THE coronavirus made a tragic debut at the home of the Congregation of the Sisters of St Felix of Cantalice in Livonia, Michigan, on Good Friday (April 10), and by June 27, 13 of them were dead. The youngest was 73, the oldest 99. Sister Mary Luiza Wawrzyniak, 99 (bottom row, 3rd from right) was the first to die. Sister Serra, one surviving member of the Felician Sisters said: I had this image of the Good Shepherd; you know, the… Read more
July 22, 2020
COVID -19: ‘Good shepherd’ carries off 13 sisters from US convent
July 22, 2020 By Barry Duke
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July 22, 2020
Angry Muslims call for a ‘holy war’ after Sudan ditches sharia law
July 22, 2020 By Barry Duke
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THE man pictured above is Nasredeen Abdulbari, 41, who was sworn in earlier this year as Sudan’s Justice Minister – and he and Prime Minister Abadalla Hamdok have infuriated Muslim hardliners by decriminalising apostasy and repealing other Islamic laws. The government’s adoption of the Fundamental Rights and Freedoms Act also allows non-Muslims to drink alcohol and abolishes public flogging as a criminal punishment. Abdulbari said: We will drop all the laws violating the human rights in Sudan Immediately after the government… Read more
July 21, 2020
Evangelical church ‘shocked’ after ex-pastor admits abusing kids
July 21, 2020 By Barry Duke
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RESPONDING to news that its former pastor, Ben Thomas, above, had pleaded guilty to 40 sex offences involving children, the Criccieth Family Church in Wales expressed shock, and said that the BBC presenter-turned-preacher had come to the church ‘highly recommended.’ In a statement, the church said: His arrest last September came as a complete shock to the church, the community in Criccieth and beyond. Ben came highly recommended to this church and his safeguarding checks were satisfactorily completed during his time… Read more
July 20, 2020
‘Rogue’ exorcists are encroaching on the turf of ‘genuine’ ones
July 20, 2020 By Barry Duke
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THE International Association of Exorcists, founded in 1990 by a group of six priests – including the late Fr Gabriele Amorth, above – believes that too many amateurs are entering the demon-eviction business and has issued new guidelines that limit exorcisms to professionals. Concerns that “rogue” exorcists and unqualified laypeople are encroaching on their turf go back to 2017 when association members got together to discuss latest developments in the world of “demonic possession” – and to lament the case… Read more
July 20, 2020
RCC triples payout to man abused by J R R Tolkien’s son
July 20, 2020 By Barry Duke
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A UK man who was sexually abused by the late Fr John Tolkien, above, son of Lord of the Rings author J R R Tolkein, has had his compensation increased from £5,000 to £15,000 in what is believed to be an unprecedented move by the Catholic Church. Although Tolkien was never charged with with any offences – he was deemed to be too unwell to face trial – the Roman Catholic Archdiocese to which his was attached was apparently aware… Read more
July 19, 2020
‘Therapist’ suggests people identifying as gay ‘are trapped in a cult’
July 19, 2020 By Barry Duke
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AS the UK government edges toward a possible ban of outfits that make spurious claims about helping gay people turn straight, leading ‘pray-away-the-gay’ Christian guru Mike Davidson, above, is getting more and more hysterical over the prospect of his Northern Ireland-based Core Issues Trust (CIT) having to pack up its tent and wander off into the sunset. In a lengthy Q&A published by Christian Today, Davidson said: If someone contemplates leaving an LGBT identity I’m afraid it’s a bit like… Read more
July 19, 2020
Rabbi who survived horrific shooting pleads guilty to cheating IRS
July 19, 2020 By Barry Duke
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RABBI Yisroel Goldstein, above, who became ‘a global symbol of courage and religious freedom’ after he was injured in an anti-Semitic attack on his Poway, California, synagogue last year, has pleaded guilty in the US District Court to federal tax and wire fraud charges involving around $6-million. But federal prosecutors have recommended only probation for Goldstein because of the injuries and trauma he suffered after a 19-year-old self-proclaimed white supremacist entered the lobby, screaming obscenities and firing a rifle. Lori… Read more
July 18, 2020
COVID-19: Catholic Gov wants Louisiana to fast & pray … again!
July 18, 2020 By Barry Duke
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IN A move that proves the Republicans haven’t quite cornered the market in religious lunacy, Louisiana’s Democratic Catholic Governor John Bel Edwards, above, has asked people living in the Pelican state to embark on a three-day prayer initiative in the fight against COVID-19. At a press conference on Thursday, Edwards asked all residents to join him in three days of lunch fasting and prayer beginning Monday, July 20 through Wednesday, July 22. He called for the fasting and prayer for those… Read more
July 17, 2020
Out-of-the-closet Friday: Leading Christian author reveals he’s gay
July 17, 2020 By Barry Duke
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AFTER living for ‘many days overwhelmed by fear, shame, and self-hatred,’ well-known Christian children’s book author Matthew Paul Turner today (Friday) came out as gay on social media and announced that he and his wife are divorcing. Turner’s books include When I Pray for You (2019) and When God Made You, an Evangelical Christian Publishing Association bestseller. Turner said on Instagram: Dear friends, I have difficult news to share. After much thought, prayer, and counseling, Jessica and I have made… Read more
July 17, 2020
Eeek, naked bodies on Twitter! Vatican archbishop blasted.
July 17, 2020 By Barry Duke
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Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia has form for annoying Catholic traditionalists who find nudity abhorrent. A while back he drew fire for commissioning a ‘homoerotic’ mural for his cathedral, and now he’s in deep doo-do for an image he retweeted yesterday. Novus Ordo Watch (“Unmasking the Modernist Varican II church”) reacted with horror yesterday beneath this headline: Thundered NOW: Some stories are so disgusting that one absolutely detests having to blog about them. This is one of them. This morning, the Vatican’s… Read more
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