Jesus was political and so are we ~ how christians vote matters

An Ecumenical Ministry in the Parish of St Patrick's Catholic Church In San Diego USA

米国サンディエゴの聖パトリックカトリック教会教区におけるエキュメニカル宣教

Our Mission: to see the baptized who live in SoNoGo worship in SoNoGo

Saturday, December 13, 2025

Bob Dylan - Gotta Serve Somebody

 
Lyrics: 
You may be an ambassador to England or France You may like to gamble, you might like to dance You may be the heavyweight champion of the world You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes Indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody You might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage You may be a business man or some high-degree thief They may call you doctor or they may call you chief But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes you are You're gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk You may be the head of some big TV network You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame You may be living in another country under another name But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes you are You're gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody You may be a construction worker working on a home You may be living in a mansion or you might live in a dome You might own guns and you might even own tanks You might be somebody's landlord, you might even own banks But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes You're gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody You may be a preacher with your spiritual pride You may be a city councilman taking bribes on the side You may be workin' in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair You may be somebody's mistress, may be somebody's heir But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes You're gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk You might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread You may be sleeping on the floor, sleeping in a king-sized bed But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes Indeed you're gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy You may call me R.J., you may call me Ray You may call me anything but no matter what you say Still, you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes You're gonna have to serve somebody Well, it may be the devil or it may be the Lord But you're gonna have to serve somebody

Illinois assisted suicide law signed by Gov. Pritzker ‘heartbreaking’

Priests, laypeople, Poor Clare nun among 124 20th-century martyrs beatified in Spain

The Diocese of Jaén in Spain will celebrate on Dec. 13 the beatification of 109 priests, 14 laypeople, and one Poor Clare nun martyred during the Spanish Civil War.

Bishops call Illinois assisted suicide law signed by Gov. Pritzker ‘heartbreaking’

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker signed into law an assisted suicide bill that Catholic leaders have ardently opposed. 
Pope Leo XIV entrusts pontificate to the Virgin of Guadalupe

On Dec. 12, Pope Leo XIV presided over his first Mass on the solemnity of Our Lady of Guadalupe, whom he asked to come to his aid.
Doug Keck honored with 2025 Mother Angelica Award

The EWTN Global Catholic Network presented the 2025 Mother Angelica Award to its longtime former president, Doug Keck.
Why Sweden honors St. Lucy, a beloved Italian saint

St. Lucy’s Day, also known as Lucia Day, is a traditional Swedish celebration filled with children in costumes, elaborate processions, and Swedish treats.

Friday, December 12, 2025

Pictures of the year: Religion

Chicago’s Archbishop weighs in on a year of immigration enforcement
NPR: Chicago Archbishop Blase Cupich speaks about immigration enforcement in his city, the Trump administration’s immigration policy and the Catholic Church’s position.

Why Mormonism may have an answer for our toxic politics*
The Washington Post: Utah Gov. Spencer Cox draws on teachings from his Mormon faith to “disagree better.” Studies show his approach could change public attitudes.

Hanukkah celebrates both an ancient military victory and a miracle of light – modern Jews can pick from either tradition
The Conversation: How do modern Jews pick and choose from the well of tradition to construct a form of Jewishness they feel is authentic, a scholar of modern Jewish religion and politics asks.

Church of England reviewing complaint against incoming archbishop of Canterbury
The Guardian: Sarah Mullally was accused of mishandling abuse complaint against priest in London, where she serves as bishop.

Pictures of the year: Religion
Reuters: Our top religion photos from around the world in 2025.

Our Lady of Guadalupe in light of doctrinal note on titles of Mary

Poll: Most Catholic voters support Trump, deportations despite bishops’ concern

The EWTN News and RealClear Opinion Research poll surveyed 1,000 self-identified Catholic voters in the U.S. from Nov. 9–11, nearly 10 months after Trump assumed office.
Poll: Majority of U.S. Catholics support death penalty despite catechism

A majority of U.S. Catholics support the death penalty for convicted murderers in spite of Church teaching, according to a new EWTN News and RealClear poll.
U.S. bishops, Catholic groups denounce DHS rule change for migrant workers

U.S. Catholic bishops are calling on the Department of Homeland Security to rescind a rule change they say will “disproportionately harm immigrants.”
Vatican conference: Our Lady of Guadalupe in light of doctrinal note on titles of Mary

At the conclusion of the conference, Mass in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe will take place at 4 p.m. local time in St. Peter’s Basilica, celebrated by Pope Leo XIV.

Pope Leo calls for promoting ‘cultural diplomacy’ to overcome borders and prejudices

Pope Leo XIV on Dec. 11 emphasized the academic, cultural, and ecclesial value of archaeology and called for the promotion of “cultural diplomacy.”

Why didn’t the Pope pray in a Turkish mosque?

Rome and the Church in the United States

ZENIT Staff

The canard about the bishops’ alleged disunity and fractiousness is typically accompanied by other fairy tales

What you should know about Pope Leo XIV’s letter on Christian archaeology

Jorge Enrique Mújica

The letter repeatedly emphasizes archaeology’s capacity to inspire hope. Modern technologies capable of recovering microscopic details or reconstructing damaged inscriptions remind scholars that even the most neglected materials can reveal unexpected depths

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris surpasses the Louvre Museum in visitor numbers: here are the figures

ZENIT Staff

Notre Dame is once again the beating heart of the city.

This is how the Venezuelan dictatorship revoked the cardinal’s passport and prevented him from leaving the country

Enrique Villegas

For now, Cardinal Porras remains in Caracas, deprived of his documents and unable to fulfill obligations abroad

The Pope’s advice to European parliamentarians on the art of debate (and on religious freedom and dialogue between faith and reason)

ZENIT Staff

Address by the Pope during the audience with members of the European Parliament from the European Conservatives and Reformists group

What is death? A short but profound catechesis by Pope Leo XIV

ZENIT Staff

Pope’s general audience, December 10, 2025, on how Christ’s Resurrection sheds light on the mystery of death

The Gospel According to the Elves: Quebec Secularism Law Targets Even Baby Jesus

ZENIT Staff

Quebec’s new “Secularism 2.0” law is less about neutrality than about neutering religion, reducing faith to folklore while policing prayer out of public life.

China’s Reported Marriage Surge: A Turning Point or a Mirage of Reform?

ZENIT Staff

To address a significant demographic issue, the authorities promote marriage and report an improvement. It may not be real.

100 children kidnapped from Catholic school in Nigeria are freed… hostages remain

ZENIT Staff

For the families of Papiri, the road to recovery is only beginning. Children who escaped or were freed have returned home carrying deep emotional scars, and educators warn that repeated attacks are discouraging school attendance across entire regions

Why didn’t the Pope pray in a Turkish mosque? Trump, Ukraine, and Pope Leo XIV’s next residence

Valentina di Giorgio

Questions from the press inevitably turned to his recent visit to Turkey, and specifically to the now-viral discussion about whether he prayed during his stop at Istanbul’s Sultan Ahmed Mosque

Juanito.ai Takes a Bold Leap: From Guadalupan AI to Platform for Catholic Formation

Jorge Enrique Mújica

What distinguishes this new stage is its pedagogical vocation. Juanito.ai presents itself as an ally for those who dedicate their lives to educating and accompanying others: teachers, catechists, pastoral agents, and evangelizers.

Japanese court reaffirms natural marriage, creating new tensions in Japan’s LGBT debate

ZENIT Staff

Presiding judge Ayumi Higashi argued that the current statutory language, which describes marriage as the mutual consent of “both sexes,” cannot be stretched to include same-sex couples without legislative intervention

In defense of the Virgin Mary? International Marian Association against document by Cardinal Fernández and Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith

Jorge Enrique Mújica

At the center of the dispute is Mater Populi Fidelis, the note released by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith (DDF) in early November under the signature of Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández

Polish bishops speak out against attacks on the legacy and figure of Saint John Paul II

Joachin Meisner Hertz

Scrutiny of John Paul II has become increasingly visible in digital spaces, where detractors highlight his conservative positions on moral issues

For the third time and in the midst of war, the president of Ukraine meets with Pope Leo XIV

Valentina di Giorgio

Zelenskyy highlighted this dimension after the meeting, thanking the Pope for his continued prayers and for the Holy See’s assistance. He confirmed that the Vatican remains involved in efforts to reunite abducted children with their families and added that he had invited the Pope to visit Ukraine

A Tested Church in a Tense Land: Beijing’s Recognition of a Detained Bishop Rekindles Debate Over the Vatican–China Deal

ZENIT Staff

Whether the events of December ultimately strengthen trust or deepen mistrust within China’s Catholic circles will depend on what follows: the transparency of authorities regarding Bishop Zhang’s status

Here’s what you need to know about the new “Google of the Vatican”: the Pontifical Yearbook Online blessed by Pope Leo XIV

Jorge Enrique Mújica

Beyond the technical details lies a more consequential development: a Church of more than a billion people now has immediate access to its own structural map, updated continually and accessible from virtually any corner of the world

2025 Became The Death Year For Thousands Of Churches

 
Dec 11, 2025
In towns across rural America, churches aren't just places of worship. They're the heartbeat of the community. However, that pulse is fading as thousands close nationwide. Nationally, as many as 15,000 churches could close this year alone, with the National Council of Churches estimating 100,000 closures in the coming years. Mainline Protestant and Catholic parishes are being hit hardest. In Gates County, North Carolina, several churches have closed their doors. Yet one congregation seems to be opening its doors wider, finding revitalization while many suffer. "We're in a small town, everybody knows everybody — you live in a fishbowl if you are a pastor here," said Pastor Eric Earhart of The Upper Room Assembly.

Thursday, December 11, 2025

100 years ago today Our Lady appeared to Fatima visionary Sister Lucia in Pontevedra, Spain

Venezuelan authorities prevent Cardinal Porras from traveling, cancel passport 

On Dec. 10 Venezuelan immigration police confiscated and invalidated the passport of Cardinal Baltazar Porras, the archbishop emeritus of Caracas.

100 years ago today Our Lady appeared to Fatima visionary Sister Lucia in Pontevedra, Spain

Today, Dec. 10, marks the 100th anniversary of the apparitions of the Virgin Mary to Sister Lucia of Fatima in Pontevedra province in Spain.
U.S. House passes defense bill stripped of IVF provision

The House passed a defense authorization bill Dec. 10 without a provision to allow health care coverage of in vitro fertilization for active-duty military. 
Top health officials delayed abortion pill safety review, report claims 

Pro-life advocates are calling for action as top health officials deny reports that they are delaying a promised safety review of the abortion pill. 
Rights group hails release of 100 children abducted from Nigerian Catholic school

Christin Solidarity Worldwide has welcomed the release of 100 school children, who were among 303 children abducted on Nov. 21 from St. Mary’s Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools.

Half of the world’s population lives in just seven countries

Many religions are heavily concentrated in a few countries
Pew Research Center: Half of the world’s population lives in just seven countries. But some of the world’s religious groups are even more concentrated than that.

Christ Church at 50: How Doug Wilson pushed Christian nationalism to the center
Religion News Service: The pastor, celebrating 50 years in his pulpit, has never had more influence than he does under the current presidential administration.

What 38 million obituaries reveal about how Americans define a ‘life well lived’
The Conversation: Obituaries preserve what families most want remembered about the people they cherish most. Across time, they also reveal the values each era chose to honor.

Lobster Jesus: Sacrilege or the most New England Nativity ever?
Religion News Service: Inspired by Cape Cod cuisine and a beloved holiday movie, the Lobster Nativity portrays the characters of the Christmas story as crustaceans.

Zoning Islam out
ARC: In suburban Long Island, a seven-year battle over parking and congestion masked a fight over who belongs in Bethpage — and how far towns can go to keep Muslim houses of worship from growing.

We continue with the Third Sunday of Advent

 


Our Lady of Guadalupe is venerated as the Patroness of the Americas