And there was evidently a lot they got wrong, according to the lead researcher of the report, Karen J. Terry. She offered the following analysis at John Jay’s online resource, The Crime Report: Sound bites should not be confused with facts. By the time we officially released our report (which can be found here) on The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950 – 2010 on May 18, 2011, the media had... Read more
Scenes from my parish on Sunday. Click to enlarge. Photos by Joanna Sokolowska Read more
The trailblazing CNN sports anchor died yesterday after a long bout with cancer — just short of one of his personal goals, to see his 65th birthday. He would have been 65 on June 30. This spring, he spoke with CNN about his life and his last days — and the importance of his rediscovered faith. From the Christian Post: While too many Americans fear death, Charles admitted that he embraces it. Hoping that his final words to his daughter... Read more
“I would have to say I was sad because it’s not good for the common good. I think society and culture is at its peril. “I tell the gay community I love you very much, and every single morning when I say my morning prayers, I pray for the health of all New Yorkers and they are part of that. I am very grateful for the presence of so many gay Catholics who are heroically trying to live their faith.”... Read more
“(New York Governor Andrew) Cuomo’s concubinage gives prominent bad example against marriage, but his official actions in regard to “gay marriage” have changed the very definition of marriage in the populous state under his care; Cuomo’s living arrangements are of immediate canonical concern to only two of New York’s eight arch/bishops, but his political actions in regard to ‘gay marriage’ negatively impact the pastoral mission of every Catholic bishop, parish priest, deacon, and lay minister throughout the Province of New... Read more
A popular ritual on the West Coast is moving east, with the blessing of surf boards for the summer season. Details, from CNN: Some New York surfboards and boogie boards got a splash of holy water before hitting the waves Sunday. St. Therese of Lisieux Catholic Church in Montauk held its first ever blessing of the boards on Father’s Day. The church is in the Hamptons, the Long Island beach communities popular with both celebrities and locals. The Rev. Michael... Read more
For your Corpus Christi meditation: a remarkable Eucharistic flash mob in Great Britain. Read all about it here. Read more
And, it’s the first new order of its kind in over 60 years. Details: It was May 2001 when Sister Olga Yaqob arrived in Boston. She had graduated top of the class in seminary in her native Iraq and was offered a scholarship to study ministry and spirituality at Boston College. First, she had to learn how to speak English. She studied for two years in an intensive program at Boston University. They will be the first orders founded in... Read more
For your Corpus Christi meditation: a remarkable Eucharistic flash mob in Great Britain. Read all about it here. Read more
He spoke openly about wrestling with his religious convictions before the vote on Friday. And now USA TODAY has more: New York Catholic leadership vociferously opposed legalizing gay marriage in the state. But when it passed the state senate Friday night to become law, it was with the help of a yes vote from a Catholic senator, Mark Grisanti. WBFO’s coverage reports: Grisanti said even though, as a Catholic, he was raised to believe marriage is between a man and... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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