U.S. bishop: ‘They are still allegations but as your shepherd I find them to be credible’

Last updated on: August 26, 2018 at 9:55 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Hours after the story broke, we now have the first significant episcopal response to the allegations by Archbishop Viganò, from Bishop Joseph Strickland in Tyler, Texas. While there are still a lot of unanswered questions about this story—and strong skepticism in some quarters— the bishop is nonetheless posting the letter from the former nuncio on the diocesan website, and directing his response to be mentioned at all parishes and included in all websites: Dear Priests, Deacons, Religious and all Holy Faithful... Read more

Ordination update: 11 new deacons for San Bernardino

Last updated on: August 26, 2018 at 10:11 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Some good news, for a change! Bishop Gerald Barnes ordained the 11 men on Saturday August 25 — the largest class in the 40-year history of the diocese. If anyone has more details—names, parishes?—please pass them along. Meantime, here’s a class photo. Congratulations, brothers, and welcome! Ad multos annos! UPDATE: Ace San Bernardino Deacon Pete Bond has directed my attention to this story from last month, which profiles the deacons. Thanks, Pete! Read more

Bombshell: Former nuncio Viganò says Pope Francis covered up for McCarrick, calls on him to resign

Last updated on: August 26, 2018 at 9:11 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Edward Pentin at the National Catholic Register: In an extraordinary 11-page written testament, a former apostolic nuncio to the United States has accused several senior prelates of complicity in covering up Archbishop Theodore McCarrick’s allegations of sexual abuse, and has claimed that Pope Francis knew about sanctions imposed on then-Cardinal McCarrick by Pope Benedict XVI but chose to repeal them. Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò, 77, who served as apostolic nuncio in Washington D.C. from 2011 to 2016, wrote that... Read more

Who will replace Cardinal Wuerl?

Last updated on: August 25, 2018 at 12:38 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

That question is now being asked, more frequently and more insistently, as newspapers and social media commenters call on the cardinal archbishop of Washington to step down. (He submitted his resignation two years ago, when he turned 75, but it has not yet been accepted by the pope.) J.D. Flynn weighs in: There has been speculation about who will succeed Wuerl since he submitted his resignation in 2015. Though this summer seems to have changed a great deal, at least... Read more

Does your parish pray the ‘St. Michael Prayer’?

Last updated on: August 25, 2018 at 11:46 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

In my travels around the country, I’ve encountered a few places where the bishop has mandated that this prayer be said at the end of every Mass in the diocese. This was a common practice before the liturgical reforms of Vatican II. Now another diocese has added the prayer: Bishop Frank Caggiano of Bridgeport has asked that parishes begin saying this prayer at the end of each and every Mass, effective September 15, the Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows.... Read more

Prayers for Tim Conway

Last updated on: August 25, 2018 at 10:12 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Tim Conway — best known for roles on “McHale’s Navy” and “The Carol Burnett Show” — is suffering from dementia and his daughter is asking the court to control of his medical care because his current wife is trying to move him out the facility he is in. According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Conway’s daughter, Kelly, is asking a court to appoint her the conservator of her father’s person so she can handle his medical treatments. According... Read more

Pennsylvania priest charged with indecent assault

Last updated on: August 25, 2018 at 9:50 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

This didn’t get much attention when the story broke earlier in the week, but it’s worth noting because the case is so new. From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: An Allentown Diocese priest was charged Tuesday in Lehigh County with indecent assault and corruption of minors after being accused of inappropriately touching a 17-year-old girl and sending nude images of himself to her. The accusation against the Rev. Kevin Lonergan, a 30-year-old priest from Pottsville, is new. He is not among the... Read more

BREAKING: Pope acknowledges ‘repugnant crimes’ of sex abuse, failures of bishops

Last updated on: August 25, 2018 at 9:26 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From CNS: Acknowledging the failures “of bishops, religious superiors, priests and others” in the Catholic Church to protect children from the “repugnant crimes” of physical and sexual abuse, Pope Francis began his two-day visit to Ireland. Meeting with civil, cultural and religious leaders in Dublin Castle Aug. 25, the pope said he knew that the horrendous history of abuse and its cover-up in Ireland “has rightly given rise to outrage and remains a source of pain and shame for the... Read more

Buffalo public officials, Catholic radio station, deacon join call for bishop to resign

Last updated on: August 24, 2018 at 6:17 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The calls for the bishop’s resignation come in the wake of an investigation by TV station WBKW. One of the voices in this chorus belongs to a Catholic deacon. Details: Public pressure was mounting on Buffalo Diocese Bishop Richard J. Malone on Friday as a congressman, two other public officials and a prominent Buffalo businessman who serves as a church deacon today called upon him to resign because of his handling of clergy abuse cases that have rocked the community.... Read more

Rector to seminarians: ‘We are part of a diseased body not of our own making’

Last updated on: August 24, 2018 at 6:39 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

This homily was delivered by the Rev. Matthew Kauth, rector St. Joseph College Seminary in the Diocese of Charlotte. He offered this response to the growing sex abuse scandal: I have an emotional response. The same as any sane man. I am sickened, disgusted, angry, horrified . . . What I am not is surprised. I am not shocked. I have no longer any trust in princes. In twenty years as a priest I have seen too much of man and too much of... Read more