Good idea:  Bishop Daniel E. Thomas has called everyone in the Diocese of Toledo to a day of prayer and fasting on Monday, November 7, for the intention that with rightly formed consciences, our participation in the upcoming election may lead to a world of greater respect for life, stronger protection of religious liberty and deeper commitment to justice and peace. Prayer that day may take the form of attendance at Holy Mass or praying the Rosary, Stations of the Cross, Chaplet... Read more

From CNA:  Bishop James Conley of Lincoln has called on the group “Nebraskans for the Death Penalty” to retract social media advertisements which distort his words to promote a capital punishment initiative in the state. The advertisements use heavily redacted quotes, taken out of context, from one of Bishop Conley’s interviews regarding Referendum 426, a state ballot measure attempting to maintain the death penalty after legislators voted to abolish it. On October 26th, Bishop Conley conducted a 12-minute radio interview... Read more

You may have heard: there’s an election on Tuesday. If you’re finding this to be a stressful time, you aren’t alone. Google the phrase “election stress,” and you’ll get over 900,000 entries. One of them is from the American Psychological Association, which reports that 52 percent of those surveyed describe this election as a significant source of stress. It cuts across all ages and demographics. No one is immune. This has been a long and painful campaign—disturbing and ugly and... Read more

This was posted to YouTube yesterday, and evidently recorded during his interview with EWTN several days ago. Among other things, he tells his viewers: “Catholics are an important part of the American story…My administration will stand side by side with the American Catholics to promote the values we all share as Christians and Americans.” Watch it all below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihhDviRyMk8&feature=youtu.be Read more

Details:  In a historic moment for the Archdiocese of Newark, Archbishop John J. Myers on Monday is expected to announce his successor, Cardinal-designate Joseph W. Tobin, currently the archbishop of Indianapolis, NJ Advance Media has learned. Tobin, a moderate leader who has supported a greater role for women in the church, has also expressed the need for more dialogue over gay parishioners and has sparred with Indiana Gov. Mike Pence over the resettlement of Syrian refugees. Tobin has served as... Read more

You might not expect to see something like this in a city like New York, but this has begun airing recently. It’s an ad for New York Presbyterian Hospital—part of a series explaining the value and importance of getting a second opinion.  As the notation on YouTube puts it, “A second opinion can change everything.” Indeed. Check it out. Read more

The Georgia Bulletin this week has a great glimpse at how deacons are ministering to the faithful in Atlanta: Deacon Joe Pupo, who lives in Roswell and serves at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Alpharetta, takes to the highway on the first Sunday of each month. Deacon Pupo is one of just a handful of archdiocesan deacons with a dual assignment. He travels to St. Clement Church in Calhoun on that designated Sunday to assist the pastor, Father Joseph Shaute.... Read more

This is part of the Vatican’s ongoing video series spotlighting the Holy Father’s monthly prayer intentions. Check out the intentions for November. Read more

This comes from Montana:  Almost anything can be better, but Gary Brockel wanted to create a confection of which there would be none better. Make that Nun Better. That was the name chosen for a new confection from Brockel’s Chocolates he concocted to help the Billings Catholic School Foundation raise money for its new K-8 school, now under the first phase of construction on Colton Boulevard. Proceeds from the sale of Nun Better will go to the Billings Catholic Schools... Read more

The following was forwarded to me from Msgr. Gerard Lopez, Vicar General for the Diocese of San Bernardino in California. This was sent to pastors whose parishes will be used as polling places. As far as he knows, this is the first time they’ve sent out advisories like this in his diocese. I’m posting it here with his kind permission. He thinks it may be helpful to other places around the country. Dear Fathers and Deacons: Thank you for being willing to... Read more