Thanks, Kathy Schiffer, for ruining my day. The Portuguese translation (via Google) says: The Solemn Novena is the right way to achieve the blessings. Make an experience with God, to receive the graces of Mother Aparecida. Pray with us and live the joy of the Feast Padroeira. Presidida by Don Edson Tasquetto Damian, bishop of São Gabriel da Cachoeira. Meantime, behold: Read more
From CNN, an interesting glimpse at someone who could hold the future in her hands: The economy is Topic A for many in this battleground state as the November 6 election nears. They want to hear the presidential candidates answer the question: How will they get America working again? Voters here also care about poverty and social justice, core issues for Ohio’s large Catholic population. [Mary] Roberts straddles several demographic categories the campaigns want to win over: She is a... Read more
Patheos is launching a special project for the Year of Faith—details to come—and I’m helping to get the ball rolling with a short reflection on the rosary: I still have my first set. Do you? It was given to me as a first communion gift: simple black beads with a plain plastic cross. They’re small, child-sized, but I carried them in May processions when I was in grade school. They served to teach me the rudiments of one of our... Read more
This is stunning, from the National Catholic Reporter: The Vienna archdiocese, which is one of the largest in Europe and extends from the Czech frontier down to the southern Alps, will undergo radical parish reforms, reducing its 660 parishes to 150 in the next 10 years. “This is the most comprehensive reorganization of the Vienna archdiocese since that of Austrian Emperor Joseph II [1765-1790] 200 years ago,” Cardinal Christoph Schönborn told journalists at a Sept. 19 media reception in... Read more
Who knew? From CNS: He doesn’t exactly advertise it, but the “king of Queens” is a Catholic family man. Kevin James, who played Doug Heffernan for nine seasons on the CBS sitcom and has since branched out into movies, has no problem talking about his values and how it affects his career. “I am involved in my faith, it becomes more and more — you know, it becomes a difficult, difficult position. You have a platform and you don’t want... Read more
Details from Catholic News Service: The Catholic Church needs to use its media and social networks to spread the faith because much of the news media cover the church in a way that “is full of lies,” Hungarian Cardinal Peter Erdo of Esztergom-Budapest told the Synod of Bishops. Across Europe, there is “a spreading ignorance about the Christian faith,” which is exacerbated by the media “misinforming the public as to the content of our faith,” the cardinal told the... Read more
Good to know. This, from the Wall Street Journal: Mitt Romney continued his shift to the center Tuesday, saying he wouldn’t pursue any abortion legislation if he wins the presidency. “There’s no legislation with regards to abortion that I’m familiar with that would become part of my agenda,” Mr. Romney told The Des Moines Register’s editorial board Tuesday as he sought its endorsement. Mr. Romney, who is opposed to abortion with certain exceptions, promised other moves to limit abortions. Before... Read more
From Catholic News Service: People who say they are unaffiliated with any religion constitute nearly 20 percent of the American public, making them almost as numerous as Catholics, who accounted for 22 percent of participants in a new Pew Research Center study released Oct. 9. The survey of 2,973 adults conducted this summer found people who say they are atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular” grew by almost 5 percentage points since 2007, from 15.3 percent to 19.6 percent of... Read more
My colleague at CNEWA, Michael J.L. La Civita looked at that question in a speech this weekend: Is there a future for Christians — indeed for any minority — in this new Middle East? What role will religion play, especially Islam, in governing these peoples? And, is Islam compatible with the so-called democratic aspirations expressed by the reformers leading the ‘Arab Spring?’ … … The Middle East’s Christians have been on the move since the apostles left Jerusalem after Pentecost.... Read more
An interesting detail from this report by Religion News Service, on one of the titles bestowed on the royal monarch: At her coronation in 1953, Elizabeth swore to “uphold the laws of God and the true profession of the Gospel, maintain the Protestant reformed religion established by law and reserve the settlement of the Church of England.” Her son and heir apparent, Prince Charles, has said he’s planning a symbolic change if and when he becomes king by taking the... Read more
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