I’m working my way through St. Josemaria Escriva’s “The Way,” and this jumped out at me this morning — apt thoughts for a deacon, and for this month devoted to Mary: “Love our Lady. And she will obtain abundant grace to help you conquer in your daily struggle. And the enemy will gain nothing by those perversities that seem to boil up continually within you, trying to engulf in their fragrant corruption the high ideals, those sublime commands that Christ... Read more
Details from the New York Times: The outcome is a reversal from only two years ago, when a majority of the church’s regions, known as presbyteries, voted against ordaining openly gay candidates. This time, 19 of the church’s 173 presbyteries switched their votes from no to yes in recent months. The Twin Cities presbytery, which covers Minneapolis and St. Paul, cast the deciding vote at its meeting on Tuesday. The vote was 205 to 56, with 3 abstentions. Cynthia Bolbach,... Read more
The controversial Chicago priest made a statement about his situation last night. Details from the AP and the Chicago Sun-Times: The Rev. Michael Pfleger, suspended by the archdiocese after suggesting he would leave the church if he is removed from his parish, says he will begin preaching at other churches if he is not reinstated by this weekend. Pfleger made the comment Tuesday during a meeting with parishioners at St. Sabina Catholic Church. Pfleger told about 150 people he has... Read more
The good folks at Fordham have announced eight people will be receiving honorary degrees this month — including Brian Williams, George Pataki and (drumroll please) Alex Trebek! Details: Fordham will present honorary degrees to leaders in journalism, philanthropy, politics, conservation and the arts during its 2011 commencement exercises this month. Brian Williams, award-winning anchor of NBC Nightly News and 2011 commencement speaker, will receive a doctorate of humane letters, honoris causa, at the 166th commencement on Saturday, May 21, at... Read more
A father, and committed Catholic, states his case for the Church revising its teaching on in vitro fertilization (IVF). His story began with a medical mixup, and turned into a moral and ethical quagmire. From CNN: On September 24, 2009, the day Carolyn gave birth to a very loved baby boy, who was immediately turned over to his genetic parents, the Catholic Diocese of Toledo released a statement to The Toledo Blade condemning IVF as “morally unacceptable.” Because we were... Read more
Somehow I missed this when it was published several days ago, but it’s worth a look: an open letter by researcher and author Phyllis Zagano on the thorny issue of women being ordained…not as priests, but as deacons. A snip: I am not writing to argue for woman priests. But you told me many years ago in New York women deacons were “under study.” From 1992-2002, the International Theological Commission worked on that question, producing a report essentially repeating what... Read more
Only in New York. The gang from Improv Everywhere breaks into song at a conference — and it’s pretty funny. Keep your eyes peeled for the singing priest! Read more
He plans to announce his plans on Wednesday — and two parts of his life will undoubtedly figure prominently in his campaign: his faith and his marriage. From the New York Times: Callista Bisek’s friends from rural Wisconsin were stunned when, well over a decade ago, she confided that she was secretly dating an older, married man: Newt Gingrich. Still in her 20s when they met, Ms. Bisek had been raised in a town of 1,500, the only child of... Read more
It’s one of those stories where the people involved are so famous and familiar, no last names are necessary. From the Los Angeles Times: Former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and his wife, Maria Shriver, have separated, with Shriver moving out of their Brentwood mansion while the two determine the next step in their 25-year marriage. Shriver has been residing apart from the actor-turned-politician for the last few weeks. The former first couple confirmed the separation in a joint statement released Monday... Read more
My old CBS colleague Mary Murphy has just produced what looks like a fascinating documentary about Harper Lee and the impact of her one great work, “To Kill a Mockingbird.” The movie is unspooling around the country right now — opening in New York this Friday — and the Los Angeles Times has a preview: Harper Lee was working as an airline reservations agent in New York City, struggling to write a novel tentatively titled “Atticus,” when a close friend... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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