“Catholics who are passionate about the family, the life issues and the sexual issues go to one side of the room, and Catholics passionate about the social teachings of the Church to the other. And from their sides they both hurl blame, venom, scorn, and debate who is a true Catholic and who really cares about what is most important. We do this rather than appreciate the work that each of us does in essential areas and we fail to... Read more
Details: Calling the Obama administration’s mandated insurance coverage for contraceptives an “assault” on religious freedom, Pennsylvania’s 10 Catholic bishops have urged Catholics statewide to make Friday, March 30, a day of prayer and fasting. “On that day, offer your sacrifice for the cause of religious liberty, that the Church may be granted the basic right to practice what she preaches, and for our political leaders, that their eyes may be opened to the rights of all Americans,” the bishops said... Read more
That would be “Seasons of Grace,” the terrific blog by Kathy Schiffer, which has just landed here at Patheos. Face it: How could I not love a blog whose author begins her biography by saying, “Kathy Schiffer is the wife of a deacon…” Let me pull up a chair. I want to hear more. And you will, too. Drop by and say hello. You won’t be disappointed. She has a lot to say, and a wonderful way of saying it.... Read more
It’s not the first time and, if unsuccessful, it probably won’t be the last. Details: For more than 25 years, Notre Dame students have asked the University to formally recognize a student organization that addresses the needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community on campus. The requests have come in many forms, including student government resolutions, a report to the Board of Trustees and applications from student organizations requesting to be officially recognized as a club... Read more
How’s this for a really late vocation? From Ottawa: For nearly half a century, Gérard Lafrenière was devoted to his wife, and, by all accounts, fulfilled his vows to love, honour and cherish her. Yet, he had another love, too. In 2009, two years after his wife of 49 years, Gisèle Viau, died, Lafrenière fulfilled the vocation that had been with him since childhood. He became a Catholic priest, with his wife’s blessing. “This is something that has been in... Read more
Well, what do you know? From the press release: Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today designated March 12-18, 2012 as Timothy Cardinal Dolan Week in New York State. A formal proclamation issued by the Governor today paid tribute to Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, in honor of his elevation to the College of Cardinals. To commemorate the week, One World Trade Center will be lit red starting tonight and lasting through Sunday, March 18. “It is an honor to designate... Read more
Cardinal Timothy Dolan and bishops from around New York State headed to the state capitol today for their annual lobbying trip — and the cardinal offered some choice insight, and new information, to a reporter from the New York Daily News: Cardinal Dolan revealed for the first time that the Catholic Church was caught flat-footed on last year’s gay marriage vote in New York — insisting it was “burned” by Senate Republicans who claimed it didn’t have a prayer. “We... Read more
“It is impossible to interpret Jesus as a violent person. Violence is contrary to the Kingdom of God, it is a tool of the Antichrist. Violence never serves humanity, but dehumanizes.” — Pope Benedict in yesterday’s Angelus, discussing the cleansing of the temple. Read more. Full English translation to come. Read more
Details: A study of student faiths at DePaul, deemed the largest Catholic University in the nation, has concluded that Catholic students are not the majority at the school. Statistics gathered by the Institutional Research and Market Analytics strategy group illustrate that while 33 percent of students at DePaul declare their Catholic faith, nearly 45 percent of the student body do not identify themselves as being part of any sort of faith-based religion. Although “First Things Magazine,” a publication through The... Read more
A couple people dropped me an e-mail or left a comment in the combox about this. Fr. Marcel Guarnizo can no longer function as a priest in the Archdiocese of Washington. Details below, courtesy Abbey Roads: A reader told me that Fr. Marcel’s pastor read the above letter at all the Masses this weekend, and took pains to point out that it was unrelated to the communion controversy. Stay tuned. And keep all concerned in your prayers. UPDATE: The Washington... Read more
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