A priest writes: To solve this crisis, start by fixing the seminaries

Last updated on: October 18, 2018 at 11:24 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

The Rev. Thomas Berg, vice rector and director of admissions at St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers, N.Y., has some ideas for addressing the sex abuse crisis—beginning in the seminary. From The Washington Post: Although clergy sexual abuse scandals aren’t new, the ones that have rocked the Catholic Church this summer revolved around a group seldom focused on before: seminarians. The sexual harassment and abuse of seminarians, and the response of seminary leaders, have been at the center of the case of... Read more

Catholic pharmacist refuses drug to woman seeking to complete a miscarriage

Last updated on: October 18, 2018 at 12:12 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From USA TODAY: A Michigan woman is demanding that Meijer discipline a pharmacist and implement a company-wide policy for how pharmacists should handle religious and moral objections to dispensing medication after she was denied a prescription to help complete a miscarriage. Rachel Peterson, 35, of Ionia alleges a pharmacist at a Meijer store in Petoskey refused to fill her prescription for a drug called misoprostol (brand name Cytotec) in July because of his personal religious views. She says he also refused to transfer the prescription to... Read more

Poll: Growing number of U.S. Catholics question staying in the Church

Last updated on: October 18, 2018 at 9:38 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From CBS News: Most Catholic Americans think the Pope and the Vatican are doing a poor job handling recent reports of child sexual abuse by priests, and about a quarter of Catholics say those reports have made them question whether they should remain in the Church. Favorable views of Pope Francis have dropped sharply among Catholics in the last two years. Seven in 10 Catholic Americans think that child sex abuse by priests is a very serious problem, and just... Read more

Archbishop Chaput: ‘We’re a family of faith, not a religious General Motors’

Last updated on: October 18, 2018 at 8:58 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

The archbishop of Philadelphia gave an interview this week to Adam Sosnowski, which will be published next week in the Polish Catholic magazine Miesięcznik Wpis (wydawnictwo Biały Kruk). CatholicPhilly.com has just released it for its readers. He covers a range of issues involving the Church today and the Synod now taking place in Rome. Excerpt: How can one counter the anti-clericalism present in today’s culture and in the media? What should the Church do about this? What about laymen? The only... Read more

Pope tells seminarians: report abuse immediately

Last updated on: October 17, 2018 at 9:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Pope Francis told a group of Italian seminarians to report immediately to their bishop if they ever see or suspect any kind abuse, sexual or otherwise, on the part of a priest. “On this point, speak clearly,” the pope told the students from Lombardy over the weekend. “If you see something like [abuse], [go] immediately to the bishop. To help that abusive brother. Immediately to the bishop.” The pope met the group in the Vatican’s St. Clementine hall Oct.... Read more

Would Jesus be an organ donor? New ad sparks controversy

Last updated on: October 17, 2018 at 3:11 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Take a look at the ad in question below. The story: A controversial advert which shows Jesus Christ agreeing to become an organ donor has infuriated a Muslim leader and divided opinion online. The two-and-a-half minute advert shows two armed guards asking Jesus if he would like to donate his organs after being nailed to the cross before his death. Founder of Islamic Friendship Association of Australia Keysar Trad said the advert ‘showed irreverence towards venerated figures’, reports The Daily Telegraph. Mr... Read more

Man praying at Florida Planned Parenthood center attacked

Last updated on: October 17, 2018 at 12:57 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Naples Daily News: The weekly anti-abortion protest outside Planned Parenthood Naples Health Center turned violent Monday when a protester was hit several times, according to witnesses. The victim, Joe Alger, 65, of Marco Island, was taken by ambulance to a nearby hospital for his injuries. Contacted later, Alger said he was not going to press charges. “It’s a painful situation, and I’m not going to make it any worse,” Alger said. A man fitting witnesses’ description of the... Read more

Cardinal Sarah: ‘Jesus did not lower the requirements of his call’ and neither should the church

Last updated on: October 17, 2018 at 9:57 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From CNS: Just because some young people disagree with Catholic moral teaching, including in the area of sexuality, does not mean the church’s teachings are unclear or should change, Cardinal Robert Sarah told the Synod of Bishops. The church and its pastors should “courageously propose the Christian ideal corresponding to Catholic moral doctrine and not water it down, hiding the truth to attract young people to the bosom of the church,” the cardinal told the synod Oct. 16. Cardinal Sarah,... Read more

‘Beacon of strength’: Young mother dies after delaying chemo to save the life of her unborn child

Last updated on: October 16, 2018 at 10:36 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Kate Winslet has spoken of her devastation after learning of the death of a ‘wonderful’ mother for whose cancer treatment she helped to pay. The Hollywood actress raised money for experimental immunotherapy for 29-year-old Gemma Nuttall, from Lancashire, who died on Sunday following a five-year battle. Ms Nuttall was diagnosed with ovarian cancer when pregnant with her daughter, Penelope, but delayed chemotherapy to save the life of her unborn baby. She was successfully treated after the birth but the... Read more

Diocese in Ireland ordains first permanent deacons

Last updated on: October 16, 2018 at 3:27 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

It happened this past Sunday. From the Irish Catholic Bishops’ Conference website: This Sunday, 14 October 2018, Bishop Noel Treanor will celebrate the ordination Mass for nine candidates to the permanent diaconate. These will be the first ordinations for the permanent diaconate in the Diocese of Down and Connor. Speaking ahead of the historic ordination, Bishop Treanor said, “I welcome the arrival of the permanent diaconate to our diocese. I salute the nine men who will be ordained on Sunday in... Read more