Prominent Detroit Priest Removed from Ministry

Last updated on: July 7, 2019 at 5:57 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From the AP: The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Detroit said Sunday that it removed a prominent priest from public ministry after reviewing what it described as a “credible allegation” that he had sexually abused a child decades ago. The Rev. Eduard Perrone was suspended from ministry Friday, a month after The Associated Press began asking the pastor himself, the archdiocese and law enforcement authorities about a former altar boy’s allegations that Perrone had groped him. Archdiocese officials told Perrone’s congregation... Read more

A Message for Every Priest and Deacon: ‘Medics Go to Those With the Wounds’

Last updated on: July 7, 2019 at 9:29 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

“God is at work in the world and we should never claim to have a monopoly on that.” Chicago’s Cardinal Blase Cupich spoke to the Association of United States Catholic Priests on June 26. An excerpt from his talk — which focused on how “ordination does not annihilate baptism” — has relevance, I think, to all of us who are ordained: In a field hospital, medics and those with the bandages go to those with the wounds. They don’t sit back in... Read more

Priest Linked to Lady Gaga Charged with Sexual Misconduct

Last updated on: July 7, 2019 at 7:03 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Many may remember this viral Instagram photo from a few years ago: When she posted it in 2016, Lady Gaga wrote: Thank you Father Duffell for a beautiful homily as always and lunch at my pop’s restaurant. I was so moved today when you said.. “The Eucharist is not a prize for the perfect but the food that God gives us.” – Father Duffell, Blessed Sacrament Church Now, some news about Father John Duffell, the priest in that picture:... Read more

‘This Is An Attack on Our Religion’: Family Ordered to Remove Mary Statue From Yard

Last updated on: July 6, 2019 at 8:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Every morning, each member of the Samona family stops to pray in front of a small statue of the Virgin Mary that adorns the flower bed in the yard of their Novi home. They pause again in front of the tiny statue when they return home at day’s end. It’s been part of the family’s routine since they moved into the Tollgate Woods neighborhood in 2003 On Tuesday, the Samonas received a letter from their homeowners association, stating that the... Read more

‘Peace to This Household’: Homily for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Last updated on: July 6, 2019 at 7:40 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

I’m on vacation and traveling through scenic Virginia this weekend. But here are a few thoughts from my homily for this Sunday from several years ago: It’s worth noting: when Jesus sends his followers into the world, they are not sent empty-handed. They go bearing one simple message. “Peace.” Jesus tells them: “Into whatever household you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household.’” Peace. It is also the first word he will say to them after the resurrection, when he... Read more

‘Abortion is Freedom’ — and Our Orwellian Age Takes Another Dark Turn

Last updated on: July 6, 2019 at 9:26 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Incredible but true: Weeks after a small East Texas town banned abortion and declared itself a “sanctuary city for the unborn,” abortion rights groups are reminding the citizens of Waskom the procedure is legal by erecting billboards in town reading “Abortion is Freedom.” Waskom’s all-male city council voted unanimously last month to prohibit abortions, although the town does not have any abortion clinics. The nearest clinic is across the border in Shreveport, La., 30 minutes away. Waskom officials worry a... Read more

Does ‘Participation’ in Catholicism Require Mass Attendance?

Last updated on: July 6, 2019 at 9:04 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Here’s a curious legal ruling out of Nebraska that applies to the language used in one particular divorce case: Does “participation” in the Catholic religion require attendance at weekly Mass? The Nebraska Supreme Court on Friday sidestepped that sticky question about a religion’s requirements, saying that’s not for a civil court to decide. But in the case of a contested divorce decree, the court ruled that the decree didn’t specifically require a mother to take her children regularly to Mass. In... Read more

BREAKING: Fulton Sheen To Be Beatified

Last updated on: July 6, 2019 at 7:33 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Tremendous news: Pope Francis approved the miracle attributed to Archbishop Fulton Sheen Friday, making possible the American television catechist’s beatification. The Vatican Congregation for the Causes of Saints promulgated the decree approving Sheen’s miracle on July 6. The miracle involves the unexplained recovery of James Fulton Engstrom, a boy born apparently stillborn in September 2010 to Bonnie and Travis Engstrom of the Peoria-area town of Goodfield. He showed no signs of life as medical professionals tried to revive him. The child’s... Read more

Want to Drive People from the Church? Try this.

Last updated on: July 5, 2019 at 9:22 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Incredible: Retired priest Ulrich Zurkuhlen caused consternation in the city of Münster, northwest Germany, when he dedicated his sermon to the concept of forgiving priests who had sexually abused minors. Zurkuhlen’s remarks come at a difficult time for the Roman Catholic Church, as it grapples with continued allegations, from various parts of the world, of priests’ predatory conduct and church attempts to cover it up. In 2018, the German Bishops’ Conference published a report revealing that 1,670 priests, roughly 4.4% of clerics,... Read more

Must-See: Fulton Sheen on the Glory of Being an American

Last updated on: July 4, 2019 at 7:50 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

This is a classic piece of television that deserves to be seen again. And again. Would any public figure be able to speak this on television today without being branded a crackpot, a hater or a bigot? “We are independent because we are dependent on God. If we wish to keep our perfume, we must also keep our flowers; if we wish to keep our rights and liberties, we must also keep our God.” Check it out below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vQiefQ6FJw Read more