Welcome to the Weekend Roundup! – News & Views – 12/21/19

Welcome to our roundup of news stories for this week!

• Our idea of Santa Claus was dreamed up by an anti-Catholic cartoonist

Above is an interesting article from a Catholic source on how the Santa Claus character was popularized in the U.S. by political cartoonist, Thomas Nast (see illustration above). The article smears Nast as an “anti-Catholic” for his fanciful illustrations that targeted Roman Catholicism, but the popes of that era were actually quite outspoken in their opposition to democratic forms of government and freedom of religion (see pope Pius IX’s “Syllabus of Errors“). Christians have different views on the celebration of Christmas, but the popularization of the Santa Claus mythos was regrettable.

• Catholic Church sex abuse victims are suing the pope
• Pope ends ‘secrecy’ rule on child sexual abuse in Catholic church

I fully support this lawsuit against the pope by former-victims of abusive priests. For centuries, the Catholic hierarchy at the highest level was aware of the systematic abuse. Not only did the popes do nothing, they enabled the abuse by encouraging bishops to transfer abusers from one parish to another. In addition to the physical/psychological abuse, the RCC has abused all of its members spiritually by teaching a false gospel of sacramental grace and merit. Oh, is the pope JUST NOW ending the “secrecy rule” on child sex abuse after twenty+ years of monstrous headlines?????

• How long is the sermon? Study ranks Christian churches, with Catholics being shortest

This article says the median length of a sermon/homily at a Catholic mass is 14 minutes, but I experienced much shorter ones, myself, when I was a Catholic. The main purpose of the mass is the alleged transformation of bread wafers and wine into Jesus by the priest followed by the offering of Jesus on the altar as a re-sacrifice for sin (so anti-Biblical!). The short homily ties in with the previous reading of a short Gospel passage. In the homily, the priests generally challenge the congregants to be more disciplined/determined in meriting their salvation. Catholics are duty bound to attend Sunday mass under threat of mortal sin. Most are already bored silly with the rote liturgical rigmarole and a long-winded homily would just add to the resentment.

• Thief breaks into a Tacoma Catholic chapel and takes its most sacred object

The Roman church teaches its priests actually transform bread wafers and wine into Jesus’ actual body and blood (although a recent poll revealed that only one-third of Catholics actually believe this). The theft of a tabernacle with faux Jesus wafers inside is the ultimate desecration in the minds of credulous Catholics.

• Netflix’s ‘Gay Jesus’ Comedy Sparks Outrage, 1.8 Million Signatures Opposing It

I don’t become outraged when I see articles like this one. Unbelievers will act like scoffing unbelievers. But why don’t we see similar comedies with Muhammad as the slapstick buffoon?

• Bethel Worship Singer Requests Prayer of Revival after 2-Year-Old Daughter Dies Suddenly

Bethel and the entire NAR movement is so dangerous and destructive. Run, don’t walk, from this pseudo-Christian abomination.

• Conservative Catholic journalist nervously ruminates on pope Francis’ possible successor

Conservative and traditionalist Catholics are so frustrated with progressive, doctrine-bending, pope Francis that a few are even discussing the possibility of schism. But most are willing to hang in there with the hope that the next pope returns the church to the doctrinal conservatism of John Paul II. This conservative journalist is already fretting about the next pope being Francis II. Missing in this ideological tug-of-war within the RCC is the genuine Gospel of salvation by God’s grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone.

• Steven Furtick Forced To Cancel Book-Signing Event After Getting Lost In His Mansion (SATIRE)

Leave it to the Babylon Bee to tell it like it is.