Judges 13:2-7, 24-25a An angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her: “Though you are barren and have had no children, you will conceive and bear a son.” The woman who told this story believed the message of the angel, the messenger of God. And she gave birth to a son and named him Samson. Luke 1:5-25 “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, because your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall name him John.” For the past few days, we have had testimonies of people who believe. There is Joseph, the mother of Samson, and now Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist. And of course, Mary also believed. Biblical texts: NAB-RE Normand Thomas.
Americas Many young Americans ‘too fat’ or not educated ‘properly’ to join military: Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth encourages recruiters to make serving in military more attractive US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday cited historic military recruiting numbers but acknowledged barriers to military enlistment, including obesity and criminal records. Speaking at the Recruiting Excellence Forum at the Pentagon, Hegseth referenced what he described as “historic recruiting numbers” under the Trump administration but noted ongoing challenges. "I know it's not easy on the basic ingredients on recruiting," Hegseth said. "Too many of our young people are too fat or too dumb. Not dumb, that's wrong. You know, we're just not educating them properly, or they've got criminal records ... all these other things ... contributing to what someone may or may not qualify to get into the military," he added. Hegseth encouraged recruiters to make serving in the military more attractive and to treat …
Archbishop-Designate Hicks: “I was really formed by the Latino Church and I have a great heart for the Latino community. This community is a vital part of the Church…I’m proud of the statement the USCCB recently put out about immigration and about the necessity to make sure that we have a country that does protect our borders… and also be a country that upholds human dignity.”
Wed Dec 17, 2025 - 9:45 am EST (LifeSiteNews) — According to a new report, the big problem with TV these days is that there aren’t enough abortions taking place on screen. On one hand, according to the annual “Abortion Onscreen” report, there is good news. There were some onscreen abortions – 66 abortion storylines in 2024 – including in shows like The Pitt, Call the Midwife, Love is Blind, Family Guy, and South Park. “But in the past few years, there’s been a significant drop in the number of characters who actually went through with an abortion,” writes Neda Ulaby at NPR, who takes it for granted that this is a bad thing. “37% obtained an abortion in 2025, a 14% decline since 2023.” READ: Trump advisers ‘furious’ over Josh Hawley’s pro-life ad plan ahead of midterms: report The “Abortion Onscreen” report is put out each year by Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, a research program on abortion at the University of California San Fransico. “I think there …
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Auxiliary Bishop Ramón Bejarano of San Diego as the new Bishop of Monterey, California. Born on July 17, 1969, in Laredo, Texas, Monsignor Bejarano was ordained a priest for the Diocese of Stockton on August 15, 1998. On February 27, 2020, Pope Francis appointed him Auxiliary Bishop of San Diego, run by Cardinal Robert McElroy, one of the most progressive prelates in the American hierarchy. “All Are Welcome” Eucharist In June 2024, Bishop Bejarano presided over an “All Are Welcome” Eucharist at St. John the Evangelist Parish in San Diego. The service was presented as an outreach to practicing homosexuals. At the end of the service, he offered a special blessing for homosexuals: "Help us embrace that our beloved LGBTQ+ siblings and all who feel marginalized by the Church are beautifully and wonderfully made in Your image." He continued: "Bless our LGBTQ ministry so that we may continue to grow by your grace and bring all people to the knowledge and love …More
Schrödinger’s RUSSIA: Too Weak to Beat UKRAINE but Strong Enough to Invade BRITAIN? youtube.com/watch?v=wB2CVlT0IfU We’re being told two completely incompatible things at the same time. On one hand, Russia is supposedly losing in Ukraine — unable to break through, burning men and equipment, struggling to sustain momentum. On the other hand, we’re now told that this very same Russia represents an imminent threat to Britain and Europe — strong enough to invade, overwhelm NATO, and force us onto a war footing. Both cannot be true. This video examines what I call Schrödinger’s Russia: a narrative in which Russia is simultaneously too weak to defeat Ukraine, yet powerful enough to threaten Britain itself. So what’s really going on? Is this genuine threat assessment — or political theatre? Is Europe preparing for a war it truly expects… or managing public psychology after decades of strategic complacency? And why does the language suddenly sound so urgent, so dramatic, so performative?…More
In the most significant appointment for the US Church to date, Pope Leo has officially appointed Joliet’s Bishop Ron Hicks (58) as the 11 Archbishop of New York, succeeding Cardinal Timothy Dolan. A native of Chicago, Hicks was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Bernardin. He served as Auxiliary/Vicar General to Cardinal Cupich. Hicks spent five years doing missionary work with orphans in El Salvador.
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Bishop Ron Hicks, 58, of Joliet, Illinois, as the 11th Archbishop of New York. Monsignor Hicks was ordained as a priest in 1994 by likely homosexual Cardinal Joseph Bernardin. He was ordained as an auxiliary bishop by pro-homosexual Cardinal Blase Cupich, whom he owes his entire carreer. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, who has led the Archdiocese of New York since 2009, will be remembered for permitting a transvestite show funeral for homosexual activist Cecilia Gentili at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in February 2024. In all likelihood, substantively, Bishop Hicks will not differ significantly from Cardinal Dolan. First Generation-X Prelate at Major US Archdiocese Bishop Hicks will be the first Generation-X prelate (born roughly between 1965 and 1980) to hold a major U.S. see. He comes from a very different era of seminary formation. The Archbishop of New York is traditionally appointed a cardinal. From 2005 to 2010, Bishop Hicks spent five years on missionary assignment …More
James Tour, Chemistry Professor at Rice University, Houston, Texas, told Tucker Carlson on December 15 why the evolution theory is a “myth”. He points especially to the origin of life and evolutionary mechanisms at the molecular level. Main arguments. No chemical mechanism for evolution “I don’t understand the chemistry behind the evolutionary process. […] Tell me about the molecular interactions that are going to have to occur, the changes at the molecular level and how that happens.” Origin of life is completely unknown “We have no idea how life was created. We have no idea.” All of life requires four molecular systems—and none arise prebiotically “You have to have four classes of compounds. You have the lipids, which surround every one of our cell structures. You have the polysaccharides. You have the nucleotides which are RNA and DNA. And then you have the polypeptides which are proteins. Nobody has ever made those polymers, any classes, any of those, by a prebiotic route.” …More
Something inherently incorrect challenges itself; Professor Tour is pointing out the errors for those of us who might have overlooked them. It is what science does. Good for him, and the rest of us.
Alberta Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides is being CANCELLED because he mentioned Jesus...in his Christmas message Secularists on social media are calling for his firing, accusing him of being 'far right' and 'nasty' because of he mentioned Jesus three times
Pope Leo: "I prefer to pray in a Catholic church, in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament" While meeting journalists in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Leo XIV was asked why he had not prayed— “at least not visibly”—during his visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque in Istanbul on his First Apostolic Journey to Turkey and Lebanon. The Pope responded with a gentle smile: “Who said I didn’t pray? … And perhaps I’m praying even now.” He went on to explain, “I prefer to pray in a Catholic church, in the presence of the Most Blessed Sacrament,” calling the attention surrounding the incident “a bit… curious.” shalomworldnews
At his first press conference (look at the facial expressions from Dolan), the new Archbishop of New York, Ronald Hicks, said he grew up 14 blocks from Pope Leo and told Cardinal Pierre, when called about the appointment, that he wanted to “do the will of God” with “great humility” and an “open heart.” He said he comes from Chicago, having served under Cardinal Bernardin, been a witness to Cardinal George, and mentored by Cardinal Cupich. Offering his “first controversial statement,” Hicks said he is a Cubs fan and will remain one. He pledged to learn the issues facing the archdiocese, including funds set aside to resolve sexual abuse claims, stressing that the Church must never stop working to prevent abuse, protect children, and care for survivors. Switching to Spanish, he expressed his love for Latino culture. Addressing those trying to “figure out” who he is, he said: “I love Jesus, with my mind, heart, and soul,” calling it his mission statement.
Bishop in California - He Has Apologized to Homosexuals