“It always helps to have a bit of prayer in your back pocket. At the end of the day, you have to have something and for me that is God, Jesus, my Catholic upbringing, my faith…” “God has been good to me. My faith has been good to me in the moments of deepest suffering, doubt and fear. It is a constant, the language of prayer … I might not have got my sums right from the Christian Brothers or... Read more
The National Catholic Register has posted a couple good updates on the still-unfolding story of Fr. Corapi. First, a round-up of the case, and what is known and what isn’t. Secondly, an interview with a representative from Fr. Corapi’s order, The Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity (SOLT). Both are worth a look. Read more
Some scholars are suggesting as much — and claim these ancient writings, if authentic, could cast new light on ancient Christianity. The Daily Mail has more: For scholars of faith and history, it is a treasure trove too precious for price. This ancient collection of 70 tiny books, their lead pages bound with wire, could unlock some of the secrets of the earliest days of Christianity. Academics are divided as to their authenticity but say that if verified, they could... Read more
It happened in Mexico. Details, from CNS: Celebrating Mass for participants in a diocesan-endorsed forum on sexual diversity, Bishop Raul Vera Lopez of Saltillo told gays and lesbians, “The church is your home. “Jesus founded the church to bring in those on the outside, for those suffering exclusion and rejection … so that they find the love of God,” he said March 27. Bishop Vera has made the inclusion of homosexuals in the Catholic Church a priority in his northern... Read more
“It’s about permanence, not being able to hit delete. You have to have some conviction in your thoughts. And that’s my whole philosophy of typewriters.” — Louis Smith, 28, of Brooklyn. Read the whole story. Read more
A priest has already started using it for mass, as you can see from the image below (albeit, the altar was a little un-traditional): You can read about him here. Meantime, our Protestant brothers and sisters aren’t wasting any time. Moses carried tablets — and now they do, too: When pastor Dennis Newkirk stands before his congregation at Henderson Hills Baptist Church in Edmond, Okla., to begin a sermon, he gives a nod to technology. While “open your Bibles” may... Read more
Some longtime readers may remember the great story of Grant Desme, star player for the Oakland A’s, who left the A’s farm team last year to join the seminary — in fact, entering St. Michael’s Abbey, to begin formation with the Norbertines in Orange County in California. I just stumbled on this beautifully produced video, below, which gives a glimpse into their life. (Kudos to the Norbertines: they have their own YouTube channel!) Evidently, they’re big in the music biz,... Read more
A prominent priest may soon be removed from his order over his very public support of women priests. From the National Catholic Reporter: Maryknoll Fr. Roy Bourgeois, the longtime peace activist and founder of SOA Watch, has received a letter from his order giving him 15 days to “publicly recant” his support of women’s ordination or face dismissal from the Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. The letter, which is dated March 18, is signed by Maryknoll Fr. Edward Dougherty, the order’s... Read more
Thanks to my pal Dave Gibson, who alerted his readers to a History Channel special on the Vatican, airing tonight at 9 pm. As Dave notes: The show provides an overview of the history of the Vatican, and focuses on everyday life in the city-state today, and how it all works, or doesn’t, as the case may be. A clip of the pope at work is here, and other elements that stuck in my mind were segments on science and faith... Read more
He was laicized, but that doesn’t mean he’s been silenced. Details, from the New York Daily News: A once-prominent Bronx priest who was defrocked after a church tribunal found him guilty of sexually abusing a teen is suing his accuser for defamation. Charles Kavanagh, who was once in charge of the archdiocese’s fund-raising arm, claimed in a federal suit filed Tuesday that he’s innocent. Kavanagh, 73, was dismissed from the clergy after former seminary student Daniel Donohue said the priest took him... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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