White House Brief: Things to know about Evan McMullin

Independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin had never run for any political office, until he decided to make a bid for the highest office in the country. The impetus behind the bold idea: give conservative voters an alternative to Republican Donald Trump's firebrand candidacy.

Exclusion is Causing Great Harm: A Conversation With Suspended UMC Pastor Rev. Cynthia Meyer

Rev. Cynthia Meyer came out to her congregation at the start of this year. A soft-spoken pastor from Edgerton, Kansas, Meyer is one of many United Methodist clergy who have chosen- in the wake of their church's decision this past spring to uphold its official policy that homosexuality is " incompatible with Christian teachings "-to risk their careers and go public .

A bit of geniality amid all the hostility

Both showed a glimmer of willingness to see beyond their bitter election battle, said the Catholic cardinal who sat between them at a fundraiser Thursday night. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of New York, summed up their chemistry as "awkward" at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner, a traditionally genial event that turned harsh at times.

Who is Evan McMullin, third-party candidate surging in Utah?

Two months after he jumped into the presidential race as a political unknown on the fringe, independent candidate Evan McMullin is surging in the polls in Utah and drawing large crowds at rallies as he becomes the conduit for conservative voters fed up with Republican Donald Trump's crudeness and antics. The Republican stronghold of Utah is suddenly a toss-up state amid widespread rejection of Trump, with polls showing McMullin closing in on the Republican nominee and Democrat Hillary Clinton.

Who is more Catholic than whom?

To hear the many howls of protest from conservatives, you'd think a handful of emails released by WikiLeaks demonstrates Hillary Clinton's campaign is a nest of anti-Catholics. Fortunately for her, the emails, which are 4 to 5 years old, tell a far more interesting tale about the struggles inside the Catholic Church in the period before the ascendancy of Pope Francis.

Pastor Robert Jeffress, OSS Gold Medal bill, Congress, Republicans, shoot-to-kill, Frisco ISD

Re: "Jeffress' words evoke dark history -- We must speak the truth in the language of Christianity and of love, Joshua J. Whitfield says," Oct. 1 Viewpoints. Lifetime Southern Baptists, we have become increasingly disturbed and embarrassed by Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress' continued support of Donald Trump.

The Latest: Archbishop told in 5 am call he’ll be cardinal

Chicago's Roman Catholic archbishop says he learned in a 5 a.m. call from Rome that Pope Francis was elevating him from archbishop to cardinal. Blase Cupich joked with reporters after Mass Sunday at Chicago's Holy Name Cathedral that he didn't mind being awakened given the pleasant news.

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.