A giant in Catholic broadcasting—and one of the most familiar and recognizable deacons in America—has died. From the National Catholic Register: Deacon R. William Steltemeier Jr., died on Feb. 15 at age 83 after an extended illness. Familiar to Eternal Word Television Network’s international family of viewers, for three decades he had been a faithful servant for Mother Angelica and the mission of EWTN. He is survived by Ramona, his wife of 59 years. He was preceded in death by... Read more
Details: The new Pope should not condemn contraception, its former leader in England and Wales suggested today as speculation began about the future of the Church following the surprise resignation of Benedict XVI. Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor said that while a radical departure from previous teaching was not likely, it would be “wise” to focus on “what’s good and what’s true” about marriage and family life instead. He said that Catholic teaching on sexuality should steer away from saying “we condemn... Read more
It’s interesting to revisit Benedict’s first homily at pope, delivered eight years ago, and place it beside his last homily, delivered on Ash Wednesday. From the Mass for the Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry, Sunday April 24, 2005: The task of the shepherd, the task of the fisher of men, can often seem wearisome. But it is beautiful and wonderful, because it is truly a service to joy, to God’s joy which longs to break into the world. Here I... Read more
From his blog: From our earliest catechism days we learn about the virtue of humility. We study it, we think about it; but we don’t embrace it. And why? Because humility is all about self-effacing, about seeing ourselves as far more diminished than we had hoped. As a result, few of us set out to embrace humility for Lent or as a pattern for our lives. Most us us accept a few affronts and neglects as humility, and then move... Read more
Ash Wednesday still befuddles some people (and, evidently, offers a few spelling challenges.) The headline comes from Twitter, and reaction to the image above, seen yesterday on countless TV screens. The website Deadspin notes: For years, Around The Horn host Tony Reali has proudly worn the mark of Ash Wednesday upon his forehead while hosting that day’s program. While other talent on other networks might not have such freedom, Reali’s clearly a person who both believes strongly in his faith and works... Read more
I first posted on them a couple weeks ago. Now, full details are in the Georgia Bulletin, including the story of the deacon in a wheelchair, Francis Head: With its incense and ancient prayers, the ordination Mass was celebrated Saturday, Feb. 2, as friends and family crowded Christ the King Cathedral. The new deacons of the Atlanta Archdiocese are Dan Buckley, Joseph Crowley, Eugene Dickerson, Mark F. Friedlein, Carlos Garcia, James C. Harkins, Jerome M. Hayward, Francis D. Head... Read more
That, at least, is one view in this morning’s Washington Post. Ashley McGuire explains: Sorry to be a wet blanket, but the Catholic Church is not going to change its teaching on any of the fun stuff (contraception, female “ordination,” homosexuality, abortion, etc.) with the next pope. Nor will it ever. When news of the pope’s retirement broke, Nicholas Kristof pondered on Twitter: “At some point, the church will accept contraception and female and non-celibate priests. Could it be in the next... Read more
From the indispensable John Allen: In what has become a daily exercise in rumor control, the Vatican spokesperson on Thursday shot down one hot bit of speculation about the resignation of Benedict XVI and confirmed another one about his life after the papacy. Jesuit Fr. Federico Lombardi denied that an accident suffered by Benedict XVI during his trip to Mexico in March 2012 led to his decision to renounce the papacy, as was suggested in a piece today by a... Read more
From the Vatican news site: Pope Benedict XVI is meeting parish priests and clergy of the Diocese of Rome in Paul VI Hall at the Vatican. Led by Cardinal Vicar Agostino Vallini and auxiliary bishops, they greeted Benedict XVI with great affection and prolonged applause “It is a special and providential gift of – began the Pope – that, before leaving the Petrine ministry, I can once again meet my clergy, the clergy of Rome. It’ s always a great... Read more
For those wondering where Benedict will be hanging his biretta after February 28th, some answers from John Allen: After a brief period at the summer papal residence at Castel Gandolfo, Benedict XVI plans to move into a former convent on the grounds of the Vatican, which is currently undergoing renovations to accommodate its new resident. It’s the “Mater Ecclesiae” monastery, built out of what used to be the headquarters of the Vatican gendarmes. In 1992, Pope John Paul asked that... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In