From CNA: Abel Azcona stole more than 240 consecrated hosts from Masses celebrated in the cities of Madrid and Pamplona. He later took nude photos of himself arranging them on a floor to spell the word ‘pederasty.’ In November 2015, he displayed the photos as part of an art display in a city-owned exhibition hall available for public use. When that exposition was over, the would-be artist sold the consecrated hosts for more than $268,000. Azcona was charged for an... Read more
As I noted earlier, yesterday I took part in a panel discussion with America Media on the subject of deacons in general and women deacons in particular. This morning, one of the panelists, George Demacopoulos, theologian and founding co-director of the Orthodox Christian Studies Center at Fordham University, passed along a timely item from the Orthodox (which has been translated by Google from the original Greek). The big news, from George: “News broke this morning that the Patriarchate of Alexandria (which is... Read more
The press release: Roma Downey, President of LightWorkers Media, a division of MGM and Mark Burnett, President of MGM Television and Digital, in partnership with FOX stations and affiliates, will launch LIGHT TV, a first-ever, 24 hour/7 day per week faith and family broadcast entertainment network in December 2016. LIGHT TV will debut in all top markets including New York, NY (WNYW); Los Angeles, CA (KTTV); Chicago, IL (WFLD); Philadelphia, PA (WTXF); Dallas (KDFW) – Houston (KRIV), TX; San Francisco, CA... Read more
From RNS: The alliance between Roman Catholics and evangelical Protestants on a range of issues dear to social conservatives has been one of the biggest storylines in religion and politics in recent decades. But in the Age of Pope Francis and the Era of President Trump that union may be fraying. In a tweet posted Monday night (Nov. 14), Jerry Falwell Jr. — a Baptist and leader of the religious right who was one of Trump’s chief promoters — delivered... Read more
Rebecca Hamilton takes note of some reassuring words by Bishop Anthony Taylor: I knew Bishop Taylor back when he was Father Taylor here in Oklahoma City. He stood in press conferences beside me when I demanded that the House leadership allow a vote on pro life legislation. He was a powerful support for the Day of Prayer to End Violence Against Women. He was a signatory of a letter signed by the priests of our priest council saying they would... Read more
Check out this interview with cardinal-designate Kevin J. Farrell, prefect of the new Vatican office for laity, family and life, from CNS: Cardinal-designate Kevin J. Farrell believes the U.S. bishops as a whole should have discussed pastoral guidelines for implementing Pope Francis’ exhortation on the family before individual bishops began issuing guidelines for their own dioceses. Implementing the pope’s exhortation, “Amoris Laetitia,” he said, “has to be done in communion with our bishops. I think that it would have been... Read more
So this is about to happen: The current Vatican commission exploring the possibility of women deacons has raised a number of questions about their role in the church. As ordained ministers who are neither priests nor lay people, the actual role of deacons in the parishes where they minister remains unclear to many Catholics. What are deacons, and how has their role changed over history? Could women deacons revolutionize pastoral ministry and transform the church? How can the diaconate better... Read more
From CBS News: After months on the campaign trail of Donald Trump’s divisive rhetoric about black communities, the president-elect’s transition team is making its first efforts at minority outreach, pushing a “new deal” for African-Americans with a “plan for urban renewal.” Surrogates for Trump’s team gave MediaTakeOut.com, which describes itself as “the most visited African American website in the world,” the 10-point plan, an outline of policies Trump first proposed at a North Carolina campaign rally in October. “In election... Read more
Details: Senate Majority Leader advisor Andrew Bremberg will lead president-elect Donald Trump’s healthcare transition team, according to Inside Health Policy. Bremberg currently advises Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and was an advisor for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker during his presidential bid. Bremberg was part of the transition team for former GOP president candidate Mitt Romney, according to the Washington, D.C.-based publication. For eight years, Bremberg served in the Department of Health and Human Services. From 2005 to 2007, he was... Read more
The following was posted on the organization’s Facebook page Saturday. N.B.: They point out that the Canadian organization is independent of the one in the United States. Read on: In recent days, social media has been abuzz regarding a video posted by Fr. Frank Pavone, head of Priests for Life (U.S.A.), in which the body of an aborted child was openly displayed on an altar. Many were rightly disturbed, shocked and horrified by such an action. While Priests for Life... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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