Is the “Fortnight for Freedom” a “Fortnight to Defeat Obama”?

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:08 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

One observer thinks so: The Catholic Church practically invented politics, so it may be asking too much to expect American bishops to steer completely clear of affairs of state. There are times when they couldn’t if they wanted to and they feel this is one of those times. The upcoming “Fortnight for Freedom” campaign to push back against this administration’s contraceptive health care mandate, however, sounds so much like a “Fortnight to Defeat Barack Obama” that I’ve gotten to wondering... Read more

Benedict celebrates Corpus Christi

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:08 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

You can read his homily for the occasion here. And see him in action below. Read more

Pelosian Theology

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:08 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

“I do my religion on Sundays, in church, and I try to go other days of the week; I don’t do it at this press conference.” — Nancy Pelosi, when asked her views regarding Catholic teaching on contraception. Read more

Ordination update: 13 new deacons for Philadelphia

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the Philadelphia Standard & Times: The June 2 ordination ceremony for Philadelphia’s newest permanent deacons was strikingly similar to the May 19 ordination ceremony for its newest priests. One noticeable difference was that the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul was much more crowded for the deacons, which is reasonable because there were 13 new deacons as opposed to six new priests, and there were presumably a lot more relatives considering all the deacons are married men and... Read more

First same-sex religious “commitment” ceremony performed by Army chaplain

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:08 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details from CNN: A same-sex ceremony between an enlisted woman and a civilian woman on a U.S. Army post last month drew protests from lawmakers Thursday. The “private religious ceremony” took place at Fort Polk in Louisiana in May, post spokesman Scott Stearns said, but he would confirm few other details. Rep. John Fleming, a Louisiana Republican whose congressional district includes the Army post, said the military confirmed to him that the same-sex ceremony was performed by an Army chaplain... Read more

Inspiration: one teen’s journey from homeless to Harvard

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:08 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This just makes you sit up and go “Wow.” Read on: Dawn Loggins returned from a prestigious academic camp last summer and discovered her parents had abandoned her. So she did the only thing she knew. She adjusted. She went to live with a friend’s mother. She took a part-time job as the custodian at her school, starting work at 6 a.m., two hours before classes began at Burns High. She carried toothpaste, toothbrush, shower soap and shampoo in her... Read more

Ordination update: 13 new deacons for Philadelphia

Last updated on: June 7, 2012 at 11:21 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

See you at Spago: Georgia parish sets out to produce faith-based film

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:08 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

While most parishes are busy raising money to fund schools or fix the plumbing, a thriving parish in the Archdiocese of Atlanta is trying to raise funds to produce a movie. In fact, it bills this as “the first major motion picture from a Catholic parish.” From the Georgia Bulletin: Efforts are underway at St. Catherine of Siena Church to bring a full-length motion picture originating from a Catholic parish to the big screen. The film project—with the working... Read more

A Corpus Christi homily: “It is astounding to consider what bread can become”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:08 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

With the Holy Father celebrating Corpus Christ today in Rome, and in anticipation of our own celebration of the feast in this country on Sunday, below is part of my homily for the feast from 2007. +++ When I was young and first living on my own – way back before I was married – I decided to try and teach myself to cook. The “man-sized” TV dinners weren’t cutting it. So I got a couple of cookbooks, including one... Read more

SSPX head: Rome no longer requires group to accept all Vatican II teachings

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:08 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: The leader of the traditionalist Society of St. Pius X said talks with the Vatican demonstrate that “Rome no longer makes total acceptance” of the teachings of the Second Vatican Council a condition for his group’s full reconciliation with the church. Accepting the council’s teaching is no longer “a prerequisite for the canonical solution” of the status of the society, said Bishop Bernard Fellay, superior general of the SSPX. In an interview published June 7 on the society’s news... Read more