(Update: The Vatican denies that it gives VIP treatment for general audiences. All seats in the so-called VIP section are given to anyone on a first come first served basis. Apparently the AP and Reuters didn’t verify their information. http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/vip-treatment-for-lgbt-group-at-the-vatican-not-really-72364/.) For…

“Its time to step up the search.” Dr. Seth Shostak, Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (SETI) institute’s director to a meeting of scientists in San Jose, CA. Shostak proposed that SETI start beaming messages into outer space to see if…

The Vatican has announced that a high-level delegation of leading women from Iran including Shahindokht Molaverdi, Iran’s vice-president for Woman and Family Affairs will join the pope in Philadelphia in September for the World Meeting of Families. The idea arose…

“If you want peace you must prepare for war,” said André Wüstner, the Chairman of the German Armed Forces Association, February 8. He called for Germany defense spending increases of €1 billion. “In order to achieve full operational readiness of…

“If you want peace you must prepare for war.” André Wüstner, Chairman, German Armed Forces Association, February 8, 2015 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/germany/11399247/Germanys-head-of-Armed-Forces-Association-If-you-want-peace-prepare-for-war.html

“I do like doing the wedding cakes. But I don’t like hang the government tell me which ones I can make and which ones I can’t make, and trying to control that part of my life.” Jack Phillips, the owner…

“We can only help people to help themselves.” Wolfgang Schäuble, German Finance Minister, in a press conference after a difficult meeting with the Yanis Varoufakis, the finance minister of Greece over Greek debt and austerity. He also said “we agreed…

Captured Jordanian F-16 fighter pilot Mu’ath AlKassasbeh was burned alive in a cage by the Islamic State. His jet crashed in IS controlled territory in Syria. Images of the highly-choreographed video posted to the internet, showed the pilot in an…

“In a time of global upheaval, the Holy Father’s message of compassion and human dignity has moved people of all faiths and backgrounds.” John Boehner, Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, and a Catholic, announcing that Pope Francis has…

“Journalism isn’t a crime and should not be treated as such.” Bob Satchwell, of the British Society of Editors, in response to Prime Minister David Cameron’s call for a ban on encrypted messages. http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/13/freedom-of-expression-anti-snooping-campaign-launched-ripa-changes

“And lest we get on our high horse and think this is unique to some other place, remember that during the Crusades and the Inquisition, people committed terrible deeds in the name of Christ.” U.S. President Barack Obama, at the…

The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has heard from four adult children of gay parents describing what it is like to grow up in the environment of gay marriage. They believe that government approved same-sex marriages could lead to…