From the good folks at New Liturgical Movement, here are some shots of Holy Innocents Catholic Church in Long Beach, California. I’m a little baffled at the big marble pillars that appear to be holding up…some painted words? And the ambo seems too modern and out of place. I do think it’s an improvement, though. Visit the NLM website for more. Meantime, see what you think: Read more
Details: A Roman Catholic priest who confessed to groping a teenage boy 12 years ago has been named to a prestigious post in the Archdiocese of Newark, drawing furious criticism from advocates for victims of clergy sex abuse. The Rev. Michael Fugee, who is barred from unsupervised contact with children under a binding agreement with law enforcement officials, has been appointed co-director of the Office of Continuing Education and Ongoing Formation of Priests, the archdiocese recently announced in its newspaper, the Catholic... Read more
From KATU TV in Oregon: A Gresham baker is the subject of a state investigation after he refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. Did Sweet Cakes owner Aaron Klein violate the law when he told the couple that he couldn’t sell them a cake because “they were abominations to the Lord?” That’s what Oregon Attorney General’s civil enforcement officers are looking into after one of the brides-to-be filed a complaint on Jan. 28. The woman who... Read more
Our own Frank Weathers has read the mandate so that you don’t have to! His summation is here. A highlight or two: I learned a few things by reading the whole thing. For instance, I learned that the actual rule proposed to the Code of Federal Regulations is 8 and a half pages long, not 80. Sure, the document released on Friday was 80 pages long, but a big chunk of that was language asking for our comments, along with multiple... Read more
And the reasons are revealing. Check this out, from the New York Times: Every year about 150 Muslim conversion ceremonies are performed in the snow-white structure of the Sahaba mosque in Créteil, with its intricate mosaics and a stunning 81-foot minaret, built in 2008 and a symbol of Islam’s growing presence in France. Among those who come here for Friday Prayer are numerous young former Roman Catholics, wearing the traditional Muslim prayer cap and long robe. While the number of... Read more
From the good people at Dodge. It’s deceptively simple, and touched with a plain-spoken eloquence. Among other things, this reminds us of the pure power of words. In a media culture saturated with lightning-fast editing and digital whatnot and CGI wizardry, that’s no small thing. Remember when words mattered? This is what it was like. Thank you, Paul Harvey—and Dodge. Read more
From London: Coffee and sandwich chain Pret A Manger has withdrawn its ‘Virgin Mary’ brand of crisps after a flurry of religious complaints. The coffee-shop made the costly decision to pull the brand after campaigners on the Protect the Pope website pointed out the offensive crisps branding to its members. Responding to the complaints, the religious website says Pret a Manger has ‘apologised for any unintentional offence they have caused and have indicted that they will give any unsold crisps... Read more
Details: Catholic school girls think it’s just plain sexist that they were asked to take a no-cursing pledge on Friday — and the boys weren’t. What the hell is up with that? Lori Flynn, a teacher who launched the civility campaign at Queen of Peace High School inNorth Arlington, said the rationale was simple: “We want ladies to act like ladies.” And besides, the principal, Brother Larry Lavallee, added, the girls have the foulest language. That’s bull, according to an... Read more
Details, from the diocesan website: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence today announced that after years of intense preparation, the first Permanent Diaconate class since 2002 will be ordained Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul. Bishop Thomas J. Tobin will preside over the ordination of 21 men as Auxiliary Bishop, Robert C. Evans and the priests of the diocese concelebrate the Mass, with the College of Deacons in attendance. The 21 candidates began... Read more
Details, from the diocesan website: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence today announced that after years of intense preparation, the first Permanent Diaconate class since 2002 will be ordained Saturday morning at 10:00 a.m. in the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul. Bishop Thomas J. Tobin will preside over the ordination of 21 men as Auxiliary Bishop, Robert C. Evans and the priests of the diocese concelebrate the Mass, with the College of Deacons in attendance. The 21 candidates began... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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