Here’s the second part of our recent roundtable discussion on the diaconate from America Media. You can view the first part right here. This segment focuses more on the question of the pros and cons of ordaining women as deacons. Read more

A long piece by Christopher Gattis in Church Life Journal attempts to answer that question and explore how she fits in to her husband’s vocation. A snip: The marriage of the deacon “forms the basis” of his “unique gift within the Church.” By the sacramental nature of marriage, the wife of the deacon necessarily cooperates in this donation by her participation in effecting this basis. She ministers, or serves, in this domestic church, as well as—according to the witness of this... Read more

This happened in icy Montreal this morning. A quick-thinking observer by the name of Willem Shepherd happened to capture it all as it unfolded outside his office window. No word on injuries. (Though one report says no one was hurt). Whisper a prayer for all involved. Think you’re having a bad day? It probably can’t compare with this.   Read more

From the student newspaper:  The country is starting to look forward and examine the implications of Donald Trump’s victory — and for University President Fr. John Jenkins, that means pondering what the election means for Notre Dame. In an interview with The Observer on Thursday, Jenkins said he is considering inviting the President-elect to speak at this year’s Commencement ceremony. “I do think the elected leader of the nation should be listened to. And it would be good to have... Read more

Those crafty people at Amazon are about to unveil a new way to buy groceries. Back in my day, they used to call this “shoplifting.” Now it’s just plain shopping. If you hoped to have a career as a grocery store cashier, you might want to make other plans. Read more

We just posted this item from CNS over at the CNEWA blog, and it serves to remind us of what some of our brothers and sisters in the Middle East are facing: The Syriac Catholic patriarch said he was horrified to see widespread devastation and what he called “ghost towns” during a recent visit to northern Iraq. Patriarch Ignace Joseph III Younan wrote in an email to Catholic News Service that there was little left in some of the communities that... Read more

A sign of our times: When the ultra-hip Moxy Hotel opens in San Diego next year, the rooms will be stocked with the usual amenities — an alarm clock, hair dryer, writing desk and flat-screen TV. But you won’t find a Bible in the bedside nightstand. Marriott International, the world’s largest hotel company, supplies a Bible and the Book of Mormon in the rooms of every other hotel in the franchise. But the company has recently decided that no religious materials... Read more