanent. (3)

Many American people are suffering right now. A report dated September 9, 2020, indicates that more than half of all households in four of the United States' largest cities - New York City, New York; Los Angeles, California; Chicago, Illinois; and Houston, Texas - have struggled financially during the coronavirus pandemic. (4) Further complicating matters, numerous states are set to end moratoriums on utility shutoffs, meaning that millions of Americans could soon be without power, water, and sewer service. "Every utility in the country is facing the same situation. It's rather unprecedented. We have to balance the needs of customers with what makes the most sense to keep the lights on," said Chris Eck, a spokesman for the energy provider known as FirstEnergy. (5) Another report from September 2020 claims that one-tenth of American households have struggled to put food on the table in recent months. (6) Furthermore, a study by Pew Research found that 52 percent of young adults aged 18-29 are presently living with their parents. This is the largest share of this demographic to do so since the time of the Great Depression. (7) "Essentially we saw about a little over 3 million more people moving home… with their parents or grandparents, from a year ago. That's up about 9 percent," informed Cheryl Young, a senior economist at the real estate database company known as Zillow. (8)

To help struggling Americans, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act in March 2020. The mammoth bill, which was quickly signed by President Trump, allowed for the disbursement of 2.2. trillion dollars, and amongst other features, provided most tax-paying Americans with a check for 1,200 dollars. (9) Since that time, there has been ongoing talk of passing more stimulus, and many Americans could certainly use some financial help, but it has not materialized. While Democrats and Republicans claim they cannot agree on the finer points of a new stimulus package, part of the reason for the reticence, at least for some lawmakers, might be the fact that the American national debt has exploded to absolutely historic levels. As of this writing, the national debt now exceeds 26.7 trillion dollars. (10) Clearly, the accrual of debt has taken on great speed in recent decades. The national debt first hit one trillion dollars in October 1981. By 2017, just three years ago, the debt topped 20 trillion for the first time. (11)

Even as the American government continues to pile on trillions of dollars worth of debt, the Congressional Budget Office has sounded the alarm in a recent report stating, "The fiscal path over the coming decades is unsustainable." (12) This is a serious warning, and unless significant policy changes are implemented, the United States could face a financial disaster in the not-to-distant future. In fact, it is predicted that four important government trust funds, including two Social Security funds, Medicare's hospital insurance fund, and the Highway Trust Fund, could be completely exhausted by the year 2031. (13) In other words, the government might be unable to make social security payments in a little over a decade.

If the economic system in the United States collapses, I strongly suspect it will be replaced with a new cashless monetary system. This country, and, indeed, many other countries around the world, have been trending towards a cashless society for quite some time. This trend has only accelerated amid the global pandemic. According to an article published by Fortune Magazine in August 2020, 54 percent of Americans surveyed are afraid to touch cash because of coronavirus, while 60 percent said they plan to use cashless payments on a permanent basis going forward. (14) All of the issues at hand are greatly weakening the United States. Is it a coincidence that all of this happening just ten years before the United Nations wants to establish its one world government?

Based on news headlines, it seems unlikely that life will get easier any time soon. Experts are predicting that COVID-19 is about to surge even more in the United States as we enter autumn and approach the winter. John Hopkins University claims that the virus is rapidly spreading in twenty-four states at this present time, and the University of Washington projects that the United States could suffer three thousand deaths per day by late December. (15) These developments are very troubling. Yet, projections regarding coronavirus have been wrong before, sometimes drastically so, and they certainly could be wrong again. Scientists are fallible men and women; only God knows what the future holds. Thankfully, God saw all of the events of this modern age long before they happened, and He saw our struggles, too. The Scriptures assure us that even in times of trouble and tribulation, God is able to comfort His people. II Corinthians 1:3-4 declares, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." In like manner, Jesus promised in John 14:18, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." As always, I urge every reader of this newsletter to put your faith, trust, and hope in God.

01. Last Trumpet Newsletter, April 2020, By Samuel David Meyer, http://lasttrumpetnewsletter.org.
02. Ibid.
03. CNBC, September 16, 2020, By Anjali Sundaram, http://cnbc.com.
04. The Week, September 9, 2020, By Tim O'Donnell, http://theweek.com.
05. The Wall Street Journal, September 26, 2020, By Kris Maher, http://wsj.com.
06. The Week, September 2, 2020, By Kathryn Krawczyk, http://theweek.com.
07. CNN, September 4, 2020, By Catherine E. Shoichet, http://cnn.com.
08. Ibid.
09. Wikipedia, CARES Act, http://wikipedia.org.
10. CNBC, September 21, 2020, By Lindsey Jacobson, http://cnbc.com.
11. Politico, October 22, 2017, By Andrew Glass, http://politico.com.
12. The Washington Times, September 21, 2020, By Stephen Dinan, http://washingtontimes.com.
13. Ibid.
14. Fortune Magazine, August 11, 2020, By Jeff John Roberts, http://fortune.com.
15. UPI, September 27, 2020, By Daniel Uria, http://upi.com.

Codeword Barbelon

This book contains some very startling facts.   Who is really in Charge? New book exposes the secret societies and political forces behind the New World Order…. "Men occasionally stumble over the Truth, but most pick themselves up and hurry on as if nothing had happened.” (Sir Winston Churchill) 

Synopsis:
Utilizing records inaccessible to or overlooked by other writers, P.D. Stuart’s book puts the spotlight on the power about which President Woodrow Wilson once said, “the few who are aware of it, dare not speak above their breath when they speak in condemnation of it.” A work of great insight and moral courage Codeword Barbêlôn exposes, in unequivocal terms, the secret connections, oaths and codewords of the powers that be…. 

"Good historians," wrote Horace Walpole, "are the most scarce of all writers, and no wonder! A good style is not very common; thorough information is still rare; and if these meet, what a chance that impartiality should be added to them!" P.D. Stuart's work possesses all of these qualities. Consisting of 48 chapters, and hundreds of footnotes and references, Codeword Barbêlôn covers a vast period of history, from the second and third centuries to the present day. Spatially, the work spans three continents, and focuses on Europe and North America and the hidden influence of secret societies on that continent. Indeed, reading Codeword Barbêlôn, one cannot help but feel as if he were travelling in H. G. Wells' time machine, finding himself sometimes at the City of Rome in the 16th Century, at other times in Bavarian Germany in the 18th Century, yet at other times in the political intrigues of North America in the 19th, 20th and 21st Centuries. 

In doing so Codeword Barbêlôn uncovers a plot so sinister, that in the words of ex-FBI Director and founder, J. Edgar Hoover: "The individual... coming face-to-face with a conspiracy so monstrous... cannot believe it exists...." Some of it is unsettling, disquieting, and often downright scary. 

Codeword Barbêlôn is a `tough book': direct, honest, and thought provoking, with no compromise, no apologies, and no vagaries; it spares no characters—all are lashed without ceremony. It "connects the dots" completely, thoroughly, and intelligently. An instance of high scholarship and intelligence, this book recounts the little known history of the religious and political Illuminati, and reveals how knowledge of this secret organization was transmitted to America; and importantly how it has ruled the world from that country ever since. Rarely does one source "connect the dots" as completely, thoroughly, and intelligently as does this one! It gives us a stunningly plausible picture of the global religious and political landscape of the 21st century. This extraordinary project is the literary equivalent of turning over a flat rock. This book sounds a clear warning…. a gripping tell-all book, as unforgettable as it is daring. A controversial and hard-hitting exposé of the powers that be. To borrow the words of Henry Lincoln, “Something extraordinary is waiting to be found….”       Google Books

No such precise authority in the Gospels

"Our opponents sometimes claim that no belief should be held dogmatically which is not explicitly stated in scripture … But the Protestant Churches have themselves accepted such dogmas, as the trinity, for which there is no such precise authority in the Gospels."   Assumption of Mary, Lifemagazine, Oct 30, 1950, p. 51

The beginnings of paganism

 “The trinity got its start in Ancient Babylon with Nimrod – Tammuz – and Semiramis. Semiramis demanded worship for both her husband and her son as well as herself. She claimed that her son, was both the father and the son. Yes, he was “god the father” and “god the son” – The first divine incomprehensible trinity.”   The Two Babylons p. 51

A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education

Like our Saviour, we are in this world to do service for God. We are here to become like God in character, and by a life of service to reveal Him to the world. In order to be co-workers with God, in order to become like Him and to reveal His character, we must know Him aright. We must know Him as He reveals Himself. 

A knowledge of God is the foundation of all true education and of all true service. It is the only real safeguard against temptation. It is this alone that can make us like God in character. 

This is the knowledge needed by all who are working for the uplifting of their fellow men. 

Transformation of character, purity of life, efficiency in service, adherence to correct principles, all depend upon a right knowledge of God. This knowledge is the essential preparation both for this life and for the life to come.  

“The knowledge of the Holy is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10. 

Through a knowledge of Him are given unto us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness.” 2 Peter 1:3. 

 “This is life eternal,” said Jesus, “that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3.    Ministry of Healing pp. 409,410

Pope Francis became the first pontiff to endorse same-sex civil unions

AP October 21, 2020

Pope Francis became the first pontiff to endorse same-sex civil unions in comments for a documentary that premiered Wednesday, sparking cheers from gay Catholics and demands for clarification from conservatives, given the Vatican’s official teaching on the issue.

The papal thumbs-up came midway through the feature-length documentary “Francesco,” which premiered at the Rome Film Festival. The film, which features fresh interviews with the pope, delves into issues Francis cares about most, including the environment, poverty, migration, racial and income inequality, and the people most affected by discrimination.

“Homosexual people have the right to be in a family. They are children of God,” Francis said. “You can’t kick someone out of a family, nor make their life miserable for this. What we have to have is a civil union law; that way they are legally covered.”

Vatican City State Mint issued a 10 euro silver coin depicting a mother carrying the earth in her womb

Life Site  Oct 15, 2020

ROME, Italy, October 15, 2020 (LifeSiteNews) — The Vatican issued a coin depicting a mother carrying the earth in her womb. The issue of the coin comes almost one year to the day when the idol Pachamama was worshipped in the Vatican gardens in the presence of Pope Francis as part of the opening ceremony of the Amazon synod.

“The Vatican City State Mint will issue a 10 euro silver coin made by Maestro Oldani, depicting a mother carrying the earth in her womb, to whom we owe care and love as if it were a daughter, with long ears of wheat in her hair, in a reference between past and future that becomes timeless, and therefore eternal,” states the official description of the coin.

“The celebration of life on earth is a commitment to take care of the planet, a project to which the Church intends to offer its support, a grandiose and complex work that aims: to promote international action to guarantee everyone a future, the food that is needed, both in quantity and quality, so that economic advancement may be accompanied with social development, without which there is no real progress.”

G20 Interfaith Forum urges putting ‘human dignity back at the center’ of global debate

Crux Now Oct 14, 2020

As leaders from ten different religious traditions “gathered” through Zoom at an interfaith forum hosted in Saudi Arabia, Pope Francis’s latest document on human fraternity had a central place in the discussions.

“We must put human dignity back at the center and on that pillar build the alternative social structures we need,” said Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations, directly quoting from Fratelli Tutti, the papal encyclical released Oct. 4.

His words came during a high-level summit called the G20 Interfaith Forum ahead of the meeting of the G20 leaders in Riyadh next month, where government leaders from 19 countries and the European Union will gather to discuss international economic cooperation.

The Oct. 13-17 interfaith forum was organized online due to the COVID0-19 pandemic.

The line-up of the seventh edition of the forum included Cardinal Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, President of the Vatican’s Council for Interreligious Dialogue; Patriarch Bartholomew of Constantinople; representatives from the United Nations, the International Dialogue Centre (KAICIID), the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the World Muslim League, and the European Commission.

 

If Your Bible Does Not Have The Word ‘Begotten’ In John 3:16 Then You Have A Corrupt Book That Rejects The Deity Of Jesus Christ

 NTEB October 13, 2020

A reader named Chandra wrote to me earlier today and asked me a really good question about the King James bible. She asked me “Is there a significance in the different wording in Bible versions of John 3:16? Some say, “one and only Son”, while my AKJV says, “only begotten Son”. The word ‘begotten’ seems significant to me and having it left out of other versions seems wrong.” Man, talk about a loaded question!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 (KJB)

When the new versions remove the word ‘begotten” from the bible, they are doing way more than simply giving you an “updated translation” or a “dynamic equivalent”. They are removing a direct reference to the deity of Jesus Christ, as well as putting our Lord and Saviour on the same level of sinful man, like you and I are. That word ‘begotten’ means that Jesus Christ is made in the direct image of God, that in His flesh, He is God Almighty, which makes Him equal to the Father in all ways.

“And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.” 1 Timothy 3:16 (KJB)

When the NIV, ESV, NLT, RSV and all the other corrupt versions that remove ‘begotten’ take it out, then you have Jesus presented as God’s “one and only Son”, which again, is not true. God has many sons, but we are adopted sons, not begotten sons. Huge difference.

“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:1,2 (KJB)

John tells us that, when we are saved, we finally become the children of God, adopted into the family and counted as joint heirs with Jesus Christ. We have cast off the image of Adam that Genesis 5:3 (KJB) says we were made in, and become the children of God we read about in Galatians 3:26 (KJB). But only Jesus is begotten of the Father, everyone else is adopted. Remove the word ‘begotten’ and now Jesus is what, just like me and you? That will not work.

Turkish President Erdoğan has warned the world Jerusalem “belongs” to Turkey

Breitbart 4 Oct 2020

Erdogan made his public claim Thursday as he addressed Turkish lawmakers during a major policy speech in Ankara. He said:

In this city that we had to leave in tears during the First World War, it is still possible to come across traces of the Ottoman resistance. So Jerusalem is our city, a city from us. Our first qibla [direction of prayer in Islam] al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem are the symbolic mosques of our faith. In addition, this city is home to the holy places of Christianity and Judaism.

As the Times of Israel reported, the Ottoman Empire ruled Jerusalem from 1516 to 1917. Modern Turkey, its successor state, has long claimed a connection to the holy city, regularly condemning Israel for alleged attemtps to “Judaize” it and the U.S. administration’s December 2017 recognition of it as Israel’s capital.

Turkey’s claim to ownership and an Islamic proprietary interest in the city defies thousands of years of accepted wisdom that confirms some of Judaism’s holiest sites are located in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem.

These include the Temple Mount and Western Wall in Jerusalem; the Tomb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs in Hebron; and Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus.

That did not stop Erdoğan during his lengthy speech to the Turkish parliament lamenting the fate of Jerusalem and Palestinians and reaffirming his embrace of Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the Gaza Strip, and is deemed a terrorist group by Israel, the E.U. and the U.S.

Fireball explodes over northwest America

Express Nov 2, 2020

A HUGE fireball was seen over the skies over northwestern USA and southwestern Canada, leading some to claim it is the biggest meteor they had ever seen.

An amazing meteor was seen over the northwest of America, booming through the skies as it did so. The meteor collided with Earth's atmosphere on October 26, with dozens of people in Canada and the USA spotting the phenomenon. Witnesses were amazed by the sighting, with some claiming it to be the biggest and brightest fireball they had ever witnessed.

Images of the sighting show a bright streak of light left in the night's sky as the small space rock plummeted towards our planet.

Americans and Canadians flocked to the International Meteor Organisation (IMO) to report what they had seen.

Claire said: "This was spectacular for me. I have seen many shooting stars in my life. This was much bigger/closer."

Ray told the IMO: "It was really cool. Seemed like the brightest/longest 'shooting star' I have ever seen."

2,000-year-old seal with the image of Apollo discovered in the City of David near Jerusalem's Western Wall

Times of Israel  29 October 2020

Sun god, a symbol of health and prosperity, was the only member of the pagan pantheon used by Jews during the Second Temple period, says City of David archaeologist Eli Shukron

Discovery of a rare 2,000-year-old signet ring engraved with the Greek sun god Apollo gives new evidence of a pluralistic Jewry walking the streets of ancient Jerusalem during the Second Temple period, archaeologist Eli Shukron told The Times of Israel.

“It allows us to see a Jerusalem that wasn’t some kind of ultra-Orthodox city, it was more pluralistic,” Shukron said, who is convinced the ring would have adorned a Jew’s finger. The fact that a Jew chose the symbol of a Greek god, “shows the wide variety of practices in Jerusalem. Everyone was a Jew, but there were different groups and perspectives,” he said.

The dark brown jasper gem sealing (intaglio) was recently discovered at the Archaeological Sifting Project at Tzurim Valley National Park during the wet sifting of earth taken from ongoing City of David excavations of the foundations of the Western Wall. 

Shukron said there is absolutely no doubt that it is Apollo who is engraved on the tiny, oval-shaped, 13 millimeter-long, 11 millimeter-wide, and 3 millimeter-thick sealing. It would usually have been used as a signature stamp on beeswax to seal contracts, letters, wills, and goods or bundles of money, according to a City of David press release.

The profile of Apollo has long flowing hair spilling over his sturdy neck. He has a large nose, thick lips, and small prominent chin, according to the press release. The styled hair is braided above his forehead, with long curls reaching the shoulder.

All of this adds up to the god Apollo in the eyes of a trained archaeologist. “You cannot miss it,” Shukron said.

 

For Trump, Conservative Catholics Are The New Evangelicals

    NPR   October 26, 2020

Four years ago, white evangelicals rallied behind Donald Trump's presidential candidacy, and he reveled in their adulation.

"The evangelicals love me, and I love them," Trump said repeatedly on the campaign trail. In his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, evangelicals were the only faith group he singled out for thanks, saying their support was "a big reason for me being here tonight."

In the general election, however, it was not the evangelicals who carried Trump to victory but Catholics, a group he had rarely mentioned in his speeches.

People were quite amazed at the overall impact that the white evangelicals had in the election, but I think what was missed was the critical role of the Catholic voters," says Mark Rozell, dean of the Schar School of Policy and Government at George Mason University.

Despite losing the popular vote, Trump reached the presidency in large part because he won traditionally Democratic Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, all states in which Catholics outnumber evangelicals by significant margins.

"It was the Catholic vote that won those states for Donald Trump," says Tim Huelskamp, a former Republican congressman from Kansas now serving as an adviser to the Catholics for Trump movement, a coalition that did not formally exist in 2016.

Trump Becomes the First President Since Eisenhower to Change Faiths in Office

CT  OCTOBER 27, 2020 

More than 180,000 people have stopped identifying with the Presbyterian Church (USA) in the past four years, according to official church numbers. Now there’s one more: President Donald Trump.

Trump told Religion News Service last week in a written interview mediated by spiritual advisor Paula White-Cain that he doesn’t consider himself to be Presbyterian. He was confirmed in the church and has called himself Presbyterian numerous times over the years. But no more.

“I now consider myself to be a non-denominational Christian,” Trump said in the statement. “Melania and I have gotten to visit some amazing churches and meet with great faith leaders from around the world. During the unprecedented COVID-19 outbreak, I tuned into several virtual church services and know that millions of Americans did the same.”

While the mainline denomination has previously challenged Trump’s affiliation, his recent departure seems to be the result of the president slowly moving away from his childhood church and toward a more evangelical faith.

Americans are frantically buying military gear before the election

Bloomberg  October 23 2020

Conflict is on America’s streets in 2020, and “tactical apparel” has become a lifestyle industry serving militarized law-enforcement agents and the freelance gunmen who emulate them. Less than two weeks before Election Day, orders are rolling in. 

Since last year, online purchases have driven a 20-fold jump in sales of goods like the $220 CM-6M gas mask -- resistant to bean-bag rounds -- for Mira Safety of Austin, Texas.

It doesn’t matter who gets elected,” founder Roman Zrazhevskiy said of his new customers. “They think that no matter who wins, Biden or Trump, there are going to be people who are upset about the result.” 

Not long ago -- perhaps a generation -- dressing like you’re going to war was for the veteran who never quite made it back from Vietnam or the angry young men who obsessed over gas masks and combat boots at the military surplus store. (Every American town seemed to have one, and only one.) 

A shift became apparent with this spring’s Black Lives Matter protests and bitterly resented pandemic lockdowns. Now the gear is everywhere, from camouflage-clad antifa supporters to right-wing extremists who appeared at Michigan’s capitol even after men were arrested in a plot to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

Ministers begin discipleship Bible studies to lawmakers in the states of Washington, Maine, and Delaware.

 Capmin  OCTOBER 23, 2020

After successfully completing required Capitol Ministries training, newly accepted ministry leaders are eager to begin discipleship Bible studies to lawmakers in the states of Washington, Maine, and Delaware.

The Capitol Ministries Training Conference, which was held in Southern California this month, was intense and delivered more than was expected, said Morris Webster, a retired businessman and newly named CapMin ministry leader to Delaware.

“The training was incredibly impressive, not only from a nuts and bolts training standpoint which was just outstanding, but the most important take away was that Jesus Christ is at the center of everything,” Webster said. “These people are serious about knowing God and sharing Him with the political people who greatly influence our lives.”

Webster will lead weekly Bible studies to legislators in Delaware’s capitol, Legislative Hall in Dover. He will also serve as CapMin’s Delaware director of Local Government Ministries (LGM) which plants Bible studies to city and county elected and appointed public servants.

Annual Conference of the Secretaries of the Christian World Communions 2020

CU. 23 Oct 2020

More than thirty participants attended the annual Conference of the Secretaries of Christian World Communions (CS/CWC) that took place online from 20–22 October 2020. The Catholic Church was represented by Bishop Brian Farrell, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, assisted by Reverend Andrzej Choromanski, staff responsible for the multilateral relations.

The meeting was chaired by Reverend Gretchen Castle (Friends World Committee for Consultation), with Reverend Dr Ganoune Diop (General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists), acting as secretary. The conference opened with a prayer led by former Chair Reverend Dr Martin Junge (Lutheran World Federation), followed by a time of sharing from the participants on the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the life of churches. It was underlined that the anti-COVID-19 measures had created an unprecedented challenge for Christian communions worldwide, limiting the access of the faithful to the usual pastoral care and restraining ecumenical relations. At the same time, the crisis had necessitated the use of modern technologies, with churches developing new and enduring forms of pastoral ministry and ecumenical life.

Time was dedicated to reflection on the nature and identity of the CS/CWC. It was underlined that the Conference is not an organisation with programmatic aims and determined agenda but a fraternal forum of secretaries from diverse Christian communions as well as representatives of some global ecumenical organisations who meet annually to exchange information, learn from each other and nurture fraternal relationships among their churches.

The recent encyclical of Pope Francis Fratelli tutti was acknowledged as an important encouragement to all Christian communions to unite efforts in building a culture of e

ncounter, solidarity and universal fraternity across political, social, and religious borders

Croatia is heading towards a work-free Sunday

Croatia Week Sep 21, 2020

Croatia is heading towards a work-free Sunday, in the direction of half of EU countries where Sunday working in shops is restricted, with the exception of newsstands, bakeries, petrol station convenience shops, and shops at bus and railways stations, the Vecernji List daily said on Monday.

Government spokesman Marko Milic confirmed that a law to regulate Sunday working was in preparation, taking into account the balance between work, rest, and spending time with family.

“The final proposal and determining the concrete number of non-working Sundays is still being defined and the government will discuss this with social partners,” Milic was quoted as saying, adding that Labour Minister Josip Aladrovic and Economy Minister Tomislav Coric will meet this week with union representatives to discuss this topic.

“And we will also maintain a dialogue with employers,” Milic said, adding that the political position of the HDZ government had not changed with regards to work-free Sunday and that they still wanted it to be work-free. They have analysed European practice and the best solution will be found.

Regulating and restricting Sunday working is also in line with the Directive of Work-Life Balance, adopted by the European Parliament last year, which has to be incorporated into the national legislation of EU countries by 2022.

Pope: Use pandemic to give the environment a vital “rest”

AP September 1, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown how the Earth can recover “if we allow it to rest” and must spur people to adopt simpler lifestyles to help a planet “groaning” under the constant demand for economic growth, Pope Francis said Tuesday.  

In his latest urgent appeal to help a fragile environment, Francis also renewed his call for the cancellation of the debts of the most vulnerable countries. Such action would be just, he said, since rich countries have exploited poorer nations’ natural resources. 

“In some ways, the current pandemic has led us to rediscover simpler and sustainable lifestyles,” Francis said in a written message. 

“Already we can see how the Earth can recover if we allow it to rest: the air becomes cleaner, the waters clearer, and animals have returned to many places from where they had previously disappeared,” he wrote. 

“The pandemic has brought us to a crossroads.”
The pontiff urged people to seize the opportunity to reflect on their habits of energy usage, consumption, transportation and diet.  

Until now, “constant demand for growth and an endless cycle of production and consumption are exhausting the natural world,” the pope said, adding, “Creation is groaning.”  

People must be aware of their rightful place in nature, never thinking themselves masters of what Francis described as the “interconnected web of life.” 

Disintegrating biodiversity, climate disasters and the “unjust impact of the current pandemic on the poor and the vulnerable” amount to a “wakeup call in the face of our rampant greed and consumption,” the pope wrote.

How The 'Lost Art' Of Breathing Can Impact Sleep And Resilience

NPR May 27, 2020

Humans typically take about 25,000 breaths per day — often without a second thought. But the COVID-19 pandemic has put a new spotlight on respiratory illnesses and the breaths we so often take for granted.
 

Journalist James Nestor became interested in the respiratory system years ago after his doctor recommended he take a breathing class to help his recurring pneumonia and bronchitis.
 

While researching the science and culture of breathing for his new book, Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, Nestor participated in a study in which his nose was completely plugged for 10 days, forcing him to breathe solely through his mouth. It was not a pleasant experience.
Nestor says the researchers he's talked to recommend taking time to "consciously listen to yourself and [to] feel how breath is affecting you." He notes taking "slow and low"breaths through the nose can help relieve stress and reduce blood pressure.
 

"This is the way your body wants to take in air," Nestor says. "It lowers the burden of the heart if we breathe properly and if we really engage the diaphragm."

Ohio Mayor Surrenders City to Christ

Christian Headlines August 27, 2020

Last weekend, Christians from multiple churches alongside elected officials in Ashland, Ohio partook in an act of corporate repentance and prayer before God in calling for a national and global revival.

Hundreds of people from the community gathered at the special event held on Saturday at Ashland’s Freer Field, a 78-acre park near the city, Frontlines Ohio reports.

The gathering is considered to be the first-ever “Sacred Assembly” in the area, as it featured a time of worship, prayer, and remarks from church leaders and several officials.

“There is a sense that GOD is doing many great things. GOD is re-writing the history of Ashland. I believe with all my heart there will be a great harvest by what has been prayed for here tonight. We are beginning to see the activity and orchestration of GOD,” said Pastor David McNeely of New Life Community Church.

State Rep. Darrell Kick, an assembly speaker, acknowledged the spiritual uniqueness of Ashland as his represented district. He also noted how a Bible study is held by several state lawmakers prior to casting their vote at the Statehouse. 

10 million acres of corn, soybeans flattened; farmers 'have never seen anything like this

Desmoines August, 2020 

In less than an hour, the nearly 2,000 acres of corn and soybeans that Corey Hillebo and his family farm near Slater were flattened.

"Nothing in the path of the storm was unscathed," said Hillebo, who lives near where Monday's derecho, packing hurricane-force winds, left Heartland Cooperative's massive grain storage bins twisted and crumpled.

"You drive around, there's nothing that's not leaning or flat," he said.

Across Iowa, the storm hit about 10 million acres of crops, Gov. Kim Reynolds said Tuesday during a news conference. The Iowa Department of Agriculture said the storm affected roughly a third of the state, which grows about 32 million acres of corn, soybeans and other crops.

Reynolds said farmers have told her the damage "has just been devastating ... they have never seen anything like this."

The storm, with straight-line winds nearing 100 mph, pummeled homes, farms and businesses across dozens of counties in central Iowa. In addition to crops, it destroyed grain bins, machine sheds, barns and livestock buildings.

A 2020 Study: Unvaccinated Children are Healthier than Vaccinated Children

Best Article September 2020

On May this year, the Children’s Medical Safety Research Institute (CMSRI), a “medical and scientific collaborative established to provide research funding for independent studies on causal factors underlying the chronic disease and disability epidemic”, produced a report regarding the pilot study which appeared in the Journal of Translational Sciences. The study compared unvaccinated children (261 subjects) to partially or fully vaccinated (405 subjects) homeschooling kids and results concluded that the vaccinated were more likely to develop neuro-developmental disorders (NDD) and allergies. The nearly 700 subjects were “assessed based on their mothers’ reports of vaccinations and physician-diagnosed illnesses”.

Contrary to what the actual studies say, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) assure the public that vaccines are safe and effective and that all children should get vaccinated. But ironically, there are also instances that they tell the opposite; that they accept they have no real data to back that up, either short-term or long-term. 

This isn’t difficult to understand as these vaccines contain dangerous adjuvants and heavy metals (aluminum, mercury, etc.), plus formaldehyde and other chemicals and preservatives which usually have unknown health risk. In addition, there are also no real study figuring what could be the long-term effects of importing contaminants of DNA from fetal cells (aborted) to your body, and of various animal DNA and so-called retroviruses. Yet the WHO and other government agencies recommend “50 doses of 14 vaccines by age six, 69 doses of 16 pharmaceutical vaccines containing powerfully immune-altering ingredients by age 18”.

Study