A 22 June 2015 Reuters article by Philip Pullella titled “Pope Asks Pardon from Waldensian Protestants for Past Persecution” reports that Roman Pontiff Francis, as a part of his efforts to promote the unity of Christian churches with the Roman Catholic Church, has asked the Waldesians, a small Protestant denomination of around 30,000 members in Italy and Latin America, for their forgiveness for the persecution carried out against them by the Catholics, including a 15^th century attempt to exterminate them. Additionally, in 1655, Roman Catholic forces under command of the Duke of Savoy murdered 1700 Waldesians.

The Waldesians were an early manifestation of the Protestant Reformation, and today are a member of the World Communion of Reformed Churches.

+ Thomson Reuters, 3 Times Square New York, New York 10036, 646-223-4000, general.info@thomsonreuters.com

+ Chiesa Evangelica Valdese, info@chiesavaldese.org

+ The Vatican, Città del Vaticano, Rome, Italy, 39-6-69-88-35-11, Fax: 39-6-69-88-54-47, Contact Page

+ World Communion of Reformed Churches, 150 route de Ferney, Post Office Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland, 41-22-791-6240, Fax: 41-22-791-6505, info@reformedchurches.org

[3] Evangelical Presbyterian Church Statement on Supreme Court Marriage Ruling

The Evangelical Presbyterian Church grieves today’s [26 June 2015] ruling of the [U.S.] Supreme Court, which illustrates the continued disregard for the biblical, traditional, Judeo-Christian values upon which the foundation of our nation was established. As a church, we continue to rest our faith in the sovereign God and the authority of His Holy Word. We pray faithfully for our nation and our leaders as so commanded by Scripture.

We bear no malice toward those with a same-sex attraction; in fact, we love them with the love of Christ. However, as a church we must adhere to the biblical definition of marriage, rather than a cultural one.

We recognize that civil governments adopt policies that do not align with biblical values. However, those policies must never require that people of faith abandon the clear teaching of Scripture forfeit the right to proclaim those truths, or change their beliefs or practices.

+ Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 17197 North Laurel Park Drive Suite 567, Livonia, Michigan 48152, 734-742-2020, Fax: 734-742-2033, webmaster@epc.org

[4] Evangelical Church Alliance Statement on Supreme Court Opinion on Same-Sex Marriage

The Evangelical Church Alliance (ECA), one of America’s oldest associations of independent Evangelical ministers, missionaries, and military and institutional chaplains, reaffirms the biblical, natural, and millennial-old nature of the definition of marriage as exclusively between one man and one woman.

The Supreme Court of the United States does not possess the authority, or the expertise, to speak to the nature of Holy Matrimony, which is exclusively within God’s provenance. Jesus explicitly spoke to the divine origin and purpose of marriage when he said, “[A]t the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?’ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6)

The ECA takes seriously the assurance of Associate Justice Kennedy and the four other justices when they write in today’s opinion, “[I]t must be emphasized that religions, and those who adhere to religious doctrines, may continue to advocate with utmost, sincere conviction that, by divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. The First Amendment ensures that religious organizations and persons are given proper protection as they seek to teach the principles that are so fulfilling and so central to their lives and faiths, and to their own deep aspirations to continue the family structure they have long revered.”

Notwithstanding this most recent abrogation of divine and natural law, the ECA encourages its member clergy, churches, and organizations, as well as all Christians everywhere, to remain, “steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:58)

At the same time, the ECA is committed to sharing the Gospel with all persons, regardless of their sexual orientation or the configuration of their relationships or families, in keeping with the timeless declaration of Christ in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

Finally, marriage will always be a loving gift from God to a man and a woman for the fulfillment of His will for humanity, whether or not it is recognized as such by the judicial branch of the United States Federal Government.

+ Christian News Wire, 2020 Pennsylvania Avenue Northwest, Washington DC 20006, 202-546-0054, newsdesk@christiannewswire.com

+ Evangelical Church Alliance International, 205 West Broadway Street, Bradley, Illinois 60915, 815-937-0720, Fax: 815-937-0001, info@ecainternational.org

[5] Church of Scotland Minister Suspended as Police Investigate Alleged Financial Irregularities at His Inverclyde Church

A 30 June 2015 The Herald article titled “Minister Suspended as Police Investigate Alleged Financial Irregularities at His Inverclyde Church” reports that Church of Scotland minister the Rev. Douglas Cranston of the St. Columba Church in the village Kilmacolm in the Inverclyde council area of Scotland has been suspended as police have launched an investigation into allegations of financial irregularities.

+ The Herald, 200 Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland G2 3QB, 0141- 302-7000, Fax: 0141-302-7117, On-lineEditor@theherald.co.uk

+ Church of Scotland, 121 George Street, Edinburgh EH2 4YN, Scotland, 0131-225-5722

[6] News from the Deepest Recesses of Hell

— 5th Circuit Court of Appeals Rules Obama Administration Can Make Christian University Obey HHS Abortion Mandate

— Euthanasia Doctors are Killing Mentally Ill Patients, Sometimes without Their Consent

— Roman Catholic Pontiff Engages in Blasphemy

— U.S. Supreme Court Defies God and Votes in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage

— U.S. Supreme Court’s Trifecta of Sin and Rebellion Now Complete

— So now Is It ‘Hate Speech’ to Deplore the Obergefell [U.S. Supreme Court Homosexual Marriage] Decision?

+ LifeNews.com, Post Office Box 270841, Fort Collins, Colorado 80527, news@lifenews.com