Details:  A private Catholic high school is under fire after its students allegedly shouted racist chants based on Donald Trump‘s policy proposals at its basketball rivals. Fans of the $8,600-a-year Andrean High School from northern Indiana turned up to a game against the Bishop Noll Institute with placards showing the Republican candidate’s face. They also started shouting ‘Build a wall, build a wall’ at the opposition, the majority of whom are Latino. The group also held up a sign saying ESPN... Read more

A timely and important question from Archbishop Gregory Aymond of New Orleans: It has become commonplace for politicians to use name-calling and insults to win an election instead of running on their achievements and qualities. What has happened to politics? What has happened to politics, from my perspective, is candidates in campaigns no longer run on merit, their qualifications or their ability to lead, but run on the weaknesses of the other person. The name-calling and insulting comments that candidates... Read more

It all comes down to one little letter. Here’s an excellent analysis, from the Columbia Journalism Review:  It’s worth reading the question and response in full. The pope’s ambiguity comes down to the fact that “Christian” in English is both an adjective and a noun. Was the pope saying Trump is not a Christian or Trump’s behavior is not Christian? The latter, as an adjective, is a stern rebuke. The former, as a noun, challenges the validity of Trump’s claim... Read more

I’ve been guilty of this sin myself—the practice (increasingly popular on the Internet) of posting examples of bad liturgy with the sole intention to deride, ridicule or mock. Writer William Bornhoft argues it is something we need to avoid. He makes good points; during Lent, I think, this is especially sage advice:  I followed a handful of groups on Facebook that frequently engage in this practice, including the amusingly named “SLAP” or “Survivors of Liturgical Abuse in Parishes.” The group... Read more

It’s happening more and more, and The Baltimore Sun this morning looks at how this phenomenon is playing out in one parish, the only one in central Maryland being run by a lay woman: On a typical day at St. Pius X Roman Catholic Church in Rodgers Forge, you might find Carol Pacione counseling a young couple, haggling with a contractor, working on a capital campaign or arranging flowers in the nave. As the senior official of a parish that... Read more

The following statement was posted today at the website for the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB):  Dear brothers and sisters, The Special Joint Committee of the Government of Canada on “Physician-Assisted Dying” this past February 25 released its report, Medical Assistance in Dying: A Patient-Centred Approach. The report, in part, recommends: – That assisted suicide be available to those with psychiatric conditions (Recommendation 3) – That psychological suffering be among the criteria making an individual eligible for assisted suicide (Recommendation... Read more

Yes, he really said that last night, following the debate:  Minutes after the debate wrapped, Donald Trump stood for an interview with CNN’s Chris Cuomo where he offered an explanation as to why he thinks his taxes are being audited. During the debate itself, he explained that he could not release his tax returns because they are still being audited, even though it is not legally prohibited. “But the one problem I have is that I’m always audited by the... Read more

Hot on the heels of Sister Christina comes Father Albert:  UK-based Catholic priest, Fr. Albert Owie Ofere from Diocese of Warri, Delta State is on the way to write his name in gold, as he delves into music to further propagate the gospel of salvation to humanity. Fr. Ofere’s debut album, “Every Day of My Life”, which has a collection of six tracks: God Dey My Side, When I Think, Where Were You, Jesus Lamb of God, God You are... Read more

This is remarkable:  After years of searching for the right location, developers of the first Catholic high school in the U.S. created exclusively for students with special needs, Veritas Christi Catholic High School, have finally found a suitable building and campus in Michigan, and hope to begin classes in their new facility this fall. “Our goal is to create a loving, peaceful, Christ-centered environment for these special children of God; a place where they can engage fully in the process... Read more

It’s happening in Sioux City: The Diocese of Sioux City on Thursday released a draft plan to reduce the number of parishes in its 24-county territory from 108 to 67, starting in summer 2017. While no church buildings would close, 40 would move to oratory status, meaning weekly Sunday Mass would no longer be performed there. Speaking at the Central Catholic Office, the Rev. Brent Lingle, director of the office of worship, said the planning would help ensure the vibrancy... Read more