It happened exactly 53 years ago today. On October 28th 1965, St. Paul VI issued the shortest document of Vatican II — but one of its most enduring and vital, Nostra Aetate, or In Our Time, about our relationship with people of other faiths. It is only 19 paragraphs long – but it is an historic, ground-breaking cry for justice, solidarity and hope. It is a cry the world needs to hear. Especially now. Especially this morning. Nostra Aetate condemns... Read more
Lest we forget: “In her rejection of every persecution against any man, the Church, mindful of the patrimony she shares with the Jews and moved not by political reasons but by the Gospel’s spiritual love, decries hatred, persecutions, displays of anti-Semitism, directed against Jews at any time and by anyone. We cannot truly call on God, the Father of all, if we refuse to treat in a brotherly way any man, created as he is in the image of God.... Read more
Vatican Media has a preview: On Saturday afternoon, the Final Document of the XV Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops consisting of 3 parts, 12 chapters, 167 paragraphs and 60 pages is approved in the Synod Hall. The text was received with applause, Cardinal da Rocha said. It is “the result of real teamwork” on the part of the Synod Fathers, together with other Synod participants and “the young people in a particular way”. The Document, therefore, gathers... Read more
The short clip above shows part of the festivities last night. From Vatican Media: The young people who participated at the Synod organized an evening of entertainment for the Pope and the Bishops who partook in the gathering. Synod Fathers also got into the spirit of the occasion with Cardinal Baldisseri performing two pieces on the piano. Poetry, dance, song and music also formed part of the show in the Paul VI Hall complex. Here is a translation of the... Read more
Is this a trend?: A junior high special education teacher claims that her son’s shocking Hitler costume — which included a brush mustache and a Nazi swastika on a red armband — was merely the result of needing a last-minute outfit for a recent community Halloween event. But Janet Arsanian, employed at Cortney Junior High School, in Boulder City, Nev., is under fire, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, after photos of her son dressed as Adolf Hitler at a Boulder... Read more
This weekend, we mark World Priest Day: WORLD PRIEST DAY (WPD) has been sponsored by the Worldwide Marriage Encounter since the year 2000 and is celebrated on the last Sunday in October. The mission and purpose of World Priest Day is to celebrate and affirm the men who commit their lives to the Lord and the Church through priesthood. It focuses on honoring priests and it is designed to be a celebration to rejoice in the Sacrament of Holy Orders. Catholic organizations across... Read more
From The New York Times: The Department of Justice has sent a sweeping request to every Roman Catholic diocese in the United States not to destroy documents related to the handling of child sexual abuse, a sign that the federal investigation into the church could grow far more extensive. Catholic bishops have been asked by the federal government to retain their files on a broad array of internal matters, including sexual abuse investigations, and the transfer of priests across state... Read more
Presumably, this is now the newest parish in the United States. Details: Bishop Richard F. Stika created the Diocese of Knoxville’s 50th parish on Sept. 29 as St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Mission in Erwin became a canonically established church. The feast of St. Michael the Archangel from now on will have deeper historic meaning for the diocese and its newest parish. Bishop Stika presented the canonical documents to Glenmary Father Tom Charters, officially elevating St. Michael to parish status... Read more
In the video here, you can see part of Correspondent Bill Whitaker’s interview with Deacon Paul Snyder, who concludes: “It’s hard being a saint when it’s your ass on the line. I want these cardinals and these bishops to start putting their ass on the line.” From Crux: As embattled Bishop Richard Malone of Buffalo, New York faces serious scrutiny of his handling of sex abuse cases, the original whistleblower in the case is set to appear in an interview... Read more
The Tennessean profiles today the two contenders for governor, with special attention to their respective religions. Here’s what they have to say about Democrat Karl Dean: If elected, Dean would become Tennessee’s first Catholic governor, according to state and Catholic historians. But Dean said he is running for the state’s top leadership post as the Democratic nominee and former mayor, not the Catholic candidate. “Everybody approaches this issue in their own way,” said Dean, who was raised Lutheran but converted after marrying... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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