For months now, Democrats in various locations have been running on talking points about ‘affordability’ but it is just talking points, nothing more.
The post WHAT HAPPENED TO AFFORDABILITY? Tax Rate in Virginia Poised to Become Highest in the Nation After Democrats Take Over appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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New York City’s new Democratic Socialist (communist) Mayor Zohran Mamdani recently made it clear that the children of people in the country illegally will be included in the city’s new ‘free’ childcare program.
The post Zohran Mamdani Announces That Children of Illegal Aliens Will be Included in City’s ‘Free’ Childcare Program (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
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ICE is all over the news lately, with conflicting reports about what’s actually happening. Many people have been left wondering if ICE agents are upholding the law and keeping Americans safe or perpetrating acts of evil on innocent people.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. — On the heels of the public announcement that the couple was expecting their fourth child this summer, Second Lady Usha Vance gently informed the Vice President that they would not be naming their baby boy "Thomas Bombadil Vance."
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Yellowbar angelfish (Pomacanthus maculosus), Ras Muhammad National Park, Red Sea, Egypt. This marine angelfish is distributed throughout the Persian Gulf, the northwestern Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea south to 19°S. In 2009 it was recorded off the coast of Lebanon in the eastern Mediterranean, probably as a result of Lessepsian migration from the Red Sea through the Suez Canal. Pomacanthus maculosus is found at depths of between 4 and 50 metres (13 and 164 ft). It is a solitary species that lives in sheltered areas, often where there is a mixture of coral and silt. Their diet is dominated by sea sponges and tunicates, although other invertebrates will be eaten opportunistically. The females attain sexual maturity when the reach around 5.5 years of age and a total length of 21.6 centimetres (8.5 in). The maximum longevity is thought to be 36 years old. They are protogynous hermaphrodites and the older females can change sex to become males when there is a shortage of males. The larvae are planktonic. The yellowbar angelfish is occasionally collected for the aquarium trade and in some parts of the Persian Gulf it has been recorded in fish markets.
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O my God, I thank you and I praise
you for accomplishing your holy
and all-lovable will without any regard for mine.
With my whole heart,
in spite of my heart,
do I receive this cross I feared so much!
It is the cross of Your choice,
the cross of Your love.
I venerate it;
nor for anything in the world
would I wish that it had not come,
since You willed it.
I keep it with gratitude and with joy,
as I do everything that comes from Your hand;
and I …
A reading from the Second Book of Samuel
2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27
David returned from his defeat of the Amalekites
and spent two days in Ziklag.
On the third day a man came from Saul’s camp,
with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.
Going to David, he fell to the ground in homage.
David asked him, “Where do you come from?”
He replied, “I have escaped from the camp of the children of Israel.”
“Tell me what happened,” David bade him.
He answered that many of the soldiers had fled the battle
and that many of them had fallen and were dead,
among them Saul and his son Jonathan.
David seized his garments and rent them,
and all the men who were with him did likewise.
They mourned and wept and fasted until evening
for Saul and his son Jonathan,
and for the soldiers of the LORD of the clans of Israel,
because they had fallen by the sword.
“Alas! the glory of Israel, Saul,
slain upon your heights;
how can the warriors have fallen!
“Saul and Jonathan, beloved and cherished,
separated neither in life nor in death,
swifter than eagles, stronger than lions!
Women of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you in scarlet and in finery,
who decked your attire with ornaments of gold.
“How can the warriors have fallen–
in the thick of the battle,
slain upon your heights!
“I grieve for you, Jonathan my brother!
most dear have you been to me;
more precious have I held love for you than love for women.
“How can the warriors have fallen,
the weapons of war have perished!”
From the Gospel according to Mark
3:20-21
Jesus came with his disciples into the house.
Again the crowd gathered,
making it impossible for them even to eat.
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,
for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
For Jesus, what matters above all is reaching out to save those far off, healing the wounds of the sick, restoring everyone to God’s family! And this is scandalous to some people! Jesus is not afraid of this kind of scandal! He does not think of the closed-minded who are scandalized even by a work of healing, scandalized before any kind of openness, by any action outside of their mental and spiritual boxes, by any caress or sign of tenderness which does not fit into their usual thinking and their ritual purity. He wanted to reinstate the outcast, to save those outside the camp (cf. Jn 10). There are two ways of thinking and of having faith: we can fear to lose the saved and we can want to save the lost. Even today it can happen that we stand at the crossroads of these two ways of thinking. The thinking of the doctors of the law, which would remove the danger by casting out the diseased person, and the thinking of God, who in his mercy embraces and accepts by reinstating him and turning evil into good, condemnation into salvation and exclusion into proclamation. (Francis – Homily in the Holy Mass with the new cardinals, 15 February 2015)
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Diocese of Paterson prepares for massive winter storm to hit area #Catholic – 
A severe Arctic cold front threatens to bring up to 14 inches of snow from late Saturday night to Monday afternoon, impacting northeast New Jersey, southern Connecticut, and southeast New York as the Paterson Diocese braces for the storm.
Diocesan parishes, schools, and agencies are preparing to ensure the safety of the faithful and protect Church property ahead of the anxiety-inducing storm. The Arctic blast is expected to plunge area temperatures into the teens during the day and into the single digits at night. The heaviest snow should fall from Sunday morning into early evening, according to the National Weather Service.
The Paterson Diocese, located in northern New Jersey, issued the following statement to the local faith community before the storm:
“In case of emergency weather conditions, please follow State of New Jersey and local travel recommendations and do not attempt to travel until conditions significantly improve. Please check your local parish website or its social media for Mass livestreaming possibilities and giving options.”
So far, Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney has changed one stop on his busy schedule. The opening Catholic Schools Week Mass for the diocese at St. Anthony Parish in Hawthorne, N.J., was moved from Sunday, Jan. 25, to Sunday, Feb. 1 at 8:30 a.m.
Some parishes, such as St. Joseph Parish in West Milford, N.J., have added vigil Masses on Saturday for those not comfortable traveling on Sunday due to the weather. St. Joseph’s scheduled an extra vigil Mass at 6:15 p.m., in addition to its regular 5 p.m. vigil Mass. A few parishes cancelled Masses or religious education classes.
In rural Sussex County, N.J., St. Thomas the Apostle Parish in Sandyston and St. James the Greater Parish in Montague “will figure out how to handle” the storm and its aftereffects, said Father Wayne Varga, pastor of both parishes. Usually, they cancel daytime Masses when local schools close or have delayed openings, or use their best judgment. The parishes are 10 miles apart in the diocese’s most northern part, connected by winding roads
“Everybody is traveling from a distance to Mass. The temperature up here is about five degrees colder than the parishes south of us. That makes a difference whether we get snow or rain,” said Father Varga. He added, “The county plows the main roads well — and quickly. I just hope the storm doesn’t cause any power outages. Each storm is different. People are rugged up there. Many have pick-up trucks and SUVs. They’re concerned but take it in stride.”
The 22 diocesan Catholic schools are ready for whatever the storm throws at them, said Mary Baier, the schools superintendent. Depending on the severity of the storm, schools may close or switch to remote learning on Monday. These schools normally close if their local school district closes, she said.
“If we could get through COVID, we can get through anything. We’re prepared for the storm. We are making sure of everything,” Baier said.
However, the storm could impact more CSW events or other school events on Sunday, as it did with the rescheduled Mass with Bishop Sweeney at St. Anthony’s in Hawthorne. St. Gerard Majella School in Paterson has already postponed its open house for Sunday to Sunday, Feb. 15, at 2:30 p.m.
In urban Passaic County, the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson, N.J., will cancel its 650-student Faith Formation classes for Sunday. However, it will hold regular Masses on that day, regardless of the weather. Msgr. Geno Sylva, St. John’s rector and diocesan vicar for special projects, predicts the storm will drive more people to attend its Spanish and English vigil Masses on Saturday.
If snow-plow crews cannot reach St. John’s during the storm, the parish will be ready with shovels and salt for sidewalks and stairs. Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney still plans to celebrate a Mass for Altagracia at 1 p.m. on Sunday, if he can make it. Msgr. Sylva emphasized that St. John’s top priority is the safety of parishioners. Many travel a great distance for Mass.
On Jan. 21, Richard Ziccardi, the risk manager who oversees the diocese’s Insurance Office, sent a notice to diocesan leaders, cautioning them about the risk of hypothermia and burst pipes due to the impending storm. He said buildings should be heated to 55 degrees or higher to prevent pipes from freezing and bursting. He also said all outdoor hoses should be disconnected, and indoor valves that supply outdoor water should be turned off.
“Be safe. Don’t put your life in jeopardy. If the State of New Jersey declares a state of emergency, don’t drive on the roads at all. Many people are scared, but we’ll know more as the storm gets closer,” Ziccardi said.
For the latest updates on storm preparations in the Paterson Diocese, check back with BeaconNJ.org
– A severe Arctic cold front threatens to bring up to 14 inches of snow from late Saturday night to Monday afternoon, impacting northeast New Jersey, southern Connecticut, and southeast New York as the Paterson Diocese braces for the storm. Diocesan parishes, schools, and agencies are preparing to ensure the safety of the faithful and protect Church property ahead of the anxiety-inducing storm. The Arctic blast is expected to plunge area temperatures into the teens during the day and into the single digits at night. The heaviest snow should fall from Sunday morning into early evening, according to the National Weather
A green and red aurora streams across Earth’s horizon above the city lights of Europe in this Jan. 19, 2026, photograph, which looks north across Italy toward Germany. The International Space Station was orbiting 262 miles above the Mediterranean Sea at approximately 10:02 p.m. local time when the image was captured.
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Jan 23, 2026 / 10:34 am (CNA).
Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley said life is a “precious gift from a loving God” ahead of the 2026 annual March for Life.
O’Malley, archbishop emeritus of Boston, celebrated Mass on Jan. 23 before the March for Life, concluding the annual National Prayer Vigil for Life at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.
“I know that many of you are tired and have made many sacrifices to be here,” O’Malley said. “I assure you, you could not be doing anything more important than being here today. And your presence is not by accident. The Lord in his providence has brought all of us here today.”
The Mass featured prayers for the pro-life movement and provided a moment to strengthen commitment to defending human life ahead of the march.
“Abortion is the greatest moral crisis faced by our country and by our world. It’s a matter of life and death in a very grand scale," O’Malley said. “It’s been a joy and a privilege for me to be at every March for Life here in Washington for the past 53 years.”
“It’s such a joy to be with you here today in this March for Life. This is a pilgrimage for life, and it begins with prayer, here in Mary’s shrine. I thank God for all of you,” he said.
O’Malley spoke about the 2026 March for Life theme: “Life Is a Gift.”
“What a powerful theme,” O’Malley said. “Sadly, life is not always seen as a gift. For some, it seems a burden or a curse.”
The cardinal detailed a recent poll that found “for the very first time in the history of our nation, the majority of Americans say they do not want to have children.” O’Malley called it “an alarming statistic.”
“Life is a gift, a gift given by a loving God,” he said. “Life is beautiful, especially when it is received with gratitude and love.”
We must “love as God loves,” O’Malley said. “We must love first, forgive first, give first. That’s why we’re here in this Mass for life.”
“We’re here because life is a gift. God has given us this precious gift. We must be grateful and express our gratitude by proclaiming the gospel of life,” he said.
O’Malley, who has been active in the pro-life movement for decades, said the opposition once believed the pro-life advocates would “die off,” but “we’re still here, proclaiming the gospel of life.”
“Our mission is not a political crusade. It’s a response to God’s command to love and to care for each other. And God bless us, the crowd is getting younger and younger. You are beautiful,” he said.
To end abortion, “our task is not to judge others but to bring healing,” O’Malley said. We must be “gentle” like Jesus was with “the Samaritan woman, the poor, the tax collector, the adulterous woman, the good thief,” he said.
“Our task is to build a society that takes care of everybody, where every person counts, where every life is important. Political polarization, racism, economic injustice will only continue to fuel abortion in a post-Roe v. Wade world,” O’Malley said.
“Our world is wracked by divisions and violence. Pope Leo is inviting us to be messengers of unity and of peace. But we do not want to get in the way of the message,” O’Malley said.
“Together, we can protect and nurture that gift of life. We must look for opportunities to be apostles of life, building a civilization of love and ethic of care,” he said.
“The antidote to abortion is love. Love manifests in community, compassion, and solidarity. Life is a gift. Every person is a gift. Every person counts. All are important. Our mission is to work so that no child be left behind. Every baby will be welcomed, loved, cared for, nurtured, and protected,” he said.
“Thank God for the gift of life. Thank God for love. Thank God for you,” O’Malley concluded.
EWTN News’ coverage of the 2026 March for Life can be found here.
If you’re attending the March for Life, don’t forget to use #ewtnprolife on all your posts across X, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook!
Want to relive interviews and special moments from the march? Visit ewtnnews.com/watch and subscribe to youtube.com/@EWTNNews for full coverage.
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Jan 23, 2026 / 09:34 am (CNA).
Young Catholics who traveled from across the country for the March for Life started their day singing and praying with the Sisters of Life early Friday morning.
Life Fest 2026 participants gathered at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in Oxon Hill, Maryland, to get energized, sing songs, and receive the sacraments before heading to the National Mall for the March for Life 2026.
The event, organized by the Sisters of Life and Knights of Columbus, began at 6 a.m. with music, pro-life testimonies, and chances to go to confession and venerate the relics of numerous saints. Several nuns played music as a part of the All the Living Band alongside Father Isaiah Marie Hofmann, CFR, while participants in the crowd sang along and clapped.
The crowd included everyone from young children to elderly people, Sisters of Life, Dominican brothers and priests, and the Knights of Columbus, who sponsored the event.
Students from Lansing Catholic High School in Lansing, Michigan, waited in a line to venerate relics of St. Carlos Acutis and St. John Paul II.
The event featured pro-life testimony from women and families who experienced crisis pregnancies and chose life, including the Schachle family, whose son Michael McGivny Schachle, who helped make his namesake a “blessed” through the miracle of his birth.
Schachle’s parents, Michelle and Daniel, gave their testimony while he stood alongside them on stage.
If you’re attending the March for Life, don’t forget to use #ewtnprolife on all your posts across X, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook!
Want to relive interviews and special moments from the march? Visit ewtnnews.com/watch and subscribe to youtube.com/@EWTNNews for full coverage.
Read MoreWhen Pioneer 10 flew by Jupiter on Dec. 3, 1973, its margin of survival was closer to the knife-edge than it seemed. It absorbed a thousand times the lethal dose of radiation for a human, suffering darkened optics and fried transistor circuits. Other unwanted side effects included the generation of false commands, which caused theContinue reading “Jan. 23, 2003: Pioneer 10’s last words”
The post Jan. 23, 2003: Pioneer 10’s last words appeared first on Astronomy Magazine.
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Lassen Volcanic National Park, about a four-hour drive north of San Francisco, feels like a secret getaway.
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Jan 23, 2026 / 06:27 am (CNA).
Archbishop Georg Gänswein says last year's change of popes has brought a "whole new positive dimension" to the Vatican.
"Above all, there has been a change for the better in the atmosphere" with Pope Leo XIV, the Vatican’s nuncio to the Baltic states and Pope Benedict XVI's former secretary told Rudolf Gehrig of EWTN News during a Jan. 20 interview in Vilnius, Lithuania.
Gänswein said he met Leo twice last year, most recently in mid-December.
"Both meetings went very, very well. And the intervening period has made it very clear to me that — to put it somewhat idiosyncratically — normality is slowly returning," he said, calling it a sign for him that "faith and the Holy Spirit are indeed at work."
"I used the term normalization. For me, it is important to see that Pope Leo has simply emphasized some matters that are not new, but which have been completely overlooked in recent years."
Gänswein has been nuncio to Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia, based out of Vilnius, since 2024. The archbishop’s diplomatic post follows 17 years as the personal secretary of Pope Benedict XVI and 11 years as the Vatican’s prefect of the Papal Household.
The nuncio, originally from Germany, also praised Leo's "clear line when it comes to proclaiming the faith," which he does "joyfully and convincingly."
"When you read his catechesis or sermons, you can sense that this is a man who lives and proclaims the faith with an Augustinian spirit," Gänswein said.
The archbishop also addressed the Synodal Way in Germany, also known as the Synodal Path, which is set to hold its sixth and final assembly starting Jan. 29.
Gänswein expressed concern that the process will lead to deeper division in society and the Church, and underlined that any possible reforms must always adhere to established Church teaching.
"Anyone who has followed the events surrounding the Synodal Path from the beginning to the present day can see one important thing, namely that a number of the demands of the Synodal Path lead away from the faith," he said.
"There is no doubt that there is indeed a need to change and reform certain things here and there. I agree with that," the nuncio said. "However, what has been shown so far on the Synodal Path is, for me, clear evidence that this is not about a return to a deepening of the faith, but about a watering down of the faith."
He said any changes cannot differ from the Catholic Church's position on morality, ethics, the sacramental structure of the Church, or the official authority of bishops.
"I can only hope and pray that this wrong path will simply come to an end soon," he added.
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