FOB (Friend of the Bench) Deacon Clayton Nickel is assigned to St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, DC, and he sent along these snapshots this morning. This is what awaits Pope Francis later today. After spending a few moments in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, he’ll be presiding at Midday Prayer. Great shots, Clayton—thank you! Read more
From the official text of his remarks this morning: Mr President, I am deeply grateful for your welcome in the name of all Americans. As the son of an immigrant family, I am happy to be a guest in this country, which was largely built by such families. I look forward to these days of encounter and dialogue, in which I hope to listen to, and share, many of the hopes and dreams of the American people. During my visit... Read more
After her remarks about Jews, should we be surprised? She sent out this tweet a short time ago, evidently responding to the visit of Pope Francis to Washington: You can read more, if you can stomach it, here. Read more
Some observers have expressed disappointment that Pope Francis did not mention abortion during his welcoming ceremony at the White House this morning. You can read the full text here. But for a little history and context, it’s interesting to read what Benedict said at the White House welcome in 2008. And what John Paul said at a similar event in 1979. In both speeches, the subject wasn’t mentioned. However, John Paul did bring it up, prominently, when he departed Denver afterWorld Youth Day in 1993. (Though... Read more
Details: He is the New York Archdiocese’s oldest serving deacon, at a mere 91 years young. And Thursday, Deacon John Maloney will have a very special honor. Not only will he get to be part of Pope Francis’ escort to St. Patrick’s Cathedral, he will get to sit right next to the pontiff. “I’m just going to say, ‘Welcome to New York, your holiness,” said Maloney. He isn’t planning on small talk, but he will have Pope Francis’ attention. The... Read more
Details: A Chicago television news station made a truly unfortunate art choice to accompany a segment on the Jewish High Holidays on Wednesday: the yellow Star of David that Jews were legally required to wear during the Holocaust. The stock photo was first flagged by a Chicago editor, who posted a screenshot of the WGN news broadcast online. The station responded to apologize for the art choice about 30 minutes later, and said in a tweet the image was “inadvertently” used.... Read more
From the official text of his remarks this morning: Mr President, I am deeply grateful for your welcome in the name of all Americans. As the son of an immigrant family, I am happy to be a guest in this country, which was largely built by such families. I look forward to these days of encounter and dialogue, in which I hope to listen to, and share, many of the hopes and dreams of the American people. During my visit... Read more
FOB (Friend of the Bench) Deacon Clayton Nickel is assigned to St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Washington, DC, and he sent along these snapshots this morning. This is what awaits Pope Francis later today. After spending a few moments in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, he’ll be presiding at Midday Prayer. Great shots, Clayton—thank you! Read more
The Yankees legend, and lifelong Catholic, died yesterday at the age of 90: Yogi Berra, one of baseball’s greatest catchers and characters, who as a player was a mainstay of 10 Yankee championship teams and as a manager led both the Yankees and Mets to the World Series — but who may be more widely known as an ungainly but lovable cultural figure, inspiring a cartoon character and issuing a seemingly limitless supply of unwittingly witty epigrams known as Yogi-isms... Read more
My colleague Tom McDonald writes about that in the National Catholic Register: When Pope Francis lands at Kennedy International Airport, it will be the first papal visit to New York since Benedict spent three days there in April 2008. What kind of New York will he find? Deacon Greg Kandra of the Diocese of Brooklyn says he will find a warm welcome: “You’d be hard-pressed to find [a Catholic] in New York City who doesn’t adore this Pope,” said the... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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