4 Ways Porn Will Ruin Your Sex Life

A couple of years ago, Huffington Post published an article with this title: "5 Reasons Why Watching Porn Together Can Be Good For Your Relationship." Their reasons?

Papal aides say prosperity gospel is distorted take on the ‘American Dream’

After publishing a highly controversial essay in July 2017 alleging the existence of an “ecumenism of hate” between Catholics and Evangelicals in the U.S., close papal confidantes Fr. Antonio Spadaro SJ and Marcelo Figueroa in a new article issue a scathing critique of the “prosperity gospel,” which they say is based on a reductionist view of the American Dream.

In the new essay, run July 18 in the Jesuit-run magazine “La Civilta Cattolica,” which is directed by Spadaro, the authors argue that the prosperity gospel, rooted in late 19th century America, is closely tied to the Protestant Evangelical movement in the U.S., and sees power, wealth and success as the result of one's faith, while poverty and misfortune are signs of a lack of faith.

The Shocking Reason Some People Don't Get Slain in the Spirit

When talking to the leadership team at Catch the Fire in Toronto, they confirmed that when they pray for people, not everyone is slain in the Spirit. For those who don't know, being slain in the Spirit is falling over (generally backward), when someone is in front of you praying for you. The understanding is that the Holy Spirit is coming upon them and this weakens them so they fall down, and then normally they rest under the Spirit's power as they lay on the floor and He ministers to them.

My questions was: "Is it the left-brainers who don't get slain in the Spirit?"

They paused and thought for a moment and then said, "Yes, it is the left-brainers who don't fall down."

The One Dream Symbol You Should Never Interpret Figuratively

A fundamental principle we must always remember about dreams is that they are not usually literal; they are most often symbolic. They are pictures that represent something else, thus need to be interpreted. That is true with most dreams, and with most symbols, except for numbers. Every time in the Bible that someone had numbers in their dreams, those figures represented the exact same number in waking life. However, the number will probably be linked to something which needs to be interpreted symbolically.

For example, when Joseph dreamed of 11 stars, the 11 was literal, but the stars were symbolic and actually represented his brothers. Joseph was dreaming about his 11 brothers (Gen. 37:1-11). Likewise, the cupbearer's dream of three branches stood for three days (Gen. 39:12), and for the chief baker, the three baskets represented three days (Gen. 39:18). In Pharaoh's dream, the seven cows were seven years (Gen. 41:26).

Embryo gene-editing poses inescapable ethical problems, critic says

Genetic editing of human embryos, even in special circumstances, ignores the complex ethical problems related to creating and destroying human embryos, a Catholic bioethicist has said.
“On first glance, genetic editing of human embryos to treat diseases seems like a laudable project. But the reality is far more complex,” Father Tadeusz Pacholczyk, director of education of the National Catholic Bioethics Center, stated.

The most likely approach for genetic modification of an embryo or embryos would require their creation through in vitro fertilization, said Fr. Pacholzyck, who holds a doctorate in neuroscience. This step “violates their human dignity and ‘objectifies’ them.”

Suicide Bomber Kills 128

A suicide bomber killed 128 people at an election rally in southwestern Pakistan in the second election-related attack on Friday, officials said, amid growing tensions over ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif's return ahead of the July 25 vote.

The bombing was the most deadly attack in Pakistan in over three years and is the third incident of election-related violence this week.

Are Misguided Pastors to Blame for This Godless Liberty?

Just 10 days after the Americans celebrate their Revolution, the French celebrate theirs, on Bastille Day, July 14.

The two revolutions could not have been more different. The Americans honored God in their Declaration of independence. The French, on the other hand, adopted the atheistic, anti-Christian values of the French Enlightenment and set out to eradicate God from public life. Churches were closed, priests were persecuted, and the calendar was remade without any Christian holidays. To replace the Virgin Mary, the revolutionary leaders invented the atheistic "Goddess of Liberty," which became the emblem of godless liberty.

WHO Recognizes Sex Addiction as a Mental Health Disorder

The World Health Organization (WHO) has now classified compulsive sexual behavior—commonly called sex addiction—as a mental health disorder.

While the impacts of sex addiction have long affected relationships, it is now included in WHO's International Classification Diseases list (known as ICD-11).

The deep roots of Portugal's Marian devotion

When the Virgin Mary appeared to three shepherd children in Fatima in 1917, Portugal had already acclaimed Mary as their reigning Queen for hundreds of years. After the coronation of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception as “Queen of Portugal” by King João IV in 1646, no Portuguese monarch ever wore a crown again.

The history of exceptional Marian devotion near Fatima dates back even further.

5 Signs You're a Man of True Conviction

I get motion sick pretty easily. In fact, all it normally takes is for me to be put in the backseat of a car. So, when my family went on a cruise I was a little nervous. However, I was assured that the ship was so big that it would take a lot of rough seas to cause significant movement. Well, our first night had a lot of crosswinds. Everywhere I tried to walk, it felt like the ground was moving. I kept feeling myself getting pushed right and left, several times almost losing my footing. I finally got dizzy and had to go lay down for the rest of the night.

This is what it's like for men who lack conviction— strong convictions about their identity (who they are), what they believe, and morality. They lack solid footing, constantly getting pushed around by the cultural waves of moral relativism and a low sense of self. In his book Dangerous Good, author Kenny Luck talks about the need for men to be a force in the world for good. He believes God has created each of us with purpose. In order to know your purpose, you have to have conviction. Do you have it? From Kenny Luck's book, here are five signs you are a man of conviction.

Conservatives Report Having Greater Purpose in Life Compared to Liberals, Study Finds

Conservatives report having a greater meaning in their lives when compared to liberals, according to findings from five studies.

David Newman of the University of Southern California authored the study and said he had an interest in older research that found conservatives expressed being more satisfied with their lives, which motivated him to carry out his own research, PsyPost reports.

Cardinal Farrell again says priests have ‘no credibility’ for marriage prep

The Vatican official leading the Church’s office for laity, family, and life has said that priests do not have the credibility or experience to prepare couples for marriage. The official made similar remarks to Catholic leaders in September 2017.

During an interview with the Irish Catholic magazine Intercom, Cardinal Kevin Farrell, prefect of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Laity, Family and Life, said that “priests are not the best people to train others for marriage.”

UK appoints first religious freedom envoy

For the first time, a Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief has been appointed in the UK to promote international religious liberty and fight persecution.

Lord Tariq Mahmood Ahmad, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the United Nations, was selected for the role. Ahmad also serves as the Prime Minister's Special Representative on Preventing Sexual Violence in Conflict.

In the role, Ahmad “will promote the UK’s firm stance on religious tolerance abroad, helping to tackle religious discrimination in countries where minority faith groups face persecution,” the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said in a statement Wednesday.

America's Broken Moral Compass Sending Nation in Wrong Direction

As if proof was necessary, a recent Gallup Poll showed that Americans are holding more permissive views than ever on a variety of cultural and societal issues.

According to Gallup, Americans continue to express an increasingly liberal outlook on what is morally acceptable, with views on several moral issues the most left-leaning they have been to date. The percentages of U.S. adults who believe birth control, divorce, sex between unmarried people, gay or lesbian relations, having a baby outside of marriage, doctor-assisted suicide, pornography and polygamy are morally acceptable practices have tied record highs or set new ones this year.

Vatican publishes norms on consecrated virgins

Almost 50 years after the Church published the new Rite of Consecrated Virginity, the Vatican has issued an instruction on the state of life, its discipline, and the responsibilities of diocesan bishops toward the vocation of consecrated virgins.

The instruction was created in response to requests from bishops for clarity on the role and mission of consecrated virgins, especially following an increase in the number of women discerning the vocation since the revision of the Rite of Consecration, published in 1970 with the approval of Pope Paul VI.
A consecrated virgin is a never-married woman who dedicates her perpetual virginity to God and is set aside as a sacred person who belongs to Christ in the Catholic Church.

What 'Soul' Really Means in 'Love God With All Your Soul'

The Bible commands us to love God with all of our soul—but what does that truly mean? In this video, The Bible Project clarifies common misconceptions—often created by the intermingling of Greek philosophy with Christian living—and explains what the Hebrew word for soul, nephesh, really entails.

Horrific: Parents punch their 30-week unborn baby to death, charges unlikely

The parents of a baby girl who died of catastrophic injuries shortly after birth have been accused of deliberately killing her, according to court documents.

The unnamed couple arrived at Kern Medical in Bakersfield. California to give birth on 24th May. The woman was about 30 weeks pregnant.

Horrendous attack

Medical staff found that the baby girl was suffering from a fractured skull and spinal injuries, "traumatic injuries... that led to the child's death" shortly afterwards. They also noticed "severe bruising" on the woman's stomach, and, suspicious of her explanation that she'd fallen while mopping, called the police.

EWTN to air Fr. Capodanno documentary for 4th of July

EWTN Global Catholic Network will observe America's Independence Day with airings of Called and Chosen: Father Vincent R. Capodanno.

The 90-minute documentary about the life and death of Fr. Capodanno will air on EWTN July 4 at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time. Produced by Jim Kelty, the film won a Gabriel Award at the Catholic Media Conference in June.

12 Ways God Can Speak to You

Skeptics say God doesn't speak anymore. Even some Christians claim God only speaks through the Bible. Really? Did He get laryngitis and lose His voice? Did He change? Did He cease being God? Malachi 3:6 affirms, "For I am the Lord, I do not change." That means if God saved in Bible times, He still saves today. If He healed then, He still heals now. If He spoke to people in the past, He still does.

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Heb. 13:8). The question is not, "Is God still speaking?" The question is, "Are we listening?" Jesus implored all seven churches of Asia, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (Rev. 2:7). Consider these 12 ways God still speaks today:

Trafficking victims' advocate honored by US State Department

A young Nigerian woman who escaped from forced prostitution in Italy was honored by the U.S. State Department last week as a 2018 Trafficking in Persons Hero.

Blessing Okoedion “is an example that through perseverance and support, trafficking victims can overcome, thrive, and help others to do so as well,” said U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See Callista Gingrich in a June 30 statement.

Our Culture Is Drunk on This Corrupting Evil—Here's How to Avoid It

Last week, President Trump visited the U.S. Capitol for a meeting with Republican members of the House of Representatives. Videotape captured the sound of a female Congressional intern yelling an expletive at him from across the other side of the rotunda, as Mr. Trump was walking through the Capitol Building.

The echoed obscene outburst is a current example of prevalent vulgarities in public discourse and the present degradation of the political process. Many modern politicians and political leaders (both men and women) seem unashamed to dish out vile obscenities—in public and in private.

UK court upholds London abortion clinic buffer zone

The High Court of England and Wales ruled Monday that a buffer zone around an abortion facility in the London borough of Ealing is legal, in a move that will likely encourage similar buffer zones in the United Kingdom.

While the ban was found to interfere with the human rights of pro-life protesters, it was ruled July 2 that the local government had a right to decide it was a “necessary step in a democratic society."