Lombardi on the “Letter from 13 cardinals”

Last updated on: October 13, 2015 at 10:49 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Vatican Information Service (VIS) reports: The director of the Holy See Press Office, Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., has given the following clarification regarding the publication yesterday of a “Letter to the Pope from thirteen cardinals”: As we are aware, at least four of the Synod Fathers who were included in the list of signatories have denied their involvement (Cardinals Angelo Scola, Andre Vingt-Trois, Mauro Piacenza and Peter Erdo). Cardinal Pell has declared that a letter sent to the Pope was confidential... Read more

A letter from the Vatican…

Last updated on: October 13, 2015 at 6:49 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Well, here’s something you don’t get every day. It arrived by email last week from Archbishop Rino Fisichella, President of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization: I guess that phone call I got last summer wasn’t a mistake after all, and this makes it official. Excuse me while I pick myself up off the floor. I’ve been invited to be one of the speakers at the Jubilee for Deacons to be held in Rome on May 27-29.... Read more

Hell freezes over: Playboy to stop publishing photos of nude women

Last updated on: October 13, 2015 at 6:54 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

No, this news isn’t from The Onion. It turns out that very soon, men really will be buying the magazine for the articles. Via The New York Times: Last month, Cory Jones, a top editor at Playboy, went to see its founder Hugh Hefner at the Playboy Mansion. In a wood-paneled dining room, with Picasso and de Kooning prints on the walls, Mr. Jones nervously presented a radical suggestion: the magazine, a leader of the revolution that helped take sex in America... Read more

From the Synod: Observers say media coverage “doesn’t reflect what we see in there”

Last updated on: October 12, 2015 at 10:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From today’s press briefing, via CNS: Two couples attending the Synod of Bishops on the family said what surprised them most about their first synod in Rome was reading inaccurate media coverage of the closed-door proceedings, the diversity of problems families face around the world and the synod fathers’ great concern and compassion for the family. Even though Ketty De Rezende of Brazil studied and lived in the United States and Canada, she said hearing about the diversity of challenges... Read more

This week’s ear worm: “Lead Me, Lord…”

Last updated on: October 12, 2015 at 10:16 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This one is so deeply ingrained into my brain, I was even singing it this morning in the shower. This contemporary hymn by John Becker was the recessional at the three Masses I served and preached at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Altoona, Pennsylvania this weekend. (You can hear a good rendition here). I have to give props to the music director Deb Johnson and her choir—and marvel at their ingenuity. This may be the first time I’ve heard... Read more

From the Synod: Observers say media coverage “doesn’t reflect what we see in there”

Last updated on: October 12, 2015 at 2:55 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This week’s ear worm: “Lead Me, Lord…”

Last updated on: October 12, 2015 at 3:31 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Vatican opens pope’s dormitory for the homeless

Last updated on: October 12, 2015 at 11:08 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Aleteia: The structure has been up and running for about a day or so and the official inauguration took place away from prying eyes last week: Pope Francis’ dormitory for the homeless can host up to 34 people. The news was announced in a communiqué from the Office of Papal Charities which covered the costs of the restructuring work and furnishings. “A new dormitory for the homeless has been open for almost a week now in Via dei Penitenzieri... Read more

Ingenious Halloween costume: little pope in popemobile

Last updated on: October 12, 2015 at 9:21 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

This appears to be from a few years ago, but it’s timeless. From Costume-Works.com: Mom notes: Zachary, age 4, saw Mommy reading the news on the computer. He spotted a picture of the Pope and asked about him. Later, when Mommu was giving him ideas of what he could dress up as for Halloween, he didn’t hesitate. “The Pope!!!” We pieced everything together, made his costume and bought the car on craigslist. It was brown, so we had to completely... Read more

Vatican opens pope’s dormitory for the homeless

Last updated on: October 12, 2015 at 1:43 am By Deacon Greg Kandra