James Asquith’s News Tips
"Prolong the joy of Christmas by serving others" urges Francis CATHOLIC HERALD
"Society needs you" — Pope Francis tells large families CATHOLIC HERALD
Pope: Grandparents are fundamental to families and to society VATICAN INSIDER
Father Lombardi: Pope Francis’ year in review — Father Federico Lombardi highlights some of the events that have made 2014 an extremely busy and significant year for Pope Francis VATICAN NEWS
NORTH AMERICA
North Korea blames Obama for internet outage FN
Police turn their backs on Mayor de Blasio during funeral for fallen NYPD cop — Police union officials have accused the mayor of fostering a climate of mistrust that contributed to the killings of Officer Ramos and his partner FN
Anti-police protesters plan to disrupt New Year’s Eve celebrations — Anti-police protesters are planning to disrupt New Year’s Eve celebrations at major metropolitan sites. The website Stop Mass Incarceration calls upon activists to not allow New Years Eve 2015 “to go down" because business as usual in "Amerikkka" includes "wanton police murder of Black people” BREITBART
While pro-abortionists join forces with gay activists against conservative society, radical Muslims seek out restless African-Americans in an effort to "boost" their anti-authority campaign BREITBART
Baby Jesus replaced with pig’s head in Massachusetts nativity scene — Police in Haverhill, Massachusetts are trying to find who is responsible for stealing the baby Jesus from a Nativity scene outside a local church, and replacing it with a real pig’s head FN
Pope Francis has an American problem — The Pope’s US trip will reveal the rift between him and his conservative bishops MACLEANS
"If you ain’t black then you don’t need to be talking" — More on the racial tensions revisiting America BREITBART
Orthodox nun condemns Muslim faith while Catholic nuns decry, ‘Sister, that’s enough’ — An Orthodox Christian nun, Sister Hatune Dogan, is struggling finding a location that will allow her to speak on the atrocities she has witnessed in the Middle East and around the globe. Though Sister Hatune has spent her life helping Christians who have been persecuted, and helped countless people in need, the nun has found that her message is not welcome in many communities (Well done Sister, may God bless you. And I apologize for the less-than-Scriptural response from our Church) INQUISITR
New Tylenol ad pushes lesbianism — A new commercial released by the popular pharmaceutical company Tylenol features a lesbian twosome, along with the ex-husband of one of the women, who raise their children together as a family (Remember earlier in 2014 the staff questionnaire issued by Goldman Sachs employees asking if they endorsed homosexual relationships? Then Burger King gave away "gay burgers" at San Francisco’s gay pride march. According to some in Washington, the current US administration made it clear some time ago that corporate America was to "go gay" if they wanted to court government approval) CHRISTIAN NEWS
“A great day for all of the Catholic Church” — First Maronite Catholic ordination in Pacific Northwest PATHEOS
LATIN AMERICA
Third priest is killed in southern Mexico — A third Roman Catholic priest has been killed in Mexico during a series of abductions and attacks against clerics. The priest was found dead from a gunshot wound to the head in Mexico’s southern Guerrero state, his diocese said Friday. Father Gregorio Lopez Gorostieta’s death marks the latest in a series of abductions, attacks and highway robberies against Roman Catholic clerics in the state, which is dominated by drug cartels DAILY MAIL
Mexican soldier kills wife and six children at Christmas BREITBART
ISRAEL
Palestinian activists hurled a firebomb onto the balcony of an apartment in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Armon Nanatziv, causing damage but no injuries — The owners of the apartment were in the their living room at the time of the attack, and quickly put out the flames before their home caught fire ISRAEL TODAY
Hamas says "We will liberate Palestine and Jerusalem" — "A strong Turkey means a strong Palestine .. Inshallah, God is with us on the road to victory" (Turkey’s role as a haven for Islamic fundamentalism continues!) YNET
Hamas blocks orphans from visiting Israel — Hamas barred 37 Palestinian war orphans from Gaza from entering Israel as part of a one-week humanitarian visit on Sunday. The terror group claimed that the trip would interfere with the children’s education and constitute “normalization” with the Jewish state BIN
Israeli museum unveils ancient Jewish prayer book — A museum in Israel has unveiled what it says in the oldest known Jewish prayer book in the world, dating back to the 9th century A.D. The prayer book, about 4 inches long and 2 3/4 inches wide, is written in Hebrew, contains about 50 pages, and is still in its original binding. It was donated to the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem by Oklahoma businessman Steve Green, of Hobby Lobby, a devout Christian and owner of one of the largest collections of rare biblical artifacts in the world YN
RUSSIA
Russia steps in to support Kim Jong Un — Russia recently offered its support to North Korea following US allegations that the Asian country was behind an attack on Sony. Russia has said that US claims were unfounded and that America’s response to the attack was "counterintuitive" CHRISTIAN TIMES
Remembering the Russian priest who fought the Orthodox Church — He defied the atheism of communism and the empty religious practices of Putinism. With Father Gleb Yakunin’s death on Christmas, Russia has lost a liberal voice of conscience TDB
Is Putin building the next Noah’s Ark? — Plans afoot for a great repository of animal DNA JERUSALEM POST
Putin’s cronies line up to take advantage of selective import restrictions REUTERS
RECOMMENDED ON ALETEIA
"What was God thinking" by the Canonry of St. Leopold asks us to consider the significance of the Nativity and points out: "Of course, the Holy Family, with the matchless examples of humility and gentleness, which Mary and Joseph show forth in a preeminent way, becomes a real and much-needed guide to how we can live in our own families; their example together with this Feast, which holds them and their life of sacrifice and faithfulness up for our edification, become the guiding light of our life in our families." ALETEIA
BRITAIN & IRELAND
Royal Family provide more moral leadership than the Archbishop of Canterbury, poll finds DAILY MAIL
More madness from the EU as Christmas crackers are redefined as fireworks! — (The sooner Britain extricates itself from the EU monster, the better) BREITBART
Al-Qaeda urges "lone wolf" jihadists to strike British airlines DAILY MAIL
Village church forced to soften its chimes after being banned from pealing through the night because it was "damaging to health" — (So, all of a sudden, after 117 years of merrily ringing away, the bells of St. Mary’s are now a health hazard? It’s just pathetic, and matched only but the insipid kowtowing response of the church!) DAILY MAIL
Royal guards moved behind gates to stave off Islamic "lone wolf" threats BREITBART
Police State Britain: Innocent driver thrown in police cell for simply beeping at police car. Then handcuffed and DNA-tested and subjected to a six-month legal ordeal DAILY MAIL
The New Britain: Man banned for life from Eurostar for requesting stronger tea! DAILY MAIL
UK bishops compare defenders of Catholic moral discipline to ancient rigorist heretics — At almost the same moment that Cardinal Raymond Burke said in an interview that those defending Catholic moral teaching – and the practice of barring people in irregular sexual unions from receiving Communion – are being marginalized within the Church, the Catholic bishops of England and Wales have issued a document for clergy that all but accuses such Catholics of the ancient Donatist heresy. In a “Reflection Document for Clergy,” the English bishops appear to follow the line of Cardinal Walter Kasper and his followers, saying, “It is not for us to make rash or premature conclusions” about people living in sexual sin (Oh dear!) LIFE SITE
Bishop MacDaid encourages prayer on the Feast of the Holy Family in preparation for the 2015 Synod on the Family ICBC
EUROPE
Rescuers still struggling to save passengers from burning ferry TIME
Six feared dead after ships collide off Italian coast IRISH INDEPENDENT
Massive secret Nazi weapons testing facility "discovered" in Austria DAILY MAIL
AFRICA
Boko Haram blamed in 23 Cameroon deaths — At least 23 people were killed in a Boko Haram attack in the Mozogo district in Cameroon’s Far North Region, an official has said CNN
Extremist leader of notorious al-Shabab terrorist group surrenders — Al-Shabab leader with $3 million bounty on his head surrenders in Somalia DAILY MAIL
Islamist gunmen say they deliberately targeted "Christian enemies" at Christmas CHRISTIAN TODAY
Libya’s largest oil port ablaze after rebels launch rocket strikes amid warnings the country could descend into chaos DAILY MAIL
What is it like serving as a missionary in a war-torn country dubbed the "worst place in the world to be a woman?" CHRISTIAN POST
Egyptian Coptic Christian teen found dead — A 13-year old-Christian girl abducted by armed men in Libya has been found dead in a suspected religiously motivated attack, according to local reports CHRISTIAN TODAY
Egypt bans "Exodus" movie claiming historical inaccuracies — (This is what so-called Christian nations in the West should have done. Fat chance!) BIN
MIDDLE EAST
Shocking moment disillusioned 14-year-old recruit has bomb vest removed after handing himself in to guards rather than blowing up Baghdad mosque DAILY MAIL
ISIS kills Iranian General VOA
ISIS killing members who want out INQUIRER
ASIA & FAR EAST
Missing AirAsia jet liner could be at bottom of sea REUTERS
Indonesia’s President asks for prayers for missing airliner — and Pope Francis offers prayers for AirAsia plane in St. Peter’s Square yesterday CHARISMA
Bomb blast in Bangalore — Police suspect ISIS sympathizers IBT
In Pakistan, "living the faith is a new challenge every day" CNA
Thai bishops declare Holy Year of prayer for a New Pentecost — Thai Catholic bishops have declared a “Holy Year” aimed at restoring the fervor of a New Evangelization and commemorating the 350th anniversary of the first Synod of Ayutthaya in Thailand CNA
China announces plan to "root out illegal religious activities" — Bob Fu, a Chinese minister tortured and imprisoned for his faith has said that Christians were seeing the worst cultural persecution in China since the Cultural Revolution (While a form of Catholicism is permitted in China, we should not remain silent concerning the fate of non-Catholic denominations. Yes, we have differences in doctrine, but God requires us to act with love towards others who profess Christ, and each time we fail to do so, we reject Christ Himself) CHRISTIAN TODAY
Gmail now blocked in China — Google’s Gmail has reportedly been blocked by the "Great FireWall of China!" TDB
South Korea proposes talks with North — South Korea proposed to hold renewed talks with North Korea next month, offering to tackle a range of issues including a "peaceful unification," a top official said Monday TDB
FAMILY MATTERS
Ten-year-old girl groomed through tablet by perverts despite her parents taking "all sensible safety measures" DAILY MAIL
US government tells school children to attend the single-gender classes they feel most drawn to! — The US Department of Education has directed federally-funded schools nationwide to allow students to be placed in classes that align with their “gender identity” when it comes to placement in single-sex classrooms (Well this supports the US government’s push for school children to walk in and out of each others toilets depending on which gender they have allocated themselves that day. I suppose this latest directive is already part of US legislation?) CHRISTIAN NEWS
BBC viewers complain about corporation’s "gay agenda" — BBC viewers have slammed the corporation for promoting a "gay agenda," an investigation by the BBC Trust has revealed DAILY MAIL
Eight types of women Christian men should never marry CHARISMA
Church hospitals facing dilemma of addressing the matter of benefits to homosexuals — The spread of gay marriage is forcing universities and hospitals affiliated with conservative churches to face whether they’re now obligated to offer health benefits to spouses of gay and lesbian employees ICH
Members of Congress: Abortion funding breaks health care law promise — More than 75 members of Congress have written the Obama administration emphasizing that abortion coverage must be billed separately under the health care law, as it was promised CNA
Planned Parenthood teams up with gay activists for door-to-door campaign pushing abortion (Birds of a feather – as if we didn’t know!) LIFE SITE
ADDITIONAL
The real "war on Christmas": it’s not what you think it is — The “war on Christmas” isn’t just about atheists whining about nativity scenes. It manifests itself everywhere in our culture’s rebellion against self-sacrifice, truth, and beauty LIFE SITE
As North Dakota oil town booms, a priest steadies the newcomers — The sole priest in the only Catholic church for a 20 miles around, Father Gross provides the staples of parish life: Mass seven times a week, confession whenever requested, religious education classes, baptism, first communion. He has begun a discussion group for men, made himself a regular at the town’s nine-hole golf course, and tossed down the occasional shot of tequila with Mexican parents celebrating a child’s baptism NEW YORK TIMES
