HOUSTON (CNA) — The Liberty Institute has filed a lawsuit against the Department of Veterans Affairs after it continuously tried to prevent veterans from including prayers in funeral services at the Houston National Cemetery.

“We do know that this is unconstitutional; this violates their rights. We have brought a federal lawsuit, and we hope the government will do the right thing and correct this policy,” said Erin Leu, attorney for the Liberty Institute, in an interview with CNA on June 30.

She said the institute was optimistic that the Southern District Court of Texas will rule in the veterans’ favor and find that the private groups have a “constitutional right to reference God and...READ MORE

Leaders representing 90% of all Christians worldwide issued guidelines on acceptable missionary conduct based on the witness of Christ and the early Church.

“The example and teaching of Jesus Christ and of the early Church must be the guides for Christian mission,” church leaders wrote.

“Christian witness is always a sharing in his witness, which takes the form of proclamation of the Kingdom, service to neighbor and the total gift of self, even if that act of giving leads to the cross.”

The document “Christian Witness in a Multi-Religious World” was issued jointly on June 28 by the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue, the World Council of Churches and the World...READ MORE

WASHINGTON — When The Catholic University of America’s fall session begins, living arrangements for freshman students will be different.

To reduce binge drinking and sexual activity, the university’s President, John Garvey, announced in June the university’s plans to re-implement single-sex residence halls.

“I spoke with the board of trustees about it when I was offered the job,” said Garvey. “I said I wanted to do something different because of our own experience of putting five children through college and knowing what was good for them. At a school like Catholic University of America, we’re concerned not only about forming their minds, but their character, and this was the kind of...READ MORE

Interview with the New Archbishop of Milan, Cardinal Scola - Gerard O’Connell, La Stampa

Human Sexuality & The Catholic Church: The Conjugal Act as a Personal Act - Donald P. Asci, Ignatius Insight

Mormons at Your Door: What to Expect - Joe Heschmeyer, Shameless Popery

A Dangerous Freedom - Rodney Howsare, First Things/On the Square

Gender Matters - Barbara Curtis, Arlington Catholic Herald

. . .gender confusion in boys: how to help. . .

Obama’s Obsession with Sexual Orientation - Austin Ruse, The Catholic Thing

What the Pope Fears - Doctor Robert Moynihan, Catholic Lane

Defense of Marriage in Minnesota - Father John Zuhlsdorf, What Does The Prayer Really Say?

God is Not a Subject...READ MORE

ROME (EWTN News) — After years of decline, Christian numbers in the Holy Land have stabilized and may even be on the way up, according to the Pontifical Mission’s director for Israel and Palestine.

“In recent years I think we have not witnessed any waves of emigration out of the Holy Land,” Sami El-Yousef told EWTN News while on a visit to Rome.

“Actually, we have heard of some Christian families who had emigrated in recent years to the U.S. and Europe for economic reasons that have now actually returned to the Holy Land,” he said.

The Pontifical Mission is the papal organization that supports Christians in a region that has often seen them face poverty, uncertainly and hostility from...READ MORE

Indianapolis — A federal judge has temporarily restored taxpayers’ dollars to Planned Parenthood Indiana (PPIN).But pro-life lawyers and organizations say they are confident the state government’s appeal with prevail, even if it has to go to the Supreme Court.

Planned Parenthood, meanwhile, applauded the decision of federal Judge Tanya Walton Pratt both because her temporary injunction restored a reported $ 1.6 million in annual funding that allowed it to keep open eight businesses in the state and also because the decision was an early indication PPIN could get Indiana’s law thrown out when it returns to court for a permanent injunction.

“This ruling means we can resume providing pap...READ MORE

The Pope’s Tweet: The Medium Is the Message - Tom Hoopes, Crisis Magazine

Church of Milan Helped Me Grow in Life & in Faith (Cardinal Angelo Scola) - Andrea Tornielli, La Stampa/Vatican Insider

Zimbabwe’s “Surprising” AIDS Success - Matthew Hanley, The Catholic Thing

U.S. Military Academy Chaplain: “West Point is One of the World’s Best Seminaries” - Beth Griffin, Catholic News Service

The Church in China Needs Heroes, The Heroes in China Need Prayers - Phil Lawler, CatholicCulture.org/On the News

Father Stefano Gobbi Has Passed Away - Patrick Archbold, Creative Minority Report

Will Someone Please Remind Me Again Why I Find Militant Secularism. . . - Carl Olson, Ignatius Insight Scoop...READ MORE

WASHINGTON (CNA) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has praised State Department action on “LGBT” rights which include support for “Gay Pride” marches and a Lady Gaga concert in Rome. But two critics said U.S. advocacy is “far beyond the mainstream” and risks alienating the Church from social life in Catholic countries.

“The administration has made the LGBT agenda one of the cornerstones of their foreign policy,” said Austin Ruse, president of the Catholic Family and Human Rights Institute. “They have directed their embassies everywhere to monitor and assist domestic homosexual movements whether the host country and their people accept it or not.”

“The U.S. is very powerful and...READ MORE