Six things to know about the HHS mandate

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:34 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Sister Mary Ann Walsh at the USCCB blog: 1. The mandate does not exempt Catholic charities, schools, universities, or hospitals. These institutions are vital to the mission of the Church, but HHS does not deem them “religious employers” worthy of conscience protection, because they do not “serve[] primarily persons who share the[ir] religious tenets.” HHS denies these organizations religious freedom precisely because their purpose is to serve the common good of society—a purpose that government should encourage, not punish.... Read more

Best Super Bowl ad: the Dog Strikes Back

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:34 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Here it is: arguably the best ad on last night’s Super Bowl — or, at least, the best one that didn’t star Clint Eastwood. (You’ll remember the VW ad being teased here.) Read more

Who drove the Komen story? The tweets tell the story

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:34 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This is pretty interesting–and revealing: Last Tuesday, the Susan G. Komen Foundation announced it would no longer fund clinical breast exams and mammograms through Planned Parenthood. The $680,000 per year that was going to Planned Parenthood helped provide exams for 170,000 mainly low-income and minority women. The organization claimed that they were tightening their rules for grant recipients and denying grants to any organization under investigation. (A pro-life Congressman from Florida is leading a Congressional inquiry into whether Planned Parenthood uses... Read more

My bishop’s letter on the HHS ruling

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:34 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The letter below was read at all the Masses in the Diocese of Brooklyn this weekend. Read more

If you really don’t care about the Super Bowl…

Last updated on: March 13, 2015 at 5:06 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

…and you’re looking for a way to kill eight minutes, try this. For the curious, here’s audio for this Sunday’s homily, as delivered at today’s 11:30 am Mass. Just click the green arrow. [audio:http://wp.patheos.com.s3.amazonaws.com/blogs/deaconsbench/files/2012/02/HOMILY0205.mp3|titles=HOMILY0205] Read more

If you really don’t care about the Super Bowl…

Last updated on: February 5, 2012 at 12:01 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

It’s official: Crystal Cathedral is Catholic

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:34 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Or, at least, legally it is. It’s now owned by the Catholic Church. Details: The Crystal Cathedral, one of the nation’s best-known Protestant churches, is now owned by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange. Escrow closed Friday afternoon on the $57.5 million court-ordered sale, the diocese said. The congregation led by Robert H. Schuller and his family can continue to worship in the landmark church for three years under a lease with the diocese. But when the congregation leaves, the... Read more

Priest resigns over new Missal translation

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:34 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: After 47 years as a priest, and at least two decades of straying from the Roman Catholic Missal by ad libbing parts of the Mass, the Rev. Bill Rowe of St. Mary Church has resigned under pressure from the bishop. Why? Because he doesn’t agree that a priest should be restricted to the exact words of the Missal, including new changes in the Mass that were intended to more closely interpret earlier Latin versions. The changes were ordered by... Read more

New poll: Santorum beats Obama

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:34 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This news should give a few people pause: The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Saturday shows that 26% of the nation’s voters Strongly Approve of the way that Barack Obama is performing his role as president. Forty percent (40%) Strongly Disapprove, giving Obama a Presidential Approval Index rating of -14 (see trends). In a potential Election 2012 matchup, former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum is at 45% while President Obama earns 44%. This is the first time in any... Read more

“Radicalism and maliciousness are at work in Obama’s decision…”

Last updated on: September 30, 2016 at 5:34 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Compelling words on the HHS ruling from columnist (and former Bush speechwriter) Michael Gerson in the Washington Post: There would have been no controversy at all if President Obama had simply exempted religious institutions and ministries. But the administration insisted that the University of Notre Dame and St. Mary’s Hospital be forced to pay for the privilege of violating their convictions. Obama chose to substantially burden a religious belief, by the most intrusive means, for a less-than-compelling state purpose —... Read more