The Deacon's Bench
For a new self-parking car from Ford: Read more
For a new self-parking car from Ford: Read more
A fragrance in honor of the Pope: Read all about it. Read more
It stems from an allegation of sex abuse dating back more than 20 years ago: A prominent Jesuit priest has been permanently barred from public ministry for allegedly improperly touching a minor in the 1980s. The Maryland Province of the Jesuits said Tuesday that it removed the Rev. James Glenn Murray from church work after an investigator hired by the Roman Catholic order found evidence supporting the allegation. Murray is living in a monitored Jesuit residence. The Jesuits sent notice... Read more
Ah, a little more sunshine for the Sunshine State! Details: Bishop Felipe J. Estèvez ordained 15 men to the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of St. Augustine on Saturday, June 18 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jacksonville. About 1,100 friends, family and priests nearly filled the church to celebrate the ordination. Joining Bishop Estèvez as principal concelebrants were Bishop Emeritus Victor Galeone, Bishop Emeritus John Snyder and Fathers Michael Morgan, Guy Noonan, Frederick Parke and Caesar Russo. Concelebrants included... Read more
This is too good to overlook: an inspiring story of a nightly habit that became a tradition, courtesy NPR: When Alice Ozma was in the fourth grade, her family was going through a rough patch. Her parents had just split up, and her older sister had recently left for college. Ozma was suddenly spending a lot more time alone with her dad, Jim Brozina, an elementary school librarian. So Ozma and her father made a pledge: to read together every... Read more
Now you can, via the weird new Facebook game, “Vatican Wars.” It’s “Farmville” for the churchy set. Details, from the game’s press release: Players are divided into two teams based on their opinions on topics including abortion, same sex marriage, the ordination of women and the use of birth control. Each team then works to ensure that a player from the other team is not elected Pope. “We did extensive surveying of Catholics before launching the game and were surprised to find... Read more
Hey, let’s ask some experts: the Miss USA contestants! Read more
Just like in the beginning! There’s an article about the men right here. And from the bishop’s homily: You are to be good servants of the Word, and enthusiastic agents of the New Evangelization. Never offer your own word, your own views, in place of the Word of Christ as it comes to us through the teaching of the Church. Allow the Word you proclaim to shape your inmost thoughts, and to shine forth in your every word and deed.... Read more
That’s just part of his very fine (and surprisingly Catholic) commencement speech at his alma mater, Northwestern University. Check it out below. H/T U.S Catholic. They point out that he gets to the heart of the matter around the 16:00 mark. Read more
It’s happening at Belmont Abbey College in North Carolina. Details: It was a summer of romance and fear. A bittersweet mix that cast a long shadow through the years. One that Debbie Capen, 37, of Charlotte will remember today at the groundbreaking for what is believed the nation’s first college-based maternity and after-care residential facility for single pregnant women. The home is being built on the campus of Belmont Abbey College and will be run by the Charlotte-based Catholic nonprofit... Read more
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