Viganò Speaks: In Hiding, He Gives His First Extended Interview

Last updated on: June 10, 2019 at 3:57 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Washington Post: In the instant he became one of the most controversial figures in modern Catholic Church history, Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò went dark. The retired Vatican ambassador to Washington wrote a bombshell letter last summer calling on Pope Francis to resign on the grounds that he had tolerated a known sexual abuser. As that letter was published, Viganò turned off his phone, told friends he was disappearing and let the church sort through the fallout. Nine months later,... Read more

Prayer Request: Deacon Killed in Argentina

Last updated on: June 10, 2019 at 1:17 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

H/T to Deacon John, who first posted this horrible news from Fides: The Argentine diocese of Lomas de Zamora, under the guidance of its Bishop, Mgr. Jorge Rubén Lugones, S.J. prays for the eternal peace of permanent deacon Guillermo Luquín, pastoral reference in the Carmelite parishes of Lomas and Banfield Este, in particular in Nuestra Señora del Carmen, killed in his home. Guillermo Luquin, born on August 5, 1966, was ordained a deacon on October 19, 2002 by the then... Read more

New York Bill Would Legalize Prostitution

Last updated on: June 10, 2019 at 1:02 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Sex work would be broadly legalized in New York state under a first-of-its-kind bill introduced by state legislators on Monday. A group of lawmakers first called for legislation in February, but on Monday they finally came forward with a 13-page bill that would bring dramatic changes to the sex trade in the state. The bill, written with advocacy group DecrimNY, would make it legal to both buy and sell sex under certain circumstances and modifies laws around facilities that are used as... Read more

UPDATE on Jonathan Morris: ‘The Coming Months Will Be Full of Change for Me’

Last updated on: June 10, 2019 at 10:19 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

UPDATE: The interview described below took place Monday night. In it, Morris says he had a brief relationship when he was in the seminary, at the age of 28, and immediately told his superiors about it and said he didn’t want to be ordained. The superiors flew him to Mexico to meet personally with the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, Father Marcial Maciel, who told him to act as if the affair never happened. Following that, they moved up his... Read more

It’s Everywhere: Evangelicals Confront Their Own Sex Abuse Crisis

Last updated on: June 10, 2019 at 9:17 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

The New York Times today reminds us that the sex abuse crisis isn’t just A Catholic Thing — as I noted a couple weeks ago — and turns a spotlight on evangelical churches, who are now facing a reckoning: Christi Bragg listened in disbelief. It was a Sunday in February, and her popular evangelical pastor, Matt Chandler, was preaching on the evil of leaders who sexually abuse those they are called to protect. But at the Village Church, he assured... Read more

Fulton Sheen Will Be Going to Peoria

Last updated on: June 9, 2019 at 10:22 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Among other things, this means they can restart his canonization process. Great news: The Archdiocese of New York will work to help transfer the remains of Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a spokesman for the archdiocese told CNA Saturday. The decision is the conclusion of a long legal battle over the late archbishop’s burial place. “We have been informed that the New York Court of Appeals has denied further appeal of the New York Supreme Court decision upholding Joan Cunningham’s petition to... Read more

UPDATE: Man Arrested, Charged with Starting Fire at Florida Co-Cathedral

Last updated on: June 9, 2019 at 10:08 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: An arrest has been made in connection with this week’s fire at Co-Cathedral of St. Thomas More. Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Jimmy Patronis announced Friday night 32-year-old Seth Z. Johnson was arrested and booked in the Leon County Detention Facility on charges of arson, a first-degree felony, which carries a maximum sentence of up to 30 years in prison. Investigators matched fingerprints from evidence found at the scene of the Wednesday fire to Johnson. He was taken into custody... Read more

Stephen Colbert on Tolkien, Robert Bolt, Loss and Faith

Last updated on: June 8, 2019 at 2:54 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The late night comic and outspoken Catholic gave an interview to The New York Times that ranges far and wide over everything from politics to Tolkien to death and, of course, Catholicism Some excerpts: I was raised in a devout Catholic home and bottle-fed Robert Bolt’s “A Man for All Seasons,” which is about how it’s important that you not let the tide of history sweep you along if you don’t actually agree with it. And William Buckley said he “stands athwart history,... Read more

The Feast That Never Ends: Homily for June 9, 2019, Pentecost

Last updated on: June 8, 2019 at 3:23 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This Sunday, we celebrate the arrival of the Holy Spirit, and the great birthday of the Church, Pentecost. It’s different from most big feasts in the Church: We don’t hang lights or exchange gifts. We don’t wear fancy hats or eat lots of candy. There are no big Pentecost sales at Macy’s. But maybe there should be. I don’t think we give this feast the credit or attention it deserves. Part of that may be because the one who dwells... Read more

University of Alabama Returns Millions, Removes School Name of Donor Who Urged Boycott Over Abortion Law

Last updated on: June 7, 2019 at 8:31 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Behold, history being made today at the university, as students removed the name of Hugh Culverhouse, Jr. from the school of law: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcDyKCtR5fs The story: The University of Alabama returned $21.5 million Friday to a donor who urged students to boycott over the state’s recently passed abortion ban. Hugh Culverhouse Jr. called it retaliation for his position against the controversial law. University officials said it was not related. Culverhouse, a Florida lawyer and developer, originally pledged a total of $26.5... Read more