Pope Starts World Day for Grandparents, Elderly; Marked by Cath.Church Once a Yr. to Honor Them

Pope Francis today (January 31, 2021) instituted a "World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly" in the Roman Catholic Church to be marked once a year to honor them and to underscore their importance to society, according to the Reuters website. 

Francis said it would be marked on the fourth Sunday of July each year in Catholic communities around the world. 

The Catholic Church already has a World Day of Peace, which Pope Paul instituted in 1967, a World Day of Youth, which Pope John Paul II established in 1984, and a World Day of the Poor, which Francis started in 2017. 

Pope: We Need a "Mission of Compassion" Today; Jesus' Love of Disciples Shows God's Love for Man

Pope Francis today (January 30, 2021) released his message for World Mission Day, underlining that amid this pandemic there is a need for a "mission of compassion," according to the Independent Catholic News website. 

"We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard," taken from the Acts of the Apostles, is the theme chosen by Pope Francis for World Mission Day 2021 which will be observed on October 24th.

In the message, the Pope emphasizes that "Once we experience the power of God's love, and recognize His fatherly presence in our personal and community life, we cannot help but proclaim and share what we have seen and heard."

Pope Francis explains that Jesus' relationship with His disciples and His humanity "shows us the extent to which God loves our humanity and makes His own our joys and sufferings, our hopes, and our concerns." 

Biden's Exec. Order Is an Insult to Mil. Women; Men Can Use Women's Restrooms,Locker Rooms

President Biden is especially letting down military women, who will be ordered to share their private facilities with biological males who claim to be transgender, the Worthy Brief website reports today (January 29, 2021).

Biden's new executive order explicitly opens doors to sexual minorities who want "access to the restroom, the locker room, or school sports" reserved for the opposite sex. 

Transgender ideology, which demands acceptance of the unscientific notion that gender is "designated" or "assigned at birth," disregards psychological and biological realities.  

Pro-Lifers Rip Joe Biden for Funding Abortions; Funds Abortions with $50M, Is No Devout Cath.

 Joe Biden issued more executive orders today (January 28, 2021), including one overturning a pro-life rule President Donald Trump put in place to defund International Planned Parenthood, which kills babies in abortions around the world and lobbies to legalize abortions in pro-life countries, according to the Life News website. 

Another of Biden's executive orders rolled back Trump's Title X policy, which defunded the Planned Parenthood abortion chain of more than 50 million taxpayer dollars. 

The pro-life group Catholic Vote said that his executive orders end the charade that Biden is a "devout" Catholic.

"Our national nightmare is one week old. And 'devout' Joe Biden is celebrating with more child-killing,"said Brian Burch of Catholic Vote.

Second Capitol Police Officer Commits Suicide; Deaths May Be Due to Trauma Caused by Riots

The D.C. police chief has revealed that a second police officer, who responded to the riots at the Capitol earlier this month, has died of suicide, The Daily Beast website reports today (January 27, 2021).

Jeffrey Smith had worked for the Metropolitan Police Department for 12 years and died on January 15 -- just nine days after thousands of MAGA supporters stormed the Capitol.

 Smith is the second police officer to die by suicide after working at the Capitol on the day of the siege. U.S. Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood, a 51-year-old who had guarded the government building since 2005, took his own life on January 9. Both suicides are believed to have been caused by the post-traumatic stress disorder that the officers experienced from the Capitol riots.

Biden Voids Policy on Transgender Mil. Service; Men Can Identify as Women under Biden Policy

President Biden signed an executive order yesterday overturning the Trump administration policy that limited transgender service, saying in a statement that the U.S. is "safer" when everyone can serve, the Christian Headlines website reports today (January 26, 2021).

At issue was a Trump administration policy that required military personnel to serve in their biological sex, not their preferred gender. 

The Biden executive order reverses Trump and begins a policy that allows military personnel to serve openly under their gender identity. A biological man, who identifies as a woman, for example, can serve alongside women under the new Biden policy.

Washington,DC Mayor Views DC as 51st State Soon; Sees Senate,House,Biden Approving Statehood

Mayor Muriel Boswer of Washington, D.C. recently said that the Democrat-controlled Senate and House will soon vote to make the nation's capital a state and send the bill to the desk of Joe Biden, who has voiced support of D.C. statehood, the New American website reports today (January 25, 2021). 

"The nation's capital, the federal enclave, will continue to exist as the nation's capital and everything outside of those new boundaries will become the 51st state," said Boswer.  

Boswer added, "It is going to be introduced in Congress in a couple of weeks, where we expect to have a favorite vote, and then it goes to the president of the United States. We have made a big focus to President Biden to support D.C. statehood and make it part of his 100-day agenda."

Pope Suffers from Sciatica, Has to Skip Mass; Prays for Homeless Man Who Froze to Death in Rome

Ailing Pope Francis, who this week is making limited public appearances due to persistent pain, has drawn attention to the plight of homeless people in winter, including a Nigerian man who froze to death near the Vatican, the AP website reports today (January 24, 2021).  

Francis today asked for prayers for t he 46-year-old man named Edwin who he said was "ignored by all, abandoned, even by us." The temperature in Rome has dropped to below freezing in recent nights. 

Francis, 84, is suffering for the second time this month from sciatica -- a nerve inflammation that can cause severe pain in the lower back and legs -- causing him to skip Mass in St. Peter's Basilica today.

Biden's Anti-Cath. Views Cause Cath. Divisions; Rejects Cath. Doctrine on Abortion,Marriage,Etc.

Los Angeles Archbishop Jose Gomez, president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), sent a letter to Joe Biden after he was sworn in as president on January 20, saying he felt obliged to point out that our new president has pledged to pursue certain policies opposed by the Catholic Church "in the areas of abortion, contraception, marriage, and gender," the Yahoo News website reports today (January 23, 2021).

Biden, only the second Catholic U.S. president (after John F. Kennedy), has caused severe divisions among U.S. Catholics for opposing Catholic doctrine by being in favor of abortions, allowing divorced Catholics to remarry, and supporting gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transvestite lifestyles. 

On the other hand, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago, issued a rare public rebuke of Gomez's letter, saying the USCCB's "ill-considered statement" for Biden's inauguration "came as a surprise to many bishops, who received it just hours before it was released..." 

Pope:St. Paul Would Be Texting,Tweeting Today; Praises Paul's Face to Face Christian Spread

 If he were alive today, even St. Paul would be texting, tweeting, and firing off emails to get the news out, Pope Francis said today (January 23, 2021) in his message for the Roman Catholic Church's World Day of Social Communication, according to  the Reuters website.

St. Paul, who lived in the first century of the Christian era, spread the new faith into Europe and Asia Minor, and is believed to have written a great part of the New Testament.

Still, Francis said Paul was at his best while preaching in person, saying journalists and other communicators today should do more "hitting the streets...meeting people face to face to research stories or to verify certain situations first-hand."

Senate to Begin Trump Impeachment Trial Feb. 8; Schumer:"Make No Mistake,There Will Be a Trial"

Chuck Schumer, the new Senate Majority Leader, said today (January 22, 2021) a trial in the Senate against former President Donald Trump for incitement to insurrection will begin on February 8, 2021, the NPR website reports. 

"The Senate will conduct a trial on the impeachment of Donald Trump," Schumer said today. "It will be a fair trial.But make no mistake, there will be a trial."

Once the article of impeachment is delivered to the Senate by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the trial process can begin, with notices sent to both sides.  

Biden Puts Main Effort on Licking Coronavirus; Fauci Lauds Biden's Cue to "Let Science Speak"

President Joe Biden unveiled sweeping measures to battle COVID-19 on his first full day in office today (January 21, 2021), with his chief medical adviser, Dr. Anthony Fauci, praising his new boss' willingness to "let the science speak" in contrast to the Trump administration, the Reuters website reports. 

Biden said he was taking steps to speed up the federal response to the virus, including expanding testing and vaccinations and increasing mask-wearing.

Biden also signed executive orders to establish a COVID-19 testing board to ramp up testing, address supply shortfalls, establish protocols for international travelers, and direct resources to hard-hit minority communities.

Pope Francis Sends Biden "Good Wishes" on Pres.; Prays God Grants Him Wisdom,Strength in New Job

 In a message of "cordial good wishes" to President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. after his installation as the 46th president of the U.S., Pope Francis assured him of his prayers "that Almighty God will grant you wisdom and strength in the exercise of your high office," the America Magazine website reports today (January 20, 2021).

He told the president that he prayed that "under your leadership, may the American people continue to draw strength from the lofty political, ethical and religious values that have inspired the nation since its founding. 

"At a time when the grave crises facing our human family call for farsighted and united responses," the pope wrote, "I pray that your decisions will be guided by a concern for building a society marked by authentic justice and freedom, together with unfailing respect for the rights and dignity of every person, especially the poor, the vulnerable and those who have no voice."

Trump Praises Achievements in Farewell Address; Built Greatest Economy in History,Had No New War

U.S. President Donald Trump struck an optimistic and defiant note in his farewell address today (January 19, 2021), vowing his movement was here to stay and praising his administration's achievements in restoring America while not starting any new wars, the RT website reports.  

"We did what we came here to do-- and so much more," Trump said in the speech this afternoon. 

He argued that his administration restored American strength at home and leadership abroad, "built the greatest economy in the history of the world," and achieved a series of historic peace deals in the Middle East." 

Trump added, "I am especially proud to be the first president in decades who has started no new wars."

Pope:MLK's Non-Violence Message Is Crucial; King Called for Unity and Obliterating Hatred

Pope Francis honored civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the commemoration of his birthday today (January 18, 2021) , saying his message of equality through peaceful means remains more timely than ever, the AP website reports. 

Francis also sent a message of prayer today to King's daughter, the Rev. Bernice King, with whom the pontiff met in 2018. 

King called for unity, not division, and extinguishing hatred and "not holding onto it," the pope said. 

Pentagon Denies Trump Final Parade on Jan 20; Instead 25K National Guard Troops to Guard D.C.

President Donald Trump, who still hasn't conceded that he lost the presidential election, will be leaving the White House on the morning of January 20, but he will not be participating in any of the traditional hand-off rituals that incumbents typically do to welcome newly elected Presidents, the Alter Net website reports today (January 17, 2021).

Trump has asked the Pentagon for a traditional farewell parade, but the Pentagon has refused having one. 

Instead, some 25,000 National Guard troops will be deployed to Washington, D.C.to maintain peace and order at Joe Biden's presidential inauguration on January 20.

 

Poll:68% of Americans Want Trump Out of Pol.; Trump Now at Lowest Approval No. of His Pres.

 The ruinous final weeks of Donald Trump's presidency have damaged his already low public standing, with 68% of Americans saying they want Trump's political career to end, the Bloomberg News website reports today (January 16, 2021). 

A Pew Research Center survey, released yesterday, shows Trump with the lowest approval number of his presidency at 29%, driven by last week's assault on the U.S. Capitol by a violent mob, and Trump's impeachment for instigating the attack.

Seventy-five percent of Americans -- including 52% of Republicans -- say Trump bears some responsibility  for the Capitol riots, which led to the deaths of five people. 

Pope Francis,Pope Benedict Get COVID Vaccine; Both Popes Are Vulnerable Because of Their Age

 The Vatican said that both Pope Francis and ex-Pope Benedict have received the first dose of a vaccine against coronavirus, the Reuters website reports today (January 15, 2021). 

The 84-year-old pope and 93-year-old former pope, got their jabs as part of a Vatican vaccination program that began on January 13.

Both men are vulnerable to contracting the virus because of their age. 

Report: Over 340M Christians Persecuted Daily; At Least 4,781 Killed for Their Faith 2019--2020

Every day, more than 340 million Christians suffer discrimination, inequality, or active persecution in at least 50 countries in the world, according to a report released yesterday by Open Doors, a Christian human rights organization, the Crux website reports today (January 14, 2021).

In 2018-2019. 2,983 cases of Christians being killed for their faith were recorded by the international watchdog group, while there were at least 4,781 between October 2019 and  September 2020.

Over 90 percent of these killings were in Africa, where a terrorist group blamed Christians for the coronavirus pandemic.

House of Reps. Impeaches Trump for a 2nd Time; McConnell Won't Call Senate Session for His Trial

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has rejected a plan to reconvene the Senate in an emergency session to hold trial over an impeachment article against President Trump in the House, the Daily Wire website reports today (January 13, 2021). 

Without the emergency session, the Senate is due back in session on January 19, so McConnell's decision all but kills a Democrat-led effort to oust Trump from office before his term ends and President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on January 20. 

Democrats have proposed holding the trial over Trump's impeachment well-into Biden's presidency; however, most legal scholars believe that impeaching and removing a president after he left office is illegal and unconstitutional.

Trump Calls 2nd Impeachment Move Ridiculous; Views It as the Greatest "Witch Hunt" in History

President Trump today (January 12, 2021) said the new push in Congress to impeach him a second time is a "continuation of the greatest witch hunt in the history of politics," the Washington Times website reports.

"I think it's causing tremendous anger," Trump told reporters as he left the White House to view his new border wall in Texas. 

He said the push by House Democrats to impeach him for inciting last week's riot at the Capitol is "absolutely ridiculous."

Pope Awards Women More Roles in Cath. Church; But He Still Refuses to Let Women Become Priests

 Pope Francis changed church law today (January 11, 2021) to explicitly allow women to do more things during Mass, granting them access to the most sacred place on the altar, while continuing to affirm that they cannot be priests, according to the Yahoo News website. 

Francis amended the law to formalize and institutionalize what is common practice in many parts of the   world. Women can now be installed as lectors, to read Scripture and serve on the altar as eucharistic ministers. 

Francis said he was making the change to increase the recognition of the "precious contribution" women make in the church, while emphasizing that all baptized Catholics have a role to play in the church's mission.

Most Americans Want Trump Out before Jan. 20; Two-thirds Believe Trump Caused Riot at Capitol

A majority of Americans would like to see President Donald Trump removed from office before January 20, 2021, when President-elect Joe Biden will be sworn in, according to a new poll by ABC News/IPSOS, the Daily Beast website reports. 

The poll also found that two-thirds of Americans hold Trump directly responsible for the deadly riot on Capitol Hill on January 6.  

The poll showed that 56 percent of Americans want Trump gone, while just 43 percent say he should stay in place. 

Trump Tells White House Aides He Won't Resign; Regrets Releasing Video Condemning Capitol Riot

President Donald Trump is resisting all demands he resign from office after  a violent riot by his supporters resulted in five deaths as they stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, according to the NY Times website. 

Behind closed doors at the White House, Trump struck a defiant tone, insisting to his close supporters that he would remain a potent force in American politics. 

He also expressed regret about releasing a video a day after the riot committing to a peaceful transition of power and condemning the violence at the Capitol that he had a day before incited. 

Trump Accuses Twitter of "Banning Free Speech;" Twitter Banned Trump for Inciting Capitol Riots

Donald Trump today (January 8, 2021) accused Twitter of  "banning free speech" in a tweet from a  POTUS account, as Twitter blocked Trump from sending any messages due to his encouraging the Capitol building rioting this week, according to the Sky News website.

The social media company has permanently suspended the president's account and wiped out all his old tweets. 

Twitter's ban comes after Trump was similarly banned from Facebook and Instagram following the riots at the U.S. Capitol.

Trump Concedes Defeat,Promises Orderly Change; Still Won't Accept the Trustability of Pres. Election

 President Donald Trump today (January 7, 2021) said there would be an "orderly transition on January 20th" after Congress concluded the electoral vote count yesterday, certifying President-elect Joe Biden's victory hours after Trump appeared to excuse the violent occupation of the U.S. Capitol by his supporters, according to the Times Leader website. 

Trump acknowledged  defeat in the November 3 election for the first time, after a day of chaos and destruction on Capitol Hill perpetrated in his name by supporters that halted business in Congress for more than six hours. 

"Even  though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th," Trump said in a statement posted to Twitter by aides. His personal account was locked by the social media company for posting messages that appeared to justify the assault on the seat of America's democracy.

Pope Has Epiphany Mass on Theological Realism; We Must Take the Focus Off Oneself,Put It on God

 Pope Francis, during a Mass for the feast of the Epiphany today (January 6, 2021), advocated an attitude of "theological realism" which, he said, fosters trust in God and looks for deeper meaning rather than getting caught up in one's own problems, according to the Crux website. 

Speaking at a live-streamed Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, the pope said that to worship God, "We need to 'see' beyond the veil of things visible, which often prove deceptive."

The pope stressed the need to "lift up our eyes" in order to take the focus off oneself and put it on God.

US Aircraft Carrier Will Remain in Persian Gulf; Will Not Return to US Due to "Iranian Threats"

The Pentagon has announced that the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Nimitz will stay in the Persian Gulf because of "recent  threats" by Iran, the Worthy News website reports today (January 5, 2021). 

The announcement came after reports that the vessel would be returning to the U.S. after having patrolled the Gulf since November. 

Iran's judiciary chief Ebrahim Raisi told a gathering of Iranian officials on January 1 that those responsible for the death of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps chief Qassem Soleiman on January 3, 2020 "will not be safe on Earth."

Church in Greece Rejects Govt. Closing Order; Govt. Increased Closings Due to Rise in COVID

 Greece's powerful Orthodox Church is rebelling against a government order to briefly close places of worship under a weeklong drive to tighten coronavirus restrictions, the AP website reports today (January 4, 2021). 

The Church's ruling today issued a statement directing priests to admit worshippers during indoor services for January 6 for the feast of the Epiphany. 

The Holy Synod said it "does not accept" the new restrictions, in force from January 3 --10, and would send a letter of protest to the government. 

Israel and Saudi Arabia Urge Trump to Strike Iran; Failure to Do So May Lead to Iran Betraying Biden

Israel and Saudi Arabia are pressuring the Trump administration to carry out a strike on Iran's nuclear facilities before President-elect Biden takes office, the Worthy News website reports today (January 3, 2021). 

According to anonymous U.S. sources, Saudi Arabia and Israel "exerted heavy pressure on the president to take out Iran's  nuclear installations in a surgical strike" in order to sabotage Biden's plan to re-enter negotiations with the ayatollah regime on a long-term deal. 

The two countries reportedly told Trump that such action is justified in light of Iran's recent breaches of the nuclear accord from 2015.

Pope Reappears after His Extreme Sciatica Pain; Delivers His Traditional Appeal for World Peace

Pope Francis reappeared yesterday after chronic sciatic pain forced him to miss the Church's New Year services, as he delivered the traditional appeal for world peace, the Reuters website reports today (January 2, 2021).

The pope was unable to attend services on December 31 and again on the morning of January 1 because of the sciatica -- a relatively common problem that causes a sharp pain along the sciatic nerve down the lower back and legs. 

"Life today is governed by war, by enmity, by many things that are destructive. We want peace. It is a gift," Francis said, adding that the response to the global coronavirus crisis showed the importance of burden-sharing.  

Gallup Poll:Trump America's Most Admired Man; Pres. Obama Had Been Most Admired Since 2008

 President Trump is the most admired man in the U.S. for 2020, according to a new Gallup survey, the Christian Headlines website reports today (January 1, 2021).

Trump finished No. 1 in the survey released Dec. 29, ending the 12-year run of President Obama, who had finished No. 1 as the most admired man every year since 2008.

Although Trump and Obama tied for No. 1 in the survey in 2019 with 18 percent each, this year Trump ended the year at No. 1 by himself.