The Deacon's Bench - Page 3 of 1336 - Where a Roman Catholic deacon ponders the world

BREAKING: Pope calls world-wide meeting of bishops on abuse crisis

September 12, 2018 By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details, from CNA: Pope Francis has called for all the presidents of the Catholic bishops’ conferences of the world to meet at the Vatican in February to discuss the issue of sexual abuse of minors. A statement from the pope’s cardinal advisory board Sept. 12 said, “The Holy Father Francis, hearing the Council of Cardinals, decided to convene a meeting with the Presidents of the Bishops Conferences of the Catholic Church on the theme of ‘protection of minors.’” The summit… Read more

Ordination update: 17 new deacons for Des Moines

September 12, 2018 By Deacon Greg Kandra

It happened in August, and the bishop, Richard Pates, wrote about them in his blog: August 4th was a banner day for the Diocese of Des Moines. Seventeen men were ordained to the permanent diaconate. Ours was one of the first dioceses to restore the reinstituted diaconate nearly five decades ago. As a result, the corps of deacons has grown to 90, 59 of whom are active. The remainder have retired. Similar to many pursuits in life, deacons first receive an… Read more

Wuerl tells priests he will meet with Pope Francis to discuss his resignation

September 11, 2018 By Deacon Greg Kandra

From CNA: The Archbishop of Washington told priests Tuesday that he intends to meet with Pope Francis soon to discuss his resignation from office. In a letter sent to priests of the Archdiocese of Washington Sept. 11, Cardinal Donald Wuerl wrote that a decision about his future role in the archdiocese is “an essential aspect so that this archdiocesan Church we all love can move forward. “I intend, in the very near future, to go to Rome to meet with… Read more

Gänswein on the abuse crisis: ‘The Catholic Church looks full of bewilderment at its own 9/11’

September 11, 2018 By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: The crisis of sexual abuse is “the Catholic Church’s September 11”. This was said by Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, Prefect of the Pontifical Household and special secretary to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who spoke at the presentation of the book “The Benedict option” by American journalist Rod Dreher in the Chamber of Deputies. The German prelate, who mentioned both the Pennsylvania sexual abuse report explicitly, and, implicitly, McCarrick’s case, pointed out thatBenedict XVI’s lament in 2008 to the American bishops on… Read more

Pope Francis: ‘The Great Accuser has been unchained and is attacking bishops’

September 11, 2018 By Deacon Greg Kandra

From today: In his homily at Mass on Tuesday morning, Pope Francis said it seems the Great Accuser is attacking the bishops of the Catholic Church to create scandal. The Pope invited them to remember three things in these troubled times: their strength lies in being men of prayer; they should have the humility to remember they were chosen by God; and they need to remain close to the people. He reflected on the day’s Gospel (Lk 6:12-19), in which… Read more

UPDATE on the case of Father Juan Carlos Gavancho

September 11, 2018 By Deacon Greg Kandra

You may remember this story from a few days ago, regarding a California priest who was allegedly removed from his parish over a homily. The parish disputed that, citing instead “issues with his interpersonal relationships with parish staff and parishioners.” Saturday, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles released a statement on his situation, which confirms what others have said: Contrary to initial blog posts and as noted in the Statement of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles dated September 3 (see below),… Read more

Cupich to seminarians: ‘We have a bigger agenda than to be distracted by’ sex abuse crisis

September 10, 2018 By Deacon Greg Kandra

The Chicago Sun-Times reports: The young man studying at Mundelein Seminary to become a Catholic priest seemed anguished as he vented to Cardinal Blase Cupich about the clergy sex-abuse scandal that threatens to topple Pope Francis and drive more people away from the faith. “I’m hurting, I can’t sleep, I’m sick,” the seminarian told Cupich during an Aug. 29 gathering at which the cardinal spoke to about 200 future priests enrolled at the seminary, according to another person who was there and… Read more

BREAKING: Pope’s council of cardinals says Vatican is preparing response to Viganò

September 10, 2018 By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Tablet in London: The Vatican is preparing to issue a response to an explosive dossier of allegations that Pope Francis covered up Archbishop Theodore McCarrick’s sexual abuse of priests and seminarians. A statement released by the Pope’s council of nine cardinals said it was “aware that in the current debate” of recent weeks the Holy See is about to issue “necessary clarifications.” The council also expressed their “full solidarity” with the Pope after Archbishop Carlo Mario Viganò released… Read more

Ordination update: 2 new deacons for Palm Beach

September 9, 2018 By Deacon Greg Kandra

Florida Catholic profiled them last month: The long journey of discernment, study, formation and sacrifice will reach a new milestone for two men here in the diocese when they are ordained deacons Sept. 8, 11 a.m., at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola. During a Mass with ceremonies, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito will call candidates David Zanotelli and Martin Sandigo to the altar and ask them to declare their intentions to remain obedient to the local Church and to its… Read more

A pastor to his flock: ‘Thank you for supporting me in these difficult times when I am forced to say some hard things’

September 9, 2018 By Deacon Greg Kandra

A pastor friend posted this on Facebook today: a statement he made at all the Masses at his parish. I repost here with his kind permission. + Four points: First. The Second Vatican Council teaches that the Church is the People of God. Pope Francis has spoken about “clericalism” as an illness in the Church, that pretends “the Church” means “priests and bishops,” and ignores the God given grace and talents of law women and men and emphasizes the authority… Read more