Welcome to the Weekend Roundup! – News & Views – 12/9/17

• As Trump moves to recognize Jerusalem as capital of Israel, pope appeals to keep status quo
• Christians in Holy Land voice fear over Trump’s Jerusalem move

I can’t help but think that the transfer of the United States embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem is somehow going to play a role in the end times. Some news sources have reported that Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner (photo right), played a pivotal role in this extremely controversial change. See here. There’s something unsettling about Kushner that I can’t quite put my finger on. Others have commented in the past on his stake in the 666 Fifth Avenue building in Manhattan prior to joining the White House staff. Coincidence? As a side note, for decades the Vatican has campaigned for the role of administrator of Jerusalem as a “politically neutral” party.

• Catholic theologian: Catholics ‘not permitted to adhere to the pope’s novel teaching’
• Francis supporters demand Catholics ‘accept’ communion for adulterers. Here’s why we can’t

In the ongoing feud with Catholic conservatives over his lifting of the ban on communion for remarried divorcees, pope Francis just recently pulled the “ace card” out of his back pocket by declaring his abrogation of previously infallible doctrine to be “authentic magisterium,” meaning it is now the “correct and true teaching of the Catholic faith.” This is BIG news although few are paying attention. In the eyes of conservatives, the pope has moved from “bringing confusion into the church” to outright heresy. What will be their next move?

• Priest rescinds dispensation from Advent Mass obligation

A few days ago, I posted on Catholicism’s dizzying Christmas calculus, which requires that its members attend mass on both Sunday, Dec. 24th and Christmas Monday, Dec. 25th, under threat of eternal damnation. See here. The priest in this news article tried to cut his parishioners some slack and got his hands slapped.

• Alpha Program Turns Catholics Into Protestants

Conservative evangelicals warn of the Alpha Program’s ecumenical bent and militant Catholics do the same. If your evangelical church elects to sponsor Alpha, it’s time to find a new church.

• Trump Says, ‘Everyone Is a Child of God’

Televangelist huckster, Paula White, claims she “led Donald Trump to Christ,” but I suspect she led him to the prosperity gospel’s “jackpot jesus” rather than to the Jesus Christ of the Bible. Mr. President, everyone is God’s creation, but only those who trust in Jesus Christ as their Savior by faith alone become God’s children. “But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” – John 1:12.

• French Catholics Disrupt, Prevent Ecumenical Service With Rosary

Militant Catholics want no part of ecumenism with Protestants. I commend them at least for the courage of their convictions, unlike the compromising ecumenical evangelical Judases, who betray the Gospel to win the approval of men.

• Feast of Immaculate Conception 2017: What Is the Holy Day of Obligation and When Is It?

Yesterday, Friday, Dec. 8th, was the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, when Catholics celebrated Mary’s completely sinless life beginning with her conception. This tradition, part of Catholic Mariolatry, flies in the face of Scripture, which says there is none righteous, no, not one. The feast day was a Holy Day of Obligation, meaning Catholics were required to attend mass under threat of eternal damnation, although relatively few did. For more on the anti-Biblical dogma of the Immaculate Conception, see here.

• Ex-priest found guilty of historic 1960 Texas murder as church cover-up allegations persist

The Catholic church played a major role in allowing this murderer priest to escape justice.