Pope Leo XIV pledged to work to “pursue the path of unity and fraternal charity” in a meeting in Castel Gandolfo with Orthodox and Catholic clergy from the United States.

The clergy were on the pilgrimage “From Rome to New Rome” and includes fifty Greek Orthodox, Byzantine Catholic, and Latin Catholic pilgrims from the U.S., and includes Greek Orthodox Archbishop Elpidophoros of America and Cardinal Joseph Tobin, Archbishop of Newark, New Jersey.

This year marks the 1700th Anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea. The first Ecumenical Council took place in 325, and went against the Arian heresy, which denied the true divinity of Jesus Christ. This year also was one of the few where the Western Churches and Eastern Churches marked the same day as Easter Sunday.

Leo said it was “significant” that the pilgrimage marks the anniversary of the Council of Nicaea.

Continued below.

The Holy Family Church in Gaza was struck by an Israeli attack on Thursday, with the strike resulting in injuries among civilians present at the historic church.

The direct strike killed two people — Saad Issa Kostandi Salameh and Foumia Issa Latif Ayyad — as confirmed by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem a few hours after the attack.

The patriarchate stressed that it was praying for the repose of the souls of the dead and for an end to what it called this “barbaric war.”

According to press reports, several other civilians sustained moderate to severe injuries, while the parish priest, Father Gabriel Romanelli, was wounded by shrapnel in his leg.

Continued below.

As Undersecretary of the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops, Sister Nathalie Becquart now has a mandate to take all the putrid fruits of the Synod and "to implement those fruits with creativity, in the diversity of the context of the local Churches.” She and the Synodal teams are not called to make the local dioceses and eparchies more holy, orthodox, or fervent. Instead (as described below), Sister Becquart wants to compel each local church to experimentally “listen to the Spirit” to determine how to become more Synodal.

Continued below.

The revival of deification theology in the Catholic Church has big implications, from ecumenism to AI.

When Grace Simcox came across the concept of deification last year, the Catholic theology student thought she might be dealing with something more pagan than Christian.

The Franciscan University undergrad was debating her now-boyfriend, an Eastern Orthodox catechumen, and wasn’t sure if his constant emphasis on how the Christian life was aimed at theosis, or becoming like God, squared with her Catholic commitments — or if it did at all.

“
At first, it seemed provocative and borderline mythological,” she said.

But after turning to Scripture, the Church Fathers, and especially the medieval Catholic theologian St. Thomas Aquinas, Simcox discovered that deification wasn’t merely compatible with her Catholic faith — it was one of its most profound and essential truths.

Simcox isn’t the only Catholic to have made this discovery. Over the past three decades or so, the Catholic Church has undergone a profound recovery of the theology of deification, also known as divinization. The ancient approach to the Christian life emphasizes that salvation isn’t merely about being freed from sin, but is more fundamentally about being united to God and sharing in his divine life.

Although never lost, the theology of deification had long been overshadowed by more juridical approaches to salvation which emphasized concepts like expiation of guilt and deliverance from punishment. Promoted by figures like St. Anselm of Canterbury in the 12th century, juridical accounts became especially dominant in the West during the Reformation, as Protestant emphases on justification prompted the Church to use similar legalistic frameworks in defense of its doctrines.

Continued below.

“I believe that artificial intelligence will become an essential technology for preaching or pastoral care of the faithful,” said Fr. Ignazio Son Chang-hyun, one of the priests who participated in a recent innovative training organized by the Diocese of Suwon, South Korea.

According to Asia News, earlier this month the South Korean diocese brought together priests from the cities of Suwon, Daegu, and Masan to learn about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in parish life.

Unlike other meetings focused on ethics, this training sought to explore the practical opportunities that AI offers for evangelization and care of the faithful.

“Since it is a hot topic at the moment and its areas of application are expanding, we have prepared training for priests to learn skills that can be used in the pastoral field,” explained Father Lee Cheol-gu, director of the Office of Social Communications of the Diocese of Suwon, the event's sponsor.

Continued below.

(Time is almost running out) Pray that the foreign Indian nurse named Nimisha Priya who worked in the nation of Yemen is miraculously given a lighter sentence other than death by execution:

One in 6 unborn children’s lives now end in abortion in the Republic of Ireland, according to the Irish Department of Health statistics, which reports 10,852 abortions in 2024 — the highest number on record since the law changed in 2019 following the 2018 referendum.

Pro Life Campaign spokesperson Eilís Mulroy speaking to CNA said: “That’s a truly horrifying figure, and it’s the opposite of what senior politicians promised the public would happen if they voted for repeal in 2018,” she added.

During the 2018 referendum, pro-life voices warned that abortion numbers would increase dramatically if access to abortion were widened. Mulroy pointed out that 10,852 abortions in 2024 represent a 280% increase from the 2,879 Irish abortions that happened in 2018, the year before the law changed.

Mulroy said the Pro Life Campaign and other groups have asked for a meeting with the minister for health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, to discuss the shocking new figures.

Continued below.

If you’ve never heard the agony of a doubter and despair of a near apostate, I would like to provide you a glimpse. In 2013, I received an email from Jane [a pseudonym], a teenage girl in the final stages of doubt — marked by depression, despair, and nearly ready to depart. Here’s what she wrote:

Hello Bobby, my name is Jane Doe. I’m a 17-year-old Christian. I’ve been a Christian for many years. I’ve always had God inside of me keeping me comforted. There’s always been that comfort inside of me. But lately, I’ve been in what I would call a “crisis of belief.” Lately, I’ve been having doubts in my head about the Bible and what it says. For example: How’s it physically possible for one to rise from the dead? Is it really God or is it all in my head? Why isn’t God there to help me when I really need Him? Doesn’t the Bible have Scripture saying that He will help? Sometimes the doubts are statements that electrocute my mind and belief, such as: “You’re wasting your time.” Or “You’re believing a fantasy,” and “It’s only a part of your brain that makes you believe.”
…But it’s not like I want to believe these doubts. Because when I think of them, something burns in my heart and mind. My depression begins to act up badly. Lately, I’ve had many anxiety attacks about it along with other stress. It’s not helpful when atheists surround me in my school too. There really aren’t many people I can ask for help. So, I’m asking you. What do I do? Because I’m scared to say I’m lost.

Click to expand...

Can you sense her agony, emptiness, confusion, and split mind? Of course, I responded, but unfortunately, I never heard back. And many times, I’ve wondered how Jane turned out.

Continued below.

I've been reading the Septuagint and have a couple questions.
Is the Brenton's Septuagint a good translation or is there a better one?
Are there commentaries based on the Septuagint? Most of the commentaries I've come across are based on the Masoretic, but I've noticed there are some differences in the texts.
I've noticed a couple verses in Brenton's Septuagint that are not in my KJV - is there a reference available as to where, what texts, the additional verses originated?
Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!

Most Americans think the Trump administration is covering up evidence in the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s federal case, according to a new poll.

A poll conducted by The Economist and YouGov from July 11 to 14 found 67 percent of Americans believe the government is hiding evidence related to the late financier, who died in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal charges related to the sexual abuse of dozens of minor girls. He had pleaded guilty in 2008 to Florida charges of soliciting and procuring a minor for prostitution.

“This is an extraordinary struggle by our negotiating team led by the Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs,” Hasan Nasbi, the Indonesian president’s spokesperson, told Reuters.
Prabowo is expected to reveal more detail later on Wednesday. In a post on Instagram, the Indonesian president wrote the two sides “agreed and concluded to take trade relations between Indonesia and the United States into a new era of mutual benefit between our two great nations.”

This is the way it should be. Far too many U.S. bureaucrats make deals just to say they made a deal rather than negotiate trade or anything else based upon the best interests of the American people.

It's great that Congress is acting on President Trump Executive Order to defund these partisan organizations.

Federal agents are investigating a "massive scheme to defraud" Minnesota's Housing Stabilization Service program, according to court documents.
A search warrant filed with the U.S. District Court for Minnesota details the fraud investigation concerning the new Minnesota Medical Assistance benefit meant to help find and maintain homes for people with disabilities — including mental illnesses and substance use disorders — as well as the elderly.

Incredible that, given Minnesota history, yet another program can go so over-budget without Minnesota leaders intervening.

Prior to taking this oath, Mamdani completed Form N-400. Because of what we know about his political ideology, he lied in answering question 5b within part nine of the form — a question that asks the applicant if they have ever advocated for communism, among other inquiries.

There is enough evidence to hold a hearing on the matter.

There are some who think that there is no distinction among the peoples of the world, they are all simply descendants of Adam. The idea of the ubiquity of all humans.

However, God did choose a man, Abraham; to be the father of peoples who would be God’s special people to be His witnesses, Isaiah 43:10, John 15:27 and to display His Light to the nations. Isaiah 49:8, Matthew 5:14-16
Matthew 8:11-12 Many, I tell you; will come from the East and the West and sit with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob at the feast of the Kingdom. But those who were born into the Kingdom, will be thrown out into the dark, where there will be wailing and extreme sadness for what they have lost.

These Words of Jesus plainly show that there is a people who are part of the Kingdom of God by descent, but they can lose that advantage by their own rejection of Jesus and failure to keep the Commandments. This was spoken to a Roman Centurion, so it applies to Gentile and Jewish peoples.

We know that the Jewish people only represent the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin. The Jews themselves admit this truth.
The other 10 tribes remain scattered among the nations, Deuteronomy 4:27-28, John 7:35, serving their decreed time of exile. Ezekiel 4:4-5, multiplied by; Leviticus 26:18 = 2730 years. This time of exile is nearly finished and those people who have accepted the Salvation offered by Jesus, Matthew 15:24, will be Redeemed, restored and forgiven for their iniquities.

They ARE the people who comprise the ‘nation’, who bear the proper fruit; Matthew 21:43, all faithful Christians, now belonging to many diverse nationalities and speaking many different languages and be given a new language; Zephaniah 3:9
They will all come together, as prophesied; Ezekiel 34:11-16, Isaiah 35:1-10, Jeremiah 50:4-7, +, into the holy Land, all the area given to Abraham, but never yet fully occupied by the Lord’s people.
John sees them in his vision of the future; of Revelation 7:1-14, when the Lord will select 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of Israel to go out and proclaim the coming Kingdom. Isaiah 66:19, Revelation 14:1-7

Malachi 3:6-7 I the Lord do not change and you, [my People] have not ceased to be the children of Jacob. Ever since the time of your forefathers, you have been wayward and have not kept My Laws. But if you return to Me, I shall return to you.
We Christian believers ARE the Lord’s people., who have returned to Him in faith.

WE must keep our trust in His protection through all that must happen and prove ourselves to be worthy when Jesus Returns, to be His priests and co-rulers. Revelation 5:9-10, Isaiah 66:21
Isaiah 49:8-13 says that the tribes of Israel will be restored and the Lord’s Salvation will reach to the ends of the earth. The Salvation has reached us and now we await the restoration back into our heritage. Ephesians 3:6, Romans 8:16-18, Psalms 37:29, where we will be called the children of the Living God. Romans 9:24-26

What was the gospel message that the apostle Paul was not ashamed of?

By God-gifted faith in Jesus Christ, which is not of our own doing, we are crucified with Christ in death to sin and raised with Christ to walk in newness of life in him, no longer to live as slaves to sin but as slaves to righteousness in walks of obedience to God’s commands. We are no longer to permit sin to reign in our mortal bodies to make us obey its desires. For if sin is what we obey, it results in death. But if obedience to God is what we obey, it results in sanctification, and its end is eternal life with God (see Romans 6:1-23).

Jesus Christ and his New Testament apostles did not teach the gospel of our salvation as so many are now teaching it in the USA, and perhaps in other nations, as well. Paul, in his teachings, refuted any distortions of the gospel of Christ, and he made perfectly clear to the people what was required of them in the way of faith and obedience to God. If taught in the appropriate context, he did not teach that we can just give lip service to the Lord and now all our sins are forgiven and heaven is secured for us when we die.

But that appears to be what is most popularized today by people who are pulling Scriptures out of their appropriate context, who are twisting them to say what they want them to say to appease human flesh and to not have to put the flesh and sin to death in their lives. So many people today are accepting a very diluted and altered gospel which makes no requirements for us to have to give up our sinful practices and to walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands. So many are calling that “legalism” or “works salvation.”

But when Jesus Christ gave his life up for us on that cross it was to put our sins to death with him so that, by God-persuaded faith in him, we will now die to sin and live to God and to his righteousness in walks of surrender to the will and purpose of God for our lives, in walks of obedience to his commands (New Covenant). For Jesus died to free us from our slavery to sin, not only to forgive us our sins. And heaven is only secured for those who walk in obedience to our Lord’s commands, as their life practice.

For Jesus Christ taught that to come to him we must deny self, take up our cross daily (die daily to sin), and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to living in sin and for self, we will lose our lives for eternity. But if we deny self, die daily to sin, by the Spirit, and we walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in his power, then we have eternal life with God. For not everyone who calls him “Lord” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one DOING (obeying) the will of God (see Luke 9:23-26; Matthew 7:21-23).

The grace of God, which is bringing us salvation, is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for Jesus’ return. For Christ “gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (See Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:8-10)

So, don’t allow yourselves to get caught up in these diluted and altered gospel messages, which are not what Jesus and his New Testament apostles taught in the correct biblical context. By faith in Jesus Christ we must die with him to sin, and we must now walk in obedience to our Lord and to his commands, in practice, or we do not have salvation from sin, and we do not have the hope of eternal life with God when we die or when Jesus returns. For Jesus died to free us from slavery to sin so we will now obey him.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Romans 2:6-8; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; 1 Corinthians 10:1-22; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:1-19; Hebrews 4:1-13; Hebrews 12:1-2; 1 Peter 2:24; 1 John 1:5-10; 1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 3:4-10]

For Our Nation

Professionally recorded in Nashville, TN
Via Gerry Peters, music producer and arranger
An Original Work / September 11, 2012
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.

Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.

Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.

Men deceiving: We’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.

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I am Not Ashamed of The Gospel
An Original Work / July 17, 2025
Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

I have a friend who recent had a baby. Her baby’s first name isn’t a Catholic name but her middle name is Katherine, spelled like that. I know there’s a St. Katharine Drexel, who I think spells it differently than Katherine. And there are other saints with the name spelled with a C instead of a K. Is Katherine spelled this way still a Catholic name? And do we still have to have a Catholic name to be baptized?

The biggest "gender-affirming care" center for trans kids in the US is closing, prompting protests
https://apnews.com/article/la-trans-youth-center-closing-34d27684692c95b4f7c3266c55a71d38

Trump terminated the project’s funding because it has cost taxpayers “hundreds of billions” and is “disastrously overpriced.”

California has wasted so much money that could be put to use to actually help people.

I need some help or advice, I initially made this post on reddit a little bit ago when I was in a worse place, but I'm a bit better now so there is no need to worry about me.

I just don't know what to do any more. I'm 40 years old, gay, Christian, diagnosed with autism, and my depression has been getting worse and worse. I have been taking care of my mom since she had her hip and knee replaced, and still needs another hip replacement. She is a fall risk, and has now has had more memory problems as of late. I have no friends, no relationships, all I have is her, and I refuse to tell her how I'm feeling. My mom worked 3-4 jobs to take care of me and my siblings and did a good job. Out of my 40 years on this earth, I have had 2 friendships, each lasting only about year. I have had 1 relationship when I converted to atheism, but he just wanted my money, and didn't care for me at all. I had always been somewhat suicidal since I was in my late teens, but I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't do that to my mom. But the older I get, the harder it's becoming.

It's gotten progressively worse since hitting 40. I see guys with their wives and kids and I desperately want that. I want a family so much but I'll never have one. I have prayed and prayed begging for God to take the gay away and take the autism away so I can be normal, so I'm not alone; but it never happens. It's not like it matters though, even if a gay relationship wasn't considered a sin, if I can't even form friendships then an actual relationship is a stretch. And even if I decided I just wanted to adopt a child, nobody is going to give a child to a 40 year old single gay autistic guy with no support system or friends. I would mess that kid up worse than I am.

And it's not like I don't try to make friends. I have held a job pretty much non-stop since I was 16. I have gone to quite a few churches, I have gone to 3 different colleges for 3 different degrees. I tried to socialize with coworkers and other students, none of them ever evolved into a friendship. It's obvious the problem lies with me, but nobody ever yells me what I'm doing wrong, why they dislike me. When I had my friend around 19 years old, I had a job and other than bills most of my money went to doing stuff with him (hanging out, movie tickets, games, food, etc.). I was plenty generous and tried to be nice.

I became a Christian when I was about 18 and went to a church every Sunday and youth group every Wednesday night. Nobody really talked to me during Sunday service, and it took almost a year to make a friend in the youth group. And that wasn't until one night after another youth group of having nobody to talk to, I talked to the youth pastor, I literally went to him crying after everyone had left asking how to make friends. I still remember his answer "Just talk to people, you'll make friends easy." And I've been told that by many people, but it never held true for me. The next Sunday morning, two of the more popular kids who were twin brothers in youth group came up and started talking to me and asking if I wanted to play basketball. We talked for a bit and played basketball and they left after church, and to hang out with them some more and try to make friends I did some stuff that would be considered creepy looking back.

During that year I still went to youth group, tried to make other friends, but it never happened. And even with the 2 brothers, if I wanted to do anything with them I almost had to invite myself as I was never invited. When they left and moved away, I left that church and shortly after I became an atheist. I hated God for what he made me and I was angry. I still didn't manage to make any friends at work or outside work. Last year I don't know why but God or something brough me back to Christianity, and I was hopeful this time would be different. But sadly its no different and no better. Every time I see a kid with their father in a tv show, YouTube, or movie now, I can't stop but tear up.

I tried every local church I had that looked decent. I went a couple of days to weeks in each one. And never had more than a few words, and that was with the deacons greeting people. So right now I am struggling with that as well. People say God can be your friend, Jesus can be your friend, but I just feel like I'm talking to myself. I never get any type of reply, sign, feeling, nothing. It just feels like any other one-sided conversation I am having in my head.

I just don't know what is wrong with me and why God won't help me. I've heard of God having people live in celebacy, but they weren't alone, they had friends. Am I just supposed to live whatever left of my life completely alone?

Please pray that I will be delivered from my habitual sin and sinful habits.

I need all grace I can get!

***No debating allowed please***

***prayers only****

God bless!

Hi all,

I am still having regular nightmares. It's almost nightly.

I'm only asking for prayers for a peaceful sleep as well as to let go of any anger of the abuse that occurred many years ago.

I'm tired of living in fear.

I'm not sure what else to do?

God bless

Matthew 6:3-4 KJV
3 But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: 4 That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.

God is allowing me do the same things as Jesus Christ supernatural responses for me behalf of wants Example: Church of Corinth man named Timothy that you can follow.
I Thank You Jesus blessing me to rejoice answering joy of my heart not allowing me to ever suffer wordly circumstances