The Deacon's Bench
Who would even want to be a bishop these days? First, there’s the mess in New Hampshire. And now this bit of juvenile street theater, in Belgium. Blogger Thomas Peters has details. And below, the video. Read more
Who would even want to be a bishop these days? First, there’s the mess in New Hampshire. And now this bit of juvenile street theater, in Belgium. Blogger Thomas Peters has details. And below, the video. Read more
Hunting for an Orthodox prayer for the next issue of the magazine, my Associate Editor stumbled upon these wise and especially timely words from the saint who was also a deacon: Lenten Prayer of St. Ephrem O Lord and Master of my life! Take from me the spirit of sloth, faint-heartedness, lust of power, and idle talk. But give rather the spirit of chastity, humility, patience, and love to Thy servant. Yea, O Lord and King! Grant me to see... Read more
The era of civility continues. Read on: Conservative leaders began to step in Wednesday to try to quell the simmering controversy over House Majority Leader D.J. Bettencourt’s attack against Roman Catholic Bishop John McCormack as a “pedophile pimp.” While Bettencourt has apologized for his comments and was planning to meet privately with McCormack today, other GOP lawmakers have picked up the assault. Rep. Timothy Comerford, R-Fremont, said McCormack is a “corrupt scumbag in my book,” in comments he posted at... Read more
It’s starting to become a fixture in Chicago, evidently. You can read about it here. And check out the video of a “life mob” below. Read more
He’s one familiar to many viewers: Fr. Michael Manning. Details: A Roman Catholic priest who has admitted to a past sexual relationship with a second cousin has taken a leave of absence from his ministry, a spokesman for the Diocese of San Bernardino confirmed Wednesday. The Rev. Michael Manning, who says he had the relationship with Monterey County Superintendent of Schools Nancy Kotowski, has stepped aside for the time being from Wordnet, a worldwide Catholic television ministry based in San... Read more
This has to be an occasion for sin: a pulled pork and pierogi pretzel. Yes, you read that right. See below: Read more about it. H/T to Pittsburgh Pulled Pork Pierogi Pretzel Partisan Paul Snatchko Read more
This comes from the legendary (some might say, infamous) Larry McCoy, my old boss at CBS News Radio. Words to live by: Now that I’ve been retired for five years I’m ready to offer some tips to current and future managers on what not to do when running a newsroom. …Wind-up toys, especially those of body parts, are fun at parties and in bars but probably don’t belong on a manager’s desk. If they are on the desk, then they... Read more
Meet a friar who spent a month evangelizing in the middle of a shopping mall. From the Catholic Sentinel: Dominican Father Tony Wall thinks Catholics should spend more time living out their faith in the marketplace. That’s why he spent every day, except Sunday, for a month in Portland’s Lloyd Center Mall. Father Wall, a priest for 60 years, wore his Roman collar or white friar’s habit, simply making himself obvious for those yearning to talk about life’s greater issues.... Read more
…theses guys: here’s a list of this year’s winners of the esteemed Christopher Awards. As the press release notes: First presented in 1949, The Christopher Awards honor writers, producers, directors and illustrators in the publishing, film, TV and cable industries whose work affirms the highest values of the human spirit. ‘This year’s Christopher Award winners creatively demonstrate the transformative impact that faith, courage and action can have on people’s lives,’ said Mary Ellen Robinson, vice president of The Christophers. When a documentary... Read more
The Archbishop there, Michael Sheehan, has issued a pastoral letter that was read at all masses this past weekend. A snip: We have three groups of people who are living contrary to the Gospel teaching on marriage: those who cohabit; those who have a merely civil union with no previous marriage; and those who have a civil union who were married before. These people are objectively living in a state of mortal sin and may not receive Holy Communion. They... Read more
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