This past Wednesday, the world lost a giant. But I don’t mean Steve Jobs. In all the news coverage given to his passing, all the accolades about his life, much of the media overlooked another life that didn’t get as much attention. But I want to give it that attention this morning. I’m speaking of Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth. No, he was not a household name. Unlike Steve Jobs, he was not a billionaire who graced the covers of magazines or... Read more
This may be a first: the world’s first toy inspired by a video on YouTube. Seriously. Why settle for the imitation when you can always watch the original? Eighteen million hits, and counting. See below. Read more
An amazing story, of amazing grace: Terri Roberts was eating outside with a co-worker on a bright October day when an ambulance wailed nearby and a helicopter swooped overhead. As she often did at a sirens’ sound, Roberts said a quick prayer. “Little did I know what I was praying for,” she said. Walking back to her office, Roberts heard the phone ring. It was her husband, Chuck. “I need you to come to Charlie’s house right away,” he said,... Read more
A heartbreaking image of our times. Brandie Barbiere, center, reacts as Weld County sheriff’s deputy Mary Schwartz arrives to evict her and her family from their home in Miliken, Colo. Barbiere said she had stopped making the mortgage payments 11 months before, after she lost more than half her home child care business due to the economy. See a photo gallery and learn more at WashingtonPost.com. Photo by John Moore/Getty UPDATE: A reader sent me this note: I became somewhat... Read more
His personal philosophy helped shape the company he founded — and not in ways that were entirely positive. “I think Jobs was incontestably Great, but I doubt you could call him Good,” is how Rod Dreher described Steve Jobs, admiring his achievement but noting that a fair assessment of his life and legacy has to include his dark side. CNN has more: The name of Jobs’ company is said to be inspired by the Beatles’ Apple Corps, which repeatedly sued... Read more
That’s the title of a new book, and the subject of a symposium on the topic held recently in Washington featuring, among others, Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta. Details: Despite all the negative publicity of recent years, research shows U.S. Catholic priests are demonstrably among the happiest, most job-fulfilled and satisfied men in the country, theologian and psychologist Msgr. Stephen J. Rossetti said Oct. 5. Key reasons seem to be their prayer life and the close relations they have established... Read more
Bishop Zurek has posted a public statement on the Diocese of Amarillo website. Most important part: As a diocesan bishop, I am obligated to show concern for the well being and ministry of all our priests. I support with no exception the various ministries that the priests of our Diocese carry out for the Common Good of the Church. Thus, I am seeking clarifications and answers to concerns about the administration of the PFL organization and other related entities of... Read more
Details: Ten men were ordained to serve the Archdiocese of Detroit as permanent deacons last Saturday, Oct. 1, by Archbishop Allen Vigneron. The Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit was filled to capacity with the families and friends of the new deacon ordinandi, as well as deacons, priests and prelates of the archdiocese. In his homily, Archbishop Vigneron spoke of the ministry of the deacon in the Church, citing first the deacon’s teaching ministry, as when he proclaims... Read more
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” may be history, and same sex marriages may be legal in New York State, but the archbishop for the military says you won’t see any of them happening at Catholic chapel of the U.S. military academy in New York: The Holy Trinity chapel at the military school is a Catholic parish, said Taylor Henry, spokesman for Archbishop Timothy Broglio. As such, it will not “perform the sacrament of matrimony for same-sex couples,” since the Catholic Church... Read more
The Catholic Church is still new to the whole social media phenomenon — and Sr. Mary Ann Walsh from the USCCB looks at why the Church needs this particular dialogue: The social media phenomenon offers both challenge and opportunity for the church. Social media reaches people – millions are on Facebook and Twitter every day. The church cannot ignore them. They are interactive, however, and don’t work when conversations are one-way. They involve dialogue, something not always welcome by clergy, teachers... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In