The ruling will also apply to the group’s Catholic site. From The Wall Street Journal:  The owner of online dating site ChristianMingle.com has agreed to let gay and lesbian users search for same-sex matches under a judge-approved settlement of discrimination claims. Two gay men filed class-actions claims against Spark Networks Inc.in California courts in 2013 alleging that ChristianMingle.com and several other sites in the company’s portfolio of niche dating services excluded users looking to meet singles of the same sex. ChristianMingle,... Read more

The Gospel readings we’re encountering right now are about the difficulties of discipleship—how hard it is to be a follower of Christ. Last week, you’ll remember, several people made excuses for not following Jesus. Our Lord made clear that nothing could be more important than proclaiming the kingdom. Next week, we encounter one of the most powerful parables of discipleship, the story of the Good Samaritan, which challenges us to ask, “Who is my neighbor?” But in the middle of... Read more

I’ve mentioned this to people when they take objection to some of Pope Francis’s off-the-cuff remarks: like every pope, he is a product of a particular time and place and culture. When he speaks, he’s often referencing attitudes some of us don’t recognize. But they are attitudes (and in some instances, approaches to the sacraments) that, nonetheless, comprise nearly half the Catholics in the world. Now the Rev. Matthew Schneider fleshes that out in the pages of Crux:  Several times, Pope Francis... Read more

This seems to be a trend.  I also have to wonder if a man like this might be the next pope. It’s interesting to read his biography and learn that he’s actually a Cistercian monk and former abbot. Details: Despite having been carjacked twice and caught up in a gun battle over the last two years alone, Brazilian Cardinal Orani João Tempesta decided to spend his birthday on June 22 with the homeless of Rio de Janeiro, offering clothes, blankets, milk... Read more

It will be released in November. The studio today unveiled the first poster for the film—intriguingly, it doesn’t mention Gibson, but sharp-eyed movie goers will get it, and won’t miss the subtle but distinct presence of a cross: [img attachment=”110166″ align=”aligncenter” size=”full” alt=”5a5b6596-e828-47f0-9056-f91edb0efeeb” /] “Hacksaw Ridge” tells the true story of Desmond Doss, a devout Seventh-day Adventist who became the first conscientious objector to win the Medal of Honor. As the studio’s press department puts it: HACKSAW RIDGE is the extraordinary... Read more

No surprise, really. From The Washington Post: Donald Trump’s campaign has begun formally vetting possible running mates, with former House speaker Newt Gingrich emerging as the leading candidate, followed by New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie. But there are more than a half dozen others being discussed as possibilities, according to several people with knowledge of the process. Given Trump’s unpredictability, campaign associates caution that the presumptive Republican nominee could still shake up his shortlist. But with little more than two... Read more

Details: Former Pope Benedict says in his memoirs that no-one pressured him to resign but alleges that a “gay lobby” in the Vatican had tried to influence decisions, a leading Italian newspaper reported on Friday. The book, called “The Last Conversations,” is the first time in history that a former pope judges his own pontificate after it is over. It is due to be published on Sept. 9. Citing health reasons, Benedict in 2013 became the first pope in six... Read more

With Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Fr. Dave Dwyer on Sirius XM. Photo: Getty Images Read more

From The Washington Post:  Right on schedule, Sierra Yoder went into labor. It was Halloween night, and she was wearing an orange T-shirt with a pumpkin covering her belly. It was embellished with her new son’s name and his expected birth date: “Bentley. Due 10/31/15.” Yoder and her husband, Dustin Yoder, hopped into the car and headed for the hospital — but without any bottles, without any diapers, without a car seat in which to bring their newborn son home. They had packed only... Read more

From CNS: Tears and not words. Prayers and not greetings. During his trip to Poland for World Youth Day, Pope Francis will go to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi death camp. He said he wants to go alone and say nothing. When Pope Francis speaks, he can delight fans and frustrate critics. He can wax poetic or be bluntly funny about human quirks. But in the face of great suffering and horror, his first and strongest inclinations are silence, a profoundly bowed head... Read more