It doesn't add up: audit shows priest spent a million on personal items

July 18, 2011 By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: The year-long internal investigation into the suspected misdeeds of the popular priest at St. Leo Catholic Church in Bonita Springs is coming to a close. Southwest Florida Bishop Frank J. Dewane placed Rev. Stan Strycharz on administrative leave in late July 2010, with full pay, pending an internal investigation into several allegations about Strycharz, both personal and financial. A conclusion to the financial allegations was announced in a letter inserted in the church bulletin and handed out to parishioners... Read more

"Respect one another, and let no man judge his neighbor…"

July 18, 2011 By Deacon Greg Kandra

“Be zealous to do all things in harmony with God, with the bishop presiding in the place of God, and the presbyters in the place of the Council of the Apostles, and the deacons, who are most dear to me, entrusted with the service of Jesus Christ, who was from eternity with the Father and was made manifest at the end of time. Be all in conformity with God, and respect one another, and let no man judge his neighbour... Read more

Who? — UPDATED

July 18, 2011 By Deacon Greg Kandra

Rocco is offering some tantalizing hints about who will be named the next Archbishop of Philadelphia — with the announcement reportedly set to drop tomorrow. Reflecting on the supposed choice’s musical preferences, he notes: “Our next Shepherd isn’t (by his own admission) exactly a guy of high-classical taste.” And he offers this: And now, back to preparing the rollout piece for what’s set to be the most revolutionary shift of leadership this place has known in at least a century.... Read more

The Deacon's Buzz

July 18, 2011 By Deacon Greg Kandra

Department of Shameless Self-Promotion: I was surprised and humbled to find myself mentioned in two other blogs this morning. Michael Leach, publisher emeritus of Orbis Books, tossed me onto a list of his favorite Catholic blogs (I’m breathing some rarefied air — check out the company I keep!). Thanks, Mike! And my neighbor down the blog, er, block, Max Lindenman, has some thoughts this morning on blogging and comments: In the end, the relationship between blogger and readers, though intimate... Read more

Worth a thousand words: wedding edition

July 17, 2011 By Deacon Greg Kandra

Bridget and Don Forcier exchange vows. Old Town Hall, Fairfax, Virginia. 16 July 2011. Bridget is my wife’s sister. In the picture above, the man and woman closest to the camera (the woman in pink) are my in-laws — Bridget’s mom and dad. Congratulations! Ad multos annos! Read more

"When I go to confession, I sometimes mention that I'm gay…"

July 17, 2011 By Deacon Greg Kandra

Here’s something altogether different and surprising: a blog post by a faithful Catholic who also happens to be gay. Don’t think such creatures exist? Think again. H/T New Advent. A snip: I have heard a lot about how mean the Church is, and how bigoted, because she opposes gay marriage. How badly she misunderstands gay people, and how hostile she is towards us. My gut reaction to such things is: Are you freaking kidding me? Are we even talking about... Read more

When comments close: the reaction

July 17, 2011 By Deacon Greg Kandra

Thought I’d share a few more postcards from the e-mail bag, with some wide-ranging reaction to yesterday’s post about closing comments for a few days. I received a couple comments like this one, from a reader who understands why I did it: : Overall— I enjoy the many different comments on your blog—-even the caustic ones— the ones you know darn well are just trying to tick off many of us, and they usually push enough buttons to do the trick!... Read more

From the e-mail bag: "More and more, I find a lack of Christian charity in so many comments…"

July 16, 2011 By Deacon Greg Kandra

I’m in Maryland this weekend for a family wedding, so blogging will be light. But late last night, I got the following e-mail from a longtime reader. I think that you must be near saintly to be able to put up with so many of the comments that are placed on your blog. I have greatly enjoyed it and have really appreciated the information and news that you have brought to it. I think that you have done a wonderful... Read more

Eucharistic miracle in Minnesota?

July 15, 2011 By Deacon Greg Kandra

Officials are investigating, according to this report: The mystery centers on a consecrated host that the Rev. John Echert of St. Augustine Church said fell to the floor last month during Holy Communion and turned “blood red” after being placed in a cup filled with water. It has yet to fully dissolve, he said. “It was notable enough that, clearly, it was some phenomenon and not the ordinary way in which a host would dissolve…that we’re familiar with,” Echert said. The archdiocese, which now has the host,... Read more

"A Catholic by any other name…"

July 15, 2011 By Deacon Greg Kandra

Sr. Mary Ann Walsh over at the USCCB blog takes a good long look at Bill Keller’s remarks about Catholicism last week. Her stirring conclusion: The Catholic Church doesn’t totally give up anyone. Even if you’re excommunicated, it expects you to attend Mass each week, though not to participate in the sacraments. James Joyce in Finnegan’s Wake defined the Catholic Church as “here comes everybody,” giving a blunt, yet poetic expression to a Church with room for all. One also... Read more