Security experts are increasingly urging U.S. churches to increase their safety measures after two near misses involving attempted shootings at houses of worship in different parts of the country this month. Interest in doing so among congregations is also on the rise, they say. Last week, a Pennsylvania man jumped out of his seat at the front of a church …
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Pentecost, said Fr. Louis Cona of New York, is the “preeminent celebration of the Holy Spirit” — and is celebrated on Sunday, May 19, seven weeks after Easter. Cona is a priest of the Diocese of Rockville Centre and currently serves as associate pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in Smithtown, New York. Verses in the Acts of the Apostles (2:1-4) …
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The Catholic Church published a document on Friday providing new guidance for the discernment of alleged supernatural phenomena. The document — translated into seven languages — specifically addresses how the Church should investigate events “that seem to exceed the bounds of ordinary experiences and present themselves as having a supernatural origin (such as alleged apparitions, visions, interior or exterior locutions, …
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Lifestyle headlines from this week include offbeat news stories focused on a man’s viral response to an order from California city officials, plus a rare World War II-era find, an eyebrow-raising trend regarding America’s most popular baby names and more, including stories of food, travel and pets. Regular quizzes, crosswords and other games are always available to dive into as …
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Lara Trump and Kevin Sorbo have joined the Herculean effort to offer lessons to kids in traditional values amid a current culture that appears to reject them. Each celebrity is the author of a new children’s title published by Brave Books of Texas. Lara Trump, co-chair of the Republican National Committee and daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump, is the …
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The NFL is distancing itself from the speech Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker gave during a commencement address at a private college in Kansas over the weekend, when he encouraged women graduates to embrace their “vocation” as a “homemaker,” and criticized the LGBTQ community and President Biden for his stance on abortion. Butker, a three-time Super Bowl champion, has …
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Rev. Billy Graham was remembered as “one of America’s greatest citizens and enduring heroes” during an unveiling ceremony of a statue in his honor at the U.S. Capitol on Thursday, May 16. The event featured speeches from House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), members of North Carolina’s congressional delegation, and Rev. Franklin Graham, son of …
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Pastors and other clergy members often serve as pillars of support in times of crisis. Yet what happens when they’re the ones who need to be lifted up? Mark Dance, a former pastor who lives in Dallas, knows firsthand that mental health struggles can impact those in church leadership. During his three decades of leading various churches, Dance, now 59, …
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Pope John Paul II was shot and nearly killed on this day in history, May 13, 1981. During his regularly scheduled Wednesday General Audience in St. Peter’s Square, the pope was shot by Turkish gunman Mehmet Ali Ağca. Ali Ağca fired a total of four times. Two bullets hit Pope John Paul II in the abdomen and left hand, and …
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It is hard to fight against an enemy whose reason for being is to eliminate you. So said author and Jewish historian Rick Richman in an interview as he answered the criticisms that are being leveled against Israel. These criticisms accuse the Jewish state of committing genocide in Gaza. Rather, it is Israel, he said, that is trying to prevent …
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