The Deacon's Bench
The cardinal archbishop of New York sat down for an interview with Catholic News Service this week and offered his own take on what the next pontiff will be facing. Read more
The cardinal archbishop of New York sat down for an interview with Catholic News Service this week and offered his own take on what the next pontiff will be facing. Read more
Details: The Santa Rosa Catholic Diocese is requiring its 200 schoolteachers to sign an agreement affirming that “modern errors” such as contraception, abortion, homosexual marriage and euthanasia are “matters that gravely offend human dignity.” The move is an effort by Bishop Robert Vasa to delineate specifically what it means for a Catholic-school teacher — whether Catholic or not — to be a “model of Catholic living” and to adhere to Catholic teaching. That means means abiding by the Ten Commandments,... Read more
Worth revisiting, I think. His remarks from Lent 2008, via Zenit: +++ Following a Lenten tradition, Benedict XVI met Thursday with parish priests and clergy of the Diocese of Rome. During the meeting, the participants asked the Pope questions. Here is a translation of the first question and the Holy Father’s answer. [Deacon Giuseppe Corona:] Holy Father, I would like first of all to express my gratitude and that of my brother deacons for the ministry that the Church... Read more
Worth revisiting, I think. His remarks from Lent 2008, via Zenit: +++ Following a Lenten tradition, Benedict XVI met Thursday with parish priests and clergy of the Diocese of Rome. During the meeting, the participants asked the Pope questions. Here is a translation of the first question and the Holy Father’s answer. [Deacon Giuseppe Corona:] Holy Father, I would like first of all to express my gratitude and that of my brother deacons for the ministry that the Church... Read more
From AMERICA magazine: A diaconate for women should be considered as a new role for women in the church. Cardinal Walter Kasper made this proposal during a study day discussing how to involve more women in church life, convened as part of the spring assembly of the German Bishops Conference in the city of Trier, in western Germany, on Feb. 21. Kasper spoke of a “deaconess” role that would be different from the classic deacon but could include pastoral, charitable,... Read more
Benedict’s last day, woven together into a poignant montage by CNS’s Chaz Muth. Click below to watch. Read more
From Vatican Radio, the translation of Pope Benedict’s remarks to the cardinals this morning: +++ Dear beloved brothers I welcome you all with great joy and cordially greet each one of you. I thank Cardinal Angelo Sodano, who as always, has been able to convey the sentiments of the College, Cor ad cor loquitur. Thank you, Your Eminence, from my heart. And referring to the disciples of Emmaus, I would like to say to you all that it has also... Read more
From today’s Morning Prayer, Psalm 79: Lord, tend Your vine… Shepherd of Israel, listen – you who take Joseph as your flock. Shine out before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh – you who are enthroned upon the cherubim. Awaken your power and come to us, come to us and save us. Bring us back, O God: let your face shine on us and we shall be saved. Lord God of hosts – how long will your anger endure against the... Read more
Details: New York has the highest teen abortion rate in the country, but per capita pregnancy and abortion rates among 15- to 19-year-olds have steadily declined over the last two decades, according to a report this week. Excluding miscarriages, nearly 60 percent of pregnancies among 15- to 19-year-olds in New York end in abortion, according to the Guttmacher Institute analysis. “There are at least two factors in play for the higher abortion rates in New York as compared to the... Read more
From Voice of America: Outgoing Pope Benedict has met with his cardinals ahead of boarding a helicopter and flying to the papal retreat south of Rome Thursday, where he will officially end his reign. In remarks Thursday to the cardinals, broadcast on Vatican television, the pope pledged to show “unconditional reverence and obedience” to the next pope. The vow could lay to rest fears that the presence of a living, retired pope in the Vatican would reduce the power of... Read more
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