Our Sunday Visitor plans Philadelphia edition

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:05 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The press release: Our Sunday Visitor and the Archdiocese of Philadelphia have partnered to replace the Archdiocese’s former newspaper, Catholic Standard and Times, with a special Philadelphia edition of Our Sunday Visitor’s OSV Newsweekly. OSV Newsweekly is the largest national Catholic weekly in the country. Former Catholic Standard and Times subscribers will now receive Archbishop Chaput’s column addressing issues of interest to the Archdiocese, as well as local articles and news briefs every week in the Philadelphia edition of OSV... Read more

AP: Man behind anti-Muslim film is “a southern California Coptic Christian with a checkered past”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:05 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The Associated Press reports: The anti-Muslim film implicated in mob protests against U.S. diplomatic missions in the Mideast received logistical help from a man once convicted of financial crimes and featured actors who complained that their inflammatory dialogue was dubbed in after filming. The self-proclaimed director of “Innocence of Muslims” initially claimed a Jewish and Israeli background. But others involved in the film said his statements were contrived as evidence mounted that the film’s key player was a southern Californian... Read more

USCCB launches Spanish-language Facebook page

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:05 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: As part of their continued efforts to reach the growing number of Hispanic Catholics, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops announced this week it’s launched a Spanish-language page on Facebook. Found at www.facebook.com/USCCBEspanol, the page features “a variety of updates from USCCB on news, issues of concern to the Catholic Church and faith-building resources,” according to a news release from the Conference of Catholic Bishops. “Hispanics make up 16 percent of the total U.S. population, almost 40 percent of... Read more

In new statement, Vatican condemns Libya attack

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:05 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the Vatican website this morning: The Holy See Press office director, Fr. Federico Lombardi, issued the following statement to press Thursday morning: “The very serious attack organised against the United States diplomatic mission in Libya, which led to the death of the ambassador and of other functionaries, calls for the firmest possible condemnation on the part of the Holy See. Nothing, in fact, can justify the activity of terrorist organisations and homicidal violence. Along with our sadness, mourning and... Read more

Diocese of Nashville, other groups join in suits over HHS ruling

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:05 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The number of groups suing the government over the contraception mandate continues to grow: The Diocese of Nashville, along with seven Middle Tennessee Catholic entities, have filed suit in Federal Court seeking to block a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services mandate requiring them to provide coverage for oral contraception as part of the Affordable Health Care Act through insurance coverage. Mary Queen of Angels, St. Mary Villa, and Villa Maria Manor, who share the same plan, discovered late... Read more

Something’s brewing in Milwaukee: deacons!

Last updated on: September 12, 2012 at 10:09 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Below is a snapshot of Milwaukee’s newest deacons, ordained just last weekend. As the director notes in an e-mail: “These men are the first class of deacons to be formed entirely using the New Directory… in Milwaukee. We are very proud of them!” Congrats! Read more

Something’s brewing in Milwaukee: deacons!

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 4:56 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Is Catholic journalism just PR?

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:05 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

There’s a question for the ages. This is something everyone who works in church media wrestles with — and the question isn’t an easy one to answer, especially when the organization you’re covering, the Church, is also the one signing your checks. But John Burger, late of the National Catholic Register, got one answer following the Benedict Groeschel debacle. The good folks at Get Religion have more, but here’s the headline: Rod Dreher is reporting that Burger was sacked over... Read more

Great moments in irony: Hillary Clinton on religious tolerance

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:05 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

“The United States deplores any intentional effort to denigrate the religious beliefs of others.” — Statement on Benghazi attacks Read more

Want to be ordained? There’s an app for that

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:05 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Well, you won’t actually be a real priest, minister, rabbi or bishop, but you will be able to see what you’d look like if you were. Details: From the supremely useful to the breathtakingly inane, there’s a cell phone application out there to fulfill all your needs — even the ones you didn’t know you had. Now, an ordained minister with a sense of humor is adding to the bottomless app pit with a bizarre one of his own. Called... Read more