As I wrote over at Aleteia, this was a media moment without precedent: You don’t turn on a major TV network and hear talk of God’s silence, Christ’s crucifixion, human moral struggles and the agony of the Cross. (In another sequence, the pope warmly praised a single mother for not having an abortion and for deciding, instead, to bring her children into the world. When was the last time that idea was brought up without any criticism or smackdown on... Read more
I’ve never heard of a diocese doing something like this before—or, at least, being so candid about it. But the Diocese of Providence has undertaken a study to determine appropriate compensation for its priests. From Providence’s Bishop Thomas Tobin in Aleteia: Diocesan priests, unlike priests in religious communities, do not take a vow of poverty. Although in accord with the spirit of the Gospel and the law of the Church they are to “cultivate a simple style of life and... Read more
From The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: A Marquette University grad’s poignant note to President Barack Obama about his hopes as a gay man and a Catholic have garnered him an invitation to join the president when Pope Francis comes to the White House on Sept. 23. Aaron Ledesma, 23, who has been chronicling his return to the church in a blog titled The Gay Catholic, first thought he was being punked when he answered a call from a blocked number on Aug.... Read more
Not surprising, but a timely overview: As he upends church convention, Francis also is grappling with a conservative backlash to the liberal momentum building inside the church. In more than a dozen interviews, including with seven senior church officials, insiders say the change has left the hierarchy more polarized over the direction of the church than at any point since the great papal reformers of the 1960s. The conservative rebellion is taking on many guises, in public comments, yes, but... Read more
I’ve never heard of a diocese doing something like this before—or, at least, being so candid about it. But the Diocese of Providence has undertaken a study to determine appropriate compensation for its priests. From Providence’s Bishop Thomas Tobin in Aleteia: Diocesan priests, unlike priests in religious communities, do not take a vow of poverty. Although in accord with the spirit of the Gospel and the law of the Church they are to “cultivate a simple style of life and... Read more
As I wrote over at Aleteia, this was a media moment without precedent: You don’t turn on a major TV network and hear talk of God’s silence, Christ’s crucifixion, human moral struggles and the agony of the Cross. (In another sequence, the pope warmly praised a single mother for not having an abortion and for deciding, instead, to bring her children into the world. When was the last time that idea was brought up without any criticism or smackdown on... Read more
In characteristically awkward translation, from the Vatican press office: The attention of journalists that tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, 2015 , at 12.00 am , in the Hall “John Paul II” of the Holy See Press Office, will be held the press conference of presentation of the two letters datae motu proprio of Pope Francesco Mitis iudex Dominus Iesus and Mitis et Misericors Iesus, on the reform of the canonical process for the causes of declaration of nullity of marriage, respectively, in the Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of... Read more
This is extraordinary—and, I think, unprecedented. It’s also a testament to the intense interest in all things Francis, as he makes his first visit to the United States. From The New York Times: Time Warner Cable is rolling out the Papal Visit 2015 channel, a sort of C-Span for fans of the pope, telecasting around the clock on Channel 199 in most areas from the opening event of Francis’ tour, a Mass in Havana on Sept. 20, until Shepherd One lifts off from... Read more
In characteristically awkward translation, from the Vatican press office: The attention of journalists that tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, 2015 , at 12.00 am , in the Hall “John Paul II” of the Holy See Press Office, will be held the press conference of presentation of the two letters datae motu proprio of Pope Francesco Mitis iudex Dominus Iesus and Mitis et Misericors Iesus, on the reform of the canonical process for the causes of declaration of nullity of marriage, respectively, in the Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of... Read more
As I wrote over at Aleteia, this was a media moment without precedent: You don’t turn on a major TV network and hear talk of God’s silence, Christ’s crucifixion, human moral struggles and the agony of the Cross. (In another sequence, the pope warmly praised a single mother for not having an abortion and for deciding, instead, to bring her children into the world. When was the last time that idea was brought up without any criticism or smackdown on... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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