From PRRI research comes these results from a wide-ranging survey about health care: A majority (54%) of Americans say abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while about four in ten (43%) say it should be illegal in all or most cases. There has been little change in public views on abortion legality over the last decade. In 2008, 57% of Americans said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 36% said it should be... Read more
From the BBC: The Vatican has opened its doors for its annual exorcism course amid increasing demand among some of the world’s Catholic communities. As many as 250 priests from 50 countries have arrived in Rome to learn how to identify demonic possession, to hear personal accounts from other priests and to find out more about the rituals behind expelling demons. Exorcism remains controversial, in part due to its depiction in popular culture and horror films. But there have also... Read more
From the Catholic News Herald: The Diocese of Charlotte is growing, and Church eagerly awaits your service to the People of God.” That was the message from Bishop Peter Jugis as he ordained 15 men as permanent deacons, during a two-hour Mass April 14 at St. Mark Church in Huntersville. Bishop Jugis directed his homily to the 15 men, noting, “Our reading from the Acts of the Apostles (6:1-7) this morning tells us: ‘As the number of disciples continued to... Read more
At Sunday’s deacon convocation in the Diocese of Brooklyn, Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio referenced this column in The Wall Street Journal. (I’d seen it Friday and meant to post, but life intervened.) Using the new movie “Paul, Apostle of Christ” as a springboard, writer Charlotte Allen explores what it was that made Christianity flourish in the first centuries after Christ. There’s some great homily material here, folks—and challenging insight into evangelization for us all. As the bishop explained—and as Bishop... Read more
This statement was released Saturday: Damascus, 14 April 2018 God is with us; Understand all ye nations and submit yourselves! We, the Patriarchs: John X, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Ignatius Aphrem II, Syrian Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, and Joseph Absi, Melkite-Greek Catholic Patriarch of Antioch, Alexandria, and Jerusalem, condemn and denounce the brutal aggression that took place this morning against our precious country Syria by the USA, France and the UK,... Read more
We had a superlative turnout for a convocation marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the permanent diaconate in the United States—and the 40th anniversary of the ordination of the first class of deacons for the diocese. I’m told about 140 deacons and their wives attended the event, which featured a keynote by Bishop Frank Caggiano of Bridgeport—who led the Brooklyn diaconate program when I began formation—a panel discussion on the history of the diaconate in the diocese, Solemn... Read more
From the YouTube description of this event: At this Pastoral Visit to the Roman Parish of San Paolo della Croce a Corviale, Pope Francis answered questions from children in their Catechism class. One child, Emanuele, at the moment to address his question, burst into tears at the microphone. Then the Pope invites him to get closer. As soon as the child is near the Pope he falls into his arms. Emanuele asks Pope Francis, if his father, an atheist but... Read more
Not to be confused with another great Easter perennial, “Jesus Christ is Risen Today,” this classic hymn is another grand, eminently singable piece that lifts the heart. Here’s a wonderful rendition from St. Mary’s Catholic Parish in Littleton, Colorado. Read more
I spent a wonderful day Saturday with some of the deacons of Bridgeport, Connecticut and their wives, speaking at their diaconal convocation. The event took place at Fairfield University on a glorious spring day. It was great to experience not only the warm weather (at last!) but also the warmth, hospitality and enthusiasm of this group. I concluded the day with a meditation I like to read at these events: “A Deacon’s Prayer“ by Deacon Lazaro Ulloa: Make my heart... Read more
From The New York Times: The United States and European allies launched strikes against Syrian targets, President Trump announced on Friday, seeking to punish President Bashar al-Assad for a suspected chemical attack near Damascus last weekend that killed more than 40 people. Mr. Trump said Britain and France had joined the United States in the strikes, which he said were underway. + Lord God of peace, hear our prayer! We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In