VATICAN CITY
"The music of your hymns will be accompanied by tears" — Pope Francis tells Christians in the Middle East
THE TABLET
THE TABLET
"The entire Church is with you" — Pope Francis tells Middle East Christians
CATHOLIC HERALD
CATHOLIC HERALD
Pope Francis has deplored the "abuses and inhuman acts" of Islamic State militants, and called upon all religious leaders to condemn them "unanimously and unambiguously"
CNS
CNS
"Nothing like this has ever happened before!" — Cardinal Giovanni Lajolo on the Pontiff’s Christmas address to the Curia
VATICAN INSIDER
VATICAN INSIDER
NORTH AMERICA
Armed black teenager shot dead by police in St Louis — A black teenager has been shot dead by a police officer at a gas station a short distance from where Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, Missouri
DAILY MAIL
DAILY MAIL
Virginia church receives $52,000 in Christmas Card from anonymous donor
CHRISTIAN TODAY
CHRISTIAN TODAY
Thousands Join #ChristmasMeans Twitter campaign — A hashtag campaign is taking Twitter by storm once again. This time the hashtag
#ChristmasMeans is prompting thousands of Christians to share the true meaning of Christmas — Jesus Christ
CHRISTIAN TODAY
#ChristmasMeans is prompting thousands of Christians to share the true meaning of Christmas — Jesus Christ
CHRISTIAN TODAY
Satanic ‘Snaketivity’ scene on display at Michigan Capitol — The Detroit chapter of the Satanic Temple has set up a Christmas display at the Michigan Capitol featuring a so-called “Snaketivity Scene.” The Snaketivity display has a slogan which reads, “The greatest gift is knowledge” with a snake wrapped around a Satanic cross. The snake is also presenting a book called “Revolt of the Angels” (My my, how the West has changed, even in the past ten years!)
LANSING STATE JOURNAL
LANSING STATE JOURNAL
The atheist war on Christmas: "Atheists have sworn some sort of oath to push Christmas celebrations underground. ‘Away with the Manger’ seems to be their battle cry."
CHARISMA
CHARISMA
Americans more comfortable with profanity than Christ
CHARISMA
CHARISMA
Presbyterian Church in America voted on banning "Israel" from its prayers
BIN
BIN
US mainstream media ignores arrest of gay activist and Obama advocate
LIFE SITE
LIFE SITE
Oakland Police: We can’t protect you, we need to monitor protesters
BREITBART
BREITBART
Only 46% of US children now living with married parents and the numbers are declining. Today 41% of children under 18 were born outside of marriage, that figure was 5% in 1960. (Can those who hate God and His laws claim that the war on marriage has been a success?)
CATHOLIC CULTURE
CATHOLIC CULTURE
FDA to ease ban on blood donations from gay men
THE HILL
THE HILL
LATIN AMERICA
Anti-Israeli posters appeared
in an Argentine tourist town popular with Israeli backpackers on Monday 22nd saying
“Boycott Against Israeli Military Tourism” in the city of Bariloche, a major tourist spot located in the foothills of the Andes. They were signed by the "Palestine Solidarity Committee in Argentine Patagonia"
JERUSALEM POST
in an Argentine tourist town popular with Israeli backpackers on Monday 22nd saying
“Boycott Against Israeli Military Tourism” in the city of Bariloche, a major tourist spot located in the foothills of the Andes. They were signed by the "Palestine Solidarity Committee in Argentine Patagonia"
JERUSALEM POST
ISRAEL
Archaeologists excavate 2,000-year-old ruins in ancient town of Magdala where Christ is thought to have taught disciples
DAILY MAIL
DAILY MAIL
The Liberal war against Israel: What began several years ago as a local initiative in a few universities has turned into a poisonous, organized and well-funded campaign with clear goals – isolating and boycotting Israel in general and the Israeli academia in particular
YNET
YNET
Muslim cleric says Jews should pray on Temple Mount — A prominent Jordanian Muslim cleric last week said that Jews should be permitted to pray atop Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, which is Judaism’s holiest site
ISRAEL TODAY
ISRAEL TODAY
Cars set on fire at British Consulate in Jerusalem
JERUSALEM POST
JERUSALEM POST
RECOMMENDED ON ALETEIA
The Canonry of St. Leopold’s message
"He Is Born" is a dramatized narrative of the Nativity and an excellent description it is too!
"The prophets beam with joy; Adam and Eve link arms and dance. The time of waiting is finally at an end. The Lord has kept His promise; the Messiah has come!"
ALETEIA
"He Is Born" is a dramatized narrative of the Nativity and an excellent description it is too!
"The prophets beam with joy; Adam and Eve link arms and dance. The time of waiting is finally at an end. The Lord has kept His promise; the Messiah has come!"
ALETEIA
Fr. McTeigue shares the apprehension some of his students express about
"Going Home for Christmas" and offers some useful tips:
"If you’re not looking forward to going home for the holidays—and there were times when I did not—I’ve found it’s best to begin by laughing at ourselves. I have to look in the mirror and say, “If God can put up with the likes of me, who has offended Him infinitely, and insisted on not giving up on whatever good there could be cultivated in me, then surely I can express my gratitude by trying to love and serve whatever good may be found in those back home."
ALETEIA
"Going Home for Christmas" and offers some useful tips:
"If you’re not looking forward to going home for the holidays—and there were times when I did not—I’ve found it’s best to begin by laughing at ourselves. I have to look in the mirror and say, “If God can put up with the likes of me, who has offended Him infinitely, and insisted on not giving up on whatever good there could be cultivated in me, then surely I can express my gratitude by trying to love and serve whatever good may be found in those back home."
ALETEIA
John Burger’s
"Cuba’s Democracy Movement" reveals some of the challenges facing the Obama-Castro alliance, in particular highlighting the "blackhole" of human rights neglect which remains unchecked. “The alternative they’re proposing has been in used by Europe and Canada for the past 20 years—engagement in business with the Castro regime—and that hasn’t done anything either,” de la Cruz countered. “Arrests of human rights activists in Cuba have quadrupled since 2010.”
ALETEIA
"Cuba’s Democracy Movement" reveals some of the challenges facing the Obama-Castro alliance, in particular highlighting the "blackhole" of human rights neglect which remains unchecked. “The alternative they’re proposing has been in used by Europe and Canada for the past 20 years—engagement in business with the Castro regime—and that hasn’t done anything either,” de la Cruz countered. “Arrests of human rights activists in Cuba have quadrupled since 2010.”
ALETEIA
BRITAIN & IRELAND
Christmas Messages of the Bishops of England and Wales
CCIEW
CCIEW
If you hate Christmas, feel free to ignore it and let the rest of us celebrate in peace — Please can we give these endless moanings about Christmas a rest!
CATHOLIC HERALD
CATHOLIC HERALD
Britons declare "We are not Europeans" — New statistics from the European Commission’s bi-annual Eurobarometer survey confirms the huge cultural divide between Britain and the 27 other EU Member States. A substantial majority of British respondents have declared they do not consider themselves Europeans
BREITBART
BREITBART
Church of England guilty of "serious institutional homophobia", says the Anglican Bishop of Buckingham — "Gay marriage among the clergy will become so commonplace that people will wonder what the fuss is about in a few years", Bishop Wilson said (What a mess!)
DAILY TELEGRAPH
DAILY TELEGRAPH
AFRICA
Courageous Orthodox priest refuses to leave Ebola-ravaged area of Africa even at Christmas, in order to help others — "In a world of increasing uncertainty, declining moral standards and selfishness let us cling to the eternal and unchanging truths, let us try to keep this Christmas Holy! Like the Wise Men let us worship Christ! Let us also help the less fortunate! In other words let us bring back the authentic expression of Christmas." — Father Themi
BCN
BCN
How Egypt’s government is trying to get Christians to follow Jesus — The government launched a unique campaign to increase a segment representing only 1.9 percent of total tourists: Christian pilgrims. To do so, Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehlab and Coptic Orthodox Pope Tawadros II promoted the most noteworthy biblical example. “Jesus was the first ‘tourist’ to Egypt," said Tawadros at the launch event, according to AsiaNews. "For us, for our community, his stay in this land has been a blessing for the present and for the future.”
CHRISTIANITY TODAY
CHRISTIANITY TODAY
How the Church has helped fight AIDS in Uganda and Malawi — Catholic leaders in Uganda and Malawi have issued largely positive informal progress reports on local Church efforts to combat HIV/AIDS in the African nations
CNA
CNA
Irish nun in Sierra Leone brings joy to children affected by Ebola — Sister Mary Sweeney organised the distribution of gifts collected in the UK to children in Sierra Leone traumatised by sickness and grief
THE GUARDIAN
THE GUARDIAN
MIDDLE EAST
Governor of Kirkuk in Iraq proclaims December 25th a public holiday (Well done to the governor!)
ALETEIA
ALETEIA
Sisters tried to strangle each other in bid to avoid being sold off as ISIS sex slaves: Amnesty report reveals desperate plight of female prisoners
DAILY MAIL
DAILY MAIL
Child soldiers are central to ISIS plans to dominate the Middle East by breeding an entire generation of fanatical fighters, warn terror experts
DAILY MAIL
DAILY MAIL
Suicide bomber kills 17 people south of Baghdad
JERUSALEM POST
JERUSALEM POST
ISIS downs warplane over Syria while claiming to have captured Jordanian pilot — Reports say warplane from the US-led coalition shot down by Islamic State group, ‘Jordanian pilot taken captive’
YNET
YNET
Private contractors to return to Iraq as US troop numbers increase
JERUSALEM POST
JERUSALEM POST
Orthodox Nun speaks out on ISIS: "ISIS is nothing new, just the re-emergence of Islam’s dark side" says Sister Hatune Dogan. “ISIS is not fanatic. ISIS is not more terrible. ISIS is real Muslim believers who like to follow the Quran and Muhammad”
WND
WND
AUSTRALIA
Australian Police arrest terror suspects in Sydney
IRISH INDEPENDENT
IRISH INDEPENDENT
FAMILY MATTERS
After the recent child abuse by a nanny in Uganda, a new case has been captured on video in China
(Please pray for God’s protection upon all who are vulnerable in society including the young, disabled and elderly)
DAILY MAIL
After the recent child abuse by a nanny in Uganda, a new case has been captured on video in China
(Please pray for God’s protection upon all who are vulnerable in society including the young, disabled and elderly)
DAILY MAIL
Appeals Court upholds ruling declaring North Carolina’s Ultrasound Law a "free speech violation"
CHRISTIAN NEWS
CHRISTIAN NEWS
Taiwan considers proposal to legalize same-sex "marriage" — Taiwan could make history by being the first East Asian country to allow same-sex marriage for its citizens if a proposal to legalize its practice is passed into law
GOSPEL HERALD
GOSPEL HERALD
Polygamy — the next assault in the war against marriage:
The Polyamory Society defines the practice as “the non-possessive, honest, responsible and ethical philosophy and practice of loving multiple people simultaneously.”
CHARISMA
The Polyamory Society defines the practice as “the non-possessive, honest, responsible and ethical philosophy and practice of loving multiple people simultaneously.”
CHARISMA
"It’s amazing that faithful Catholics are now accused of opposing the Church" — Cardinal Raymond Burke said in an interview this week that it is “amazing” that those who have defended Catholic teaching and practice on withholding Communion from those in publicly “irregular” sexual situations, are being accused of “being against the Holy Father, and of not being in harmony with the Church.” (Yes it is amazing indeed. Where will it lead is the question!)
LIFE SITE
LIFE SITE
ADDITIONAL
He gave a homeless man $100 .. then followed him! See what happened
FAITH IT
FAITH IT
When Hollywood celebrated Christmas and marriage — For countless Americans, marriage is no longer a goal, and so the America of "White Christmas" and "It’s a Wonderful Life” is long gone
CWR
CWR
We mustn’t forget our dear atheist, God-hating and anti-Christian brothers and sisters in life’s journey at this time of year — So this is for you. God bless you!
FAITH IT
FAITH IT
~ ~ ~
A Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones!
And today we celebrate...