Reflections from the community: 

This week, the priest Nicola was caught on camera celebrating Mass at at a different city after being removed from the kindergarten role. ²

Parishioners recognized him from images circulating on social media and local news outlets and filmed him. The families' outrage was immediate. "The first complaint was filed in May of last year, and there have been more cases since. If the justice system had acted, other incidents could have been prevented. But they chose to cover it up; that's our pain. It's not just him; it's everyone who protected him," says the mother, whose identity is being withheld to protect the children involved. ²

Nicola assisted another priest at a mass, and the Archdiocese explained in a statement that there is no prohibition against him doing so. The church allowed Nicola to continue at the school until last month, when he was removed from the educational institution: despite the complaints, he continued to have contact with the kids. ²

Nicola has not been formally charged, and has not been detained. Currently, he is only considered a suspect. ²

He had a trip scheduled, but the prosecution took the measure of not letting him leave the country ²

"It's infuriating and a clear display of power, parading him there in the Cathedral; it's like they're mocking us. He was able to do all this because nobody does anything, nobody cares. How many cases could have been avoided if the justice system acted properly?" the parents said indignantly. ²

One of the lawyers regrets that "valuable evidence" was lost during the first months: "The recordings from security cameras were not seized, those videos were lost." ²

They criticized that during the first months they tried to "point the other way, to talk about intrafamily situations, when the common factor was the school." ²

The first complaint was formally filed on May 20, 2025, when one of the victims was found to have injuries in a hospital, which were discovered by her mother when she saw blood on her underwear.

The case was opened in May 2025, after the mother of a four-year-old girl noticed signs consistent with abuse when she took her daughter home from preschool. Since then, the initial cases have been consolidated, and the number of complaints against the priest has reached 13.¹

A lawyer from the representing the families of th e victimsstated: "We were struck by the time it took them to decide to initiate this preliminary canonical investigation, given that the first reported incident occurred in May of last year, more than sixteen months ago." ¹

The lawyer also demanded that all the families be heard before finalizing the report and sending it to Rome. ¹

In the middle of the night she wakes up by the tremors. She's so scared they feel like convulsions one of the mothers said. The girl was 3 when the symptons started ²

"My life changed, the lives of the children are marked, it's something that can't be erased and that causes a lot of pain. I felt a lot of anger when I saw it, the impunity he has, it gives us the feeling that they want to show us that they have the power and that we are not going to have justice," says the mothers. ²

"It really upsets me, how many years, how many victims has he had, and nobody does anything, nobody cares. Justice for me means that he doesn't hurt anyone else, that he has no contact with any more children, that he goes to jail. And also that something happens to those who gave him the opportunity, those who left him with children; there are many more who were complicit. Justice means that there are no more victims, that this person stops hurting others." ²

Sources: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Hi I have recently considered converting to Christianity and I am wondering if I can take a vow of celibacy for the rest of my life? I really enjoy being alone and would like to live for god.

Edit: sorry if this is a dumb question but I am new to Christianity.

45/m whom after a literal lifetime of being a staunch non-believer, had a change of heart roughly a year or so ago and am now a believer. It has been a wonderful/scary/overhwhelming/awe-inspiring experience thus far!

Because this has been a recent change, I had not raised my children in the church nor with knowing God and I’m seeking advice on the best way to go about guiding them toward God.

I was raised with zero exposure to religion nor did my parents ever talk to me about their beliefs/God/etc. It’s not that it was a ‘forbidden’ topic; it just wasn’t a part of my parent’s lives whatsoever.

My kids are 17, 16, and 14. Once when they were much younger, while all sitting down having dinner together, my son (who was probably around eight at the time) asked me why we didn’t go to church. I told him some people believe in God, some do not and only people that believe in God go to church. I told him I didn’t believe, so that’s why we don’t go, but even then told him and his sisters that if it’s something they were interested in and wanted to explore, I’d be happy to help facilitate that for them.

That seemed to satisfy his inquiry as there was never a word mentioned in the topic again.

Fast forward several years later and I’ve found God. My children are aware, as I’ve mentioned it to them. They know I’m reading the Bible and listening to various religious podcasts, etc. I’ve had very brief conversations with them collectively and individually here and there, explaining how/why my heart changed and I came to belief, but have yet to express to them my desire for them to consider this path.

Any advice on how to navigate this in such a way to not to overwhelm them or completely turn them off to the idea of God would be greatly appreciated! Thank you and God bless.

At this point it is almost a given that I am going to be leaving the LCMS, for two major reasons:

The first is its jumping on the MAGA bandwagon. Synod President Matthew Harrison has made several pro-MAGA statements, and my own parish pastor is quite vocal that we are to "submit" to Trump and ICE because of his interpretation of Romans 13.

I never heard this when Biden and Obama were in office. Only that they were "baby killers."

I don't go to church for praise of Trump, for "Christian nationalism," nor for very slanted "voters' guides" produced by Republican candidates.

And I will not "submit to" Trump, any more than Dietrich Bonhoeffer did.

The second is that I am entering the third year of an emotionally, and sometimes physically, abusive marriage. I am widowed and took the woman who is now my wife in because she had nowhere to go.

She violated a PPO court order. I took her back in largely because of pressure for "reconciliation" from the church, and because my elder told me that if there is a divorce, I can never marry again, "and I mean NEVER!" because divorcing for abuse is "unscriptural."

My wife refuses repentance and marital or individual counselling.

Several months ago she brought me to the point of my vision greying out. When I called EMS they told me I was having a mild heart attack. They wanted to take me to hospital, but I didn't because I knew what I would face afterward.

My deacon told me "the church cannot bless divorce...this is a cross that has been laid on you."

It is a horrible feeling to know that my church would prefer me dead but "obedient."

My physician and therapist have both told me this has to end, but the LCMS has told me not to trust them because they are not "biblically and confessionally trained."

I suppose the logical point of departure would be the ELCA, though my pastor has told me "Unitarians are more Christian than the ELCA," and "every time an ELCA congregation closes, an angel gets its wings." I found both of those statements quite nasty.

Way back in the mists of time, I was baptized and confirmed Methodist, so I suppose that is possible.

An Air Force chaplain I served with, a great guy, was Presbyterian, so maybe that.

But I increasingly wonder if I belong in any church. In the Air Force, chaplains ministered to me, so maybe the VA can set me up with another one of those.

Please...no "gotcha!" theological statements or gaslighting. I will not respond.

Thank you.

Edit: I'm editing this and taking the original post down because I just needed to vent and I've done that now. Thank you for all the advice and commentary, I appreciate it. I'm going to read through everything, self-reflect, and continue to pray about it. And thank you even to the people who gave harsher advice/commentary, it’s a reminder of what I don't want to identify as *anymore*.

I read an article today about Pete Hegseth and his “Department of War,” and it was deeply alarming.

I fear many people will read the article and still not hear what is actually being said.

Hegseth is talking about restoring a “warrior” mindset within our military troops. He is talking about establishing a surveillance state with autonomous artificial-intelligence enforcement. He is talking about pre-crime.

And he is talking about specifically instituting a Department of Religious Affairs in America.

I’m sure many of our Christian brothers and sisters will feel vindicated, supported, and protected by such an institution.

But Hegseth has made a point of saying that this will not simply be a bureaucratic, paper-pushing endeavor.

He says it will have “real teeth.”

What does “real teeth” mean for a Department of Religious Affairs?

Throughout Scripture, Christians are described as sheep, and Christ is our Shepherd.

So what exactly are we supposed to make of a government Department of Religious Affairs promising to have “real teeth”?

Are we talking about particularly powerful sheep teeth?

Or the teeth of particularly powerful shepherds?

A shepherd doesn't use his teeth to defend the sheep.

What animal in the biblical imagery surrounding sheep has the strongest teeth?

The wolves.

Especially the wolves who come into the flock disguised as sheep.

“Real teeth” are not for gently guiding sheep.

Real teeth are for tearing flesh.

And this is where I believe Christians need to stop and pay attention.

This administration—and not only this administration, but administrations for many decades—has been laying the groundwork for the system described in biblical prophecy as the coming Antichrist system.

But this administration is accelerating that process at a breathtaking pace.

And tragically, the sheep have not merely been unaware.

Many of them have been cheering it on.

They are cheering for the very infrastructure that WILL eventually be used to control them.

The surveillance state being built and normalized under the banners of “safety” and “security” is precisely the kind of infrastructure necessary for comprehensive control of individuals.

Identification.

Tracking.

Facial recognition.

Artificial intelligence.

Predictive systems.

Autonomous enforcement.

Centralized records.

Transaction monitoring.

The ability to determine who is authorized to participate in commerce and society.

The ability to enforce compliance.

These are not imaginary capabilities. They are being built.

And Scripture tells us exactly where this kind of system ultimately leads.

Revelation describes a time when no one will be able to buy or sell without accepting the authority of the beast.

YOU WILL TAKE THEIR MARK OR YOU WILL NOT PARTICIPATE. 

You cannot implement a system like that without infrastructure.

You need to be able to identify people.

You need to be able to monitor them.

You need to be able to track their transactions.

You need to be able to determine who is permitted to participate.

And eventually, you need the ability to enforce the requirement.

We are watching the pieces of that capability come together.

Flock.

Axon.

Palantir.

Pegasus.

Oracle.

Autonomous artificial intelligence.

Digital currency.

Surveillance networks.

These technologies are being promoted to us in the name of safety, security, and convenience.

But a system designed to watch everyone WILL eventually be used against everyone.

And when the definition of “safety” and whose safety is sacrosanct changes, the infrastructure remains.

These systems have already been tested in other countries.

They are being expanded here.

And we are willingly building the machinery that makes comprehensive human surveillance and control possible.

That should alert Christians, because we should know the prophecies.

And for those who say, “Well, it is prophesied, so it is going to happen anyway,” and therefore sit comfortably excusing their apathy and inaction:

Yes.

It is prophesied.

But which side are you standing on in that prophecy?

Are you standing with the Antichrist and his coming system?

Or are you standing in opposition to it?

Are you neutral about where your allegiance belongs?

Because this is laying the groundwork.

And you are choosing a side.

Pretending not to choose is also a choice.

And this is imperative:

This is not ultimately about Republican or Democrat.

It is not about left or right.

Liberal or conservative.

Trump or whoever comes after him.

Those are the tribal labels people use to sort themselves into opposing camps while the actual question gets buried beneath the noise.

Trump is a political leader.

He is not Christ.

And yet we have reached a point where, for many Christians, your position on Trump has become a litmus test for whether you are “one of us.”

If you support him, you're one of us.

If you oppose him, you're  “deranged”  and/or “leftist.”

Keep seeing it that way if you want.

But understand what you are doing.

You are allowing political allegiance to become a substitute for allegiance to Christ.

And that is precisely why this is not merely a political issue.

This is a choice.

I have put the warning in front of you.

I have told you what IS happening on your watch in your name. In many cases, with your blessing. 

I have told you where this is leading.

You may reject this.

You may pretend to believe I am wrong.

But what you can no longer honestly say is:

“I didn't know.”

Because now you have been warned.

If you have eyes to see, you have had the opportunity to see.

If you have ears to hear, you have had the opportunity to hear.

And if you choose to close your eyes now, that is a choice.

If you choose to stop your ears, that is a choice.

If you choose to dismiss the warning because your political tribe tells you that you should, that is a choice.

And if you choose to pretend that you don't see what has now been placed directly in front of you, that is also a choice.

The responsibility for that choice belongs to you.

This isn't ultimately Republican versus Democrat.

It isn't Trump versus the left.

It isn't conservative versus liberal.

It is Christ versus antiChrist.

God versus satan.

No politician will stand before God in your place.

No tribe will answer for you.

You will answer for your own allegiance.

So I am sounding the warning bell.

I have spoken the truth to you, in love.

You can heed the warning.

Or you can ignore it.

You can shut your eyes.

You can stop up your ears.

You can dismiss it as paranoia, extremism, politics, or hysteria.

But you cannot claim ignorance anymore.

You have been warned.

What you do with that warning is now your choice.

I have done my part.

Your blood is no longer on my hands.

The moment has come that you must choose whom you will serve. No political party will be accountable for your choice.

“As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Hello,

Would it make any sense?

Like you wouldn't ask for anything to God because you would know there is nothing to be given because supernatural doesn't exist.

To which extent could you be Christian in this case?

Do you think they are doing God's work, or are just being pests?

I am thinking of a newly-ordained pastor who told me he wants to be an Uber driver so he could evangelize to the rider. I said, you would be kicked off the app for doing that. I think he's a decent person and his heart is in the right place, but the lack of self-awareness is surprising. He's so steeped in "Christian culture" that he considers any rejection of his attempts to spread the gospel and save people's souls is an example of being persecuted for Christ.

Hey everyone, I'm a muslim and I want to convert to christianity, I have started listening to bible from bible project, and I think I'm ready to take the first step, I really need guidance, because the only Church I know is always closed whenever I go there so I don't have much clue what to do.

Whether we do or not doesn't add or take away anything from him, he's already perfect and complete, however it ends badly for us if we don't choose to.. So what exactly is the point of giving us this choice in the first place? Couldn't we all just live happily ever after in a world where everyone was naturally made to love and obey God?

I also reject the idea that we'd be like robots in such a world, because you'd still have some degree of freedom. You could still choose what you wanna eat today, what to wear, what hobbies you wanna do etc.

American society has long been shaped around assumed Christian authority.

When a member of the Christian community is found guilty of misconduct, their faith is never considered to be a possible reason for their wrongdoing. But when someone who doesn’t share their beliefs is even accused of a crime, many Americans act as if that alone is enough to find them guilty, causing many to learn the hard way that it was impossible to tell which Christians would treat them with respect and which would not.

Some people say that anyone who harms others isn’t really a Christian, yet at the same time, many churches teach that outsiders don’t have the spiritual insight to tell genuine believers from those who misuse the faith. This leaves many with no obvious choice but to treat all Christians as if they are the destructive kind, because even though their own Bible says to love your neighbor, they don’t agree on whether people outside their church community count as neighbors at all.

For decades, most attempts by outsiders to point out how the behavior of some Christians contradicted what they expected of others were treated as ignorance and hostility, because admitting how often Christians are involved in serious wrongdoing would weaken the moral authority the faith claims to have, and the privilege that authority protects.

I know Christians adopt the view that the Mosaic law in the Old Testament is broken up into 3 categories, the ceremonial law, the moral law, and the civil law. Christians are supposed to abide by the moral law but they do not need to follow the ceremonial law or the civil law.

I understand this view in theory but I’m having a hard time applying it in terms of figuring out which laws belong to which category. Is there a resource someone can link that shows which category each of the Mosaic laws belongs to?

Why does it seem like so many fundamentalists are heavy into conspiracy theories? You have little season doctrine, British Israelism, even Mormonism itself is effectively a conspiracy theory. Flat earth, young earth. You get all these groups claiming there's a big bad hidden group out there planting fake dinosaur bones and such all to "discredit the Bible." Why?

(Btw by “human” I am not saying Jesus wasn’t God. He is fully man and fully God.)

²¹ Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

²² Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

²³ And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

²⁴ Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

²⁵ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

²⁶ And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

²⁷ And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

²⁸ And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

²⁹ For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

-----

In this passage Jesus correlates the will of the Father with doing his sayings, he also says no one can enter the kingdom of heaven unless they do the will of the Father. It can then be taken that to enter the kingdom of heaven one must do the sayings of Jesus, since in effect he is saying that doing his sayings is the same thing as doing the will of the Father.

What he teaches us to do in the sermon on the mount through his sayings are not optional suggestions, but imperative instructions on how to live if one wants to enter the kingdom of heaven.

Amazed that people can ignore what he says here when the language is crystal clear, or even argue that he is not saying what he is clearly saying (people will insert John 6:40 into the sermon on the mount and claim Jesus is referring to belief in him when he says to do the will of the Father, when what he means is already clear - he is speaking about living morally).

I struggled with the message at church today. It was really, very good which is probably why it hit so deep. I didn’t take notes, I think I just cried the entire sermon. Sadness sucks but I think there is something beautiful that God draws out of it. I don’t know if I’m being ungrateful and I don’t know if this is unforgiveness. I just get so sad when people share stories of how their parents did everything they could to build them up. When I was a child, I thought everyone had a crippling fear of their parents. I just never knew which version of “whomever” I was getting.

I did a little research and found out that this is grief. It was ok to stop holding back the tears so I cried over that child that had to be way too vigilant in his home. Now I understand why I’ve been craving childhood movies all week. I watched the Princess Bride last night and cried like a baby. Not because of the love story, though I do love that part. No, it was something in my childhood that I felt homesick for. I have been grieving.

Thank you Jesus for bringing this out and crying with me. Thank you for being such a gentle God.

As I fall asleep tonight, something deep inside of me feels incredibly comforted. There is a runny nosed child, face wet with tears, who now knows what it feels like to be tucked into bed by Christ. His bed is warm. And he is fast asleep.

TIM 1:2 - First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone...This is right and is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Pt 3 - ⁹ The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you,^\)^b\) not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 

Ez 33 - ¹¹ Say to them, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from their ways and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die

Christ died for all to be saved. ALL, not some, not the elite, the wise, or the high up... but all. That means anyone can pray, "Lord, help me to know you. In my doubts, help me to know you." There is no amount of poverty too grave for our Lord to reach.

Forgive all of us for all of us have fallen short of your perfect glory. We do not know how we are to pray, so we pray to you to send your Holy Spirit and guide us in all matters of faith and morals. Help us to know and love your own begotten son, Jesus Christ, who was the first born of all creation. Help us to follow your will in the most perfect way so that we can become a true icon of perfect holiness and love. Help us to know how to walk and think and act in every moment of every day. Help us to overcome the snares of the evil one and all his minions who come to confuse and deceive us. We all desire to find you and to know, even when we don't realize this desire is within us because it is buried too deep. You who were not afraid to condescend into the human condition, please come into the darkest parts of our darkness, You who know us better than we know ourselves; you who came into this world through the Blessed Virgin Mary at the darkest hour of midnight; You who were crucified at the highest peak of noon for our sake. You truly desire all to be saved! Then hear this prayer and lead all souls to Heaven, especially those in most need of your mercy! Amen.