Kathie Lee Gifford Rips "Cancel Culture," Church; Praises Jesus as Being Kind, Humble, Empathetic

Kathie Lee Gifford has issued a blistering condemnation of both "cancel culture" and today's money-driven church, urging the Body of Christ  to remember that the way of Jesus is one of kindness, humility, and empathy, the Christian Post website reports today (November 30, 2021).

The four-time Emmy Award-winning entertainer lamented the fact that society today abides by the mantra, "If you don't believe in what I say and you don't agree with my opinion, then I'm just going to cancel you as if you've never existed." 

As author of over 25 books, Gifford has used her platform to share her faith with others, Her latest book, "The Jesus I Know:Honest Conversations and Diverse Opinions about Who He Is," is no exception.

Judge Stops Biden's Vaccine Mandate in 10 States; Says Mandate May Cause Hosp.Staffing Shortages

The Biden administration's COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers has just been temporarily blocked for hospitals that receive federal funding within 10 states, the CBN News website reports today (November 29, 2021).

A federal judge issued a temporary injunction today citing multiple reasons U.S. District Judge Matthew Schelp said the mandate would result in staffing shortages without evidence that it would prevent the spread of the virus.

The 10 states listed in the order are Alaska, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

Riots to Protest COVID Occur on French Islands; Guadeloupe and Martinique See Violent Protests

 Efforts to tackle COVID-19 have sparked violent protests on the French Caribbean  islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique, the Euro News website reports today (November 28, 2021). 

Four people were shot and a  number of businesses destroyed in Martinique in riots last night.

Meanwhile, in Pointe-a-Pitre, the capital of French overseas territory Guadeloupe, more than 200 people came out to rally against coronavirus measures yesterday.

Fauci: New Omicron Variant Likely Already in US; NY Gov. Declares State of Emergency to Defeat It

 Parts of the U.S.have begun an all-out assault against the new, highly transmissible Omicron variant of COVID-19, as Dr. Anthony Fauci warned that the variant is likely already circulating in the U.S., the Daily Beast website reports today (November 27, 2021).

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency yesterday, limiting hospital capacity to emergency needs as of December 3 and arranging for the purchase of medical supplies.

The emergency state, which bars elective surgeries, will remain in effect until at least January 15.

Harris Spends Nearly $600 for Cookware in Paris; V.P. Buys $375 Serving Dish and $110 Frying Pan

 Vice President Kamala Harris spent almost $600 on cookware appliances with U.S. taxpayer funds, as Americans face rising costs and economic turmoil going into the holiday season, the Daily Caller website reports today (November 26, 2021).

During her four-day government trip to Paris in mid-November, Harris visited high-end cookware store E. Dehillerin located outside the Louvre museum.

The vice president bought a $375 serving dish and a $160 frying pan totaling 516 euros or nearly $600.

Bulgaria:"Human Error" Caused Fiery Bus Crash; At Least 44 People Killed from North Macedonia

 Bulgarian officials say that "human error" on a "dangerous stretch" of highway is the most likely cause of the fiery bus crash this week in western Bulgaria that killed at least 44 people, all of them from North Macedonia and many of them children, the Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty website reports today (November 25, 2021). 

The announcement came today, as authorities revised downward the confirmed death toll to 44. A deputy chief prosecutor and chief of Bulgaria's national investigation service, Borislav Sarafov, announced in Sofia that investigators had ruled out a terrorist act and established that there was no explosion.

He added that "the leading version [of events] is human error."

Target, Walgreens on Xmas Censor Naughty List; Liberty Counsel Lists Companies Censoring Xmas

 Target and Walgreens are among 13 companies that have been placed on a Christian conservative legal nonprofit's "Naughty List" for failing to spotlight Christmas during the holiday season, the Christian Post website reports today (November 24, 2021).

On November 19, Liberty Counsel released its "Naughty and Nice Retail List" of businesses that either "recognize and celebrate Christmas" or "silence and censor Christmas." 

Target is "naughty" because it "has surprisingly few mentions of Christmas.." Walgreens "refers to the term 'holiday' often and only one reference to the term 'Christmas' on its website. 

High Court to Hear Roe v. Wade Challenge Dec. 1; May Overturn Roe v. Wade, End Abortions in US

 On December 1, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in the abortion case that some say is the most important since the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision, the CBN News website reports today (November 23, 2021).

In fact, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization could overturn Roe, plunging the U.S. into a post-Roe landscape. 

"This is the case for everyone to be watching," said Americans United for Life President Catherine Glenn Foster. "Are we able to restrict abortion prior to viability in line with our neighbors in Europe, in line with pretty much the entire rest of the world because we're one of the most foremost radical nations in the entire world on abortion?"

Federal Workers Need to Be Vaccinated by Today; Those Not Vaccinated Face Possible Termination

 Millions of federal employees and contractors face a deadline today (November 22, 2021) to provide proof that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 -- including workers at the Transportation Security Administration -- which is facing a large uptick in passengers for the Thanksgiving travel period, according to the UPI website.

President Joe Biden ordered the vaccine mandate in September. It requires that all federal workers and contractors complete a full vaccine regimen by today or face possible termination.

AAA projects a significant increase in travel for the Thanksgiving week, including millions more at airports.

Intel.:Russia Plans to Invade Ukraine This Winter; Builds Up Mil. Forces Around Border with Ukraine

 An unnamed U.S. intelligence source has claimed that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine as colder days approach, due to Russia staging a military buildup along Kiev's eastern border, the RT website reports today (November 21, 2021),

U.S. Defense Secretary LLoyd Austin last week urged Moscow to "be more transparent on the buildup of the forces around the borders of Ukraine."

Austin added that he was not sure exactly about Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan of action.

Woman Gets 5 Yrs. for Stealing Church Funds; Embezzled $450K as Accts Mgr. for Personal Use

 A 52-year-old Texas woman has been sentenced to five-and-a-half years in federal prison as a part of a plea deal, for using more than $450,000 from church funds for personal expenses, the Christian Post website reports today (November 20, 2021).

U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix sentenced Lisa Stabeno from Lubbock, Texas , this week, calling her actions "brazen thefts" from Church on the Rock and ordering her to pay $450,000 in restitution in addition to her prison sentencing.

Stabeno, who worked as an accounts manager for Church on the Rock's "Dream Center," an outreach program for "underserved individuals," pleaded guilty in May to two counts of bank fraud.

Feud on Vaccine with OK Gov.,Pentagon Goes On; Gov. Won't Require National Guard to Get Vaccine

 A standoff between the governor of Oklahoma and the Pentagon over a coronavirus vaccine mandate for National Guard troops has turned into a stormy test of federal power, the New York Times website reports today (November 19, 2021).

Oklahoma's adjutant general for the National Guard, Brig. Gen. Thomas Mancino, announced last week on behalf of Gov. Kevin Stitt that guardsmen in the state would not be required to get COVID-19 vaccine.

The policy defies a Pentagon directive issued in August that made vaccination mandatory for all troops, including National Guard, by deadlines set by each service branch. 

US Bishops Approve Document on the Eucharist; Allow Pro-Choice Cath.Pols. Receive Communion

 With an overwhelming positive vote. the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops yesterday approved a much anticipated document on the Eucharist that -- to the disappointment of some and joy of others -- makes no reference to pro-choice Catholic politicians who receive Communion, the CRUX website reports today (November 18, 2021).

After a short public discussion -- that followed lengthy private talks -- 222 bishops voted in favor of the document, eight against, and three abstained. The voting was electronic and secret. 

The document is 30 pages long and is called "The Mystery of the Eucharist in the Life of the Church."

State Dept. Adds Russia as Rel. Violating Country; Joins List of Other Nations Violating Rel. Freedom

 The U.S. State Department has officially added Russia to its register of the world's "worst violators" of religious freedom, a list that includes Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and five other countries, the RFERL website reports today (November 17, 2021).

The U,S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) proposed in its annual report released on April 21 that Russia, India, Syria, and Vietnam be put on the "countries of particular concern" list, a category reserved for those countries that carry out "systematic, ongoing, and egregious" violations of religious freedoms. 

On November 17, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that, of those four countries, he would be adding Russia to the list. 

Wu Is Now Boston's First Woman Elected Mayor; Vows to Work with People to Complete Most Jobs

 Michelle Wu was sworn in today (November 16, 2021) as Boston's first woman and person of color elected mayor in the city's long history, the U.S. News website reports.

The swearing-in of Boston's first Asian American mayor came two weeks after Wu won the city's mayoral election.

"City government is special. We are the level closest to the people, so we must do the big and the small," Wu said after taking the oath of office.

Many State School Board Ass. Quit National Ass.; National Ass. Called Parents Domestic Terrorists

 At least 26 starte school board associations have distanced themselves from the National School Board Association (NSBA) after it urged the Biden administration to use federal law enforcement agencies against parents who oppose the teaching of controversial curriculum in public schools by labeling them as potential "domestic terrorists." the Christian Post website reports today (November 15, 2021).

The national grassroots organization Parents Defending Education (PDE) wrote to NSBA member states for their comment on the September 29 letter sent to them by NSBA Interim Executive Director Chip Slaven, which critics believe likened activism of concerned parents to "domestic terrorism."

The letter said the NSBA had asked the U.S. Department of Justice to mobilize law enforcement agencies to respond to "threats and acts of violence against public schoolchildren. public school board members, and other public school district officials and educators" as actions of "domestic terrorism."

Faith Heads:Time Is Critical to End Climate Crisis; Say Urgent Action Needed for Most Serious Areas

 A group of faith communities has warned "time is running out" as the negotiations at the United Nations COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland reach "a critical moment." the CRUX website reports today (November 14, 2021). 

The document, signed by over 40 faith leaders -- including several Catholic bishops -- called for "urgent and ambitious action to deliver justice for the most vulnerable people and communities."

"World leaders must now step up and deliver a clear, actionable text that strengthens previous agreements and puts those living on the frontline of the climate crisis at its heart,"  the document said.

No. of Americans Leaving Jobs Reaches New High; Most Quit for Better Pay or Higher Job Fulfillment

 According to data released today (November 12, 2021) by the Labor Department, the number and percentage of U.S. workers voluntarily leaving their jobs reached an all-time high in September, The Hill website reports. 

Roughly 4.4 million workers quit their jobs in September and the "quits rate" rose to 3 percent, according to the latest edition of the Job Openings and Labor Turnover (JOLTS) survey, each a new record.

Economists see quits as a window into how willing workers are to leave their  current job in search of another role with higher compensation or greater personal fulfillment.

US Bishops to Meet in Baltimore Nov. 15--18; Cath.Politicians Backing Abortion May Be Focus

The U.S. bishops will gather November 15--18 in Baltimore for their annual fall assembly, the National  Catholic Register website reports today (November 12, 2021).

There, it's virtually certain that the issue of Catholic  politicians who promote abortion rights  and also insist on receiving Communion will dominate the secular media's coverage of their discussions.

Since Joe Biden became president in January, aided and abetted by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's actions in Congress, he has sought to push forward the Democratic Party's current pro-abortion agenda, which is the most extreme of the so-called right to abortion in our nation's history,

Belarus Dictator May Cut Gas Supplies to EU; Warns He'll Do So If EU Imposes New Sanctions

 Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko has threatened to cut gas supplies to the European Union (EU) if it imposes new sanctions against his regime over the influx of migrants on the country's western border. the Euro News website reports today (November 11, 2021).

Thousands of people remain stuck out in the open in harsh conditions on the Belarusian-Polish frontier amid a standoff between Minsk and the EU.

Western members of the United Nations Security Council today condemned Belarus for instigating the migrants. 

Biden Tells Businesses to Ignore Court Order; Must Require Vaccine Despite Court Ruling

Although a federal appeals court has ordered a halt  to President Biden's vaccine mandate on larger private businesses, the White House is telling businesses to move ahead with the plan anyway, the WND website reports today (November 10, 2021).

"People should not wait," Biden Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters at a White House briefing.

She described the mandate as "an obligation that the Department of Labor has to protect workers who face grave danger."

Most Protestant Churches Now Open for Services; Congregants Slow to Return to Pre-COVID Percent

 A new survey from Lifeway Research shows that a majority of Protestant churches are now open for in-person services, but foot traffic has been slow to return to the pews, particularly for black churches, the Christian Post website reports today (November 9, 2021).

The survey of 1,000 Protestant pastors conducted September 1--29 shows that some 98% of all Protestant churches are now open for in-person worship services, nearly matching pre-pandemic levels. 

Still, data on in-person church attendance looks very little like it did pre-pandemic. Compared to figures from January 2020, the survey showed that as of August, 13% of churches were attracting less than 50% of their pre-COVID-19 attendance.

Study: 30% of Millennials Identify with LGBTQ: Still, Most View Jesus and the Bible Favorably

 According to a new study by Arizona Christian University, about one-third of millennials identify as LGBTQ, but also report viewing Jesus and the Bible favorably, the Christian Headlines website reports today (November 8, 2021).

The research report, titled New Insights into the Generation of Influence:Millennials in America, was led by Dr, George Barna, the lead researcher at Arizona Christian University's Cultural Research Center. 

The 62-page study, which was released last month, highlights how millennials were seeking answers to their problems while "disengaged from spiritual teaching and practice, resulting in a paucity of knowledge, understanding, experience, and growth in this realm."

Court Freezes Biden's Co. Vaccine Rule; Required Companies Have Workers Get Vaccine Shot

A U.S. federal appeals court issued a stay yesterday, freezing the Biden administration's efforts to  require workers at U.S. companies with at least 100 employees be vaccinated against COVID-19 or be tested weekly, citing "grave statutory and constitutional" issues with the rule, the Newsmax website reports today (November 7, 2021).

The ruling comes after several Republican-led states filed legal challenges against the new rule, which is set to take effect on January 4.

Solicitor of Labor Seema Nanda said the Labor Department was "confident in its legal authority" to issue the rule, which will be enforced by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

Over 100K Rally in Glasgow for Climate Justice; Gather to Support Summit Climate Conference

 There waa much rain over Glasgow, Scotland today (November 6, 2021), but that did not stop more than 100,000 people from taking to the streets in the city to call for more climate justice as part of a worldwide campaign,according to The Straits Times website.

They gathered near the COP26 summit venue marching from Kelvingrove Park to the Glasgow City Center about four miles away.

They carried signs urging world leaders to respect the rights of indigenous communities and consider how climate change was impacting the most marginalized of groups, from refugees to women and those facing persecution from governments back home.

Putin Observes Unity Day with a Trip to Crimea; Russia Seized the Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014

 Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the national Unity Day holiday with a trip to Crimea yesterday, declaring the region will always be a part of Russia, the Euro News website reports today (November 5, 2021).

Russia annexed the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014 -- a move western countries regard as illegitimate.

Putin exalted the annexation while visiting Sevastopol, the city in Crimea that is now home port of Russia's Black Sea fleet. 

Pentagon: China May Have 1K Warheads by 2030; China Increased Pace of Its Nuclear Development

 A new Pentagon report says that China has accelerated the pace of its nuclear weapons development and could have up to 1,000 deliverable warheads by 2030, far exceeding projections from just one year ago, the UPI website reports today (November 4, 2021).

The Department of Defense released its annual China Military Power Report yesterday. 

The report said Beijing may have up to 700 deliverable warheads by 2027, and likely intends to have at least 1,000 warheads by 2030. 

Man Walks 500 Miles to Reach Climate Summit; Says It's Duty of Judaism to Make World Better

 A man has walked 500 miles from London to Glasgow for the COP26 summit -- calling on others to join the battle against climate change -- the Jewish News website reports today (November 3, 2021). 

Stephen Marcus, a primary school supply teacher, began his arduous journey from Piccadilly Circus on 5 September, arriving in Glasgow on 30 October == coming a distance of 500 miles.

"From what I understand about Judaism, it's our duty to do what we can to make the world a more just place," he said.

UN Leaders in Scotland Discuss Climate Change; Seek to Hold World Temps below Key Threshold

 World leaders gathered in Scotland today (November 1, 2021) at a massive and critical United Nations climate change summit known as COP 26, according to the CNN website. 

There is increasing alarm that countries won't do enough to hold world temperatures below the key threshold most scientists have set. 

There is also a growing skepticism over the world's ability to meet key benchmarks in time to avert catastrophic effects. 

Biden Slammed by Cath. Priests for Meeting Pope; Bishops Refute Pope's OK of Biden's Communion

 President Joe Biden received Communion at St. Patrick's Church during last Saturday's Vigil Mass, a day after saying Pope Francis told him he should continue to partake the sacrament, prompting negative reactions from Catholic priests upset that the president's support of abortion is not in line with Church doctrine, the Yahoo News website reports today (November 1, 2021).

Several U.S. bishops expressed dismay about the pope's reported words to Biden. 

Bishop Joseph Strickland of Tyler, Texas retweeted a blistering blog post by conservative Cardinal Raymond Burke that strongly reaffirmed that Catholic politicians who support abortion rights cannot receive the sacrament.