From The Chicago Tribune:  Wheaton College has begun the process of firing a professor who said Muslims and Christians worship the same God, the teacher and the west suburban school confirmed Tuesday. Larycia Hawkins, a tenured political science professor who in December demonstrated solidarity with her Muslim neighbors by wearing a hijab, said at the end of last year that the college appeared ready to force her out after she had rejected recommendations to resign. This week she received word... Read more

Sad:  The Shrine of Christ the King will be likely be demolished after the Archdiocese of Chicago filed for permits to tear down the burned shrine. The Commission on Chicago Landmarks on Thursday is scheduled to consider whether to issue the demolition permits for the shrine at 6401 S. Woodlawn Ave. that suffered severe fire damage in October after an oily rag spontaneously combusted. A representative from the Archdiocese was not immediately available to comment. The congregation has been raising money... Read more

  This popped up on my Twitter feed this afternoon. It comes from St. Matthew Church in Norwalk, CT.  Evidently, it’s a one day event, offering the faithful, the seeking or the curious an opportunity to just walk in and talk with a priest—no appointment necessary, no strings attached. Unfortunately, there are other restrictions. Like the hours: 7:30am-8:30am 11:30am-12:00noon 1:00pm-1:30pm 4:30pm-5:00pm 8:00pm-8:30pm But it’s an interesting idea. I’d be curious to hear how it turns out and what comes of... Read more

This is a nice problem to have to solve. Details (via Google translate): With faulty acoustics and its 200 seats, the former cathedral of St. Olav, consecrated in 1973 no longer met the needs of the Catholic community in Trondheim, Norway’s third largest city. While in 1973 there were only 500 Catholics in the city and its surroundings, they are now more than 6,000, arrived with the oil boom and economic prosperity. The city also has a technical university that... Read more

Is Greg Burke behind this? Sounds like a great idea: From Wednesday January 6th, the traditional monthly prayer intentions of Pope Francis will be available on video, thanks to a new initiative launched by the worldwide Apostleship of Prayer. This month the Apostleship of Prayer, set up in 1844 by a group of Jesuit seminarians in France, is also launching a new international website and app aimed at facilitating collaboration and sharing of resources between teams from the Pope’s Worldwide... Read more

This interesting Q&A popped up yesterday over at Crux, with a question answered by the Rev. Kenneth Doyle via CNS: Q. At Mass recently, I was stunned by a statement made by the deacon who was giving the homily. That has made me wonder whether deacons have sole independence when preparing remarks, or if the priest exercises oversight. (City of origin withheld) A. On the parish level, the pastor has the ultimate responsibility for the orthodoxy and propriety of what... Read more

Details:  Fr Dhiya Azziz, a Franciscan of Iraqi origins, pastor of Yacoubieh (in Syria), abducted in Syria the day before Christmas Eve, “has been released” and “is doing well.” The announcement, with a brief statement released late Monday evening was made by the Custody of the Holy Land which had given the news of his abduction on St. Stephen’s day. “For reasons of confidentiality – the statement continues – we cannot give more details,” but “we wish thanked those who... Read more

The singing sensation has taken her gig to a new stage: The popular Italian nun, Sister Cristina Scuccia is now going into acting. Last year, this “Singing Nun” performed and won ‘The Voice of Italy” award on June 5th, in Milan, Italy, which is also the city where her convent is. Scuccia will be starring in a musical stage production of the 1992 hit movie Sister Act; It will be opening in Rome on December 10th at the Brancaccio Theater. Last... Read more

This photo keeps popping up in my Facebook feed: an image supposedly showing a young Mother Teresa before she entered the convent. For the record: the picture in fact shows a woman named Tran Anh Phuong, a supporter of ChildrenVietnam.org. An item about her quoted Mother Teresa, while noting that Ms. Phuong had recently died: Our hearts and prayers go to the family of Tran Anh Phuong. Sam, Steven and Victoria Nguyen are friends and supporters of the Foundation. Her death is a... Read more