The mind boggles. Why is this man still a priest? From the Associated Press: A former Belgian bishop at the center of one of the Roman Catholic church’s biggest pedophile scandals said Thursday that he had abused two nephews and insisted he had no plans to abandon the priesthood. In his first television interview since the scandal broke a year ago, Roger Vangheluwe claimed he paid one nephew he abused for years tens of thousands of euros in support, but... Read more
“The cult of celebrity is poison. People need to stop hoisting aloft every internet chatterer who thinks God has given him the power of excommunication against those who don’t happen to know their suffocating small constellation of shibboleths. Read and heed. We internet loudmouths are not to be obeyed like bishops. When one of us pops off about Earth Day and stupidly declares, pronounces and defines that “if the priest even so much as breathes a word about Earth Day,... Read more
And now, another reason to pray for the people of China: In a bizarre move, China’s television censors have issued new guidelines that all but ban TV dramas featuring time travel. In a statement (available here in Chinese) dated March 31, the State Administration for Radio, Film & Television said that TV dramas that involve characters traveling back in time “lack positive thoughts and meaning.” The guidelines discouraging this type of show said that some “casually make up myths, have monstrous... Read more
The possibility was announced earlier this week, when the Vatican outlined its guidelines for celebrating his feast in October. Now, a new Rhode Island parish may be the first to claim the late pontiff for its patron — using the title “Blessed” — providing it gets permission from Rome. Details: Two more Roman Catholic parishes will merge in July. The Diocese of Providence has confirmed that St. Leo the Great and St. Cecilia Parishes will merge on July 1 and... Read more
“The moral measure of this budget debate is not which party wins or which powerful interests prevail, but rather how those who are jobless, hungry, homeless or poor are treated, Their voices are too often missing in these debates, but they have the most compelling moral claim on our consciences and our common resources… …A just framework for future budgets cannot rely on disproportionate cuts in essential services to poor persons. It requires shared sacrifice by all, including raising adequate... Read more
And the statistics, if accurate, show that Catholics practice contraception at almost the same rate as other religious groups. Details: A new report from the Guttmacher Institute, the nonprofit sexual health research organization, shows that only 2 percent of Catholic women, even those who regularly attend church, rely on natural family planning. The latest data shows practices of Catholic women are in line with women of other religious affiliations and adult American women in general. “In real-life America, contraceptive use... Read more
Who knew? Here’s a great story about a sister exercising a unique ministry to the survivors in Japan — some of them, the four-legged variety: Sister Michael Marie spent nearly two weeks in Japan after the devastating earthquake and tsunami March 11, helping pet owners and farm owners cope and find hope amid the despair. Relief work is one of her callings, she says. The 36-year-old nun from the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart in Clarksburg, Ohio is also a... Read more
From the USCCB: This month brings the sixth anniversary of the pope’s election — a brief length of time for an institution that “thinks in centuries” — yet of the178 Latin rite dioceses and archdiocese in the U.S., 86, or 48 percent of them, are headed by bishops appointed by this pope. Take into account the five or so vacant dioceses awaiting new bishops, the eight U.S. bishops currently serving past the retirement age of 75, as well as one... Read more
They should be naming elementary schools and highways for this man. RIP, Bob Howard. He passed away in 2009, but someone put this on Facebook today. IMO, we can never be reminded too often of men like this. Read more
Some heartening news. A deacon reader, Tom Lang, learning about the misleading (and inaccurate) press release Rutgers issued about the appearance of a Catholic woman “bishop,” dropped a line to Rutgers University President Richard L. McCormack, expressing serious concerns. President McCormick wrote back: Thank you for your message about the upcoming lecture at Rutgers-Camden by Patricia Fresen. I appreciate your bringing this matter to my attention. Please be informed that the news release has been revised. The new press release reads: Patricia... Read more
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