Have we lost our ability to be shocked? Rod Dreher thinks so, and poses another question: What is wrong with this country? A video depicting a macabre scene of a fake President Trump shooting, stabbing and brutally assaulting members of the news media and his political opponents was shown at a conference for his supporters at his Miami resort last week, according to footage obtained by The New York Times. Several of Mr. Trump’s top surrogates — including his son... Read more
I’ve seen a number of people online refer to the newly canonized saint as “St. Newman.” No. That would be this guy. I’m pretty sure they mean this one. Just to be clear: we don’t refer to others as “St. Seton,” “St. Cabrini” or “St. Vianney.” He’s “St. John Henry Newman.” That is all. Carry on. Read more
“I don’t know how anyone — progressive, conservative, anyone — walks out of this play without the conviction that somehow, they have to change their life.” Who’da thunk? The trailer above gives a taste of the play critics are raving about. Details: For a young playwright in New York, it’s one thing to draw buzz from critics and theater fans. It’s quite another have your dense and boundary-pushing Off Broadway play become a talking point among religious conservatives — and... Read more
This may be the most concise and clear-eyed dissection of the eyebrow-raising remarks recently attributed to Pope Francis — and it includes several excerpts and links to writings in which the Holy Father, in fact, said that Jesus is God. Jimmy Akin concludes: It looks like Scalfari may have simply mangled something Pope Francis said based on the teachings of St. Paul and Hebrews—mistaking, like some heretics in Church history, Christ’s self-emptying as a loss of divinity. But this is not... Read more
“His example is needed more than ever. He could advocate without accusation, could disagree without disrespect and could see differences as places of encounter rather than exclusion.” Highlights, from CNA: The Prince of Wales said Saturday that the canonization of Cardinal John Henry Newman is a cause for celebration among all Britons, those who are Catholic and those who “cherish the values by which he was inspired.” “His faith was truly catholic in that it embraced all aspects of life.... Read more
This is a proposal in Australia: Melbourne City Council member Nic Frances Gilley has introduced a proposal to require Catholic churches to comply with the province of Victoria’s new mandatory abuse reporting laws or have signs posted outside warning parents that the houses of worship might pose a danger to children. The Age reports that Gilley is requesting the state “write to all churches and places of worship requesting assurances that all staff and associates will abide by the law of... Read more
You may remember that Wisconsin’s Sean Duffy quit Congress a few weeks back, because his wife was expecting a child who, he announced, “will need even more love, time, and attention due to complications, including a heart condition.” Now, an update: Sean Duffy and Rachel Campos-Duffy’s ninth child is still in the hospital, but is doing well a week after her birth. Duffy, the former U.S. representative for Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District, and Campos-Duffy, a television personality and frequent commentator on... Read more
Here’s something you don’t see every day. Details: Kim Kardashian feels “blessed” to have been baptized in her ancestors’ native land. “Thank you Armenia for such a memorable trip,” Kim, 38 tweeted on Thursday. “So blessed to have been baptized along with my babies at Mother See of Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenia’s main cathedral which is sometimes referred to as the Vatican of the Armenian Apostolic Church.” The “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” star’s children Saint, 3, Chicago, 1, and 5-month-old Psalm were also baptized on Monday.... Read more
“Aided and abetted by social media, our Culture of Contempt threatens to consume us all.” This is a message more need to hear. Some background: Each lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem hosts days of formation to help deepen the faith, spirituality and commitment of its members. The Eastern Lieutenancy of the United States hosts such days in Advent and Lent, and just prior to the Investiture and Promotion ceremonies held each Autumn in New... Read more
With this solemnity falling on the 2nd Sunday of Advent this year, that may cause some confusion. A reader dropped me a line recently: Can a parish celebrate the Immaculate Conception on Dec 7-8th instead of the 2nd Sunday in Advent Liturgy?? My pastor wants to do this. I did not know for sure if it is proper?? Short answer: no. A few dioceses have written about this, to clear up any confusion. Here’s one explanation, from the Diocese of... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In