From Crux: One of ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick’s former closest collaborators and one of the U.S. Church’s leading crusaders for sex abuse reform, is calling on Pope Francis to break his silence about what the Vatican knew about the previous archbishop of Washington’s history of abuse. In the hope of ending the “silence and secrecy” surrounding the Church’s handling of abuse, John Carr – who served for two decades as the Capitol Hill point man for the U.S. Conference of Catholic... Read more
This occurred in Auriesville, New York last Saturday. The Diocese of Albany website explains this timely and powerful gesture: During Mass at the Hearts Aflame Eucharistic Congress at Our Lady of Martyrs Shrine in Auriesville on September 22, Bishop Edward B. Scharfenberger asked all present to renewal their baptismal promises, asked deacons to renew their ordination promises, and asked the priests of the Diocese of Albany to join him in recommitting themselves to the promises of the priesthood they made... Read more
Details: Pope Francis admitted on Tuesday that sex abuse scandals surrounding the Catholic Church have driven younger people away. “We know – and you have told us – that many young people do not turn to us for anything because they don’t feel we have anything meaningful to say to them,” he told a group of Catholic, Lutheran and Orthodox young people in Estonia. “They are upset by sexual and economic scandals that do not meet with clear condemnation, by... Read more
From Vatican Media: Present at the papal Mass in Kaunas on Sunday morning was Deacon Benas Ulevicius, who joined four other married men in 2017 as the first permanent deacons ordained in Lithuania for the Archdiocese of Kaunas. He told us that Lithuanian Catholics have a special place in their heart for Saint Pope John Paul II who visited them at a time of great suffering for the Church and the nation. But, he pointed out, it is precisely because of... Read more
It was a combined ordination of deacons, both permanent and transitional. Details from Western New York Catholic: Under the shadow of intense criticism of diocesan leadership, a Catholic congregation from all over Western New York came together at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna to witness the celebration of the ordination of 15 men to the order of the diaconate on Saturday, Sept. 15. Eight men – Ronald D. Adamczak of Lancaster, David M. Augustyniak of Lewiston, Michael J.... Read more
Saturday evening, I had the privilege of visiting the Basilica of St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral, in lower Manhattan, to see some of the relics of St. Pio (Padre Pio, to most of us) and attend a Mass for his feast day, celebrated by Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer of the Holy See at the United Nations. This weekend marked the 50th anniversary of the day Padre Pio entered into eternal life, so being among his relics held... Read more
From The Chicago Tribune: Days after it was revealed that the Rev. Paul Kalchik of Avondale’s Resurrection Catholic Church burned a rainbow banner that once hung in the church, Cardinal Blase Cupich, archbishop of Chicago, has removed him from his role as head of the North Side church. “For some weeks now, I have become increasingly concerned about a number of issues at Resurrection Parish,” read a letter, signed by Cupich, to parishioners and staff at the church. “It has become... Read more
A few days back, my friend Gary Zimak interviewed me for his radio show, and we were talking about the present crisis afflicting the church. “What advice can you give people?,” Gary asked. Without hesitation, I answered: “Pray for our priests.” Whether we realize it or not, faithful priests are the collateral damage of this onslaught. I’ve heard from several priests (and a few deacons) from around the country, who have all said the same thing: “I feel so alone... Read more
Details from the Scottish Catholic Observer: Paisley Diocese welcomed another deacon to their flock this week as the number of applications to the permanent diaconate in Scotland reached a record high. Deacon Paul Graham, a chaplain for NHS Lanarkshire, formally assumed his new role in the Church on Wednesday September 12, where he was joined by principal celebrant Bishop Keenan of Paisley Diocese. The welcome addition coincided with the news that the number of applications for the permanent diaconate has... Read more
From Athens, GA, via ABC News: Ten-year-old Ivey Zezulka learning that she’s going to be adopted by her foster family might be the most heartwarming thing you’ll see today. Her foster parents Paige and Daniel recently surprised her with the news that they had finalized plans to adopt Ivey and her biological siblings Kai, 3, and Lita, 2, who had all spent years in foster care. “She’s been living with a question mark of what will happen,” Ivey’s mom told ABC... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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