Pope Meets with Greek Catholic Abp. in Hungary; Tells Pope Church of Christ Has 2 Lungs, East and West

 When Pope Francis met with Hungarian Greek Catholics yesterday -- members of a Ukraine-based Eastern church in communication with Rome -- the community's leading prelate said its members have shed their blood for the faith and want to be a bridge between Eastern and Western Catholicism, the Crux website  reports today (April  30, 2023).

Speaking  at the Mother of God Greek Catholic Church  in Budapest, Metropolitan Archbishop  Fulop Kocsis of the Byzantine Eparchy of Hajdudorog told Pope Francis that he is "beloved by all of us."

"From Pope John Paul II we learned the important truth that the Church of Christ breathes with two lungs, the spirit of the East and the spirit of the West, which together make up the living mystical body," he said. 

Church to Set Up Auto Repair Shop on Its Land; Neb. Church to Serve Parishoners at Low Rates

 A Nebraska megachurch has announced plans to expand its charitable ministries to include a food pantry and an automobile repair shop for lower-income individuals, the Christian Post website reports today (April 29, 2023).

Brookside Church of Omaha, which boasts a congregation of around 3,000 people, will expand its ministry that provides clothes for the less fortunate to include a food pantry  and an "Auto Care Center" housed on its property near Interstate 80 and L Street. 

Brookside emailed The Christian Post a statement detailing that the care center will only service individuals who come by recommendation from a local agency or nearby school, and will provide services at a discounted price or even free.

18 U.S. Christian Colleges Forced to Shut Down; Due to COVID Pandemic and Financial Difficulties

 A new study shows that 18 Christian colleges have closed or merged since the beginning of the COVID pandemic in 2020, the Christianity Today website reports today (April 28, 2023).

The study was conducted by Higher Ed Drive, which is tracking "major closings, mergers, acquisitions, and other consolidation among public and private nonprofit institutions from 2016 to the present."

The study found that the 18 Christian colleges that closed were Methodist, Lutheran, Roman Catholic, Baptist, Church of Christ,  and Independent Christian Church schools. The schools were all small and had faced financial difficulties even before the COVID pandemic. 

Pres. Candidate Haley Says She'll End Abortion Feuds; Solved Similar Problem as Gov. of S. Carolina

 Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley is billing herself as a person who can forge a national consensus on abortion, citing her experience creating a consensus around another highly contentious debate during her tenure as governor of South Carolina, The Christian Post website reports today (April 27, 2023).

Haley, who formerly served as governor of South Carolina and U.S.  Ambassador to the United Nations during the Trump administration,  gave a speech on abortion before a crowd of pro-life activists at the headquarters of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America on April 25. 

In her speech, Haley expressed a desire to "start a constructive conversation about where we go from here in our divided country."

Vatican:Laypeople Can Vote in Synod of Synodality; Synod Assembly to Occur in Oct.2023 and Oct. 2024

 The Vatican announced today (April 26, 2023) that there will be laypeople participating as voting members in the Synod on Synodality's  October assembly, a break with past custom, which allowed laypeople to participate without the right to vote, the National Catholic Register website reports. 

Cardinal Mario Grech, the secretary general of the Synod of Bishops, said the non-bishop participants -- among them priests, religious, deacons, and laypeople -- 'are witnesses of the memory of the process, of the itinerary, of the discernment that began two years ago. Pope Francis will also approve every member in advance. 

The general assembly of the Synod on Synodality will take place in two sessions, in October 2023 and October 2024. 

Biden Says He's Running for Reelection as Pres.; Proud of Progress He Made, Created 12M Jobs

 Joe Biden announced today (April 25, 2023) that he is running for reelection as president of the U.S., saying every generation has a moment where they have had to stand up for democracy, and this is his moment, the Yahoo News website reports. 

Biden said, "There's a choice ahead of us. Do we continue to build a future full of opportunities for you and families like yours? Or will we turn the clock back?" 

He added, "I'm so proud of the progress we made. We took our economy back from the brink, helping create more than 12 million jobs. We took aggressive action to bring costs down  for working people-- all while making corporations pay their fair share."

Bed Bath and Beyond Declares Bankruptcy; Will Stop Accepting Its Famous Coupons April 26

 Once an unstoppable retailer -- deemed a "category killer" for its triumph over many rivals -- Bed Bath and Beyond has now filed for bankruptcy, the NPR website reports today (April 24, 2023). 

It plans to begin closing its 360 Bed Bath and Beyond stores and 120 Buy Buy Baby stores. 

For months, the chain has been losing both money and shoppers, struggling to restock shelves as suppliers and banks cut  off its tab. Bed Bath and Beyond will stop accepting its popular coupons on April 26.

Less Than Half Born-Again Christians See Jesus as Sinless; No. Fell from 58% to 44% between 2020 and 2023

 Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, fewer born-again Christians now say that Jesus lived a sinless life during His time on Earth, and church attendance has dropped by some 15 million people weekly, a new study from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University shows, the Christian Post website reports today (April 23, 2023).

The findings come from The American Worldview Inventory 2023, an annual tracking study of the worldview of U.S. adults involving 2,000 people from across the country. 

While born-again Christians make up about one-third of all U.S. adults and are considered "the backbone of local church activity because of their higher level of commitment to the Christian faith," the study shows that between 2020 and 2023, the share of those who say they believe Jesus did not commit sins during His lifetime on Earth fell from 58% to 44%.

Catholics Slam De Santis' Move on Death Penalty; See It as Disturbing, Stunning Hit on Human Life

 Catholic organizations have called a new Florida law that ends  the unanimous jury requirement in death penalty sentencing stunning and an attack on human life , while the state's governor argues the law allows proper justice to be served , the Crux website reports today (April 23, 2023).

Fla. Governor  Ron DeSantis signed a bill April 20 that allows capital punishment in Fla. with a  jury recommendation of at least 8-4 in favor of the death sentence, replacing the state's previous unanimous requirement for such cases.

Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy, executive director of the anti-capital punishment organization Catholic Mobilizing Network, called the move deeply disturbing. 

Robert Kennedy Jr.Is Running for Pres.; Will Challenge Biden for Dem. Primary in 2024

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his candidacy for the Democrat nomination for presidency in Boston on April 19, 2023, according to the WND website.  

Kennedy joins Marianne Williamson as the two Democrats challenging President Biden for the 2024 nomination,  although Biden has yet to formally announce a bid for reelection.

Kennedy is the nephew of John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the U.S., and the son of JFK's younger brother  and U.S.Senator and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy whose run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1968 was cut short by assassin Sirhan Sierhan.

Rel. Charter Schools Now Seeking Public Tax $$; But Do Rel. Charter Schools Violate 1st Amend.?

Oklahoma has pushed the debate on public dollars for faith-based education into new territory this spring with a proposal for a school that would have been the first of its kind: a Catholic charter school,primarily paid for by taxpayers, the Religion News website reports today (April 20, 2023).  

The key question in this case is whether religious instruction at charter schools is constitutional, given the First Amendment's protection against government establishment of religion.

The Supreme Court appears to have  favored funding for faith-based schools in recent years, and now there is hope it may approve funding for religious charter schools.

Holocaust Survivor Bilked of $2.8M by Woman; Met on Website, Woman Lived a "Luxury Life"

 The U.S. Justice Dept. said that an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor was defrauded of his life savings by a Florida woman he met online, the WIN (World Israel News) website reports today (April 19, 2023).

The victim met the suspect, identified by the Justice Dept. as 36-year-old Peaches Stergo, on a dating website in early 2017. 

Over the course of four years, authorities said, Stergo Bilked her victim of $2.8 million as part of a romance scam.Stergo then used the money to live a "life of luxury," said Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. 

Ohio 8th Grade Students Perform Lesbian "Wedding;" Teacher Involved in Ceremony Is Mother of "Bride"

 A  video taken by an eighth-grade student shows a fake lesbian "wedding" between two female students taking place in a classroom, with the participation of teachers, at Brunswick Middle School, near Cleveland, Ohio, the WND website reports today (April 18, 2023). 

One of the teachers who participated in the ceremony reportedly is the mother of one of the girls, according to Adam Ziegler, the father of the student who acquired the 40-second video footage. 

The lesbian-identified girls sealed their fake "marriage" with ring-pops, Ziegler told WND. He led the way in alerting other parents to the scandal. 

Millions of Eastern Orthodox Celebrate Easter; Jewish Passover Must Occur before Orth. Easter

 Millions of Eastern Orthodox Christians around the world celebrated Easter yesterday (April 16, 2023) -- one week after Roman Catholics and Protestants celebrated Easter. 

The Eastern Orthodox Easter was a week later because it must always be preceded by the Jewish Passover. 

 Easter is the most important holiday of the year for Orthodox Christians as  believers celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. As a tradition, Greeks meeting other Greeks on Easter usually say "Christos Anesti" (Christ is Risen) to which the phrase "Alithos Anesti" (Truly He is Risen) is replied. 

National Guardsman Nabbed for Leaking Classified Info; Jack Teixeira Allegedly Revealed Top Secret US Info

 Several sources confirmed that a 21-year-old Air Force National Guard employee has been arrested over the leak of hundreds of pages of U.S. classified military intelligence, the Worthy News website reports today (April 16, 2023). 

Jack Teixeira was taken into custody by federal agents at his home in the town of Dighton in Massachusetts , about 45 miles south of Boston. 

Teixeira was arrested by a handful of federal agents just days after publishing the files , known as the Pentagon documents, revealing the U.S. spying on friends and foes. 

SUNY Drops SAT, ACT Admission Requirement; Students Can Still Submit Scores Optionally

 The State University of New York (SUNY) said this week it has ended the SAT and ACT admission requirement, but would continue the test-optional guidelines that were first introduced during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, the Fox News website reports today (April 15, 2023). 

In its decision, SUNY stated: "Public higher education systems across the country, as well as institutions of higher education throughout New York state, have increasingly moved to maintain such policies prospectively instead of returning to mandatory submission of SAT and ACT exam scores for admission purposes." 

Students will still be able to submit their scores, if available, but it will no longer be a university requirement. 

Clarence Thomas Secretly Sold Bldgs. to Billionaire; Received Free Luxury Trips,Violated Federal Law

 Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas secretly sold his elderly mother's home and other properties in Georgia in 2014 and received free luxury trips from Republican billionaire Harlan Crow, the Daily Beast website reports today (April 14, 2023). 

Several ethics law experts believe that Thomas's silence violates a federal disclosure law. 

"Given the role Crow has played in subsidizing the lifestyle of Thomas and his wife, you have to wonder if this was an effort to put cash in their pockets, " one ethics law expert said. 

FBI Tried to Plant Spies in Catholic Churches; Sought Info on Radical Traditionalist Catholics

 Congress has placed FBI Director Christopher Wray in the spotlight over a memo that revealed the FBI targeted traditionalist Catholics, asking church leaders to help monitor members and report them t o the government, the CBN website reports  today (April 13, 2023). 

The memo talked of tracking interactions between "radical-traditionalist Catholics" and white nationalist groups, according to the online publication "The Hill."  It also proposed meeting with church leaders on how to spot "warning signs" of radicalization. 

The memo, along with other internal documents, was released by the House Judiciary Committee on April 10. Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has subpoenaed FBI Director Wray to testify on the issue. 

Ukrainians,Russians Mark Palm Sunday April 9; Passover Must End before Greek Orthodox Easter

 

Willow branches in hand,Ukrainians marked Palm Sunday in the country's most revered Orthodox Christian site that has been at the heart of a religious dispute playing out in parallel with Russia's war on Ukraine, the Religion News Service website reports today (April 12, 2023). 

Dozens of worshippers filled the grand Refectory Church of Anthony and Theodosius located inside the Kyiv Pechersk Lava monastic complex,. Many more waited outside in the huge courtyard and observed the service there. 

Ukraine and Russia are both predominantly Greek Orthodox Christian nations, which celebrate Easter on April 16 this year, rather than April 9 as the Roman Catholic Church did, because the Greek Orthodox Easter must always occur after the Jewish Passover. 

Biden Says He Plans to Run for President in 2024; But Is Not Prepared to Formally Announce It Yet

 U.S. President Joe Biden said yesterday he plans to run for reelection in 2024, but was not prepared to announce it yet, the NBC website reports today (April 11, 2023). 

"I plan on running... but we're not prepared to announce it yet," Biden said in an interview with NBC's "Today" show before the White House Easter Egg Roll. 

Biden has said he intends to be the Democratic candidate in 2024 but has not made a formal announcement.

Pope Calls for Peace in Easter Service; Says Passage from Death to Life in Jesus Achieved

 Pope Francis on Easter Sunday said Jesus's resurrection from the dead gave new hope to an often-weary humanity and issued a plea for peace in countries throughout the world marred by war and violent conflict, the Crux website reports today (April 10, 2023).

Speaking to the roughly 100,000 gathered in St. Peter's Square for his traditional "Urbi et Orbi" blessing to the city and the world, the pope said Easter, the "Pasch" celebration, marks a "passage, for in Jesus the decisive passage of humanity has been made: the passage from death to life, from sin to grace, from fear to confidence, from desolation to communion."

"In him, the Lord of time and history, I would like to say to everyone, with heartfelt joy,'Happy Easter!'" he said.

Philippines Holds Crucifixions on Good Friday; Eight People Nailed to Crosses to Honor Jesus

 A province in the Philippines held bloody crucifixions to uphold the local Good Friday tradition  despite the objection of the Catholic Church.

The religious tradition saw eight people nailed to wooden crosses wearing thorny crowns of twigs as they reenacted the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on Good Friday (April 7, 2023), according to the Nextshark website.

The crucifixions, which were held in San Pedro Cutud, Pampanga, are the province's first display of religious devotion after a three-year pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cold Weather Deters Pope Celebrating Good Friday; Admitted to Hospital Last Week Due to Bronchitis

In a statement, Good Friday afternoon, the Vatican said that . "due to the intense cold in recent days, Pope Francis will follow the Via Crucis Friday evening from Casa Santa Marta , uniting himself to the prayer of t hose who will gather with the Diocese of Rome,"  

Pope Francis was admitted to Rome's Gemelli hospital last week after experiencing breathing difficulties  and was diagnosed with  bronchitis. He was treated with antibiotics and was discharged on April 1 and kicked off Holy Week by presiding over Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square the next day. 

The Vatican said the pope's Holy Week plans were unchanged, and that he would preside over his scheduled liturgies with a cardinal celebrating at the altar, which was the plan prior to his hospital stay. 

Baltimore Cath. Church Abused over 600 Kids; Abusers Included Priests, Deacons, Seminarians

 A report from the Maryland Attorney General's Office reveals that more than 600 children were abused by clergy belonging to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore over a period stretching from the 1940s into the early 21st century, the Christian Post website reports today (April 7, 2023).

The report shows that the Archdiocese of Baltimore had 156 abusers in its ranks, which included priests, deacons, seminarians and other employees of the Church body. 

The report speculated that  "the number is likely far higher ," noting that sexual assault and rape  are often underreported. 

Finland Welcomed as New Member of NATO; Sparked by Russia's Invasion of Ukraine

 Finland joined the NATO military alliance on April 4, 2023, dealing a major blow to Russia with a historic realignment triggered by Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, the AP website reports. 

With the handing over of documents, the Nordic nation officially entered the world's biggest security alliance, doubling its border with Russia.

The move is a strategic and political blow to Putin , who has long complained about NATO's expansion toward Russia and partly used that as a justification for the invasion of Ukraine. 

German Bishops Endorse Blessings of Gay Unions; OK Ceremonies for Gay Couples, Deny Marriage

 The German bishops endorsed the blessings of homosexual unions at the final assembly held in Frankfurt on March 9-11, the Catholic Herald website reports today (April 5, 2023).

Participants voted by an overwhelming margin to adopt the text, "Blessing ceremonies for couples who love each other, which calls on German bishops to officially allow blessing ceremonies  in their dioceses for couples who love each other but to whom sacramental marriage is not accessible."

After the vote, the president of the German Bishops' Conference, Bishop Georg Batzing, announced on national German television that blessing homosexual couples "is something we are going to do here."

US Manufacturing Is Lowest Since Pandemic; Biden Tours American Factories to Boost Industry

 U.S. manufacturing reached its lowest point since the start of the pandemic, according to a report released as President Joe Biden embarked on a tour of U.S. factories to tout his promise to boost the industry, the Washington Free Beacon website reports today (April 4, 2023).

Yesterday, the Institute for Supply Management's manufacturing index reached its lowest point, 46.3, since May 2020, Reuters reported. Excluding the pandemic recession, the index, known as PMI, was at its lowest point since 2009.

PMI is  a tool for  identifying economic trends in the manufacturing and service sectors based on business conditions at hundreds of major companies. A PMI below 50 indicates decline. 

At Least 21 Dead in Midwest, South Tornadoes; Power Outages Spike to 1M between Ark. and NY

 The death toll rose to 21 people on April 1, 2023 after confirmed or suspected tornadoes in at least eight states tore through the South and Midwest, the USA Today website reports today. 

U.S. power outages spanned a huge swath of the nation from Arkansas to New York and spiked to over one million customers on April 1, according to poweroutage.us.

The storms left a path of damage across states, including Arkansas, Alabama, Indiana, Mississippi. Tennessee, and Iowa.

Pope in Palm Sun. Mass Day after Hospital Stay; Treated for Bronchitis in Hospital Since March 29

 Despite being discharged from the hospital just a day prior, Pope Francis presided over an outdoor Palm Sunday Mass in a brisk St. Peter's Square, telling believers to embrace those who feel abandoned like Jesus did on the cross, the Crux website reports today (April 2, 2023).

Francis led Sunday's Mass on a chair in front of the main altar,while  the vice dean of the Vatican's College of Cardinals, Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, celebrated at the altar. 

By now, this mode of leading papal liturgies has become customary for the 86-year-old  Francis, who suffers from sciatica and chronic knee pain which, for the past year, has left him confined to a wheelchair or the use of a cane.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 

Pope Quips He's "Still Alive" after Hospital Stay; Treated for Bronchitis during 3-Day Hospital Time

Pope Francis returned to the Vatican today (April 1, 2023) after a three-day hospital stay during which he was treated for bronchitis, raising concerns about the health of the aging pontiff, who had major surgery in 2021 and now often uses a cane or a wheelchair because of knee problems and sciatica, the NY Times website reports.  

Francis, 86, left the Policlinico  A. Gemelli hospital in Rome around 10:30 a.m., joking "I,m still alive." He was admitted on March 29. 

Before leaving the hospital grounds, Francis got out of the white Fiat 500 that would take him to the Vatican to thank journalists for their work and to greet well-wishers , who cheered and waved hello.