An Important Discussion With Bishop Strickland

JUST IN: Bishop Strickland expands on his USCCB speech.

“Do we believe what the Church teaches or not?”

He speaks to me about his @USCCB intervention this week, Fr James Martin, & the Church's teaching on the 6th commandment.@BishStrick @PerMariam pic.twitter.com/4OsFvb1ehY

— Michael Haynes 🇻🇦 (@MLJHaynes) November 14, 2025

A Heartfelt Plea To US Catholic Bishops

An Open Letter to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops 

Your Excellencies,

In light of your repeated public condemnations of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, I feel compelled to speak plainly. And I do so as a lifelong Catholic and a graduate of a unapologetically Catholic university.

Many of your statements suggest that any attempt to enforce the border or uphold immigration law is somehow un-Christian. That is not what the Church teaches, and it is not what basic honesty requires. Failure to distinguish between legal and illegal immigration is inherently dishonest.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church is clear:

• “Political authorities… may make the exercise of the right to immigrate subject to various juridical conditions.” (CCC 2241)

• “The common good requires peace, security, and order.” (CCC 1909)

Those lines don’t come with an asterisk. They affirm that nations—ours included—have both the right and the duty to secure their borders, regulate immigration, ensure the safety of their citizens and preserve their national identity. 

There should be no doubt whatsoever about this. Indeed, Venerable Pope Pius XII declared: "It is quite legitimate for nations to treat their differences as a sacred inheritance and protect them at all costs." Those difference include our unique history, traditions, culture, language and yes -- our borders. The Church has never taught open borders, and she certainly has never held that compassion means ignoring lawlessness or abandoning prudence.

Yet your public commentary often sounds as though any firm border enforcement policy is automatically immoral, while the chaos, exploitation, and violence surrounding the border crisis are treated as secondary concerns. And many Catholics can’t help but notice something else: the hierarchy seems to be far less vocal when American citizens suffer horrific crimes at the hands of individuals who should not have been in this country at all.

• Where were the strong statements when families lost loved ones to drunk drivers who had been deported multiple times?
• Where was the episcopal outcry when young women were assaulted, raped and/or murdered by repeat border crossers?
• Where were the pastoral letters when fentanyl—trafficked across a lawless border—killed tens of thousands in our communities?

This apparent silence is hard to ignore. And it leads many faithful Catholics to wonder whether the suffering of their own families and neighborhoods counts for less in your moral calculus than the political narratives surrounding immigration. Worse yet, it appears to align you with destructive nihilist causes that are at odds with the Church's fundamental moral teachings on issues such as the right to life and the sanctity of the family. 

Surely, you must understand the potential consequences of your actions. The truth is simple: charity does not require naïveté. Compassion does not mean abandoning common sense. And the call to welcome the stranger does not erase the state’s obligation—explicitly affirmed in Catholic teaching—to protect its citizens and maintain lawful order.

Your Excellencies, we need you to present the full teaching of the Church, not only the parts that fit comfortably into contemporary activism or appear to be in harmony with a convenient and sadly, politicized interpretation of social justice.  Immigration enforcement is a matter of prudential judgment, where faithful Catholics—and public officials—may legitimately disagree. Refusing to recognize this misleads the faithful and undermines your own credibility.

I urge you to restore balance, clarity, and fairness to the Church’s public witness on this issue. The stakes—for our nation and our communities—are too high for anything less.

Respectfully yet firmly, 

Daniel A. Cirucci

Philly Mayor Should Cancel 'Palestine Day'

From the Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Zionist Organization of America:

The Greater Philadelphia Chapter of the Zionist Organization of America calls on Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker to cease facilitating and participating in anti-Jewish, anti-Israel activities that endanger the Jewish People and misrepresent historic and current events. We have sent Mayor Parker a letter asking her to cancel an event, withdraw her proclamation and put an end to the city’s official anti-Jewish activity.

 

On Nov.24, Mayor Parker is scheduled to host the “5th Annual Philadelphia Palestine Day” event in the Mayor’s Reception Room in City Hall and issue a proclamation in support. This is five days prior to “International Day of Solidarity with the ‘Palestinian’ People,” an annual United Nations event to in-effect delegitimize the UN’s authorization of the Jewish state of Israel. UN Resolution 181, approved Nov. 29, 1947, called for a Jewish state and an Arab state – a two-state solution” in British Mandate Palestine. The Arab League rejected the proposal while the Jews accepted it.

 

We have observed Palestinians and their supporters holding signs and wearing garb and jewelry in Philadelphia that depict all of Israel as “Palestine,” clearly showing a desire to eliminate the Jewish state of Israel. The Jewish state of Israel is a friend and indispensable ally of the United States. Zionism is the Jewish People’s self-determination movement and central to Judaism.

 

Philadelphia’s libraries, under the jurisdiction of Mayor Parker, frequently host events targeting children that reject the Jewish state of Israel. Officials and teachers in the School District of Philadelphia – which Mayor Parker is directly responsible for (she appoints the school board)  –indoctrinate students with anti-Israel propaganda.

 

In addition, Mayor Parker allows those who celebrate the murder of Jews and who call for more such violence to use Philadelphia City Hall grounds to foment even more Jew-hatred. Since when is the promotion and condoning of murder and violence acceptable in the City of Brotherly Love?

 

In a period of unprecedented levels of anti-Jewish attacks, persecution and violence – including murders – Mayor Parker must speak out against haters and their hatred and lies, not foment it.

 

We understand there is a significant and influential Arab community in Philadelphia, and we understand that Arabs are part of the tapestry of Philadelphia – as are Jews. Yet by celebrating “Palestine Day in Philadelphia” around Nov. 29, it sends an ominous message: A direct attack against the city’s Jews, our rights and our history.

 

Mayor Parker: We ask that you: Cancel the Nov. 24 event in your Reception Room, withdraw your proclamation, stop schools from teaching material that is both anti-fact and anti-Jewish, and stop allowing the libraries to warp young minds and foment Jew-hatred! Stop the Jew-Hatred BEFORE there is a calamity here!

 

Greater Philadelphia ZOA welcomes an opportunity to discuss these matters with Mayor Parker. For a copy of our letter to Mayor Parker, or to interview a Greater Philadelphia ZOA representative, please contact Executive Director Steve Feldman at 610-660-9466 or office@zoaphilly.org

Melania Trump Launches 'Fostering The Future'

First Lady Melania Trump successfully organized a new Executive Order entitled, “Fostering the Future for American Children and Families.”

Under Mrs. Trump’s leadership, this unprecedented presidential order unites Federal resources with innovative public- and private-sector partnerships to provide more pathways to success for young people who have experienced foster care.

The First Lady joined President Donald J. Trump at today’s historic signing ceremony at the White House.

The Executive Order on Fostering the Future for American Children and Families contains the following provisions that have been central to Mrs. Trump’s focus as First Lady, among others geared toward maximizing strategic partnerships with Americans of faith and modernizing the child welfare system:

• Fostering the Future Pledge & Future Commitments: Establishes a Fostering the Future program to secure government, private-industry, nonprofit, and academic partners’ commitments for new educational and employment pathways for youth transitioning out of foster care;

  
  

• Online Resource and Planning Hub: Authorizes the creation of a Fostering the Future online platform for current and former foster youth to develop customized plans for their self-sufficiency and success by connecting them with critical resources;

  
  

• Increased Access to Federal Support: Increases access to Education and Training Vouchers and federal grants to support more time-limited and credentialed programs that promote educational success, workforce advancement, and financial literacy for young people transitioning out of care; and

  
  

• Expanded Educational Opportunities: Expands educational opportunities by facilitating state use of scholarship programs funded by tax-credited donations to scholarship-granting organizations for children in foster care.

As a result of this new executive order, and as part of First Lady Melania Trump’s Fostering the Future initiative, public and private-sector partners can make commitments to expand access to mentorships, scholarships, technology, and workforce training for youth who have experienced foster care. These pledges will reflect a shared national effort to ensure every young person has the tools to build a strong and independent future.

The following Federal partners announced new commitments as part of this effort:

• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): In addition to implementing the directives of the Fostering the Future Executive Order, the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) will also launch a Fostering the Future-aligned initiative to keep children safely with their families and reduce unnecessary entries into foster care while also increasing the availability of foster homes for children and youth. ACF will also announce a new pilot program to donate decommissioned federal laptops to youth in foster care to help bridge the digital divide and increase access to online resources that are critical for a successful transition to adulthood.

  
  

• The U.S. Department of Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: These Departments are committed to hosting a series of roundtables across the country to learn from youth transitioning from foster care about unique obstacles to financial literacy and opportunities to support them on a pathway to sustained financial well-being. These Departments will establish policies and programs to help ensure that the transition process from foster care includes a strong financial literacy foundation. An initial statement of findings from the roundtables will be made available in Spring 2026.

  
  

• U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM): OPM announced a new opportunity for youth and young adults who have been in foster care to obtain federal jobs via the Pathways Programs – a special federal government hiring authority for early career talent. In consultation with youth who have experienced foster care, OPM will collaborate with federal agencies to identify internships and early-career employment that provide hands-on experience in government. To strengthen readiness for public service, OPM will build a dedicated applicant portal and incorporate a speaker series and other professional development activities to help participants build skills, networks, and confidence to succeed in the range of opportunities available through federal service.

Private-sector organizations looking to join First Lady Melania Trump in supporting Fostering the Future, are invited to sign the Fostering the Future Pledge at WhiteHouse.Gov/FosteringTheFuture.

First Lady Melania Trump established Fostering the Future in 2021. Fostering the Future, a Be Best initiative, offers scholarships at the university and college levels to individuals within the foster care community. Scholarship recipients acquire essential knowledge vital for obtaining an entry-level position, ultimately leading to financial independence.

Melania Trump’s Fostering the Future’s distinguished participating universities include, but are not limited to Vanderbilt University, University of Miami, Villanova University, Florida University, and Oral Roberts University.

Full text of First Lady Melania Trump’s remarks, as prepared for delivery:

It's truly inspiring to see everyone gathered here together, united in support of this remarkable initiative and community.  As I stand here and observe the audience, I recognize the vital importance of each one of you—to this mission—to our future generations.

In particular, I would like to thank the cabinet secretaries, congress members, scholarship donors, and various organizations for their unending advocacy.

A special thank you to my husband for his enduring commitment to Fostering the Future.  The President has prioritized America’s foster care children, and shortly, he will sign our Fostering the Future Executive Order.

Too many people from the foster care community end up homeless, in danger on America’s streets.

It was 2021 when I developed the idea to establish an impactful platform with an important mission: to provide individuals from the foster care community the ability to secure an entry-level job position, and in turn… financial independence.

Fostering the Future, a Be Best initiative, provides individuals from the foster care community with technology-based scholarships to attend colleges and universities throughout America.  Fostering the Future sets these individuals on their career paths, but more significantly, it equips each scholarship recipient with a fundamental foundation of knowledge that will endure throughout their lifetimes.

Permanency for those who embody the fleeting.

I applaud the American Universities that have joined my mission—institutions like Vanderbilt University, University of Miami, and Villanova University.

Following graduation, scholarship recipients from my program are prepared to enter the workforce, and, ultimately, become leading executives. Predictably, they will manage thousands of employees and generate significant value for American communities—through job creation, access to healthcare, food security, and other societal benefits.

This Executive Order, “Fostering the Future for American Children and Families,” gives me tremendous pride. It is both, empathetic and strategic. It will certainly be impactful.

It aims to establish a comprehensive network connecting federal departments and agencies, private sector businesses, higher-learning institutions, and charitable organizations. This will create new educational and employment opportunities countrywide. Our faith-based organizations will continue playing a vital and consequential role.

My hope, of course, is that this level of coordinated collaboration will sustain. But today, I call on leadership from these various organizations, including the private sector, to join my effort. Rise above the ease of inaction.

I predict this small spark today will ignite a profound and lasting nationwide movement. Our united resolve will foster a thriving future filled with compassion and innovation.

Together, we will illuminate the pathway for today’s foster children to become tomorrow’s builders.

And tomorrow’s builders will foster the future of America’s legacy.

This Is Outrageous - And UNACCEPTABLE!

 

A Dazzling (But Fleeting) Array Of Priceless Art!

Right now at Sotheby's spectacular new Manhattan headquarters in what was once the Whitney Museum, you can find one of the greatest collections of art treasures in the world with rarely seen works by Picasso, van Gogh, Klimt, Warhol, Gaugin, Matisse, Basquiat, Kahlo, Dali, Ernst, Magritte, Monet, Rothko, Miro, Nevelson and many more. 

Many of these seemingly priceless works (they'll all soon be auctioned off for zillions of dollars) are from the collections of Leonard Lauder and Cindy and Jay Pritzker. The scope and breadth of these collections is nothing less than dazzling. We walked through this extraordinary exhibition yesterday, arriving before a long line began to form outside Sotheby's. 

What's the rush? These masterpieces will all be gone by next Saturday, November 22. They will all be sold to the highest bidders and most if not all of them will fall back into private hands, perhaps never to be seen again.

Just for you, we took some photos. Enjoy!

Fetterman: Lefties Far Meaner Than The Right

🚨NEW: John Fetterman *STUNS* CNN's Dana Bash by telling her how Left crueler than Right🚨

FETTERMAN: "The Right would say really rough things and names ... but on the Left, it was like they want me to die or that 'We're cheering for your next stroke' ... they even have a gif… pic.twitter.com/iMRyVTssgs

— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) November 12, 2025

OMG! Gotta See Absolutely WILD Video!

Still A Beautiful And Inspiring Story!

And Now, MORE Bad News For NJ Republicans!

Can it get any worse?  -- YES, and it does!

Democrat Pulkit Desai, a U.S. Marine combat veteran, has been elected mayor of Parsippany. He defeated Republican incumbent James Barberio by 77 votes after all provisionals and VBMs were counted.