Wow. From The New York Times:  In a statement on the company’s website, Kenneth Feld, the chief executive of Feld Entertainment, the producer of Ringling, said the circus would hold its final performances in May. He cited declining ticket sales, which dropped even more drastically after elephants were phased out from the shows last year. “This, coupled with high operating costs, made the circus an unsustainable business for the company,” the statement said. “The circus and its people have continually... Read more

Happy new year, happy new deacons! The image here was posted on Twitter, following yesterday’s ordination. Anybody have more information? Details in the local Catholic media are scarce. Meantime: Congratulations, brothers! Ad multos annos!  UPDATE: I got a nice email from Deacon John Placette. He writes: Regarding the new deacons ordained for the Archdiocese of Galveston/Houston: 18 men were ordained by His Eminence Daniel Cardinal DiNardo at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, Houston, TX on Saturday, January 14th. The... Read more

From The Chicago Tribune: Zainub Fiaz did her homework on Benedictine University before enrolling in the quiet institution in west suburban Lisle. She found out that its education major is rigorous and has affiliations with strong school districts in the area, two factors that impressed her. “But then, coming here,” said Fiaz, a Muslim who is a senior at the university, “I’m just like, ‘Wow, there’s obviously so many Muslims.’ So, it’s super comforting.” It also may come as a... Read more

This question popped up via CNS, and is addressed  by the Rev. Kenneth Doyle: Q: At Mass, after the Gospel has been read by a priest, can the female parish life director give the homily? With six priests sitting down? At one of our local parishes, this happens regularly.  I have been to this church on occasion, and I feel guilty for being there to witness it — but sometimes this is my only option. (I’m afraid to talk to... Read more

Details:  The legendary horror writer who penned The Exorcist has passed away at the age of 89. William Peter Blatty’s death was confirmed on social media by the film’s director William Friedkin this afternoon. He is survived by his wife, Julie Alicia Witbrodt. The writer won the Oscar in 1973 for his screenplay, based on his own book that was published in 1971 which told the story of a child possessed by a demon. And thanks to the film’s success, the... Read more

Jenna Bush Hager and Barbara Bush offer some advice to the soon-to-be-former First Daughters. They know whereof they speak. The letter appears in TIME magazine: In eight years, you have done so much. Seen so much. You stood at the gates of the Robben Island cell where South Africa’s Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for decades, your arms around your father. You traveled to Liberia and Morocco with your mom to talk with girls about the importance of education—girls who saw themselves in... Read more

From CNS:  New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan said the Scripture passage he chose to read at the Jan. 20 inauguration of Donald J. Trump as president — Wisdom chapter 9 in which King Solomon prays for wisdom to lead Israel according to God’s will — was an easy one to make. “I pray it all the time,” he told Catholic News Service and joked that “the Lord still hasn’t answered the prayer.” Jokes aside, Cardinal Dolan said that Solomon’s... Read more

Shocking: As Planned Parenthood fights attacks from Congressional Republicans, more than 20 local faith leaders came together to bless the organization’s newest health clinic in D.C. on Tuesday. “In almost every message to our staff, I talk about our doing sacred work,” says Dr. Laura Meyers, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington. “This confirms the sacredness of the work we do.” The NoMa health facility, which opened in September, rang with the sound of drums as visitors... Read more

Buried deep in this new Pew study on the Obama legacy comes this section: When it comes to the nation’s religious identity, the biggest trend during Obama’s presidency is the rise of those who claim no religion at all. Those who self-identify as atheists or agnostics, as well as those who say their religion is “nothing in particular,” now make up nearly a quarter of the U.S. adult population, up from 16% in 2007. Christians, meanwhile, have fallen from 78%... Read more

It’s been a while since a high-ranking White House official participated in this event. Now, that’s about to change. Details:  The March for Life announced today that Kellyanne Conway, the highest-ranking woman in President-elect Trump’s administration, will speak at the 43rd annual March for Life in Washington, D.C. on January 27th, 2017.  Conway will join other notable speakers including Archbishop of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, former Planned Parenthood Director and founder of ‘And Then There Were None’ Abby Johnson, Mexican Telenovela star Karyme... Read more