From Huffington Post: Visitors had to leave the Sistine Chapel earlier than usual on the afternoon of March 26 — before 4:00 p.m. — and not because of some exclusive VIP event. A group of around 150 homeless were granted a private visit before being offered supper inside the Vatican Museums’ cafeteria. They were separated into three groups, with a guide showing the masterpiece of Michelangelo as part of a tour of the Vatican’s museums and gardens. The session also... Read more
They did it last year, and they’ve done it again. From USA TODAY: Fortune explains, “To make this roster, it was not enough to be brilliant, admirable, or even supremely powerful (see Moisés Naím’s essay on Vladimir Putin). We set out to find singular leaders with vision who moved others to act as well, and who brought their followers with them on a shared quest.” And No. 1 on the list? Apple CEO Tim Cook. The pope clocks in at #4. About the pontiff,... Read more
From Vatican Radio: It is not “cold doctrine” that brings joy, but faith, and the hope of meeting Jesus. He who cannot rejoice is an unhappy believer: that’s what the Pope said in his homily at Thursday morning’s Mass in Santa Marta in the Vatican. Abraham’s joy upon hearing that as God promised, he may become a father inspired Pope Francis’ reflection Thursday. Commenting on the day’s readings, Pope Francis remarked that Abraham is old, as well as his wife... Read more
From Huffington Post: Visitors had to leave the Sistine Chapel earlier than usual on the afternoon of March 26 — before 4:00 p.m. — and not because of some exclusive VIP event. A group of around 150 homeless were granted a private visit before being offered supper inside the Vatican Museums’ cafeteria. They were separated into three groups, with a guide showing the masterpiece of Michelangelo as part of a tour of the Vatican’s museums and gardens. The session also... Read more
The research blog at CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) at Georgetown offers some intriguing new statistics. Among other things, the declining number Catholics over the last few decades seems to have stopped, and the Catholic retention rate appears to be holding steady: To date there has been a lot of talk but little real research possible on the “Francis Effect” (our previous thoughts). Social scientists now have their first glimpse at the potential effects in the 2014 General Social... Read more
You may remember that the man once known as Father Frances Mary Stone left EWTN several years back. Now, he’s back in the news, in the middle of an ugly custody battle. From AL.com: A national group that monitors allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy has focused attention this week on the Alabama case of David Lawrence Stone, a Catholic priest and former EWTN TV host who was arrested in 2013 and charged with sexual abuse of a minor... Read more
You may remember that the man once known as Father Frances Mary Stone left EWTN several years back. Now, he’s back in the news, in the middle of an ugly custody battle. From AL.com: A national group that monitors allegations of child sexual abuse by clergy has focused attention this week on the Alabama case of David Lawrence Stone, a Catholic priest and former EWTN TV host who was arrested in 2013 and charged with sexual abuse of a minor under... Read more
The research blog at CARA (Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate) at Georgetown offers some intriguing new statistics. Among other things, the declining number Catholics over the last few decades seems to have stopped, and the Catholic retention rate appears to be holding steady: To date there has been a lot of talk but little real research possible on the “Francis Effect” (our previous thoughts). Social scientists now have their first glimpse at the potential effects in the 2014... Read more
From Vatican Radio: It is not “cold doctrine” that brings joy, but faith, and the hope of meeting Jesus. He who cannot rejoice is an unhappy believer: that’s what the Pope said in his homily at Thursday morning’s Mass in Santa Marta in the Vatican. Abraham’s joy upon hearing that as God promised, he may become a father inspired Pope Francis’ reflection Thursday. Commenting on the day’s readings, Pope Francis remarked that Abraham is old, as well as his wife... Read more
They did it last year, and they’ve done it again. From USA TODAY: Fortune explains, “To make this roster, it was not enough to be brilliant, admirable, or even supremely powerful (see Moisés Naím’s essay on Vladimir Putin). We set out to find singular leaders with vision who moved others to act as well, and who brought their followers with them on a shared quest.” And No. 1 on the list? Apple CEO Tim Cook. The pope clocks in at... Read more
The Deacon's Bench
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