Switzerland Ends Neutrality,Freezes Russian Assets; Due to Russia's Aggression in Ukraine

 Switzerland announced today (February 28, 2022) it will be freezing Russian assets due to Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, breaking a long tradition of neutrality in foreign conflicts, according t o the Daily Caller website.

President Ignazio Cassis said Putin's assets, along with those of 369 more individuals sanctioned by the European Union, would be frozen immediately.

Cassis met with the Swiss Federal Council and decided that action was necessary due to the "unprecedented" aggression displayed by Russia in invading a sovereign European state.  

Putin Puts Russian Nuclear Forces on High Alert; Due to NATO Threats on Russia's Ukraine Attack

 Russsian President Vladimir Putin today (February 27, 2022) ordered Russian nuclear forces put on high alert, in response to what he called "aggressive statements" by NATO powers, the Newsmax website reports.

The directive to put Russia's nuclear weapons in an increased state of readiness for launch raised fears that the criss could boil over into nuclear warfare, whether by design or mistake. 

Putin's step is "potentially putting in play forces that, if there's a miscalculation, could make things much more dangerous," said a senior U.S. defense official.

Pope Visits Russian Embassy to the Holy See; Does So to Voice Concern over War in Ukraine

 Pope Francis paid a visit to the Russian embassy to the Holy See in Rome yesterday to voice concern over what he called the "war" now taking place in Ukraine, the Crux website reports today (February 26, 2022).

The pope spent about 30 minutes at the embassy "to convey his concern for the war."

A Vatican spokesman told Crux that Francis's decision to visit the embassy was exclusively to "express his concern."

Biden Names 1st Black Woman to Supreme Court; Names Fed. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to Post

 President Joe Biden today (February 25, 2022) announced that he is nominating federal appellate judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court to replace Justice Stephen Breyer who is retiring, according to the UPI website. 

Biden said late last month hat he would follow through on a campaign promise to nominate the first Black woman to the high court, and that he would announce his choice before the end of February.

The President has chosen Jackson, whom he appointed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit last summer. She is a graduate of Radcliffe College and Harvard Law School.

Russia Launches Wide-Scale Invasion of Ukraine; Putin: Any Interfering Leads to Deadly Reprisal

 Russia has launched a wide-scale invasion of Ukraine, sending residents fleeing, as world leaders vowed to impose more sanctions for what one called "an unjustified barbarian act," the USA Today website reports today (February 24, 2022).

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that any attempt to interfere against Russia would lead to "consequences you have never seen."

President Biden will address the American people on Russia's aggression this afternoon, after promising that the U.S. and its allies "will hold Russia accountable."

Pope Urges All Sides in Ukraine Crisis Pull Back; Warns Peace Is Threatened by "Vested Interests"

 Pope Francis is urging all sdes in the Russia-Ukraine dispute to examine their consciences before God and pull back from threats of war, the Crux website reports today (February 23, 2022).

In an appeal at the end of his weekly general audience today, Francis said he was pained and alarmed by developments in Ukraine, which he said "discredit international law,"

Apparently referring to Russia's invasion of Ukraine this week, he said, "Once again, the peace of everyone is threatened by vested interests."

Wite House Says Russia Has Invaded Ukraine; Biden Will Soon Announce Sanctions on Russia

 The White House is describing Russia's movement of troops into eastern Ukraine yesterday as "an invasion," a move President Joe Biden has said would trigger significant economic sanctions against Moscow, the AOL website reports today (February 22, 2022).

The Biden administration's change in language today followed Russia's actions in Ukraine. 

President Biden is expected to soon announce sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. 

Franklin Graham Urges Followers Pray for Putin; Might Make a Difference between Life and Death

 A social media post by evangelist Franklin Graham asking followers to pray for Russian President Vladimir Putin to avoid war with Ukraine is drawing backlash from liberals on social media, while some have come to Graham's defense, the Christian Post website reports today (February 21, 2022).

"Pray for President Putin today. We need to pray that God would work in his heart so that war would be avoided at all cost," Graham, the president of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and son of the late evangelist, wrote on Facebook and Twitter.

He added, "Our prayers might make the difference between life and death."

New Study: Interfaith Marriages Are on the Rise; Only 52% Married in Last Decade of Same Faith

Interfaith marriages  are on the rise as the influence of religion in society continues to fade, according  to the latest research from the American Enterprise Institute, the Christian Post website reports today (February 20, 2022). 

The American National Family Life Survey, which polled over 5,000 adults nationwide, found that only 52% of couples who got married in the last decade reported being same-faith marriages, down from 81% of those who got married before 1972. 

Only 46% who are married today report they were married by a religious leader in a church or other religious setting. 

Former Border Head: Biden Sought Border Crisis; Allowed 2M Illegal Aliens in US to Despise Trump

Mark Morgan, former Customs and Border Patrol Commissioner, has confirmed that Joe Biden intentionally created the crisis at the nation's southern border, where an estimated two million illegal aliens have arrived over the past year, the WND website reports today (February 19, 2022).

"The Biden administration has intentionally handed over our southern border to the cartels. And they've taken away every one of the vast set of tools, authorities that they had under President Trump to do their job, to secure a border and safeguard the country,"  Morgan explained. 

Biden created the problem on the border by trashing all of President Trump's  border security efforts, such as the border wall, he added. 

Pope Praises Priest Celibacy as Closeness to God; States Celibacy Is a Gift Deeply Rooted in Christ

 Speaking to a conference exploring the foundations of the priesthood, Pope Francis yesterday stressed the importance of closeness to God and others in the life of a priest, saying friendship and prayer can make challenges such as living the vow of celibacy easier, the Crux website reports today (February 18, 2022).

"When priestly fraternity thrives and bonds of true friendship exist," he said, it becomes possible "to experience with greater serenity the life of celibacy." 

"Celibacy is a gift that the Latin Church preserves, yet is a gift that to be lived as a means of sanctification, calls for healthy relationships -- relationships of true esteem and true goodness that are deeply rooted in Christ," he said.

Mudslides Kill at Least 93 in Brazil Tourist City; Videos Show Buses, Homes Swept Away by Mud

 At least 93 people have been killed as mudslides swept away cars and houses in the popular Brazilian tourist city of Petropolis, the Daily Beast website reports today (February 17, 2022).

It's  not clear how many people are still missing after the city was ht by torrential rain yesterday.

Videos showed buses floating down streets and entire houses being swept away by the mud. 

Anti=Transgender Father Loses Custody of Son; Judge Backs 16-Year-Old Son's Identity as Female

 A California father lost custody of his transgender-identifying 16-year-old son after his opposition to hormone therapy, the Christian Headlines website reports today (February 16. 2022).

The father, Ted Hudacko, expressed unconditional love for his biological son in court proceedings before California Superior Court Judge Joni Hiramoto, who continually asked the dad if  he could affirm the child's self-identity.The child, a biological male, identifies as a female.

Because of the father's position he lost all parental rights, with no ability to see his child and no right to stop any medical treatments that could leave the child permanently infertile. 

Montessori School in Newton, MA Closes Down; Kids Held Black Faces on Paper Plates to Faces

A Montessori preschool in Massachusetts has shut down and apologized after a classroom full of toddlers painted black faces on paper plates and held them up to their own faces to celebrate Black History Month, the Fox 8 website reports today (February 15, 2022).

ICKids in Newton posted a statement  on the school's front door and on Facebook.

The teacher who planned and carried out the activity on February 8 has been fired, and the school has closed its doors. 

Pope:The Disciple of Jesus Is Joyful, from Jesus; Joy Is Not Power,Money But God's Everyday Gifts

Pope Francis spoke on the paradox of the beatitudes in his Sunday Angelus address yesterday, saying that the defining characteristic of a disciple of Jesus is joy, the National Catholic Register website reports today (February 14, 2022).

"Indeed, the beatitudes define the identity of the disciple of Jesus," said Pope Francis to a crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square.

The disciples "do not find their joy in money, power or other material goods," said the pope, but rather, in "the gifts they receive every day from God: life, creation, brothers, sisters, and so on."

 

Biden Makes Phone Pledge to Ukraine President; Promises US Will Respond to Invasion by Russia

 U.S.President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke by phone for just under an hour today (February 13, 2022), with Biden promising that the U,S, would respond "swiftly and decisively" to any potential Russian military action.

However, Biden did not stray from his previous promise not to put U.S. troops in Ukraine. 

The call reaffirms that in the event of military action on Ukraine by Russia, economic sanctions, not military intervention, will be the U.S. weapon of choice.

Dozen Hindu Nationalists Beat 2 Pastots in India; Claim People Were Paid to Convert to Christianity

A dozen Hindu nationalists harassed and beat up two pastors and set fire to a Bible one was carrying after accusing them of  converting Hindus to Christianity by offering money, the Christian Post website reports today (February 12, 2022).

The pastors were in the northern Indian state of Haryana returning home after visiting a Christian family for prayers on the roof of their home in the Anand Nagar area of Ambala Cantonment when the mob, which included women, attacked them on January 28.

The pastors were accused of receiving foreign funds and offering money to people in an attempt to get them to convert. 

Canadian Truckers Won't Stop Their Blockades; Say Vaccine Mandates Must End for Them to Stop

 Canadian truckers protesting in Ottawa want Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to know they will not leave until vaccine mandates are lifted, the Fox News website reports today (February 11, 2022).

"We're not caving in, we're not moving, we're not backing down," Canadian trucker Joshua Singh told Fox News. 

Truckers have been protesting in Ottawa for over two weeks as part of the "Freedom Convoy," calling for an end to the government's COVID-19 mandates. Trudeau demanded the "illegal blockades and occupations" stop, and the province of Ontario declared a state of emergency today.

Trump Used Cell Phones to Block Jan. 6 Info; Clogged W.H. Toilets to Keep Info from Public

 The House committee investigating the January 6 riots has discovered that then-President Donald Trump made calls on cell phones, rather than the White House switchboard, in order to make it difficult to trace the calls, the Daily Beast website reports today (February 10, 2022).

The January 6 House committee has subpoened the cell records of those who may have lent their personal devices to Trump, as he made calls throughout the insurrection.

Trump is also believed to have clogged White  House toilets with January 6 information to prevent the info from reaching the public.

Biden Warned His Mental Decline Is Worsening; Congress Joins Others Concerning His Health

 There have been questions for a long time already about Joe Biden's cognitive abilities, as a poll weeks ago from McLaughlin & Associates showed majorities of Americans believed him to be incompetent as president, and they wanted him to take a cognitive health test, the WND website reports today (February 9, 2022).

The poll revealed 52% believe Biden to be incompetent, and only 6% said they didn't know or they declined to answer. Only 43% believed him all right. 

Now, members of Congress are expressing concern for the 79-year-old because "mental decline" is becoming "more apparent."

Church Hosts "Scream Night" for Upset People; Many Are Frustrated for 2 Yrs. Due to Pandemic

 Duke Memorial United  Methodist Church of Durham, N.C.held a "scream night" on February 5 where individuals were allowed to scream about their frustrations, especially regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Yahoo News website reports today (February 8, 2022).

The event,which drew about a dozen attendees, was organized by Rev. Laura Barnard Crosskey, a licensed psychologist who said the church hosted the event because of the pandemic.

She added: "Our emotions have been building up over the last two years as many of us have been stuck at home without our normal outlets that let our emotions move through our bodies and our brains.

Evangelicals Oppose Immigration Citizen Path; Poll Shows It's Only Rel. Group to Oppose Path

 A new poll shows that support for an immigration reform plan that includes a pathway to citizenship for those in the country illegally has plummeted within the past decade among white evangelicals, who are the only religious demographic to oppose a proposal that has been backed  by Republican and Democratic presidents,the Christian Headlines website reports today (February 7, 2022).

The Public Religion Research Institute poll found that 62 percent of Americans believe there should be a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally.

Less than half of white evangelicals -- 47%-- support a pathway to citizenship, a nearly double-digit plunge from the 56% who backed it in 2013. Among white evangelicals who attend church weekly, support is even lower  --45% -- and has fallen 13 points from 2013 (58%).

Church of Latter-day Saints Plans Temple in N.M.; Groundbreaking Set for April 30 for a New Temple

The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has revealed that a groundbreaking ceremony will take place in April for the new temple in Farington, New Mexico, the Yahoo News website reports today (February 6, 2022). 

The ceremony will mark a year since the church President Russell Nelson announced that Farmington was among 20 cities worldwide where new temples will be built. 

The January 31 news release states that the groundbreaking ceremony on April 30 will be by invitation only and Elder Anthony Perkins will preside at the event.

Austria Imposes Adult COVID Vaccine Mandate; Becomes the First Nation in Europe to Require It

 Tensions are rising in Austria, which this week became Europe's first country to introduce a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for adults, the Worthy News website reports today (February 5, 2022).

Anyone over 18 refusing to get the jab faces massive fines of up to 14,400 euros ($16,280) annually.

Under the law, approved by Parliament last month, police will perform routine checks for people's vaccination status.

Judge Grants Teenager Appeal to Have Abortion; Says 17-Yr.-Old Does Not Need Parental Consent

 A Florida judge has granted a  17-year=old Tampa teenager her appeal to seek an abortion without parental consent, the Worthy News website reports today (February 4, 2022).

The high school junior "lives with her father who does not believe in abortion except in cases of rape." 

She believes that "both of her parents would urge  her to keep the baby if they found out that she wanted an abortion," a court filing states.

Juatice Dept. Approves Men in Women's Prisons; Rule Endangers Women Prisoners of Male Attacks

The Justice Department has released new rules to allow biological men who identify as women to be incarcerated at federal prisons with female inmates , the CBN News website reports today (February 3, 2022). 

The purpose of the rule is "to ensure the Bureau of Prisons properly identifies, tracks, and provides services to the transgender population."

The Federal Bureau of Prisons defines gender as: "A construct used to classify a person as male, female, both, or neither. Gender encompasses aspects of social identity, psychological identity, and human behavior." 

Former Kansas Teacher Led IS Terrorist Group; Led an All-Female Battalion of IS Wives in Syria

An American former teacher from Kansas is set to appear in federal court on February 7, after being accused of fighting for the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group, the Yahoo News website reports today (February 2, 2022). 

Allison Elizabeth Fluke Ekren, 42, is charged with providing and conspiring to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization. She faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted. 

Fluke-Ekren rose in the Islamic State, as she was assigned to lead an all-female battalion made up of the wives of IS fighters. Witnesses said she trained women and children on how to use assault rifles, grenades, and suicide belts. 

HHS Sets Up Task Force on Reproductive Health; Labels Abortion Access as Essential Health Care

The Biden administration's U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a "Task Force on Reproductive Healthcare Access," labeling abortion access as essential health care and attempting to  "eliminate barriers" to it across government agencies, the National Catholic Register website reports today (February 1, 2022).

HHS will give nearly $2 million in Title X grant funding to Planned Parenthood to "protect reproductive health care and ensure access in quality family planning services."

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said that, "as we commemorate the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, we recommit to protecting and strengthening access to reproductive health care, including the right to safe and legal abortion care that the Supreme Court has recognized for decades."