Douthat: those grim numbers from Pew may not be as grim as you think

Last updated on: May 13, 2015 at 3:02 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

The New York Times conservative commentator Ross Douthat — a Catholic—takes a slightly less pessimistic view on yesterday’s report by Pew: Catholicism might not be in quite as dire shape as it seems. The plunge in Catholic adherence might be the most surprising thing in the Pew data, since for a long time overall Catholic numbers have been kept up by immigration even as white Catholics have drifted away. But some surprises are just polling outliers: For a contrary take, read Mark Gray, who blogs for... Read more

Holy See formally recognizes Palestine — UPDATED

Last updated on: May 13, 2015 at 3:01 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

Details to come. But here’s the headline from the Associated Press: Vatican officially recognizes state of Palestine in new treaty. UPDATE: From The Washington Post: News of the agreement triggered conflicting statements on its significance, with some accounts describing it as a groundbreaking step while others portrayed it as largely symbolic and nothing new. The accord wraps up work by the Bilateral Commission of the Holy See and the State of Palestine and “deals with essential aspects of the... Read more

Anglican church hosts 10 minute Sunday service

Last updated on: May 13, 2015 at 2:59 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

And this is a good idea…why? Details: A village church made history when it held the first ever 10 minute service. St Mary’s Church, in Hawridge, held the short parish service, led by the Rector of Hawridge Rev David Burgess, on Sunday, May 3. It was believed to be the first ever short service. Rev Burgess was aiming for a 10 minute service, but he did overrun by two minutes on the day. Friend of St Mary’s Church Janet Hopkinson... Read more

“The Preacher’s Mistake”

Last updated on: May 13, 2015 at 2:56 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

A Redemptorist reader, Fr. John McKenna, sent this along, and it’s too good not to share. It’s credited to William Croswell Doane, the first bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Albany, who served in that capacity from 1869 until his death in 1913. “The Preacher’s Mistake” The parish priest Of austerity, Climbed up in a high church steeple To be nearer God So that he might hand His word down to His people. When the sun was high When the... Read more

Pope repeats the “three words” for happy family life

Last updated on: May 13, 2015 at 2:54 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

From Vatican Radio: Pope Francis at his Wednesday General Audience continued his catechesis on the family, focusing on family life. “Today’s catechesis is like the gateway to a series of reflections on the life of the family, its real life, with its different times and events.” On this gateway, he said, “are written three words, which I’ve already used many times: ‘May I?’, ‘Thank you,’ and ‘Pardon me.’” These three words, Pope Francis said, “open the path” to a happy... Read more

Thank you, William Zinsser

Last updated on: May 13, 2015 at 2:51 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

When I was in college—wearing pretentious tweed caps and drinking gallons of bad coffee and sneering at freshmen while fancying myself a writer—there were two books that were always close at hand: Strunk and White’s “The Elements of Style” and “On Writing Well” by William Zinsser. They held the keys that unlocked the treasure chest of good writing. I was convinced they would help me land a job at The New Yorker when I graduated. (We’ll skip over the inconvenient truth that... Read more

Thank you, William Zinsser

Last updated on: May 13, 2015 at 12:50 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

And when can we expect a series mocking Jews and Muslims? Hmmm?

Last updated on: May 12, 2015 at 4:03 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

This is something called “The Real O’Neals,” and ABC has just picked it for the fall lineup. The description: A contemporary take on a seemingly perfect Catholic family, whose lives take an unexpected turn when surprising truths are revealed. Instead of ruining their family, the honesty triggers a new, messier chapter where everyone stops pretending to be perfect and actually starts being real. The trailer, below. UPDATE: One or two readers have wondered what I think about all this. I... Read more

Archdiocese bans photographs during all religious services

Last updated on: May 12, 2015 at 12:48 pm By Deacon Greg Kandra

View image | gettyimages.com Details: Dublin archdiocese is banning photographs being taken during religious ceremonies, in order to protect children from potential abusers. Each diocese in Ireland has been directed to have guidelines governing the filming and photography of children while they are on church grounds. The move derives from standards issued by the National Board for Safeguarding Children in the Catholic Church in Ireland (NBSCCC) in 2008. “It’s to avoid a situation whereby photos get into the wrong hands... Read more

On Cardinal George: “The whole notion of him being this arch conservative is so wrong…”

Last updated on: May 12, 2015 at 11:32 am By Deacon Greg Kandra

The Anchoress has a guest blogger today, Sean Conolly, who describes a different man from the one so often depicted in the media (both Catholic and secular). In particular, as a bishop in the early 1990s, Francis George was actively engaged in helping establish a faith community that would be composed of both Catholics and Protestants. Check this out: In June of 1991 George attended a People of Praise prayer meeting in South Bend, Indiana, the community’s headquarters, where he... Read more