On Francis’ pro-life message to the world: “Jesus isn’t just being butchered in the womb”

Last updated on: September 25, 2015 at 8:16 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

View image | gettyimages.com My friend, pro-life activist and doctor Gerard Nadal, answers the critics of Pope Francis: For traditional Catholics, for pro-lifers, the visit by Pope Francis has been a series of missed opportunities. In his address to Congress not only did he make fleeting reference to abortion by stating the need for Americans to respect life at every stage of development, he then followed that with immediate specific reference to capital punishment. If he didn’t mention the unborn specifically,... Read more

Pope to sisters: “What would the Church be without you? I love you very much”

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 10:49 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

View image | gettyimages.com From his homily Thursday night in St. Patrick’s Cathedral: Gratitude and hard work: these are two pillars of the spiritual life which I have wanted to share with you this evening. I thank you for prayers and work, and the daily sacrifices you make in the various areas of your apostolate. Many of these are known only to God, but they bear rich fruit for the life of the Church. In a special way I would... Read more

Archbishop sanctions priest who attended woman’s ordination conference

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 1:23 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

You saw the video of the conference’s closing liturgy here. Now, a priest who took part in the gathering is in hot water: Two days after appearing at a women’s ordination conference in Philadelphia, Precious Blood Fr. Jack McClure said today he has been told he can no longer celebrate Mass at Most Holy Redeemer parish in San Francisco where he has been pastor and parochial vicar for the past 15 months. According to McClure, he was informed by Precious Blood... Read more

Citing Merton and Day, Pope Francis once again turns attention to the peripheries

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 12:42 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

When Pope Francis delivered his stirring speech to Congress this morning, he made particular mention of two American Catholics—and the two he chose probably raised a few eyebrows. Rather than spotlighting well-known American saints—say, Elizabeth Seton or Frances Cabrini—the Holy Father singled out two converts of the modern era, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton. Both are hardly uncontroversial, and both have been more or less dismissed by certain factions in the American Church. To many, they dwell in the peripheries of mainstream... Read more

Pope makes unscheduled trip for private meeting with Little Sisters of the Poor in Washington

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 10:59 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

I presided at a Holy Hour and Benediction at a facility run by the Little Sisters of the Poor in Queens last night, and one of the sisters mentioned something about this to me. “The Holy Father is visiting us in Washington,” she said discreetly, “but no one is supposed to know.” I didn’t think much of it at the time—but then I saw this piece in Aleteia: A Vatican spokesman revealed late Wednesday evening that Pope Francis earlier met privately with... Read more

Pope Francis to bishops: “Ever present is life as gift and responsibility”

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 10:55 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From his reflection yesterday, delivered before bishops at St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington: Ours must not be just any kind of prayer, but familiar union with Christ, in which we daily encounter his gaze and sense that he is asking us the question: “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” (Mk 3:31-34). One in which we can calmly reply: “Lord, here is your mother, here are your brothers! I hand them over to you; they are the ones whom... Read more

Pope Francis salutes four great Americans: Lincoln, King, Day and Merton

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 10:52 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

View image | gettyimages.com The full text of his address to Congress is here. It is a rich and thoughtful speech, highlighting the necessity for dialogue—a word he used often—and a hunger for the common good. The conclusion: Three sons and a daughter of this land, four individuals and four dreams: Lincoln, liberty; Martin Luther King, liberty in plurality and non-exclusion; Dorothy Day, social justice and the rights of persons; and Thomas Merton, the capacity for dialogue and openness... Read more

Pope Francis salutes four great Americans: Lincoln, King, Day and Merton

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 10:47 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

[getty src=”489791740?et=YP7p98owT8hXaD2j-igvfg&viewMoreLink=on&sig=U83PkJqgANXa-1vrFvxKhhYJtePOwcK1zH5-0DSwCtw=&caption=true” width=”594″ height=”396″] View image | gettyimages.com The full text of his address to Congress is here. It is a rich and thoughtful speech, highlighting the necessity for dialogue—a word he used often—and a hunger for the common good. The conclusion: Three sons and a daughter of this land, four individuals and four dreams: Lincoln, liberty; Martin Luther King, liberty in plurality and non-exclusion; Dorothy Day, social justice and the rights of persons; and Thomas Merton, the capacity... Read more

Citing Merton and Day, Pope Francis once again turns attention to the peripheries

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 10:32 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

When Pope Francis delivered his stirring speech to Congress this morning, he made particular mention of two American Catholics—and the two he chose probably raised a few eyebrows. Rather than spotlighting well-known American saints—say, Elizabeth Seton orFrances Cabrini—the Holy Father singled out two converts of the modern era, Dorothy Day and Thomas Merton. Both are hardly uncontroversial, and both have been more or less dismissed by certain factions in the American Church. To many, they dwell in the peripheries of mainstream Catholic... Read more

Archbishop sanctions priest who attended woman’s ordination conference

Last updated on: September 24, 2015 at 10:28 am By Deacon Greg Kandra