Vatican OKs loan of relic for Anglican primate meeting

Italy Vatican AnglicansVATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican is loaning a deeply symbolic religious relic to a meeting in Britain discussing the future of the 80 million-strong Anglican Communion that has been badly divided over issues of female bishops and same-sex marriage.

The ivory top of the pastoral staff of St. Gregory the Great — the 6th-century pope who dispatched missionaries to England to spread Christianity — will be displayed in England’s Canterbury Cathedral before and after the Jan. 11-16 meeting of Anglican primates. MORE

The three (male) Kings no longer come bearing gifts for Our Lord… …it’s now two male Kings and one female King!

Screen Shot 2016-01-02 at 3.39.07 PMThe Spanish site, La Informacion suggested that Francis was taking a cue from Manuela Carmena and copying what was donein the neighborhoods of San Blas-Canillejas and Puente de Vallecas.  In 2015 Manuela Carmena became the Mayor of Madrid, Spain.  She is an ex-communist who was an opponent of the Catholic dictator, Francisco Franco, and regularly sued him in court.  Earlier in December 2015, Carmena had said the government didn’t want to change history and in the next breathe she proceeded to call for women to be allowed to dress as men to play the three kings in the Ride of Kings (la Cabalgata de los Reyes).  Another reason given was that it would help the visibility of women in Spanish culture! MORE

Doctors: “Very unusual” infections being reported around massive gas blowout in L.A… “If you’re able to leave do it now, I’m telling you it’s really critical”

  • METHANERex Paris, attorney (16:30) — “It’s the most massive gas blowout, gas well blowout, in a populated area in history. This has never happened before in a populated area. And so when they tell you that “It’s not damaging”, “It’s just temporary” — whatever nonsense they’re feeding you — understand, nobody knows. It’s never happened beforeThis can be deadly. Make sure you’re getting treated… Nobody knows what breathing this stuff constantly is doing to [the children]… The gas company says, “This is just the smell you’re reacting to, it’s just temporary, it’s not a problem, it’s not serious” — these people aren’t stupid. How could somebody possibly say that? We have children whose noses are bleeding every day, we have people who suffer from chronic headaches [and] are nauseous every single day. How does that not become a serious issue? Why are they saying something nobody here believes?… They’re trying to convince everybody that it’s all in our heads. It’s a trick.” MORE

Cattle dying in South Africa as drought deepens

CATTMolatedi (South Africa) (AFP) – In the middle of a desiccated lake bed in South Africa’s North West province, a seven-month-old calf is too weak to get up. It is doomed to die from thirst and hunger.

A devastating drought is claiming thousands of livestock in Africa’s most developed economy and prompting many to fear famine. MORE

An ‘Un-Holy’ Endorsement of War: The Latent and Grave Consequences of of The Russian Church

ASSSADFor the last three months, almost twenty thousand innocent Syrians, mostly civilians, have been murdered by the Russian aggression. What makes the picture uglier is that both results on the ground and the U.S. satellites’ images proved that ISIS has never been the prime or even a secondary target for the Russians. The main objective has been saving an allied murderous regime of Assad from losing the war that it started against the majority of Syrians aspiring for freedom and democracy. MORE

Why is Pope Francis Insisting Once Again That the Cross of Christ is God’s Failure?

Luke 2:[34] And Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary his mother: Behold this child is set for the fall, and for the resurrection of many in Israel, and for a sign which shall be contradicted;

FRANQuote from Pope Francis:

“When you don’t understand something, when desperation hits you then look at the cross. That is the great failure of God, that is the destruction of God, and it’s a challenge to our faith. And this is hope, because history did not end in that failure. Rather it’s in the resurrection of Christ that renewed all of us. I am going to tell you something personal. It’s 12 (o’clock) are you hungry? I am going to tell you something private. In my pocket I always carry two thing: a rosary to pray something which seems odd, this is here is the history of God’s failure, it’s the way of the cross, a small way of the cross, as Jesus suffered and when they condemned him right up to where he was buried with these two things I do the best I can. And thanks to these two things, I never lose hope.” MORE

VIDEO: Christmas in Iraq

In Northern Iraq, it’s dangerous to celebrate Christmas…Many persecuted Christians celebrate Christmas in secret. As refugees, they have already sacrified so much for their faith.

Recently, a team from CitizenGO went to Northern Iraq to deliver direct aid to these persecuted refugees and to spread some Christmas cheer