Pope: “If they want me to recite the Creed, I can!”

Last updated on: September 23, 2015 at 9:59 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Before landing in Washington yesterday, Pope Francis had another of his brief news conferences on the plane and, among other things, he reminded reporters he is Catholic: Pope Francis defended his position on the economy, the environment and other social issues as faithful repetitions of the basic Catholic social doctrine. Speaking to reporters flying with him from Cuba to Washington Sept. 22, the pope was asked about comments, mainly from the United States, claiming the pope is a communist and... Read more

Women’s ordination conference concludes in Philadelphia

Last updated on: September 22, 2015 at 5:25 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

And this is how it wrapped up, courtesy Tom Fox at National Catholic Reporter. I think this video speaks for itself. Read more

New York Times: Francis to find a “church in upheaval”

Last updated on: September 22, 2015 at 1:43 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

The Times this morning has a very good, refreshingly balanced overview of the Catholic Church Pope Francis will find in the United States: More than 5,000 parishioners packed the pews, the choir loft and the vestibule on a recent weekend at Sacred Heart Church here in California’s Central Valley for five Masses — four of them in Spanish. Young Hispanic families spilled outside onto the steps, straining to hear the homily over the roar of an elevated freeway across the street. Across the... Read more

Vatican confirms Pope telephoned dissident “Ladies in White” in Cuba

Last updated on: September 22, 2015 at 1:37 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

[getty src=”489495426?et=dKIcTg83TENz0tzvEyd6eA&viewMoreLink=on&sig=ffkzPxceM68DJzpeqOCdZnPphoLWI4BI3Yw3mi2BjUw=&caption=true” width=”594″ height=”402″] View image | gettyimages.com Details: The question of Cuba’s treatment of political dissidents—and Pope Francis’ engagement with them—continued to be in the news as the Pope made his way through his island visit. On Monday, papal spokesman Father Federico Lombardi confirmed that the Pontiff had telephoned dissidents on Sunday. The group Ladies in White, who march almost every Sunday after Mass in Havana to keep alive the plight of their jailed husbands, reported that nearly two dozen... Read more

A Jewish writer asks: “Why haven’t Jews responded to Vatican II?”

Last updated on: September 22, 2015 at 1:31 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

An interesting, perhaps even surprising, perspective, from The Forward: The arrival of Pope Francis in America and the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council’s landmark declaration, Nostra Aetate, have allowed us, as Jews, to marvel at the revolutionary developments in our relations with the Catholic Church in the past half-century. But while the church has taken great strides in re-examining the way it considers and interacts with Judaism and the Jewish people, Jews have done little in response. When... Read more

Fired Pennsylvania teacher and her wife will be at White House to greet Francis

Last updated on: September 22, 2015 at 1:28 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Philly.com: Margie Winters and her wife, Andrea Vettori, have been hoping for months to speak with Pope Francis during his visit to America. On Wednesday, the couple will take a big step toward that goal in a high-profile venue. Winters, who was fired from Waldron Mercy Academy in Merion in late June after two parents of students complained about her same-sex marriage, has been invited with Vettori to the White House for Wednesday’s arrival ceremony for the bishop of... Read more

Women’s ordination conference concludes in Philadelphia

Last updated on: September 22, 2015 at 1:23 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

And this is how it wrapped up, courtesy Tom Fox at National Catholic Reporter. I think this video speaks for itself. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=AerypGqd2mE Read more

Fired Pennsylvania teacher and her wife will be at White House to greet Francis

Last updated on: September 22, 2015 at 11:46 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

A Jewish writer asks: “Why haven’t Jews responded to Vatican II?”

Last updated on: September 22, 2015 at 11:12 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Vatican confirms Pope telephoned dissident “Ladies in White” in Cuba

Last updated on: September 22, 2015 at 9:49 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

View image | gettyimages.com Details: The question of Cuba’s treatment of political dissidents—and Pope Francis’ engagement with them—continued to be in the news as the Pope made his way through his island visit. On Monday, papal spokesman Father Federico Lombardi confirmed that the Pontiff had telephoned dissidents on Sunday. The group Ladies in White, who march almost every Sunday after Mass in Havana to keep alive the plight of their jailed husbands, reported that nearly two dozen of their members were... Read more