Piety before politics? Mormon politicians defend ex-Sen. Gordon Smith after video leak

Courtesy image A screen shot from a leaked video showing LDS leaders discussing politics with former Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith. Courtesy image A screen shot from a leaked video showing LDS leaders discussing politics with former Oregon Sen. Gordon Smith.

Twitter reacts to LDS general conference

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held two sessions of its 186th Semiannual General Conference on Saturday. One of the main messages to come out of the morning session , according to our own Tad Walch, was the hope that Mormons share Christian love with the people they meet in life.

At start of shiva, Peres family invites all Israelis to pay respects

Israelis mourn as they visit the grave of former Israeli President Shimon Peres, after his burial ceremony at the Mount Herzl national cemetery in Jerusalem, on September 30, 2016. The family of former president Shimon Peres, who was laid to rest Friday in a state funeral attended by dozens of world leaders, began the Jewish mourning tradition of shiva on Saturday evening.

Mormons gather in Utah to hear guidance from leaders

In this April 2, 2016, file photo, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir performs during the opening session of the two-day Mormon church conference in Salt Lake City. Mormons gather for a twice-yearly conference to hear spiritual guidance from top leaders during a testy presidential election and as society grapples with issues of race and sexuality.

Catholic Organization Warns Members About Tim Kaine’s Radical Roots

Hillary Clinton's running mate Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine believes the Catholic Church will one day accept same sex marriage and women should have unlimited access to abortion, but some Catholic leaders are telling him his views have no place in the church. Brian Burch of Catholic Vote sent a memo out to its 500,000 person organization and about 1,000 Catholic leaders nationwide describing Kaine's embrace of liberation theology during his 1980 trip to Honduras on a supposedly "faith-inspired mission to assist Jesuit missionaries serving peasant farmers."

It Is Time For American Orthodox Christians to Protest Russia’s Persecution of LGBT

The Russian government's shutdown of the country's top LGBT website, BlueSystem, is just the latest entry in its gruesome record with respect to LGBT rights. While the time for passive concern by all parties has long past, it is a matter of utter amazement that American Orthodox Christians-even the most conservative-are not more vocally horrified about events in Russia.

What’s the point of having a majority if GOP doesn’t use it?

Earlier this month, during an aside in his speech at the Values Voters Summit, Rep. Louie Gohmert shared an insight into the timid appeasers comprising GOP congressional leadership. When he first entered the House in 2006 the talk was of the big things the Republican majority was going to accomplish.

Paterson’s First Hospital Celebrates 150 Years

PATERSON, NJ [September 19, 2016] - St. Joseph's Healthcare System, New Jersey's premier Catholic healthcare system, launched a year-long series of 150th Anniversary celebrations on Thursday, September 8th with the unveiling of a historic marker to commemorate the humble beginnings of St. Joseph's Hospital. Paterson's first hospital, now known as St. Joseph's Regional Medical Center, a member of the Healthcare System, was established by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth on September 8, 1867, in response to the industrialized City's dire need for carea body, mind and spirit.

The Latest: Police to blow up device found near NYC bombing

18, 2016, after an incident that injured passers-by Saturday night. . New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, left, and Mayor Bill de Blasio walk towards the scene of an explosion on West 23rd street in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, in New York, Sunday, Sept.

Lawmakers’ European trip shows holes in campaigna

Lawmakers' European trip shows holes in campaign law Gaping holes in state laws that allow lawmakers to use campaign money for investments Check out this story on jacksonsun.com: An investigation into expelled lawmaker Jeremy Durham's campaign finances revealed loopholes in state laws, including one that allowed a GOP donor to take six lawmakers on a European trip without anyone needing to report the gift.

Kaine says Catholic Church might change on gay marriage

Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine is predicting that the Roman Catholic Church may eventually change its opposition to gay marriage. Kaine is a devout Roman Catholic as well as a U.S. senator from Virginia and a former governor of that state.

World News Schedule at 1000 GMT/6 Am Et

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, a Nobel peace laureate known as the "saint of the gutters" during her lifetime, is proclaimed a saint of the Roman Catholic Church by Pope Francis. , expect by 1030/6.30 A.M., by Isla Binnie, 600 words) HONG KONG - Hong Kong votes in its first major election since pro-democracy protests in 2014 and one of its most contentious ever, with a push for independence among disaffected youth emerging as a major theme stoking tension with China's government.

France meets Muslim leaders, experts after burkini row

France's Interior minister has gathered leaders of the country's Muslim community, experts and lawmakers to mend relations between Islam and the French state undermined by the burkinis dispute. Bernard Cazeneuve, who also has government responsibility for maintaining good relations with religious denominations, told the La Croix newspaper ahead of Monday's meeting that he wants to create a foundation to help promote "an Islam of France" that respects French secular values.

FLASHBACK: Hillary Clinton Once Accused Donald Trump of Working for the Islamic State

"They are going to people showing videos of Donald Trump insulting Islam and Muslims in order to recruit more radical jihadists," she claimed as part of her response to a question from "ABC World News Tonight" anchor David Muir about the GOP nominee's proposed Muslim ban. Multiple fact checkers rated her statement as false , and the Clinton campaign walked back her claim.