To End Abortion, Make Men Accountable

Last updated on: June 3, 2019 at 9:54 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

An important perspective from USA TODAY and lawyer Thomas Wheatley As a person who is strongly pro-life, I welcome nearly all efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade and eradicate abortion from our country. These legislative initiatives are long overdue, and I remain confident that abortion, much like slavery, will one day be regarded as a terrible blight on our nation’s character. Yet a comprehensive life-affirming culture demands more than simply abolishing abortion. We must also restore the original support system that made... Read more

Facing Backlash, Bishop Issues Statement on Pride Month

Last updated on: June 2, 2019 at 4:37 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Rhode Island’s Roman Catholic bishop on Sunday defended a tweet urging Catholics to not support or attend LGBTQ Pride Month events, saying it was his obligation to teach the faith “clearly and compassionately, even on very difficult and sensitive issues.” Diocese of Providence Bishop Thomas Tobin sparked a backlash beginning Saturday when he tweeted, “A reminder that Catholics should not support or attend LGBTQ ‘Pride Month’ events held in June. They promote a culture and encourage activities that are... Read more

Francis Slams Catholic ‘Fundamentalists’ Who ‘Safeguard Ashes of the Past’

Last updated on: June 2, 2019 at 2:55 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details: Pope Francis has criticized traditionalist Catholics who seek to “safeguard the ashes” of the past, saying the global church’s centuries of tradition are not akin to a container for preserved objects but instead like roots to be drawn on for future growth. In a press conference aboard the papal flight back to Rome after his three-day visit to Romania, he singled out Catholic “fundamentalists,” who he said have a nostalgia for “returning to the ashes.” “Tradition is the guarantee... Read more

Some Australia Catholic Schools Make God Gender-Neutral

Last updated on: June 2, 2019 at 8:33 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The Daily Mail: Catholic schoolgirls are being taught that God is gender-neutral and banned from using the words ‘Lord’, ‘Father’ and ‘Son’ in prayers. A number of elite Catholic schools in Brisbane are making moves to teach their students to use inclusive language when referring to God. Top schools including All Hallows, Stuartholme, Loreto College and Stuartholme School are leading a push towards a feminist interpretation of the Christian Bible. Students at Stuartholme School in Brisbane’s inner-city, which charges upwards of... Read more

Thousands Process with Broken Statue: ‘The Message of the Broken Mary is We’re All Broken. Everyone.’

Last updated on: June 1, 2019 at 9:32 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

This deserves wider attention. It happened yesterday in Chicago. The story, from The Chicago Tribune: Hoisted on the shoulders of those sworn to protect and serve others, a once-shattered statue of the Virgin Mary made its way through the streets of Chicago and into the heart of downtown. Behind her, the flames held by thousands of people flickered, and the soft yet unified voices carried through the breeze. Friday’s event, titled “There is Hope for the Broken,” was inspired by... Read more

The Breakaway Church of Peter Njogu: ‘I Am the Solution’

Last updated on: June 1, 2019 at 6:44 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

The Washington Post this morning looks at a breakaway church in Kenya, founded by a self-proclaimed bishop, Peter Njogu who believes mandatory celibacy should be abandoned in the African church because a number of priests he knows have secret families: Its growth in Kenya is rooted in opposition to the practice of keeping secret families but reflects a growing worry among some Catholics that the celibacy requirement — to many an nonnegotiable tenet of the priesthood — creates a harmful culture... Read more

Georgia and Abortion: ‘Since When Do Hollywood Studios Have Such Strong Views on Women’s Rights?’

Last updated on: May 31, 2019 at 9:24 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

CNN’s Brian Stelter offered a good wrap-up of the growing controversy this morning, with some links that help put the headlines in context. From Deadline: A day after Disney CEO Bob Iger said it would be “difficult” for the media giant to produce TV shows and films in Georgia given its strict new abortion law, a handful of major media companies have added their voices to the chorus in a series of statements. Following reservations expressed by Iger, Netflix and others, WarnerMedia, CBS, Showtime, NBCUniversal, AMC Networks, Sony Pictures, STX... Read more

Horror: Bus With Catholic Pilgrims Collides With Tractor-Trailer; 21 Dead

Last updated on: May 31, 2019 at 8:47 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From The New York Times: A fiery freeway accident involving a tractor-trailer and a bus carrying Catholic pilgrims killed 21 people and injured 30 in the Mexican state of Veracruz on Wednesday, according to the authorities and local news outlets. The accident occurred shortly after 10 a.m. local time on a principal highway between the cities of Puebla and Orizaba. The bus was en route to the southern state of Chiapas from Mexico City when it collided with the tractor-trailer,... Read more

‘By Focusing So Intently on Women Deacons, We Miss the Larger Challenge Facing Our Church’

Last updated on: May 29, 2019 at 4:17 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

Some great insight here from Pia de Solenni: In addition to their role of administering certain sacraments and proclaiming the Gospel, men in the permanent diaconate, which was first restored in 1967, fulfill many tasks—like fostering parish life, providing faith formation and promoting social justice initiatives—that could be done by any non-ordained person. I admire the selflessness with which these men serve. After all, theirs is not a paid role. And perhaps a radical redefinition of the permanent diaconate is in order,... Read more

No Capes: A New Look for the Knights

Last updated on: May 29, 2019 at 3:41 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This caused a stir when it was first discussed a couple years back. Now, it’s actually happening. Via CNS: A long-standing tradition will end this summer as the Knights of Columbus discard the ceremonial capes and plumed chapeaus of its fourth-degree members. July 1 will mark the end of a 79-year era when the Knights change the ceremonial Color Corps regalia long associated with the fraternal Catholic order. The Color Corps, which acts as an honor guard at religious and... Read more