2018-09-11T11:41:50-04:00

Last updated on: September 11, 2018 at 11:41 am   By

Details:  The crisis of sexual abuse is “the Catholic Church’s September 11”. This was said by Monsignor Georg Gaenswein, Prefect of the Pontifical Household and special secretary to Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, who spoke at the presentation of the book “The Benedict option” by American journalist Rod Dreher in the Chamber of Deputies. The German prelate, who mentioned both the Pennsylvania sexual abuse report explicitly, and, implicitly, McCarrick’s case, pointed out thatBenedict XVI’s lament in 2008 to the American bishops on... Read more

2018-09-11T09:10:06-04:00

Last updated on: September 11, 2018 at 9:10 am   By

From today:  In his homily at Mass on Tuesday morning, Pope Francis said it seems the Great Accuser is attacking the bishops of the Catholic Church to create scandal. The Pope invited them to remember three things in these troubled times: their strength lies in being men of prayer; they should have the humility to remember they were chosen by God; and they need to remain close to the people. He reflected on the day’s Gospel (Lk 6:12-19), in which... Read more

2018-09-11T08:34:23-04:00

Last updated on: September 11, 2018 at 8:34 am   By

You may remember this story from a few days ago, regarding a California priest who was allegedly removed from his parish over a homily. The parish disputed that, citing instead “issues with his interpersonal relationships with parish staff and parishioners.” Saturday, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles released a statement on his situation, which confirms what others have said: Contrary to initial blog posts and as noted in the Statement of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles dated September 3 (see below),... Read more

2018-09-10T21:34:21-04:00

Last updated on: September 10, 2018 at 9:34 pm   By

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:  The young man studying at Mundelein Seminary to become a Catholic priest seemed anguished as he vented to Cardinal Blase Cupich about the clergy sex-abuse scandal that threatens to topple Pope Francis and drive more people away from the faith. “I’m hurting, I can’t sleep, I’m sick,” the seminarian told Cupich during an Aug. 29 gathering at which the cardinal spoke to about 200 future priests enrolled at the seminary, according to another person who was there and... Read more

2018-09-10T16:32:44-04:00

Last updated on: September 10, 2018 at 4:32 pm   By

From The Tablet in London: The Vatican is preparing to issue a response to an explosive dossier of allegations that Pope Francis covered up Archbishop Theodore McCarrick’s sexual abuse of priests and seminarians. A statement released by the Pope’s council of nine cardinals said it was “aware that in the current debate” of recent weeks the Holy See is about to issue “necessary clarifications.” The council also expressed their “full solidarity” with the Pope after Archbishop Carlo Mario Viganò released... Read more

2018-09-09T17:24:54-04:00

Last updated on: September 9, 2018 at 5:24 pm   By

Florida Catholic profiled them last month:  The long journey of discernment, study, formation and sacrifice will reach a new milestone for two men here in the diocese when they are ordained deacons Sept. 8, 11 a.m., at the Cathedral of St. Ignatius Loyola. During a Mass with ceremonies, Bishop Gerald M. Barbarito will call candidates David Zanotelli and Martin Sandigo to the altar and ask them to declare their intentions to remain obedient to the local Church and to its... Read more

2018-09-09T16:47:50-04:00

Last updated on: September 9, 2018 at 4:47 pm   By

A pastor friend posted this on Facebook today: a statement he made at all the Masses at his parish. I repost here with his kind permission. + Four points: First. The Second Vatican Council teaches that the Church is the People of God. Pope Francis has spoken about “clericalism” as an illness in the Church, that pretends “the Church” means “priests and bishops,” and ignores the God given grace and talents of law women and men and emphasizes the authority... Read more

2018-09-09T23:02:28-04:00

Last updated on: September 9, 2018 at 11:02 pm   By

From The Washington Post:  A highly visible member of Washington’s Catholic clergy has made a dramatic declaration calling on Cardinal Donald Wuerl to resign, the latest blow to Washington’s embattled archbishop. Deacon James Garcia, in his role as a master of ceremonies at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in the District, has assisted Wuerl during major liturgies. But Garcia wrote in a letter to Wuerl, which the deacon published online Saturday, that he refuses to assist in any Mass led by Wuerl again. Since deacons... Read more

2018-09-08T13:39:30-04:00

Last updated on: September 8, 2018 at 1:39 pm   By

Whether my planning or by coincidence, this great rafter-raising hymn is our entrance song this weekend. I can’t think of a more timely or more consoling cry of hope and faith during turbulent times. Here’s a great rendition from Great Britain: Some background: The hymn was originally part of The Psalms of David Imitated in the Language of the New Testament, published by Watts in 1719. In this book he paraphrased in Christian verse the entire psalter with the exception of twelve Psalms which he... Read more

2018-09-08T11:26:42-04:00

Last updated on: September 8, 2018 at 11:26 am   By

Among the facts posted recently by Pew:  There are roughly 51 million Catholic adults in the U.S., accounting for about one-fifth of the total U.S. adult population, according to Pew Research Center’s 2014 Religious Landscape Study. That study found that the share of Americans who are Catholic declined from 24% in 2007 to 21% in 2014. Catholicism has experienced a greater net loss due to religious switching than has any other religious tradition in the U.S. Overall, 13% of all U.S. adults are... Read more

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