The other day, I posted this profile from The Washington Post, spotlighting Karen Pence, wife of Vice President Mike Pence. One short paragraph in that story has seized the attention of the world: In 2002, Mike Pence told the Hill that he never eats alone with a woman other than his wife and that he won’t attend events featuring alcohol without her by his side, either. Reaction was swift and, to me, surprising: In a profile of second lady Karen Pence... Read more

Now for something different. A Lutheran pastor, the Rev. Erik Parker, was not a fan of wearing a clerical collar or being called “Pastor.” But now, he’s changed his mind: There are reasons that the church has used titles and clerical collars to identify pastors, reasons that still hold water today. Here are some of them: 1 Pastors are Symbols Like many vocations and callings in our world, we become public symbols when ‘on the job.’ Like police officers or... Read more

This is pretty impressive:  On Friday, March 17, the brick wall of a Brooklyn building will become an artist’s canvas as he paints a renowned scene from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. The project is part of an Easter campaign designed to inspire forgiveness.  One of the world’s most iconic images, Michelangelo’s “The Creation of Adam” will grace 3rd Avenue in Bay Ridge at the corner of 81st Street. Artist Mike Fusco will be painting the 20.5 foot by 23-foot billboard... Read more

Amid the news about a possible change in the date for the Vatican’s Corpus Christi procession comes this detail:  In the first year of his pontificate, Pope Francis surprised everyone by following the Corpus Christi procession on foot, behind the Most Blessed Sacrament, instead of kneeling before the Eucharist on a modified “pope-mobile,” as his predecessors had done. Then, in 2014, no longer able to make the journey on foot, the pope chose to travel to the Basilica of St. Mary Major... Read more

From Vatican Radio: Pope Francis on Wednesday greeted the members of a delegation from the Iraqi Supervisory Boards and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue. “Your visit is a true, fraternal richness, and is, therefore, a path towards peace among all, peace in the heart, in the family, in your country, and in the world,” the Pope told the group in a private audience ahead of his weekly General Audience. The Iraqi Supervisory Boards are made up of Shiites and... Read more

From The Washington Post:  Over the years, Karen Pence has repeatedly said that one of her “hard and fast rules” is that she never weighs in on or attempts to influence policy. Pence, through a spokeswoman, declined interview requests for this profile. (Her spokeswoman did, however, say she would be open to participating in a story that focused solely on her art therapy initiatives and other passions). Friends and aides, meanwhile, say she is the Pence family “prayer warrior,” a... Read more

It happened outside Atlanta:  Faith and the support of the St. Joseph Church community are sustaining Deacon Norm Keller and his wife, Barbara, after a private plane crashed into their front yard, exploding in flames and destroying their home. The Cessna Citation crashed at approximately 7:20 p.m. Friday, March 24, as the Kellers attended a parish fish fry and Stations of the Cross. The fire destroyed the Vistawood Lane home where they had lived for a decade. The pilot, 78-year-old... Read more

Details:  The two antiabortion activists who mounted a hidden-camera investigation against Planned Parenthood officials have been charged with 15 felony counts of violating the privacy of health-care providers by recording confidential information without their consent. In announcing the charges against David Robert Daleiden and Sandra Merritt on Tuesday, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said the duo used manufactured identities and a fictitious bioresearch company to meet medical officials and covertly record the private discussions they initiated. “The right to privacy is a cornerstone... Read more

If you’re near Springfield, Massachusetts Wednesday night, stop by and say hello. I’ll be giving a talk at 7 pm at Blessed Sacrament parish in Westfield for CNEWA. The topic:  finding hope amid the suffering in the Middle East. I visited the parish last year during Lent, as well, so it will be a homecoming, of sorts. I’m looking forward to catching up with Fr. Dan Pacholec and the good folks of Westfield.   Read more

While it hasn’t been formally translated into English yet, the pope’s remarks on Saturday to a deacon in Milan bear reading, even in a rough Google translation: Deacons “living in family life” are a value to the Church and discernment. “You have a mother-in-law, eh!” said Pope Francis, drawing the laughter from those present at his meeting with the clergy of Milan that took place in the imposing temple, the Duomo, this Saturday, March 25, 2017. “You deacons have much to... Read more